Hey everyone,
I am finally home from Thailand! it is very different here already but it is good to be home even though I miss people. When I got home this is the email I received from Valerie who leads the Bible studies on Wednesday nights:
"Hi y'all. I know you're still in flight as I write this, but I want you to have mail waiting when you get home! Just thought I'd fill you in on Bible study tonight. I was early so I expected to go up to the room and sit by myself for a while before anybody got there. But as soon as I walked in the building Tum came running up, and then Piak. They walked up the stairs with me, and when I got to the top there was Keow, Carol, and Jade waiting. (Carol was worried that we weren't going to have Bible study since nobody else was there and the door was locked, but it was still 10 minutes early!) Ajarn Pom came and unlocked the door but she couldn't stay because she was getting ready for a trip. Piak played the guitar, bless his heart. And we tried to sing, bless our hearts. My voice (which is never good) is terrible with my bad cold, and Tum is not exactly a song leader. So we made a "joyful noise" on "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" and "All in All", then decided that was enough. I taught about prayer. It was good, and we had some good discussion. Carol had a lot of questions about how we know when something is God's will. I hope we hurry and get a Chinese Bible for her so that girl can start finding her own answers. It's hard because her Thai is about as bad as her English so I never know which language to use with her. But I did my best and she acted like it was helpful. About halfway through Ek (A.K.) came, so that was good. (I asked him to play a song at the end but he said he needed to practice.) During the Bible study we talked about how God answers our prayers different ways. Sometimes he tells us no, if it's not in line with his will or he wants to teach us something. Sometimes he tells us to wait. And sometimes he gives us what we ask for. I told them that one request that God NEVER refuses, is when we ask him to come into our hearts and save us. Keep praying that they'll do that soon!!!"
This was so encouraging to receive because It is easy to feel like they will quit searching just because we have left. I am so blessed to be a part of these people's lives! God really used me this summer despite my weaknesses and I am so thankful. Thank you for all of your prayers this summer...God really was listening and he was and is really at work!
One quick story before I end this blog ;) About 2 weeks before we were to leave for the summer I walked past my friend Kung's (pronounced Goon) Internet Cafe near my apartment . I felt like I needed to go in and talk to him without using the Internet to show him that I really do consider him a friend and I don't just talk to him because we use the Internet - This was completely God's leading. When I went in, I took him a small present and talked with him only for a few minutes. As I was leaving he said "Kai mook, (my Thai name) Um you know Pakkad (Pakkad is his dog)?" and I said yes and he said "someone steal." Me and another one of my roommates, Erin, were shocked to find out that his dog had been stolen right outside his store. Kung began to cry and even had to leave the room before he could finish telling us that someone rode up on a motorcycle ,grabbed Pakkad and drove off. He saw the whole thing. I wanted to comfort him but I didn't really know how except to tell him that I would be praying for him. All summer I have prayed that I would have an opportunity to share with him and this was the first time I have really had an opening. While I was sad for him I was also praying that this would be God's way of opening the door to share. The next morning I went and bought some fruit and wrote Kung a card telling him how sorry I was and that I would continue to pray for him. He received it and was very thankful that I cared. On that Saturday he had planned to cook us dinner and I was confused about how many were invited because there are 6 of us girls that live in the apartment and that is alot to cook for. Because I was confused I asked Scott (the missionary we worked for) to go and talk to Kung in Thai and find out for us. Scott gladly went and also invited Kung to church on Sunday. The dinner went really well and Kung was beginning to be happier after losing Pakkad and that Sunday Kung and his wife came to church. On Monday, we went by the shop to see Kung and take a picture with him and out he came with a huge smile on his face and Pakkad in his arms!!! We all laughed and rejoiced with him as he told us how he saw a woman holding her and went up and said "that is my dog" and he took her back! We took several pictures with him and we were all smiles! That night we all discussed how when we saw him with Pakkad we thought of the story from the Bible about the Lost sheep. The next day Danette and I took him a Thai Bible and shared from Luke about the lost sheep and we gave him the Bible! What an awesome opportunity God provided for us! Please keep Kung in your prayers even though we are no longer in Thailand. God is most certainly at work in Kung's life and Kung would certainly be on fire for Jesus if he becomes a Christian!
Please also keep Keaw, Carol, and Pum in your prayers as they are continuing to seek God out. I know that they will find him and when they do I will joyfully share that with all of you. The last night that we were in Thailand we received a text message from Keaw that said "I will continue to seek God, and If I become a Christian I will let you know" he also sent me an email telling me he would pray for me because I was sick! God is at work! Thank you all for your prayers and support and encouraging comments throughout the summer! I am so thankful for all of you ;)
Love you,
Kai mook, Rachel
P.S. Nancy was Baptized on our last Sunday in Thailand! I have uploaded a video of that beautiful event...when she comes out of the water what Tum says in Thai is "You now rise and are alive in Christ"...notice her smile and joy!
