On the Home Front

On the home front

As you can see below, our grandkids (with whom we spent time in October) continue to delight us with their incredible genius and precocity.

Thanksgiving!  We celebrated a week late because on the day we were moving into our house.  As you can see, however, Ruthie put on a spread.  I don't know how she does it. 

 

 

China & Japan

Relations between China and Japan, at least politically, are a sensitive subject these days.  Trips to both places became, for us, a study in stark contrasts.  In both places we visited churches with faithful members.  In both places we drank in large doses of two wonderful cultures.   

Our time in China was very instructive as we participated in a ceremony to dedicate a church building which was a joint project between the Chinese government, the Covenant Church in Taiwan, and Covenant Church in the USA.  This was not something we expected.  We sat with government officials as they made speeches; and our Taiwanese brother was also given a chance to speak.  We were given a true red-carpet reception and cultural show.

 

In Japan, our primary purpose for going was to meet with our Asia Regional Council to plan for the next year and to strategize.  Along the way we attended services in a couple of NSKK churches and had the pleasure of witnessing a classic Japanese tea ceremony, reinterpreted and infused with Christian content.

 

Visitors Bearing Gifts

Another of the new realities we're excited about is this--the increasing frequency of short-term teams and "vision trips".  The world has shrunk and Thailand is no longer that far away. 

In October we hosted, at Mekong Valley Foods,  a group of visitors from Crossroads Covenant in Loveland, CO.  They came.  We gave our shpiel.  We showed them our work, we told them our story...then it was time to turn the tables.  We grilled them a bit.  And we told them about the needs--and that we're looking for quality, dedicated people.   

This was a group of seasoned, mature leaders with a heart to serve.  By the time our friends left, we were fairly certain we were going to see some of them back in Thailand at some time not too far in the future.  They came bearing gifts--and the gifts were these:   themselves and a big dose of encouragement!

We make them wear goofy hairnets not only because its company policy, but so if they never show up again, we can bring these out and blackmail them.  Pam & Larry Moeser.  Jane Peterson.

Back to Issaan

Here's some good news.  Ruthie and I have been very encouraged by growth--both in numbers and maturity of some of Thai Covenant friends and churches in the Roi Et area.   

In September we joined a moving ceremony requested by Pho Souw--"Father Souw"--one of the early evangelists and church leaders in the Udon area.  At somewhere near 92 years old (or "possibly 101", he said--"I can't really remember") he wanted to hold a ceremony to admonish all his grandchildren and relatives to "stand up for Jesus".  And so he did.  And he fed us a big meal afterwards.  Many of the Udon church leaders were there and celebrated with him, including Acharn (Pastor) Tongpan and many others.   

Father Souw and A. Inchai at his valedictory

New life in Roi Et--Siang has a new car too

From there we went to Roi Et for a board meeting of the Life Foundation (Lower Issaan Foundation for Enablement) and we heard and saw how all the fish ponds are operating back at capacity and the camp is holding sports events and the work of church planting and enablement is moving forward.  And here's the real encouraging part--this is all happening without support funds and significant input from outside.