The End of the Journey! (But really... it's just the beginning!)

It's hard to imagine the fact that 3 short weeks ago we were flying out of Bangkok International Airport and starting the longest Friday of our lives as we headed home to Canada! Because of the time change our day lasted 36 hours - and before we knew it we were back! Since then it has been a wild and crazy ride - as we try to navigate reverse culture shock, settle in to our old spaces, and engage in 3 weeks of end of program debrief and discernment.

We spent the last couple weeks looking back on all we had experienced and all that God had done in our lives along the way; we don't even feel like the same people anymore! God has radically shaped and transformed us, and given me especially a new-found passion for missions and for engaging the least reached! We shared our highs and our lows, and debriefed with our TREK team. It was an amazing time because all of us had such different experiences! Overseas Missions, Church Pastor Internship, Inner City Youth, and Reconciliation through Art; there was a pretty wide range of diversity in our experiences! It was so cool to see how God carried each of us through, and how He was our strength and our steadfast savior through great times and hard times. We all realized how important this program was to our future ministry! It's been such a blessing to be a part of this journey with Matt and Elya, Laina, and Jon!

TREK class of 2015!!!

We ended our time together by painting epic works of art...

...Representing who we are, and symbolizing our year!

With all the busyness of being back in Canada and wanting to see everyone, it's been hard to see all that's going on back in Thailand - in Bang Sai and all the churches. Even in the last 3 weeks there have been spirit-led reconciliations, people coming to faith, weddings in the church, and every day there are pictures on Facebook of the vibrant beautiful people of God, that we left behind, worshiping and loving each other and the church. We miss them so much!!! 

We have seen them grow and blossom over the last 6 months, and we know the transformation in their lives has only JUST BEGUN!!! Some of them are going to be enrolling in discipleship school soon, and will be serving in the churches! They are constantly bringing people in, and we know God is going to continue to do amazing work there! The B*rmese church in Thailand is ALIVE! It has been a huge privilege to serve alongside them.

Back home, in between all our busy comings and goings, the amazing Adrienne Penner graduated from Steinbach Bible College! (where did we find time for that to happen?!)

All her hard work paid off big-time, as she received her diploma of Global Missions from President Rob Reimer. (Who knew she liked missions?!)

So what's next?!?! Well, we are whirling our way through Manitoba doing reports and presentations on our time in Thailand. We've been able to share in a few places, and soon we will be spending time in each of the 3 churches that we call home! For anyone who wants to come hang out with us and hear some cool stories of God at work, come on out! We'd love to see you!

May 17: Community Bible Fellowship Church, Swan River MB - Service at 10:30

May 24: Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church, Steinbach MB - Sunday School at 9:30

May 31: Lakeview Community Church, Killarney MB - Service at 11:00

After that we are so excited to be back at Madge Lake Bible Camp, serving there on the leadership team! 

And after that...?

Well, the hand of God has been on our hearts this last year for the B*rmese people... A passion and a burden for them has become a part of who we are, and so Adrienne and I have applied with MB Mission as long-term missionaries, hoping to serve with the people of M*anmar! We spent a week in BC meeting with the leaders of the agency, praying and seeking God's face. We have been searching for a place to serve, wanting God to show us what He has for us, and it seems that TREK Central Canada 2015 was just that. SO! This is a big step with big challenges and BIG change! We know it won't be easy, but we also know that God is walking with us into this new chapter of our lives!!! 

Please continue to pray with us! Your partnership and support is so important!

- Pray for MB Mission leaders as we discern next steps together.

- Pray for us as we transition into this season of change

- Pray for Madge Lake Bible Camp - we still are in need of some staff for summer!

- Pray for the B*rmese church that it would continue to grow and see people saved!!!

- Pray for us as our schedule is a bit crazy, and we'd love some rest. 

God bless you all!

Wrapping things up!

At the beginning of our time here in Thailand, back at the start of November 2014, we thought 6 months would be a long time.... and now looking back it feels like it we only just got here!! The first two weeks in April have flown by, and without warning we are days away from leaving this amazing country and the people we've been with every day for the last half a year. 

