Larry and Jan Martin, International Ministries, Thailand
Dear Partners in Ministry,
The gas in the bathroom has run out, cold showers I can deal with for a day or so, then a burst pipe - that needs some attention today and yes, you guessed it I’m home alone. Larry has been away for a week of a three-week trip and the place is falling to pieces. Well not exactly I did however have to remind myself that I used to deal with worse than I have mentioned and that I probably could again. Getting the gas bottle replaced was sort of easy - it just dealt with taking the old bottle of gas, strapping it to a trolley and walking it up the hill a few hundred yards - coming down with the full bottle was easier (I almost jogged). With that under my belt, I called a neighbor for moral support and she and I went to it with a hacksaw, PVC pipe and glue and dealt with the water pipe.
Larry is doing “special deputation” in the States and God has been providing for him along the way. On a crowded plane he got 3 seats to himself and was able to get some sleep and after all the computer hassles we were having basically until he left, we were amazed that the discs he burnt before he left have worked. He’ll be back on the 14th of October and after a meeting we’ll take a week off and go camping in a National park near Chiang Mai.
This is the time of year for the annual World Mission Offering to be taken
in many churches. Thank you to all of you who have been faithful supporters
of International Ministries through the past years and especially our work
in Thailand. We encourage you to rise to the challenge of increasing your
giving by at least 20% this year. International Ministries is once again
growing and adding new missionaries to the field and looking to a positive
future. Please help us in making this happen.
Last week was the last week of semester and we finished up with a 2-day sports carnival. I went both days and followed my kids (3 schools) around and cheered them, it gave me a great opportunity to chat with parents and teachers alike as we watched our kids slowly being beaten out of the competition. In the end, one of Larry’s schools won all 4 of the competitions.
I have just a few classes at home in the next two weeks, and providing the house doesn’t fall apart, I’m intending to use the time to get out and visit with the neighbors. As a lot of folk are picking corn right now I’ll probably don my farming gear including a very wide brimmed hat and get out and help some.
Last night at our weekly worship service at Ban Sra we looked at the teaching of Jesus on turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, and praying for your enemies. The new believers thought, and rightly so, that this is pretty radical, we discussed it for a while and they said this is going to be difficult but resolved to ask God to help make it a reality for them. As part of the service a candle was lit to remind us all that Jesus is the light of the world and we are His lights to the world.
May you too know that you are taking Jesus grace and mercy to the world.
Thank you for support and encouragement as we work together to see God’s Kingdom come,
Love
Jan and Larry
God can do anything, you know far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us…” Ephesians 3:20 from The Message.
PRAY… GIVE… BE AMAZED!
Prayer and Praise
Give thanks for and pray for continued safety as Larry travels. Pray that he is an encouragement to the people he is sharing with.
Pray that we, American Baptists, meet the challenge and are amazed by what God is doing both in and through us as he uses the World Mission offering to see His Kingdom come..
Praise God that the tract Larry has been working on has finally been printed. Pray that it will be a blessing and help people here to understand they can come to Jesus from a Thai background.
Pray for the new believers as they grow and share with their families and neighbors.
Pray that things won’t crop up and stop me (Jan) from spending meaningful time with folk in the next couple of weeks.
Posted by Valerie at October 4, 2006 04:40 PM