family trip to the south

We took a two week trip to the south of Thailand. We had basically 4 objectives for this trip, and it seems that we reached all of them.

1. See more of Thailand, and get more of a burden for the millions who live here.
2. Visit Dave K. and Michael S. who are living in Ranong, and working amoung the sea gypsy people.
3. Meet up with Rachel's brother Jon and his wife Chris in Bangkok.
4. Get away and relax. Rejuvenate from the stress of the last 6 months.
We had such a wonderful trip. God blessed us with health and travelling safety. We drove the whole way. Bangkok was interesting driving, but not as horrific as I imagined. We spent 1 week on an island called Payam. It was very beautiful. We were dissappointed about a few things like the expense of things on the island, the abundant mosquitoes, and a few other things, but over all the weather was gorgeous. We were basically the only tourists in our whole bay, so it was very very quiet and private. Praise the Lord! We had much time to think, pray and meditate. Oh, and play in the water too. The work that Dave and Michael are doing is so inspiring! The Mokan people's villages were destroyed in the tsunami of 2004, and has left them very open to the gospel. What better way could a couple of single guys live life, than working amoung a people group like this. God bless them! It was so good to be with family again. Even if it was for only one evening. We could feel their love and support for us which meant so much. By driving all over Thailand like that, we were able to see so much of the country and people that we wouldn't have seen from the window of a bus or airplane. As we drove through city after city, we kept commenting how MANY people there are without knowledge of God. May God move our hearts with His Heart. So, we are praising God for a good trip, and now we are so thankful to be home again! Praise the Lord for His wonderful works along with us. martin.

The Poor have the Gospel preached unto them.

Today we went to Thai church we had never been to before. After the service the pastor was telling me about some of the outreaches they are involved in. One group goes to a slum area in the city where the people are very poor. There are many problems there. Some of the parents work at night and there's no where for the children to go. Some of the parents get drunk and fight each other, and the children are caught in the middle. There's many more problems as well, and some too deplorable to write. The good news is that the gospel is being preached to them, and some of the children are believing in Christ, and God is changing their lives. I thought of the Scripture that says "the poor have the gospel preached unto them." Praise God! I asked the pastor how we could be in prayer for his church, and he said that God would provide the funds to build a safe house at the slum area for the children to come to in the evenings when they need somewhere to go. The house parents would help them with their homework, and also teach them the Bible. I was inspired and blessed to see these things today. Praise God! .martin.

Saved from the Lions

Yesterday I bought this can of roll on deodorant, and on the front is a picture of a lion. When Dinah saw the can and the picture on the front she said, "What does this do Papa? Keep the Lions away?"