The last 2 weeks in Thailand have been an amazing way to finish here - we feel like we've been sprinting to the finish line! 

The month started with us and Louise (and tons of churches in Canada) praying for a miracle: the Bo Thong church, newly painted and moved into only 6 months ago had been sold out from under us! The landlady made a deal with a corporation, giving the 100 or so B*rmese people in the complex (including Sue and Htoo and the church) FIVE days to move out!!

Well, prayer happens to WORK! With a day to spare, the Lord led Louise to an AMAZING house that was 4 times the size as the old one-room church, with 3 bedrooms, a big main room, kitchen, and bathroom all for the same price as the old one!!! It was the perfect building to worship in, and for Sue, Htoo, and their son Gabriel to call home. God is so good! And it's still pretty close to where the old church was, yet in an even better location - right in the middle of B*rmese factory housing!

The New Place!!!

Sue and Htoo moved in, and we spent a weekend cleaning, moving, and setting up the new place, just in time for church! The believers there were overjoyed to have such an awesome place, and 5 new people came to church, curious about the new place - and all ended up getting saved! God took a hard situation and used it to show us His goodness, His glory, and His sovereign hand at work in our lives.

Worshiping on Sunday

Easter Sunday with the B*rmese believers was as exciting as it was exhausting. We traveled to Bo Thong church by bus early in the morning, and ended up preaching the Easter message! It was a bittersweet time, as it would be the last time we visited that church. Then, we hopped back to Bang Sai and worshiped there too! 

Our last couple weeks, at every bible-study or home-cell we went to, Moe would ask us for a testimony, since we only had a few more days to share them! We constantly thanked them for their love and hospitality, and encouraged them to persevere in love. 

With only a few short days left, we prepared sermons, talks, slideshows, and songs for reporting back in Canada, and presented to the missionaries and other Trek team here. All the time we've spent here has changed us so much; preparing to present reminded me of how much I'd learned. The love of God is so powerful! It is breaking through all darkness and tearing down the veil between us and God; it is seeking people out to bring them HOME! Like Luke 10:2 says, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few - the harvest of souls will rot in the fields if no one is willing to sacrifice. 

Sunday evening came quietly. On Monday, all the believers would be travelling to Bangkok for a 3 day discipleship event, and by the time they returned, we would be gone. Everyone from Bang Sai and Bo Thong came to the church in Chachoengsao for a final service; it was glorious and sad all at the same time! 

Adrienne getting B*rmese face-painted!

The Bo Thong Church's song

Group Photo!

Sue and Htoo, and us in our new shirts. (A gift from the churches)

The Last Supper....

Some of the Bang Sai Crew

Our time here ended way too quickly. Adrienne shared about how much we've learned and been impacted by being here, and I preached a message on living in the light. The 3 churches each played a special song, and Adrienne and I wowed everyone by playing a worship song in B*mese! They gave us some wonderful gifts, and prayed for us, and then we took a million pictures, ate some food, said goodbye, and were gone. 

It was such a humbling experience. We came here to serve and do what we could, and sometimes that didn't feel like much - but God used us. He can use anyone who is willing - anyone who is available to His calling. He can use us in Canada and across the world. 

So now we pack, we pray, we get some sleep, and in a few days we fly back to Canada! It's been a while, eh? 

We are so looking forward to seeing everyone! As much as we are going to miss the people here, we are glad to be coming home. Although, now that we've been here, we really have TWO homes.

Thank you all for the prayers and support as we've been on this journey! Keep praying for us as we re-enter Canadian Culture, as we debrief, and discern what's next, and catch up on sleep! God bless!

If you are in Christ, you are a New Creation!

"Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" - 2 Cor. 5:17 (NLT)

We're getting down to our last few weeks in Thailand, which is an incredibly bittersweet feeling. Jeremy and I are super excited to see our friends and family back home, to attend my grad at SBC, and to be back in our home churches (what a privilege it will be to hear sermons and worship in our heart language again!). Yet, the B*rmese people here have become our family. We feel incredibly at home here and have formed amazing friendships as we serve the Lord together. Words can't even describe how hard it will be to leave.

