Things have been changing. Our vision and plan has not gone
as we expected, but God is in control. As a family, we planned to take a
vacation over Songkran holiday, the second week in April, but it did not go as
expected. The mission trip that I had planned to take at this time to China has been
postponed. I have had issue with my thumb locking and have been getting that
taken care of. I would appreciate your prayer for this health set back that it
would be resolved quickly.
After 3 years, the first group of our AIS students, Christian leaders from Thailand , has
completed their coursework. Their paperwork needs to be done prior to their
graduation. At the beginning, we started with twelve students and four are now
completing the exegesis coursework. The other eight students audited the
classes, which was really helpful to their ministries and their Biblical
understanding. The second group of students, from central Burma , is in
the middle of the coursework. We are now praying and considering whether we
should accept the third group of students. If it is God’s will to bring in this
new class, we would like to target the students from north Burma , Kachin state.
This coming June 16-20, we will be holding a Family
Conference. This type of conference has never been offered before, particularly
among the Lisu Christians in Thailand .
This will be the first time, so we are not sure what to expect. Many people are
anticipating this conference. We are starting with the leaders. This type of
conference is much needed because Thailand is changing a lot in many
areas – culturally, socially, and politically. Many Lisu Christians do not
really know how to adapt their faith into these conditions they are being
confronted with right now. Family brokenness and children rebelling are occurring
more among the church. Divorce has been increasing. Many evangelists’ wives
have left them because they are conflicted between missions and family. There
are a lot of issues among the family in knowing how to act on their feelings
with each other. Dave and Cindy Upchurch will be coming from Lincoln Christian University to teach this conference. Please pray for all involved in preparing for this
conference & the cross-cultural issues that may arise in teaching this
sensitive material.
As we have shared with you before about the church in one of
the slum areas in Chiang Mai that we have been working with here, we have
another report about them. Most of the members of this church are laborers who
have migrated from the village. They used to grow opium on the mountain and since
becoming Christian, they have moved from that into the city. Others have
migrated from Burma into Thailand . The
building they are currently using has been purchased by a new owner, who has
given them three weeks to move out of the building. Our mission has seen this
as a great opportunity to present the church as God’s hope and promise to those
who are living away from their home. The church can be a tangible witness to
God’s care for all people.
Psalm 107:4-9 says, “Some wandered in desert wastes, finding
no way to an inhabited town; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within
them. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from
their distress; he led them by a straight way, until the reached an inhabited
town. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works
to humankind. For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry, he fills with good
things.” As the Psalmist promises the city as God’s deliverance for the thirsty and
the hungry, this church represents the Garden of Eden in the midst of a modern
“concrete forest” so that the members will be able to live and walk with God in
an undesirable situation. We have a modern picture of this.
This house is old, so it needs to be remodeled to a basic
area for worship. The need for remodeling is $3,450. If anyone feels led by God
to provide for this emergency need, please send funds to:
Stephen and Mary Wongratanamajcha
Muang
Please e-mail me with any questions or for more information
at stephenwps23@gmail.com.
Our son Nick has recently resigned from his job in the
States. He is at this moment working full-time at raising funds to come back to
work on the mission field here. He is hoping to raise all the funds he needs by
August to come back to work with the youth in Thailand ,
Burma , and China . If you
would like to invite him to speak with your or at your church, please e-mail
him at nick_wong2002@hotmail.com or call him at 417-540-4850.
After a year and a half of teaching the Shan children, they
are now openly thanking God for their food after each English class. We
appreciate Alicia beginning this ministry and teaching the kids. This Saturday
will be the last class with Alicia teaching. She will be missed a lot.
Thank you for praying and your continued support of our
family and ministry.
