Dear Friends in Christ,

God is full of surprises and we want to share a big one with you and ask for your prayers. Payap University is one of only two Christian universities in Thailand. Presbyterian missionaries played key roles in its founding 26 years ago. We both teach in its faculty of theology—Rob teaches Greek and New Testament while Esther covers pastoral counseling. The university has grown into seven faculties and a graduate school serving over 9000 students, mostly Thai, but including students from neighboring Asian countries and around the world. President Boonthong Poocharoen has become increasingly concerned for the spiritual life of the university and created a new administrative position to address that concern. He invited Esther to become his assistant for religious affairs, whose primary responsibility is to serve as chaplain of the university. This came to us as a bolt from the blue, but has felt like it has God’s hand all over it.

Esther is awed and excited at the magnitude of the task. She will assist Vice President for Religious Affairs Chuwit Wootikarn who has a wonderful warm pastor’s heart. Acharn Chuwit is able to communicate God’s gentle kindness to students and faculty alike. He has served at Payap for over two decades and is eager for help to do all that is possible to communicate the wonder and goodness of God’s grace to the myriad of students attending the university who’ve never had the opportunity to hear. Another focus will be strengthening and encouraging Christians in the university community so that our lives individually and collectively will better reflect the Lord Jesus. Esther believes her primary agenda will be
prayer—praying for the people of Payap and encouraging more prayer. God is the only one who can accomplish his will among us; and God needs our willing and hungry and praying hearts to do it. Please pray with us that (1) prayer will blossom wonderfully at Payap; (2) God will communicate his love to students who’ve never heard before; (3) that the Christians will grow into maturity in Christ.

This change means Esther will no longer be working directly with pastors and their families, and she’ll be ending her therapy practice. A German missionary has just returned from time at home to provide leadership in the pastoral unit, and other counselors are coming to work in the international community. As surprising as this change has been, it feels as if the timing is right. The new position for Esther will require a greater variety of skills and hopefully grow a few more in her. Pray for grace and wisdom as she learns to function effectively in the university environment.

Rob is excited about developments at the McGilvary Faculty of Theology at Payap. New faculty and
administrators are in place. The Rev. Somnuk Jaripen, an old friend and student from Rob’s years in Fahng district (1970-72), has just been installed as head of the department of theology. He is a kindly and thorough administrator. In our next letter we would like to include a feature story on this man. Three new young teachers have been added: one each in Old Testament, New Testament, and theology. There is a renewed interest and commitment to prayer and mutual
encouragement on the faculty. This seems to be in keeping with Esther’s hopes for spiritual renewal throughout the campus. Rob has been very busy with four courses and special programs and lectures this semester. His work on Thai Bible revision has slowed somewhat, but that continues to be a challenging piece of work.

On the home front, Nathan and Paul were sent off to college by their older sister Kris and her husband Troy. That was a comfort to our lonely parental hearts at this time of letting go. Nathan is attending the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, and Paul is 40 minutes away at Malone College in Canton, Ohio. The boys enjoyed a summer living with Esther’s parents in western Ohio, earning money picking sweet corn. Esther and Anna visited there for a few weeks and helped with college preparations. Kris and Troy live in South Pasadena, California, where Troy teaches and Kris is a teaching assistant and does some nursing. Rob’s son John lives in Canton, Ohio, and it will be wonderful that he is so close to Nathan and Paul. Rob’s son Andy and his wife Ellen still serve as missionaries in Nepal. We hope to see them at Christmas. Anna is starting eighth grade at Chiang Mai International School and is enjoying the bigger bedroom she inherited from Paul.

We appreciate your prayers and letters. We’d love to hear how God is surprising you these days. Scripture says that the joy of the Lord is our strength, and that is a reality we are experiencing more and more. God is full of joy and it is an amazing adventure to live with God in that huge joy.

Blessings,

Rob and Esther

The 2000 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 158