So, this last week, we've really been reflecting on all that we've seen God do since we've been here. And let me tell you, we have seen so much growth and transformation!! Yes, there have been struggles and hardships, and we have spent much time on our knees for the churches and people around us; but God has truly done an amazing work here, and continues to!

2 Cor. 5:17 has really been on my mind lately. In just 5 short months we have seen people come to know Christ for the first time, surrender their lives to His Lordship, and begin sharing the hope that they have with others. We have seen people radically change as God begins working in their hearts and their lives. And that inner transformation also affects the outer - their faces radiate with the joy of the Lord, their eyes are filled with a new-found hope, and as our dear friend Mary would say, "because of Jesus always smile"! It has been such a blessing to grow alongside these passionate new believers and hear testimonies week after week of how they are experiencing God at work! Praise God!

Nong May sharing the love of Christ

Captivating - Nong May's Story

The young children sat rapt in attention as the story-teller wove her tale. Bursts of laughter, poignant sighs, anger, flashed across the faces of her young listeners. Nong May was at it again. May is a story-teller. Trapped in her wheel chair she takes people on adventures, using only her imagination. May’s voice and eyes captivate her listeners as she brings them along with her.

May is handicapped and in Thai society most people see her as a person who is worthless: A burden to her family and the people around her. May feels the sting of rejection and many days she just wants to stay at home, alone.

But these days, May comes to the Hope Center (the Thai ministry center in Chachoengsao) full of joy and laughter. She knows God’s love and wants to share His love with her friends. Her face sparkles with laughter as she tells the story of Jesus choosing her and healing her soul. May has friends, loads of friends and they are all attracted to the love and hope that her life radiates. May is captivated by God’s love and this love is captivating the hearts of her friends.

- written by Dave Sinclair-Peters (MB Mission missionary in Thailand)

I have been blessed to get to know May over the last 5 months. Every Tuesday we head to her village to teach some of the youth and kids music. And wow, is this girl ever talented. While many people never thought she would ever be able to play any instrument, she is now an incredibly talented piano player (thanks to Louise SP and Naomi from the Thai Trek team), and really good bass player! And the blessings and gifts of music that she has received, she freely gives to others. As Naomi and I have taught her piano and bass, May is now teaching other kids how to play! She truly is a joy to be around and a blessing to everyone around her!

worshiping on the beach - with all 3 churches!

the 5 new believers being baptized (plus Jeremy and I, and Pastor Isaiah)

food and fellowship!

This last Sunday all three B*rmese Lighthouse churches came together to celebrate the baptism of 4 new believers! What an amazing day! We all headed to Bang Saen beach, ate together, went swimming, spent time in worship and prayer, and took communion together. As these 4 new Christians publicly declared that they wanted to live for Christ, other people started to gather around to see what was happening. One Thai-speaking man then stood up and announced that he too believed that Jesus was Lord, and that he wanted to receive Christ and be baptized! So 5 people were baptized!! It was also awesome to see other Thai and Cambodian people gather around as the B*rmese people praised God! The gospel was being proclaimed to the nations that evening!!

Peace that Surpasses All Understanding - Nyein Aye Than's Story

We first met Nyein Aye Than in January. She had returned to live with her husband, and he had just become a believer that December. So here she was, sitting in the Bang Sai church, having never ever heard the name of Jesus before. Immediately I felt God place this young woman on my heart and I began praying for her eyes and heart to be opened to the grace and love of God. She faithfully began to attend church, and bible studies, and Mary and Moe lovingly took her under their wing and shared Christ with her. However, she still was hard-hearted and full of anger and confusion. Slowly, God began to soften her heart, and she began to realize her need for Jesus. In the last couple months she finally gave her life to Christ, and we've seen her come alive. She was baptized this last Sunday, and I was moved to tears as she shared her testimony - declaring that Jesus is her Lord and she wants to live for Him alone. Wow! 4 months ago she hadn't even heard about Christ... what a miracle and answer to prayer! Since being baptized, she shared about how God has taken away her anger and bitterness and replaced it with just an incredible peace. Every time we see her now, she has a huge smile, and it is so clear that the love of Christ is in her. The change is this woman truly is unreal! I really believe that God is going to use her to bring many others into His kingdom!

