Nui's Mother

We just found out today that Nui's mother's tumor is cancerous. We don't know what they are planning to do, but they are quite devastated. Please remember that Nui is the only Believer in all of his extended family. Unless she sees and believes, she will face an Eternity without hope and without Christ. May God give us grace and wisdom as we care for them during this tough time.

Prayer Request

Today we went to see an old friend, Nui, and his mother. Martin met Nui about 10 years ago, and we have stayed in touch with him. He is a Christian, but his family is not. He called this week, saying his mother has a tumor and would Martin please come and pray for her.
So this morning, we mazed our way to the other side of Chiang Mai and on out to his mother's house. We sat and visited with Nui and his mom (while Andrew tried to climb out the window). She has a tumor on her liver, and they will find out on Monday if it is cancer.
The room we sat in seemed to be an echo of her life... proud pictures of Nui's graduation, a tv, some offerings to take to the Buddhist temple. After a while, we decided to pray. As I held her hand, and prayed for her, I had to hold back the tears. She goes towards Monday with no loving Jesus to hold her and speak words of peace and comfort. As a Buddhist, death is about being reincarnated. The ultimate goal is reaching the highest level of reincarnation, non-existence... the opposite of eternal life. I just can't imagine facing the possibility of cancer with no hope in death.
However, back in the room, was a picture of a beautiful waterfall. Like the woman at the well, this woman is seeking to quench her thirst with stagnant water. Will you join us in prayer, that the Living Water might flow into this home, filling her cup so that she thirsts no more? We are praying that her tumor is not cancerous, and that she might be healed. Most of all, that she would see God and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. Rachel.

Internet returns

Praise the Lord! We now have internet service again! two and half weeks of trial and error...finally, it is back on. So, we are so thankful, and feel like we can connect with the outside world a little bit better again. Praise God. martin.

Internet Issues

On Monday June 8th, we moved some desk furniture in our office. In order to do so, I had to unplug the modem from the phone jack. When I went to turn everything back on...we had no internet connection. So, no worries, I figured that all I needed to do was simply call the internet company and have them reset the digital signal. (Tech support, in English, sounds just the same over here by they way.) The first company I called told me to call another company, so I called that company who said to call the company I had just called... Some Technology friends of ours offered to help us...after trying new routers, phone cables, many visits to our house, cable guy coming out...day after day of hoping for internet connectivity and not getting any...guess what??? We Still don't have internet at our house. It has been very frustrating and challenging.
But, God is So merciful. He is so good! We are so thankful for His Loving, Discipline in our lives. How is the best way for us to learn patience? it is through trial and testing. These things have been coming in to our lives on the royal platter of God's Grace to give us the opportunity for Christ to be formed in us. Thank you Lord.
May God bless you richly as you deal with the manifold wisdom of God and His loving discipline in your life as well.
When we get it back up and running we'll be sure to let you know. Martin.

Being a Falang (foreigner)

You know those people you get so impatient with? The ones who have immigrated to America, and still don't speak English. Oh yes, the ones who get up to the check out and have to have the salesclerk count out their change. Well, guess what... I am now one of 'em!
I can't even do a simple thing like buy hamburger.
After a recent trip to the grocery, Martin and I were talking about this. In the past, its been so easy to look at these foreigners as "dumb". Now we find ourselves right where they are. Almost every single thing we go to do is different. Now I admire their courage. Its not easy to move to a new country. - Rachel

Pictures

I don't have much to write this week, so I will just share recent pictures!

Lang gwige

"by-yan-naoy", "by-yan-yai", The name of two very special characters that when written basically mean "...ETC." Anyway, as my teacher names them and I repeat them I am very aware of the fact that they are going in one ear and out the other. By the way, those two characters are special, meaning they are outside of the 44 consonants and 28 vowels that comprise the Thai language. Another interesting fact is that there are 2-3 obsolete consonants in the Thai language, but rather than simplify it by getting rid of them, they have chosen to leave them in there. Hey, foreigners need something to do when they move here right? How about memorizing some alphabet characters and pronouncing them correctly, while placing them in their correct class and tone rules...all the while knowing that you will never use them. "...ETC."
Anyway, I am in the thick of language learning.

From 2009-04-23 april

Tom Brewster says that language learning IS ministry. hmmmm. I wonder if he ever moved to Thailand. Actually, the other day I was riding my motorbike and praying inside my helmet, when it hit me...it was just a thought, no worries. The thought hit me that, we are living our calling. We don't have to wait for two more years to experience what God has called us to Thailand for. Even though we don't know right now who (specifically) we will be serving in two years, that doesn't change the fact that we are, right now, experiencing the calling of God in our lives. My prayer changed from, "God show us where you want us to serve..." To "Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! Thank you for leading us to this place so that we can serve you in this way." So, I guess if I can keep that attitude, then I can agree with Tom, that language learning is ministry.
Another development is that I have been asked to teach English to a few people at a technology company which is owned by some friends of ours. So, Wed. was my first time of doing that. It will only be two 1hr. sessions per week. But, these students are not Christians yet so I am praying about how to share truth with them while teaching them computer phraseology and grammar. Martin.