August 2023 Update
In the words of Yogi Berra, “It’s déjà vu all over again.”
Sixty days ago, when we needed to renew our visas in MaeSot by exiting the country, the border abruptly closed. The war was close, the bridge was bombed, and fighting was everywhere. To obtain our visas, we took a bus 11 hours to MaeSai, then crossed the Mekong River to Laos and climbed several thousand stairs (at least it seemed so at the time!) Although after obtaining our visas we went back to MaeSot, the conflict situation did not improve, making it too dangerous for people to cross from M______ for training, so we returned to MaeSai permanently.
The déjà vu part? Sixty days later, when the time came to renew our visas…this border closed as well, but only for foreigners. Seriously? We kept checking until the last day possible for our visa renewal but there was no reprieve. The “party line” is that country is cleaning up the gangster element in the town over the border, and until they do, they don’t want to risk the kidnapping of foreigners.
Thailand takes a very dim view of people “overstaying” their visas. It’s nothing to be hauled off a bus, heavily fined, and summarily deported if in violation. And so, once again, we headed to the Mekong River and tackled the “thousand steps” (Peter’s poor knee!) to renew our visas, this time toting his “customized” walker, outfitted with longer legs and “off-road-sized” wheels to handle uneven surfaces. We came away hugely grateful, clutching our renewed visas. A successful outcome is in no way guaranteed; written in the Thai rulebook is the daunting caveat that every immigration officer has the individual authority to deny or grant admission. Thank you, LORD, for the favor!
The civil war in that country-that-must-not-be-named rages on, quietly supported militarily by various “interested” countries, the misery of its people unseen and/or ignored by the rest of the world. Food is scarce and expensive. Honest day work is almost non-existent as farms are ruined and/or crops seized when ripe. Those who have an income are targeted by those who don’t; villages are ransacked for rice, water, food...whatever they have...to support the military. The refugee situation continues to strain both the resources and the hospitality of Thailand, which is now experiencing its own political upheaval. Getting food to Christians in the interior requires contacts, courage, and God’s covering. We were fortunate to have all three recently and were able to get supplies to a pastor doing steady work in the interior. We’d hoped we'd be able to support his work by supplying a garden or a fish tank but there is not enough water available for either project. That is why you will see all his baptisms are in a concrete pipe as water is so scarce.
Here in MaeSai, back working with those who have had discipleship training, Peter is hosting Pastors’ Conferences to develop leadership, enhance relationships among missionaries, and support effective missions. Upcoming this month, he’s scheduled for three week-long discipleship training courses, the first with Bible school students next week in Chiang Mai, the other two in MaeSai for the Thai and Burmese. I have been kept busy by adding three days of teaching English to absolute beginners. It is a massive challenge because a number of these children, refugees from M____ from the Lahu ethnic group, most of them teenagers, have NEVER been to school. In M_____, it was because they had no access; in Thailand, it’s because they have no identity papers (something like a birth certificate), necessary for enrollment in Thai schools. So here these sweet teenagers sit, wide-eyed; they’ve no idea how to write, read, hold a pencil, or even be in a classroom! And I’m going to teach them to both read and write…in English! Poor babies! But they are oh-so enthusiastic… and innocent… and open…even the 19-year-olds are willing to play Simon Says as they learn body parts!
A miracle that unfolded before our eyes involves The Lord’s Table Church in North Carolina, which recently completed another successful Vacation Bible School. A mission-minded church, they’ve instilled in ALL ages the need to spread the Word. Each year, they dedicate their camp offering to a mission cause and this year sent us a substantial donation, with just these instructions: “For use for the Haitian children.” Well, we fired off the news to Pastors Jaime and Jackie in the Dominican who replied instantly and with joy. “Sister,” they said, awed. “We’d committed to running a Vacation Bible School for the Haitians, but we had no money to feed the kids…and now the LORD has provided.” And a week later, Vacation Bible Schools they had…three in all...with over 200 attending the first, and 60 the others! Food had been the stumbling block: they can make do with minimal supplies, improvising with little or nothing…but they HAVE to feed the kids! Thank you, Lord’s Table VBS Kids! All told in the Dominican including churches and VBS, there were 60 souls added to the Kingdom in July.
And Peter’s knee? Well, while we wait (as patiently as we can) for the LORD to re-grow his cartilage, we’re doing everything possible in the natural to promote healing…including submitting to torture from a Thai Indian-method-trained acupressure therapist. I’m not kidding about the torture; after watching a few sessions, I’ve had to excuse myself as I really can’t bear it. Peter says about 80% of what the therapist does, such as digging into his groin with an elbow or stepping on the inside of his thigh with a heel, is excruciating. After two hours he emerges…without a bruise, moving well, and pain vanquished! The (substantial) swelling in his knee, calf, foot, and toes is gone! Again, language barriers make the therapist’s explanations vague so we’re not sure of the “why,” but you can’t question the results. Personally, I would like to enjoy such benefits myself…but I’m sure not willing to endure the pain to get them!
We are incredibly grateful for the protection and provision of our LORD while we’ve been here, everything from doors that have opened, people we’ve met, to favor we’ve been shown. We covet your specific prayers for the following:
1) Please pray that we attract those believers to our training sessions whose hearts burn to make disciples and that we can equip them to be successful.
2) Pray for the three discipleship training courses that each will be held over 5 days instead of six weeks. This is a new format for us which will allow believers from more distant places in M___to cross the border and stay for a whole week of training, instead of returning every week.
3) Pray my students learn the LORD loves them, even if they don’t learn much English!
As always, we thank you sincerely for your love, prayers, and support, and for partnering with us for the advancement of the Kingdom!
“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18