We continue to praise God for all he is doing - for the lives He makes new, and the way He relentlessly pursues the hearts of His children! 

Please continue to join us in prayer!

- Pray for the new believers that were just baptized, that they would continue to grow in their knowledge of the Lord, continue to seek after Him with all their heart, and share all that Christ has done in their lives with those around them

- Pray for the churches in Chachoengsao, Bang Sai, and Bo Thong - that they would continue to be a light in their communities, and that they would continue to seek out the lost and offer hope

- Pray for the B*rmese interns - for wisdom and humility as they share the gospel and build God's Kingdom

- Pray for Jeremy and I, as we begin to transition and prepare to come back to North America - it will be a huge cultural adjustment, and we really need your prayers

God bless!

Another Video Update?!?!

So we have been pretty busy here in Thailand, but recently I had a couple days available to work on some footage I took while Adrienne and I were in B*rma all the way back in November! Here's a link to the video n Youtube - I hope you enjoy seeing some of the sights we've experienced on this amazing adventure so far. Watch it, like it, share it around! And keep praying for us as we only have 4 more weeks out here!!! 

Link to Video

Let us know what you think! And how can we pray for you? :)

God bless you all! 

Video Update!!!

Hey everyone! So this last week I took a few shots with a camera in different places we go, so you can see a little bit of what we do here in Thailand! Interestingly enough, when you're doing stuff and you're busy it's hard to take video of you doing stuff! We've been so blessed to do life with such amazing kids, youth and adults here. In the video we're joined by Cam (Purple shirt) and Wes (with the beard), who are part of the other 2 TREK teams, serving with the Thai Churches. Enjoy! 

Link to Video

This week has been a fun ride; our music teaching in Bo Thong is growing and lots of people are coming to the church to learn! Also, we had the privilege of attending a church service in Chachoengsao where all 3 of the B*rmese churches came together and worshipped as one big family! It's so cool to see how many people's lives have been changed by God's love through the ministry here over the years.

Some of the B*rmese believers! What a group!

Adrienne looking amazing with Mary and Moe, the interns in Bang Sai

Me with Dim Myo oo, one of my drum students

Some of the members of the Bang Sai Church

Brothers in Christ

Adrienne with Hay Man and Nyen Aye Than

Thanks so much for your continued prayers! Let us know how we can pray for YOU! God bless!

Make the Most of Every Opportunity!

Hey everyone!

So this last month we've continued to teach tons of music and tons of English! And it seems like we have more people coming every week! Praise God! The church here truly is a family - they meet together every day, share meals together, worship together, pray for one another, laugh together, share testimonies of God at work, and just live life as a community. No wonder the church is so attractive, and more people keep showing up. The love of Christ, and their love for another is bringing people in!

This last month I've also started exercising early in the morning with Mary and Moe (the wonderful church-planting interns in Bang Sai). There's this beautiful park at the end of our street, right by the ocean, complete with walking paths, and outdoor exercise equipment! So a few mornings a week we head out there to work out. After we finish, we've been heading to the pier, to do our stretches and to pray for the community. This pier is also where tons of B*rmese people work on the many fishing boats. So as we stretch and pray, we've also had the chance to meet tons of new B*rmese people. Mary and Moe never hesitate to invite them to church, English classes, or evening bible studies! Morning exercises have turned into such an amazing chance to share the gospel and build relationships! God continues to teach and remind me to make the most of every opportunity!

So at our evening bible study that next week, tons of the people we had met at the pier showed up! That night our bible study was on John 3:16, and Pastor Moe Aung (the pastor of the Lighthouse church in Chachoengsao) shared the gospel with everyone there! And more and more people would walk by the house we were in, stop to look in the window for a while, and then come in and join us. Normally we have about 7 or 8 people, but that night we had about 15! 

