God is doing something new! About three years ago the team of missionaries and national leaders began to really pray about taking the gospel into B*rma and planting churches. Many B*mese migrant workers, who had come to Thailand, had come to know Christ and now had a heart to reach their own people and their own country. This would be no easy task. Yet, no matter how difficult... NOTHING is impossible for God! So, they sent off their first group of young B*mese leaders to discipleship school, and began training them for ministry. People with MB Mission (in Canada) had also had B*rma on their hearts and felt that it was time to begin discerning how to move into the country.
On Dec. 21, 2014 they sent that first group of B*rmese interns (who had just graduated from discipleship school) back home, together with Pastor Isaiah and Pastor Mo Aung, to some of the same villages we visited in November and many more! For one month they went from village to village (20 villages in total!) and continued to share the gospel, and disciple new believers. Even more people came to know the Lord (over 200!), and many were baptized! Praise God!
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| B*rmese leaders and interns! |
So, now the pastors have returned along with one of the interns (who will continue to serve God in Thailand), and the other interns remain in B*rma - planting churches, discipling all these new believers, and giving their lives to follow God and build His kingdom! So please, join us in praying for these young B*rmese leaders! The work is intense and they can really use our prayers!!
Every Tuesday morning we have a leadership meeting with Louise, the B*rmese pastors, and the interns that we serve with (Sue and Htoo and Mary). Now that everyone was back from B*rma we had the privilege of hearing all their stories, and how God continues to move in powerful ways!
So, hopefully you remember some of our stories from when we were in B*rma. Jeremy had shared about a man that we met (who was a little drunk) that followed us for a couple days, just soaking in all that Pastor Isaiah had to say. He was hungry for God! He left with as many sermon cd's as he could get his hands on and went back to his village and blasted the gospel message over a loudspeaker! He also really wanted a church planted in his village. So... the interns made sure to go back to his village! They did a kids program, worshiped, prayed, and shared the gospel and about 70 people accepted Christ that evening! Isn't our God amazing! Some of the interns will continue to visit this village, to disciple and teach the believers (along with all the other villages in that area). They'll be busy!
God is truly doing something new! Years ago many of us would never have dreamed that this would even be possible... but God was always at work there - making a way in the wilderness (or jungle and rice fields in this case).
Jeremy and I also continue to be amazed at all God is doing in Bang Sai as well! We are so blessed to be a part of it! God's Spirit is definitely at work here!
In December, at the huge evangelistic crusade in Bangkok, there were a couple men from Bang Sai who went and were saved and baptized. Every day since then they've been coming to the church after work to read the word of God, to be discipled, and to learn guitar and drums. Even in just a few weeks we have seen such huge transformation in their lives! God has given them so much joy and peace, and freed them from addictions and bondage! We have homecell (small group bible studies in the believer's homes) almost every evening, and every time we hear them share stories of God's goodness, provision, and power! So, now the people that they hang out with and work with have started to notice a change in them - they're not drinking, not smoking, and there's a joy that radiates from their faces. Their friends have started asking questions, so they're sharing about how Christ has worked in their lives and totally transformed them! Wow! So, this Sunday, the one man is hoping that some of those friends will come to church with him! Please pray that they will, and that God will open their hearts!
The believers in Bang Sai are all very new Christians, but they have a desire to grow, study the word, and share the hope that they have with everything they know! Some of the people we've been teaching music to have now started leading worship in church! We're seeing new leaders being trained and discipled, and are so encouraged with all that God is doing. Many of the new believers here would absolutely love to be able to go to discipleship school to study the Bible, so pray that God would provide a way! Again, we know that nothing is impossible with God!
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| Jeremy and I, Sue and Htoo with baby Gabriel (who's 2 months as of today!) Louise, Hay Man and Mary |
This is our family here in Thailand, and Jeremy and I have loved getting to know the people here, and building relationships. We love being able to worship, pray, and study the word of God together with them. There are times where we have really missed English community - it does wear on you a bit when you can't worship in your own language, or hear a sermon that you totally understand, or have a really in depth conversation. But we wouldn't trade it for the world! And God continues to encourage our hearts and speak words of life to us as we spend time in His presence and with His people here. But, we definitely don't mind getting the occasional encouraging message or e-mail from back home either :D
So please continue to join us in praying for the people here! Here's some specific ways you can pray:
-pray for the B*rmese leadership team. We are in a time of transition. Sue and Htoo (who we've been serving with in Bang Sai) will be moving to the newest church plant in Bo Thong to provide leadership and encouragement there and to reach out to the many B*rmese factory workers in that area. Pray that God will provide a room for them to live there, and that God will strengthen, encourage, and equip them as they serve. This also means that Mary (one of the interns who just came back from B*rma) will be living in Bang Sai now, which is really exciting! So pray for the leaders, and us, as lots of changes happen, and as they continue to reach out and share the gospel!
-pray for the believers in Bang Sai, as they reach out to the people they work with
-pray for Din Myo Oo and Hay Man (two of the believers here) who really have a desire to go to discipleship school and study the Bible
-and pray for us as we continue to rely on the Holy Spirit and serve with the people - pray for energy and strength, and that we will continue to be flexible and serve with humility
-and for discernment. We are at the half-way mark of our time here and are still praying about what is next for us. We have peace and trust that God will lead us, but please join us in praying and discerning our call to ministry
Thank you so much for all your prayers and support! And don't hesitate to drop us an e-mail or send us a verse that encouraged you!
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