We always give thanks to
God for the ministry that He has entrusted us with, through His grace and
allowing us to be a tiny light shining in the dark world in Southeast Asia and
China so that the Lost souls will know He is indeed the only true and living
God. We also give praise to Him for
moving among us so that we will be able to give Him credit for everything.
As Thailand is an open
society, our house is open for visitors and guests at all times. In fact, we do have many visitors; whether
neighborhood children, villagers, even guests from other countries visiting us
almost daily. Through an opening
ministry, it turns out to be a blessed ministry for people would always come to
our house asking for prayers and even having baptisms. God has continued to add more people into His
Kingdom both through our open-house ministry and through teammates at villages.
Baptism was held at house for avoiding
a flash water during Monsoon
Baptism was held in a bathtub because of the harsh rain
Baptism at village
Baptism at village
During this month, we have
several groups surprise us with their visit.
A Christian leader, Tali, flew all the way from China in order to have
one on one week Bible intensive study.
He called us from the airport in Kumming, informing us that he would be
at the Chiangmai International Airport within the next two hours. His main reason was to go through his message
before teaching at the Wa Christian leader conference in his area, Linchang. Normally, what we call “conference” is referring
to a short period of intensive Bible study.
And most of those Wa Christians are the fruits of our ministry in the
past several years. Since Stephen could
not make his mission trip to China this past summer, Tali came all the way to
Thailand for God’s Word so that he would not misrepresent God’s truth to his
people.
Also, a group of Japanese
students led by Dr. Masao Ayabe from Tokyo Metropolitan University and several
people from World Race came to visit us.
Once a year, the Tokyo Metropolitan University will come to our place
and listen to Stephen’s lecture on the Lisu history, culture and belief. After giving a brief comparative theology,
Buddhism, Animism and Christianity among Lisu people, Stephen always shared his
conversion and why he converted from being an Animist to Buddhist and to Christ
at last. Praise the Lord! We saw God move at this event for there were
some Japanese students that felt empty in their lives and requested for
prayers.
Stephen is giving a lecture to Japanese students
and the World Race on Christianity and culture
Hosting both with Barbecue
James wrote in his letter:
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without
clothes and daily food. If one of you
says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing
about his physical needs, what good is it?” (NIV). Living in the developing countries or the
newly industrialized country, like Thailand, there are many needs, even in our
backyard, to look after for the sake of God’s Kingdom. Particularly, the dislocated Shan kids who
migrated from Myanmar and are living in our neighboring houses. All these Shan people sell their daily labors
for living. The parents would leave very
early in the morning, about 5 AM, and come home in the late evenings about 9 or
10 PM. Their children are left home
alone. On school days, these children would
attend school from 8:30-4:00 without breakfast and eat the foods which the school
has provided at lunch time. They would
have dinner late at night after their parents come home. During the weekend, many of these children
will have two choices whether to turn to the Buddhist temple particularly on
the Buddhist days in order to eat the leftover, or come to our house. Some of you have been to our place and may
remember that we live next to a Buddhist temple and a Brahmin shrine at the
left corner before our house. Often,
they love to come to our house (Their parents never allow them to go to any
other person’s house, except ours) so that they will be able to learn English
and to fill up on an empty stomach. Usually,
Mary will let them read or cite the Bible and pray before feeding them a meal
for that day.
Phai, a dislocated Shan kid
Shan kids are enjoying their lunch
Family Life:
We are all doing
well. Isaac is on his school break for two
weeks and he will have another break on Christmas. Nick is working in teaching English so that
he would earn some money for his mission trip to teach at a Bible teacher
conference at North Myanmar this upcoming December. John is at his junior year at Grace
International School. We do really
appreciate GIS for their care and preparation for John's higher education. The GIS is very sensitive about the Third
cultural Kids (TCK), like John so the school is trying hard to help parents as
missionaries to be aware of and get reading before sending our TCK back to
colleges in the USA. The school even
coop with several colleges in the USA to represent their colleges in the
campus. The first college that already
presented this month was Calvin College.
There are lots of ministerial positions needed at Grace International
School. You can visit them at the
website link on the left side or just visit directly to their website (http://www.gisthailand.org/).
Stephen has completed his
preparation on the Second Corinthians and the Gospel of John. He is now ready for the student’s arrival. The students of AIS are now applying for their
Thai visas in Yangon. Hopefully, they will
arrive this week. This group will complete
all their study courses in the third week of November. There is a strong request from Christian
leaders for China to offer such courses for them. Please pray for us so that we will make our
best decision according to the will of our Living God and Lord. As you may already have known, AIS is not an institutional
infrastructure. It is in fact a Bible
training program for Christian leaders.
We always appreciate your
faithful partnership with us in expanding His Kingdom in Southeast Asia and
China. We also remember you in our
prayers for allowing yourselves to be a living channel of His blessings and
faithfulness.
In Christ Love,
Stephen and Mary
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
Prayer needs:
1. Students’ visas and their studying God’s Word with us
for these next two months.
2. Our evangelistic trip to Laos this upcoming
November. The Lisu in Laos are unreached
people. No one has ever evangelized to
them yet. We have just heard about them
recently. We need your prayers for Laos
is considered to be one of the top countries which persecute Christians.
3. The conference for all Bible teachers in Myitkyina this upcoming December.
4. John’s preparation for his further education.