That night one of the men that showed up also accepted Christ!! And since then, he's been faithfully coming to church every Sunday! Continue to pray for him, as well as the other men that have been coming - that their hearts would be open to the gospel, and that they would experience the love and power of Christ.

This last Monday, we also had the opportunity to go to Bo Thong for the day. Bo Thong is where Sue and Htoo are now living and serving, so it was great to visit them for a day, and serve together with them again. Bo Thong is a small community made up mostly of migrant workers from B*rma, and other neighbouring countries. There's tons of factories in the area, and most people work extremely long hours with tons of overtime. It's awesome that so many of them have consistent jobs, but it poses a bit of a challenge for the church-planters and interns. Since people work late into the night, it's been difficult to have any bible studies, or to teach any music. Basically the church has only been meeting on Sundays, and even then lots of people have work.

But, this last week God really opened up a new opportunity. Quite a few people from the church decided not to work overtime on Monday, so that they could come learn guitar, piano, and drums. So that evening for almost three hours Jeremy and I, together with Pastor Isaiah and Vi Jay, taught tons of music! And as people heard what was going on, slowly more people trickled in - even some people that had never attended church before! After teaching, we ate together and excitedly talked about how God was opening a new door in Bo Thong! We're hoping to keep going out there on Mondays, to both teach music, and start a Monday evening worship night and bible study. Pastor Isaiah was really excited at the opportunities to go in and share the gospel! So, continue to pray for Sue and Htoo, and the community of Bo Thong. Right now the church is fairly small, but I know that God is going to continue to draw in new people and transform that community!

Thanks so much for all your prayers and notes of encouragement! Please continue to pray for the churches here (in Chachoengsao, Bang Sai, and Bo Thong), and the leaders and interns that we serve with! 

God bless!

Transition, Sacrifice, and God's GOODNESS!

So this last couple of weeks has been a time of serious transition! Sue and Htoo have moved to Bo Thong, and Mary has moved into the Bang Sai church! With Mary came a wonderful woman named Moe, who recently got inspired to leave her job and dive into the life of a ministry intern with her whole heart! 

They are seriously awesome, and Adrienne has connected with them a lot! Both of them have been Christians for under 2 years, and now God is using and guiding them as they help lead a church plant!!! 

As I see the committment of the believers here, it makes me think of the idea of sacrifice. My camp director from back home, Ryan Wiesner, always says that sacrifice isn't sacrifice unless it costs you something - and these people understand that! Sue and Htoo, faced with moving to a new town, uprooting their family from their home of 2 years, and moving with a new baby to a small town and a new church simply smiled and said "We are moving to Bo Thong". No questions asked, totally trusting God's goodness to see them through! Mary moved to a church she has never been a part of, and Moe gave up her work and moved from B*rma here to work with the ministry! Sacrifice. These amazing people understand the importance of sacrifice. Louise has said to us that as we give what God has given to us, as we give it up and bless people around us, God will just keep giving us more and more and more until we have much more than we started with! 

I think it's a question of treasure - where are we storing up treasures for ourselves? On this earth, in houses and cars and toys and bank accounts? Or are we storing up treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves don't break in and steal, and where our actions and words in this life contribute to a crown of RIGHTIOUSNESS, and the great words: "Well done, my good and faithful servant!".

As we sacrifice things, and give of ourselves, and palce God's plans higher than our own, we see His Kingdom coming on this earth! If all the pastors and interns here were all about comfort and living easy lives, you can bet that not a single one of them would be serving the Lord with reckless abandon like they are doing right now! It's inspiring.

The result of transition is often sacrifice... and this sacrifice is already being covered by God's goodness! In Bo Thong, Sue and Htoo have gotten a place just a few doors down from the church, and the church is growing! Instead of only being open on Sunday morning or when one of the pastors can make the long drive out to hold a bible study, they have a capable and passionate couple living right there! Bible studies all the time, hospitality, and a church building that is really taking shape! We were out there last week, just as the believers were finishing building a stage for it, and we got to help hang the new cross! Everyone was so pumped - The church in Bo Thong is growing! (And it even has a drum set now!!!!!!)

