We recently sent out our latest newsletter, outlining everything we’ve been up to recently and some upcoming projects. If you did not receive this newsletter and would like to be added to our email list, please email us and let us know. Thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement!
Also, check out our new logo at top! Our contact info will always be listed there.
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
~ Romans 12:12, NLT
Monday, June 29, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
A New Leading
More and more God is giving us a preview for what He has ahead of us. Originally thinking we were moving there to build a children's home, it looks like He must have used that to just get us to Thailand!
Little did we know that by enrolling at Payap University for our MBA degree that God had something bigger on His mind... Payap was founded on Christian principles & now comprises 6000 students. Four percent of students enter as Christian and less than four percent leave knowing Christ. As of Apr '09 there were three students in the Christian Club.
One week after we enrolled, our youth pastor took us aside and told us a very interesting story:
About seven months ago there was an American student wishing to begin a campus ministry at Payap. The pastor and university faculty agreed to meet privately. During the same hour of this meeting, right outside the campus, this student was tragically struck & killed by a car while entering the freeway on his motorbike.
We could be wrong, but this tells us that there is a certain power not wanting anyone to reach the campus of Payap.
Why a campus ministry?
#1- God is calling us.
#2- What better way to reach students then as students ourselves.
#3- "campus ministry targets college students, because it is the decision making time of life: the small window of time where individuals are open to changing their ideas, beliefs and perceptions of the world. This is why roughly 90% of all Christians made their decision for Christ before they reached the age of 21." well stated by Campus Crusade for Christ.
We will defeat this power, in Jesus' name! As Enablers implies, we will enable ministries to make a difference on the campus of Payap and ultimately enable the campus youth to become leaders for Christ!
Little did we know that by enrolling at Payap University for our MBA degree that God had something bigger on His mind... Payap was founded on Christian principles & now comprises 6000 students. Four percent of students enter as Christian and less than four percent leave knowing Christ. As of Apr '09 there were three students in the Christian Club.
One week after we enrolled, our youth pastor took us aside and told us a very interesting story:
About seven months ago there was an American student wishing to begin a campus ministry at Payap. The pastor and university faculty agreed to meet privately. During the same hour of this meeting, right outside the campus, this student was tragically struck & killed by a car while entering the freeway on his motorbike.
We could be wrong, but this tells us that there is a certain power not wanting anyone to reach the campus of Payap.
Why a campus ministry?
#1- God is calling us.
#2- What better way to reach students then as students ourselves.
#3- "campus ministry targets college students, because it is the decision making time of life: the small window of time where individuals are open to changing their ideas, beliefs and perceptions of the world. This is why roughly 90% of all Christians made their decision for Christ before they reached the age of 21." well stated by Campus Crusade for Christ.
We will defeat this power, in Jesus' name! As Enablers implies, we will enable ministries to make a difference on the campus of Payap and ultimately enable the campus youth to become leaders for Christ!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
BBQ & Potluck
In our quest to provide an alternative lifestyle to the college bar life, we held our first event tonight! Well, fifty barbequed kabab's, several authentic Thai dishes, crazy blend of Thai & western snacks, eighteen pounds of mango smoothies, twenty bottles of Pepsi, thirty waters, and countless conversations later, we credit God for putting together such a great party!
Our vision is that through these events, we:
Our vision is that through these events, we:
- Create a fun, alternative atmosphere from the college party scene
- Make long lasting friendships
- Demonstrate God's love through our lives
- Allow the Holy Spirit to stir within those a desire to know our true source of joy
- Then down the road & upon the Holy Spirit's prompting, share God's love!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
English Teaching
During our research of how to best reach university students, we stumbled across "The Centre", a local organization which teaches English classes and provides exposure to the gospel.
Their staff consists mostly of farang (foreigners) on short term missions trips to Thailand. They hold five to eight classes each day and have a weekly cooking night and party. We attended one to surprising find the Thai's to really enjoy punishing each other with baby powder for losing!
It seems like a very solid program. Located across the street from one of the local universities, it provides a relaxing atmosphere for studying, but sometimes we enter the house to yelling and screaming as the students are battling each other in some card or board game.
We admit we were a bit nervous to teach, as we've never had experience or formal training in that area. Well, what we forgot was that we have the best teacher living inside of us! He's definitely come through AGAIN and the students are really responsive!
Their staff consists mostly of farang (foreigners) on short term missions trips to Thailand. They hold five to eight classes each day and have a weekly cooking night and party. We attended one to surprising find the Thai's to really enjoy punishing each other with baby powder for losing!
It seems like a very solid program. Located across the street from one of the local universities, it provides a relaxing atmosphere for studying, but sometimes we enter the house to yelling and screaming as the students are battling each other in some card or board game.
