Family in Focus
Mother’s Day is one the most important days to the
Thai people because the Thai social structure of the family is ideologically
based on a mother. Moreover, Thai
children are taught to respect/honor their parents and take care of their
parents in their old age. Mother’s Day in Thailand is set in
August. The most popular song of
Mother’s day in Thailand says:
What else could be the reason for how we
grow up today, other than the breast milk
Take into consideration, what else could
be comparable to the breast milk
Mother, I miss the milk you once
breastfed me
The bloodstream of hers turns into milk
for us
The value of breast milk will be every
child’s lasting reminder
It is compared as the far-flung sky and
heavier than the earth
No matter what we have done and how hard
we have tried
Nothing can compensate for one drop of
milk and the kindness of mothers (translator unknown).
This
August becomes the most meaningful Mother’s Day for our family because of the
family reunion with Nick. This is the
great gift that God has poured to our family.
There is nothing more joyful to the family, Mary in particular, for her
Mother’s Day, than this family reunion.
Nick is now at home (though he may not feel it) and on the mission field
with the family. For almost 20 years,
our family has never resided in any place for more than 3 years. We have moved around because of ministry, and
for a very short time during those years, the whole family lived together as a
whole family. Almost 6 years, except
during some summers, Nick has been away due to his preparation for the
ministry. Now he is in Thailand perhaps,
we will have time to catch up with each other once more.
The family
The welcoming service for Nick
Nick is teaching English for dislocated Shan children
Nick is teaching how to read Bible in
English to Burmese students of AIS
China
in Focus
Stephen
has been invited to attend and being one of the key guest speakers at Lisu
cultural conference under
the auspices of the Chinese government.
He has been asked to represent Christians and give a speech on Christianity
and Lisu culture. Stephen will lead a group
of Lisu from Thailand, 21 all together, to attend this conference. Stephen is attempting his best to reshape the
Chinese mindset on Christianity. As you
may have known, many unbelievers throughout Southeast Asia and China condemn
Christianity as a cultural destroyer.
Some even accuse believers as western dogs serving the western
world. Stephen has demonstrated the
alternative image in various occasions with cultural sensitivity, but never
compromise with the Word of God. Your prayers for the great spiritual impact
upon people who will be around us during this trip would be much appreciated.
We
always praise the Lord for our mission works in Chinese, though it is a gradual
process, not as fast paced as we have expected, in winning many souls (If you
follow our mission works in China in the past two decades, you have heard that
God had blessed our mission works abundantly, particularly at the southern part
of Yunnan province. In the past
two-three years we have moved our evangelistic work to the northern part of
Yunnan province, at the border area of the former Tibetan area, emphasizing to
the unreached area). However, we give
thanks to God for many prominent women and their children, except their
husbands, for accepting Christ. As I
mentioned earlier, many of local leaders are strongly desire to accept Christ,
but because of the law, they are forbidden.
The Chinese law enacts that every local leader must solely be a member
of communist party. In China, communism
is not only under the political, but also religious criteria. One of the local leaders in the area
whispered at one time to Stephen that he drives his wife and son to church
every Sunday. While they were inside the
church, he sat in his car and waited for them throughout the church service. Please continue to lift them in your daily
prayers so that one day they will have more freedom to worship the Living Lord
and God.
Burma
in Focus
Recently,
we have shared with you the fruits which bear among the students of Asia
International Seminary (AIS), particularly, students from Burma. God has moved with these students in
advancing His Kingdom in Burma through evangelism, teaching and equipping other
Christian leaders. Ah Lay Bo, in particular,
has carried out the Great Commission to the lost people who live in the
restricted area and turning many of them to Christ. He is also working as a church consultant to
almost 50 churches in central Burma through conducting various conferences
with the
word of God, teaching Bible at short-term Bible training centers throughout
Burma; and mobilizing those churches to engage with the Great Commission to the
lost souls at their neighboring areas starting with the Lisu, Palong, and Shan
people. Every time when we hear about their
faithfulness to God’s Word and their bearing spiritual fruits in their endeavor
ministry, we have been encouraged, we hope it does to you as well, to equip
more Christian leaders to be rooted in God’s Word, rather than human opinions
and traditions, so that they will be able to teach, train and equip other
people likewise. We also cherish this
endless partnership with these students because through them we are now able to
easily conduct several leadership conferences in Burma with hundreds of church
leaders throughout central and north Burma in the area of Myitkyina.
Indeed,
all our students from Burma are full time ministers and evangelists, but none
of them are a paid minister. As you may
know, ministers and evangelists in Burma receive only the once-a- year- help
from their congregations with rice. Paying
cash is beyond the abilities of their congregations. Only because of God’s calling that keeps
these ministers and evangelists to continue in their faithful services. Moreover, most of our evangelistic areas are
located in the restricted areas where the main cash crop is opium and many of
our new converts are struggling with this kind of business. We are very sensitive with this issue and
strongly prohibit our evangelists to get involved, or even taking an offering
with such crops, so that our mission works will not be a stumbling-block in
advancing His Kingdom.
The
first group of Burmese students, mostly from the central of Burma, is now on
the verge of completing their studying courses.
Two more blocks of time, this first group of students will complete
their Biblical courses. For the year of
2013, the class is set for them at the last week of October to the end of
November. Recently, we had hardly
rejected a strong request from Christian leaders from the north of Burma,
Myitkyina, in particular. With an extra
mile effort, we are now offering our exegetical courses to the second group of
students from Burma during August 20-October 10. They will return to their homes and to
continue their ministries after each block of time is over. At this moment, it seems that they are really
excited and enjoy their classes.
Sanduan is teaching Greek to Burmese student of AIS
Our
gratitude goes to all your faithfulness in being the blessing channel of the
faithful God so that he is able to demonstrate his faithfulness. Much appreciated for your faithful
partnership in advancing the gospel of Jesus’ redemption the lost souls and
expanding his Kingdom in Southeast Asia and China.
The family with the students
Prayer requests:
1.
Mission
works in China
2. Equipping
Christian leaders at AIS
3. Leadership
conference in Burma in this upcoming October
4. New
opportunity for mission works in Laos
5. Wongs’
family (health and children’s education) and their co-workers