In Bang Sai, Mary and Moe have become the perfect fit. Even though Sue and Htoo are gone, and we miss them greatly, people are still getting saved in Bang Sai! There are bible studies almost every night, music practices, church services, and the believers gathering just to hang out and fellowship. After long hours of work, the believers sacrifice the only free time they have to come to the church faithfully every day, to hear from the word, to grow in their faith, and to just be together as the church. These fishermen and labourers are the richest people that we know - they are committed wholeheartedly to Jesus Christ. 

As we learn more of the language, we get glimpses into the deep truth that they are learning every day - their understanding and wisdom in the Lord is growing! Every time we meet everyone shares testimonies of what God is doing in their lives and what he is teaching them. It's amazing to see guys who have been saved 2 months speaking deep words and realizing that they need to sacrifice things in their lives that don't bring them closer to God. 

When we give of ourselves, out of our own strength, we get tired, and we crash. Not only that, but we get cranky, and we feel entitled to feeling sorry for ourselves, to complaining, and to reminding people how much we do for Jesus. But, when we give out of the limitless strength of Christ, there is no end to what can be accomplished! When we realize that HE is the one with all the power, that HIS kingdom is what we are building, not our own kingdoms, and that HIS name is the one that people need to know about, everything changes. Serving here is amazing... it opens our eyes every day to how great God is, and how good He is, and how little we could ever hope to accomplish on our own. God is good!

I hope that you guys enjoy reading what we write! Let us know if there's anything you want to hear about, or are curious about, or want to hear more of! I hope that you are just getting pumped up to serve God where you are, in your daily routine! I hope that sacrifice goes from being a scary word in our vocabularies to one that reminds of of God's plan, and His goodness to us. 

We love you all! Thank you so much for your prayers! 

You can make a difference! You can CHANGE THE WORLD!

Hey friends! I wanted to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who have prayed for us, and who have given financially to our journey! It's because of people who care about the kingdom of God that we can do this. Without the generosity of millions of believers around the world, missions would not be able to be supported on the vast extent that it is now! 

We are so pumped to hear that people actually read what we write! I know, crazy isn't it? I'm glad that our updates and experiences encourage you guys in your faith - we are learning so much and experiencing so much growth; it's pretty amazing! A lot of that is because of the leadership of Dave and Louise Sinclair-Peters, the team leaders down here who came 15 years ago with a vision, spent years and years in the trenches learning the language and building a ministry from nothing. Today they are leading a hugely multiplied and vibrant faith community here, with Thai and B*rmese churches, cell groups, and a large group of national leaders that they have raised up and given the tools to preach the gospel and spread the name of Jesus all over this country!!!

Goosebumps! God is at work in a powerful way here, and recently I've been inspired to do a little post about how you and I can get involved in the ministry here on the front lines! 

I don't know how many of you get Louise's newsletters, but they are filled with her prayers and dreams for the ministry here, and great stories! If you don't get them, get connected! Here is the link to the latest one. READ IT!

www.smore.com/6cgs1

Some of the things written there nearer the bottom blew my mind. The cost of things here are, relatively speaking, so low! As Jesus said in Luke 10:2, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few - I am inspired to change that! In Louise's post, she mentioned that to send a B*rmese believer to discipleship school costs 300 dollars for 3 months. Now, 3 months isn't a long time... but these guys are up at 5, praying, memorizing the bible, learning to lead worship, learning to preach, and learning to make disciples and multiply themselves. They are being hardened in the fire of passionate discipleship!! Each one comes out changed, and spends the 9 months they are not in school working with Louise and the pastors here to bring the gospel to the areas that the B*rmese ministry are involved in. After 3 years of this, they are wise, discerning, powerful intercessors and preachers. (Read Adrienne's post about the B*rmese trip that just happened to hear some awesome stories of what the interns that go to discipleship school do!!)