Also, The pictures are on Kung (the 1st two), then of Keaw, Then Carol, and Danette and Pum ;)
I am finally home from Thailand! it is very different here already but it is good to be home even though I miss people. When I got home this is the email I received from Valerie who leads the Bible studies on Wednesday nights:
"Hi y'all. I know you're still in flight as I write this, but I want you to have mail waiting when you get home! Just thought I'd fill you in on Bible study tonight. I was early so I expected to go up to the room and sit by myself for a while before anybody got there. But as soon as I walked in the building Tum came running up, and then Piak. They walked up the stairs with me, and when I got to the top there was Keow, Carol, and Jade waiting. (Carol was worried that we weren't going to have Bible study since nobody else was there and the door was locked, but it was still 10 minutes early!) Ajarn Pom came and unlocked the door but she couldn't stay because she was getting ready for a trip. Piak played the guitar, bless his heart. And we tried to sing, bless our hearts. My voice (which is never good) is terrible with my bad cold, and Tum is not exactly a song leader. So we made a "joyful noise" on "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" and "All in All", then decided that was enough. I taught about prayer. It was good, and we had some good discussion. Carol had a lot of questions about how we know when something is God's will. I hope we hurry and get a Chinese Bible for her so that girl can start finding her own answers. It's hard because her Thai is about as bad as her English so I never know which language to use with her. But I did my best and she acted like it was helpful. About halfway through Ek (A.K.) came, so that was good. (I asked him to play a song at the end but he said he needed to practice.) During the Bible study we talked about how God answers our prayers different ways. Sometimes he tells us no, if it's not in line with his will or he wants to teach us something. Sometimes he tells us to wait. And sometimes he gives us what we ask for. I told them that one request that God NEVER refuses, is when we ask him to come into our hearts and save us. Keep praying that they'll do that soon!!!"
This was so encouraging to receive because It is easy to feel like they will quit searching just because we have left. I am so blessed to be a part of these people's lives! God really used me this summer despite my weaknesses and I am so thankful. Thank you for all of your prayers this summer...God really was listening and he was and is really at work!
One quick story before I end this blog ;) About 2 weeks before we were to leave for the summer I walked past my friend Kung's (pronounced Goon) Internet Cafe near my apartment . I felt like I needed to go in and talk to him without using the Internet to show him that I really do consider him a friend and I don't just talk to him because we use the Internet - This was completely God's leading. When I went in, I took him a small present and talked with him only for a few minutes. As I was leaving he said "Kai mook, (my Thai name) Um you know Pakkad (Pakkad is his dog)?" and I said yes and he said "someone steal." Me and another one of my roommates, Erin, were shocked to find out that his dog had been stolen right outside his store. Kung began to cry and even had to leave the room before he could finish telling us that someone rode up on a motorcycle ,grabbed Pakkad and drove off. He saw the whole thing. I wanted to comfort him but I didn't really know how except to tell him that I would be praying for him. All summer I have prayed that I would have an opportunity to share with him and this was the first time I have really had an opening. While I was sad for him I was also praying that this would be God's way of opening the door to share. The next morning I went and bought some fruit and wrote Kung a card telling him how sorry I was and that I would continue to pray for him. He received it and was very thankful that I cared. On that Saturday he had planned to cook us dinner and I was confused about how many were invited because there are 6 of us girls that live in the apartment and that is alot to cook for. Because I was confused I asked Scott (the missionary we worked for) to go and talk to Kung in Thai and find out for us. Scott gladly went and also invited Kung to church on Sunday. The dinner went really well and Kung was beginning to be happier after losing Pakkad and that Sunday Kung and his wife came to church. On Monday, we went by the shop to see Kung and take a picture with him and out he came with a huge smile on his face and Pakkad in his arms!!! We all laughed and rejoiced with him as he told us how he saw a woman holding her and went up and said "that is my dog" and he took her back! We took several pictures with him and we were all smiles! That night we all discussed how when we saw him with Pakkad we thought of the story from the Bible about the Lost sheep. The next day Danette and I took him a Thai Bible and shared from Luke about the lost sheep and we gave him the Bible! What an awesome opportunity God provided for us! Please keep Kung in your prayers even though we are no longer in Thailand. God is most certainly at work in Kung's life and Kung would certainly be on fire for Jesus if he becomes a Christian!
Please also keep Keaw, Carol, and Pum in your prayers as they are continuing to seek God out. I know that they will find him and when they do I will joyfully share that with all of you. The last night that we were in Thailand we received a text message from Keaw that said "I will continue to seek God, and If I become a Christian I will let you know" he also sent me an email telling me he would pray for me because I was sick! God is at work! Thank you all for your prayers and support and encouraging comments throughout the summer! I am so thankful for all of you ;)
Love you,
Kai mook, Rachel
P.S. Nancy was Baptized on our last Sunday in Thailand! I have uploaded a video of that beautiful event...when she comes out of the water what Tum says in Thai is "You now rise and are alive in Christ"...notice her smile and joy!
Also, The pictures are on Kung (the 1st two), then of Keaw, Then Carol, and Danette and Pum ;)
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