New School Year Begins

A new school year is well under way for the School of Nursing students here on the Bangkok campus of Mission College. With 95% of the student body being non-Christian, we face many challenges and opportunities for presenting the Gospel of Christ, as well as nourishing and uplifting the 5% who are members of the church. Many of those who are members, usually meet Jesus for the first time at the Muak Lek campus of the college, so it falls into our hands to help disciple these young people into a closer walk with Jesus, and what that walk means for being witnesses for the kingdom during their next three years of busy study in Bangkok. Along with intense studies and busy schedules, the lights of the big city can also allure like the moth to a flame. Currently the chaplains, several of the church members, and our family are spending time in evening worship and the church's Friday evening AY program with the students. We are looking towards getting more of the Christian students involved in ministry, especially small groups. Please pray that God will use us to share Christ and strenghten faith in living God for each student that comes to the Bangkok campus.

A Visit to Ramkhamheng Church

Last Sabbath we visited the Ramkhamheng International Seventh-day Adventist Church. As part of my responsibilities as zone coordinator I need to visit the churches in my zone at least once a year. Although we have had the opportunity to visit the church location several times over the last year and a half, this was first time we have had the opportunity to worship with this group.

The church is located in the auditorium of Ramkhamheng Advent International School, a lay owned and operated school located on the east edge of Bangkok by Ramkhamheng University. Many of the members are school staff and their family members.

We were blessed to be a part of a baby dedication and the dedication of the Golden Chordz anklong ensemble. An anklong is a unique Indonesian instrument made from bamboo.

At the baby dedication, I had prayer for little David and his parents, and we joined David's father in the release of a white dove as a fellowship offering.

Please pray for the members and attenders of the Ramkhamheng church as they reach out through Christian education to the surrounding community.

We're Still Here

It has been a while since I last posted to the blog, and many things are happening here in Bangkok. Although some of it seems to be a part of the mundane, the challenges facing us are real, and certainly far from mundane. Over the next several weeks I look forward to getting you all up to date on what is happening with our ministry, the work here in Thailand, and life in general.

The Empty Nest

As another school year is coming to a close for Mission College, the senior class has already left the nest of the Bangkok campus, and is working at new jobs using the skills they learned as nursing students in hospitals throughout Thailand. This year was the first full year that we had the opportunity to spend with the students, so their departure was even more bittersweet. We were very excited for them as they celebrated their pinning and conscercation services, but the silence that has been left in their place as the year wraps up is more profound than what we would have thought. It made me realize what a profound sense of emptiness there will be when my own two daughters leave from home in the not too distant future. One the other hand, in several more weeks we know that the new sophomore class will arrive, and we will look forward to the joys and challenges of walking with the students in leading them closer to Christ.

Joy at Muangthong Thani

As zone coordinator, I have the joy of not only visiting the various worship groups throughout the central valley of Thailand, but participating in the life of the groups as well. One of the newer groups is the Muangthong Thani Company. At a special Sabbath afternoon communion service, there was the added joy of adding to the family of this growing group. Through the faithful leadership of Pastor Donald and the church leaders, a young Filipino lady, Rea, was baptized. While there, we also talked with some of the Thais who are learning more about Jesus. Although it was far from perfect, I explained the elements of the communion service and the baptism that were taking place. It is exciting to see first hand the Gospel commission finding its completion as we keep our view heavenward.

There is Joy in Heaven

The baptismal waters at Hospital church have been busy this last month. At the beginning of April I had the joy of baptising Martin, one of our Filipino youth, whose parents are working here in Thailand. This last Sabbath we also had the joy of adding three new sisters to the family of God, Newrat, Intira, and Rattakra. It was such joy as Pastor Surachet, the youth director for Thailand Adventist Mission, helped welcome the new members into the church. What joy in heaven there is when even one person makes a committment for Christ, but how much more joy there has been over the four. Let each one of us so work for the Lord as to make the courts of heaven ring with the joy of rejoicing. Please pray for these new members as they grow in their daily walk with Christ.

English Competition at NALC

The First Annual Valetine's Day English Competition was heald at the Nonthaburi Adventist Language Center on February 21st. Two of the area schools, Kusol Suksa and Chimplee participated with 6 students from each school. The students have been working hard in their English studies, with some of the students learning with Acharn Myo and Pastor Ben. It was exciting to see that their hard work has seen some fruit in the form of trust from the community. To have these two schools attend this event is proof of that. Through the bridges that are being built, the center has been asked to conduct an English camp for the Chimplee school. We are praying that the seeds being planted will thrive as the work continues forward in Nonthaburi.