As they throw themselves into ministry, it means leaving jobs and depending on the Lord entirely for their support. Louise helps as much as she can, but they live with very little means. Can you imagine spending 900 dollars to pay for a 3 year discipleship program for someone? Or 150 dollars a month to support their life of evangelism and outreach? We have seen so many of the young people of Bang Sai declare a desire to be able to go to discipleship school - a fierce passion for God is rising up in them, and the only thing preventing them is the cost. 

There are SO MANY opportunities to make a difference here by giving. Every gift big or small makes a difference. From buying bibles to musical instruments, or paying for discipleship school, the church here is so blessed when we give. I'm not trying to twist anyone's arm; I just know it blew my mind, and I want everyone to have a chance to give if they are inspired to do so. Think it over, pray about it - maybe get together with a bible study group or Sunday school class and go in together! Louise's post has info for project numbers and how to give. 

Also, here are a couple videos of the brand new Bang Sai worship team! We have been so encouraged, as we teach music here, how passionate the B*rmese believers are about worship. They have lead worship for the past 2 Sundays, and it is so exciting to see new Christians becoming leaders! Htoo is leading, with one of the believers that he has been teaching guitar to, as well as 2 of my drum students!

Again, thanks for all your support! We are so encouraged to have you all behind us - God bless you!

The Church is Growing and God's Spirit is Moving!

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland" Is.43:19 (NLT)

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! 

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!

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!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everybody! 2015 is going to be amazing!

I figured that a lot of you might be curious as to where in Thailand we are doing ministry! It's a big place, with 75 Million people, and being able to see where we are can help you visualize what we are up to better. So, here are some maps!!

This is Khlong Luang Phaeng - the street adress in the search bar is actually Dave and Louise Sinclair-Peters house! They live in a small town 30 minutes outside of Chachoengsao city (you can see it south-east of them). Chachoengsao city is home to the Hope Centre, one of their big thai ministries. The B*rmese churches that they have planted are located in Bo Thong (bottom right of the map), Bang Sai (in Chon Buri City, south of them; we live there!) and in the town they live. 3 strong churches! It's very exciting to be a part of their growth.

This is our street address in Bang Sai, a section of Chon Buri. The city is home to a million people, so it's very big and busy! You can find us on map programs by inputting that address!

This is our neighbourhood! Isn't technology amazing? At the centre of the picture, there is an intersecrtion. We live in the apartment on the upper right corner of the intersection, and the church is one building up and one building right from us!

We also thought you might like to see where we are up close, so here is a video walk-through of our place! (it's not much to look at, but it's home!) In case you are wondering, I'm no sure if videos work on the Mobile Blogger site - desktop computers/laptops show them just fine though!

It's a new year, and we are so excited for what's to come! we have another 4 months here, and we are praying that we learn and grow in a lot of ways. God is teaching us so many amazing things, and I wanted to share a couple stories with all of you from the last while.

During the Bang Sai Christmas outreach, we played music and praised God until late/early! After that, we were packing up and tired and in the hustle and bustle of the end of the evening, we didn't notice that someone sauntered in and grabbed the High-Hat from the drum kit! The next day we realized it was gone, and were pretty sad about it - a good high-hat and stand can be over a hundred dollars here! God's hand was at work, however!!! A few days later, Louise and us were there for church, and a lady approached her - she was a scrap seller, who operates from right across the street from us. Someone had come up to her and sold her the high-hat and stand for 30 Baht! (about 1 dollar). She had been watching the Christmas Party while she worked, and had talked to Louise a lot; she gladly gave us back the high-hat and wouldn't even take any money for it! God touched her heart for sure that night, and made a way for us to have our drum set part back! It's little things like that that remind us that God has our back.

The week of the parties, we were madly getting presents ready for a kids club, and had a lot of stapling to do. With 16 presents left, I realized that we only had 8 staples, with no more in the building. We kept going, and all of a sudden the last bag was stapled! I had to laugh, because it was like Elijah and the pot of flour and oil, except it was a box of staples! God is good.

Hope you are encouraged! Blessings!