Larry and Jan Martin
International Ministries, American Baptist Churches
Ban Luang, THAILAND
Dear Partners in Ministry
Someone is watching and it is not Big Brother. Last night as we were setting dinner out at a neighbor’s place we heard low voices saying “ceremony, ceremony” I wasn’t sure what that was about until we were all sitting on the floor, poised and ready to eat and our neighbor Lon said “do your ceremony” I realized she wanted us to pray. I prayed thanking God for both the food and our neighbors and asked Him to bless them. They then all made the appropriate “blessing received” gesture. We generally eat in what would be considered the carport and the neighbors had seen us praying and have been wondering.
This week has been our last week of teaching in the schools we go to. The children will be doing exams, and school will be out for the hot season, we are taking our annual holidays and this year visiting Jan’s parents in Australia. As we left the grade 6 classrooms for the last time we asked a blessing for them and the children raised their hands in the prayer position to receive the blessing.
We decided to take our holidays in March instead of April this year as we wanted to be here for Songkran, the worlds biggest water fight. Songkran is a lot of fun and an awful lot of water is thrown around. It is also, and more importantly, a time when families get together and blessings are given. We want to be here so we can ask The Most High God to bless our neighbors.
The last couple of months have been full We have been blest by many visitors who, have shared with us in ministry here. They have taught English, and shared with students. They have encouraged us and blessed us by their presence, prayers and gifts. We are grateful for them and the churches they represent.
Larry has been putting Bible verses in the ancient local language on a white board for people to read. His hope has been that it will stimulate some interest in the Scriptures. One man, Gold has been helping him with the more difficult words and pronunciation. As we are leaving this weekend, Gold has requested a copy of the gospel of Luke so he can read on his own.
The fellowship at Payameng Rai continues to be a blessing to us and when we were there recently we noted new people worshipping there as we were leaving the pastor invited us back in April for a baptismal service. He hopes that 5 people will be baptized at that time!!!
Even disasters provide opportunities for blessing. American Baptists have had the opportunity to be the channel of blessing as some missionaries have been down to the tsunami disaster area and have been able to be involved in helping affected families that had fallen through the cracks in the system.
In International Ministries we have been through a trying time financially and we have been under the shadow of missionary recalls for the last year. Praise God that we have just received word that no recalls are necessary this year.
We continue to thank God for you and your involvement in the ministry here, may you too feel blessed by the Most High God as you live out your lives for Him.
Love in Christ’s name,
Jan and Larry
Prayer Points.
Praise God for new Life in Him at Payameng Rai and pray that people here in Ban Luang will soon know the blessing of knowing Jesus.
Please pray that as Gold reads Luke, he will do so with an open heart and he will turn to God. What a blessing that would be!
Pray for our neighbors, asking that their interest would turn to a yearning for God in their own lives.
Pray for the folk who have the added responsibility of administering Aid funds in the tsunami area. Pray too that the people receiving the funds will realize that it is an expression of God’s love and care for them.
Praise God no missionary recalls are necessary but continue to pray for International Ministries’ financial situation.
Please pray for us as we travel, rest and spend time with Jan 's family in March and that we will be refreshed and ready to go when we return