Dear partners in ministry,
A lot has happened since we wrote last month, Larry has come back after a good trip in the states. While he was there he was able to renew contacts in a number of churches and be encouraged by them and spend some time with his Mother who at 85 is still fit and well. Thank you to all of you who gave to the 2006 World Mission Offering. It is all of us working together that makes God’s Kingdom come alive.
Jan was kept busy at home with different things, including some corn harvesting some extra classes at home and spending time with neighbors and the group of new believers at Ban Sra and their friends at a fishpond.
Larry returned in time for a team meeting and apart from house keeping business we were able to have a good discussion “how we can help others, without hurting” looking at ways we can show God’ s compassion without creating dependency.
Larry and I followed the team meeting with a week holiday, we spent 4 nights in a National park basically enjoying God’s creation through bird watching and hiking. The weather was perfect, cool but not cold and the rains of the previous week disappeared. In the time there we saw 50 different bird species, 22 of which were first time sightings for us.
The holiday is over and we came back home with 2 of the Interns from the Global Discipleship Training course, Sally and Megan. They were with us for a week and participated in a funeral of the father of two of our students, rice farming and a monk ordination. They also had fun teaching in a number of schools and in our home. Life is busy. They have returned to Chiang Mai having had a good slice of the “good life” in the country – complete with creepy crawlies.
As I am writing this Larry is preparing the teaching session for this week with the new believers at Ban Sra. The last few lessons have been on prayer and assurance, and this week we will look at part one of the story of the lost son. The concept of not having to earn forgiveness is very strange and Nuek said a couple of weeks back, that they have a lot to “unlearn”. Things that they have been taught all their lives are being challenged, by coming into relationship with our merciful and compassionate Father.
Our thanks again for your journeying with us, we pray that you too are enjoying the mercy and compassion of our Father in your lives.
With Love in Him
Jan and Larry
Prayer and Praise points.
Praise God for the way he led and protected Larry on his trip to the States.
Praise God for the wonderful break we had.
Pray for us as we prepare teaching materials that they will be relevant and easy to understand.
Pray for the new believers – for wisdom as they grow in their understanding and that they have a heart to share with their neighbors.
Pray for open hearts here in Ban Luang as we share with folk here.