We admit we were a bit nervous to teach, as we've never had experience or formal training in that area. Well, what we forgot was that we have the best teacher living inside of us! He's definitely come through AGAIN and the students are really responsive!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Thai Language Lessons
It looks like God, again, had a better plan for us to learn the language. A friend of our roommate just lost her job and has been desiring to attend massage school nearby. Figuring that we needed to learn Thai with a native speaker, she needed a place to live & little income, we needed help keeping the place spic & span this seemed like a great opportunity and least costly all around. For $30/mo we have a private language tutor/chore helper!
Her name is Tam and even though she hasn't had any formal teaching experience, she is very dedicated.
Wade (our roommate), Nok & her sister, Lori, Tam at Nok's house under construction.
Our savings: $270/month + unknown amount at marketplace as she is charged a lesser price for being a "local"
Her savings: $180/month + a better future we pray!
Her name is Tam and even though she hasn't had any formal teaching experience, she is very dedicated.
Wade (our roommate), Nok & her sister, Lori, Tam at Nok's house under construction.
Our savings: $270/month + unknown amount at marketplace as she is charged a lesser price for being a "local"
Her savings: $180/month + a better future we pray!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Congratulations! Lori is now a...
As mentioned before, we have seen the great need to learn the Thai culture, most necessary when it comes to the not so notable business practices and ethics. We have found, in the four months we've been here, there is much to know, especially if we are to be involved with any area of business- construction or otherwise. We are definitely not interested in re-inventing the wheel and have just begun to appreciate the great resources available in this area.
One of those resources the Lord seems to have prepared for both of us is a great opportunity to learn Thai business practices, mold our business skills, interact with experienced businessmen and network with "the original missionaries of Thailand" all at once while gaining an advanced degree.
Today, Lori just started her foundation classes at Payap University's for the International Masters in Business Administration program (IMBA)! After she finishes the eight week courses, we both will begin the one and a half year weekend program together in mid-August!
There is no way we could have worked it out better. We have the time to attend, as ministry is usually during the week these classes are on the weekends; it is one of the most inexpensive programs at $3000/yr; it's taught in English by professors flown in from several Bangkok universities; it is a very well respected & internationally accredited university from its inception in the late 1800's; the teacher-student ratio is very small from 1:5 to 1:12; and students come from all around the world to attend. Now we feel very fortunate that English is our first language!
One of those resources the Lord seems to have prepared for both of us is a great opportunity to learn Thai business practices, mold our business skills, interact with experienced businessmen and network with "the original missionaries of Thailand" all at once while gaining an advanced degree.
Today, Lori just started her foundation classes at Payap University's for the International Masters in Business Administration program (IMBA)! After she finishes the eight week courses, we both will begin the one and a half year weekend program together in mid-August!
There is no way we could have worked it out better. We have the time to attend, as ministry is usually during the week these classes are on the weekends; it is one of the most inexpensive programs at $3000/yr; it's taught in English by professors flown in from several Bangkok universities; it is a very well respected & internationally accredited university from its inception in the late 1800's; the teacher-student ratio is very small from 1:5 to 1:12; and students come from all around the world to attend. Now we feel very fortunate that English is our first language!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Songkran Part 2 "Doing Our Part"
After a great Easter message we decided to checkout the water-fight ourselves. We were a little surprised to say the least.
What we found:
People riding in the back of trucks with ice-water drenching fellow travelers and those along the sides of the road have no mercy either!
Water sprinkler lined bridge. Not so good for those like us on a scooter.
We took up station with our buckets on a street corner (using a water fountain as our source) to douse those driving by.
We found another good location to surprise the scooter crowd. Up the mote a bit we found a fun group using a community barrel to splash those not-so-lucky passer-byers. The whole event was out of this world, all the locals love Songkran and are more than ready to join in and splash anyone within splashing distance, young and old alike. And the crazy thing is that this festival continues for 6 days! If you don't want to get wet, you just don't leave your house!
What we found:
People riding in the back of trucks with ice-water drenching fellow travelers and those along the sides of the road have no mercy either!
Water sprinkler lined bridge. Not so good for those like us on a scooter.
We took up station with our buckets on a street corner (using a water fountain as our source) to douse those driving by.
We found another good location to surprise the scooter crowd. Up the mote a bit we found a fun group using a community barrel to splash those not-so-lucky passer-byers. The whole event was out of this world, all the locals love Songkran and are more than ready to join in and splash anyone within splashing distance, young and old alike. And the crazy thing is that this festival continues for 6 days! If you don't want to get wet, you just don't leave your house!
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