Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

We have passed our 6th month mark here in Thailand! We have many updates and prayer requests we would like to share with you through snippets below. As always, many thanks for your partnership & prayers!

Language & Culture Learning

Praise God that we both passed our Module 4 check on reading and writing in Thai. With 44 consonants and 9 vowels (not to mention vowel clusters and differentiating between long and short vowels), we had our hands (and our minds) full! Yet we have successfully moved on to Module 5 on initial communication, focusing on conversational skills and additional reading/writing. Last week, we also had a special session entitled “Thai Spirit Beliefs” (photo shows the spirit shrine at the entrance of our neighborhood). Please pray that we may continue to progress in our language & culture learning and take opportunity to interact with local Thais in the community as well.

Pray also for 3 of our Thai teachers, who are not believers (Wan, Wii, & Tum). We both have had opportunities to study with them and share the love of Christ through our testimonies.

Phrasiri Community Church:

This is the local Thai church that our family is currently attending here in Lopburi. Though the congregation is fairly small, exciting things are happening. Two Sundays ago, we held baptism for 4 individuals. One lady named “Kang” (see photo) came to the church through the English teaching outreach that takes place every week. Please pray for the spiritual growth of these 4 new believers, and for discipleship to take place.

We have recently been asked by Pastor Phon at Phrasiri Church to help with the English teaching outreach every Thursday as well. Along with another missionary couple, we taught for the first time on June 14. There were 16 youths & children that attended that evening. It is said that many who come to Christ in Thailand first hear the gospel as a child. Please pray for this outreach endeavor in the “Kay Hat” community nearby the church.

Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand (EFT) and Missionary Visa Situation:

There has been an ongoing internal issue within the EFT, which is the organization through which OMF works with to procure one-year Religious Affairs (RA) Visas for all OMF missionaries & partnering missionaries in Thailand. As a result, all impending visa applications & visa renewals have not been accepted or processed by the Thai Religious Affairs Dept. Even though Dave has obtained his RA Visa already, Lila & the boys have not been able to come under that visa and still have Multiple-Entry O Visas, which require them to exit & re-enter Thailand every 3 months. This is a matter requiring urgent prayer because some missionaries (including field director & regional director) have already lost their RA visa upon their one-year expiration recently. Please pray that God’s sovereignty would take place in the midst of uncertainty for OMF missionaries in Thailand.

Vehicle in Thailand:

Ever since we arrived to Thailand we have mainly used bicycles to get around (see photo of Dave and the boys – this is how Dave usually takes them to their homeschool teacher). Some of our Thai language teachers have commented that: 1.) it’s very hot to ride around in Thailand on a bicycle (especially during the hot season!), and 2.) it can be quite dangerous maneuvering a bicycle through traffic in Thailand. That being said, bicycles are still the cheapest and quickest option for local commuting for missionaries. Yet there are several reasons why we need to consider purchasing a used vehicle, including travel needs, field recommendation, ministry use, and personal family use. Please pray that God will provide the funds to purchase a vehicle as we start the support-raising process. Feel free to let us know if you would like more info.

Field Conference & Upcoming Travels:

Each year, the OMF Thailand field holds an annual conference for its missionaries & partnering missionaries in Thailand. This year it will be in Saraburi from June 21st to June 24th. The theme of the conference will be "The God of Glory Working In and Through His People,” and the focus will be devotional (usually it alternates between training and devotional). Please pray that the Lord will strengthen our walk with Him, refresh us personally, and bless our fellowship. Pray that we may also take opportunity to engage with and learn from other missionaries at the conference.

Also, from July 17th to July 23rd, we will be making a field trip to southern Thailand to survey the current ministry work there. We will be traveling to Ban Nam Khem in Phangna province and then to Pak Phanang near Nakhon Si Thammarat. Please pray for God’s leading and confirmation for future ministry placement.