| We believe that good shepherding
care of our students is crucial if we are to continue to attract
and keep students. The week before school opened in June, our
president, Dr. Boonthong Poocharoen, called me into his office
to meet Miss Kung. She had applied to Payap, but wanted to withdraw
before school even started because of family problems. Dr. Boonthong
wanted us to do all we could to help Kung. I met with Kung and
found out that her mother had died several months before and her
father was not providing much emotional or financial support;
there were some problems in their relationship and she didn’t
feel she could manage the pressure of college. I didn’t
push her to try to do something that felt too big, but encouraged
her to call me and to feel free to come in for counsel and support
whether she decided to attend Payap or not. A couple days later
she called me in great distress, needing a place to stay, and
feeling utterly abandoned.
I contacted a recent graduate of Payap, Naen, a member of a local
church who works with Youth for Christ. Naen agreed to take Kung
in for a few days. Naen and the Good Shepherd and the young people
of her church went to work; they embraced Kung in a loving fold.
She spent the weekend getting “dragged” from one Christian
activity to another and even started asking God for help. Through
these new friends the Good Shepherd found her a dorm and roommate,
some spare uniforms to wear, and some financial help for food
until her government loans came through. Kung felt she had enough
hope to give college a try after all. Since then there has been
some reconciliation between Kung and her father, and he’s
providing some support. She did well on her mid-term exams and
is gearing up for finals. Kung has also decided to follow Jesus.
She continues to receive nurture in her new faith through our
staff and Naen and others.
Kung’s family and financial difficulties are common among
our students. To help with finances, the Thai government began
a university loan program several years ago, but funds are limited.
We would love to be able to offer much more financial aid in scholarships
and grants. Interest rates in Thailand are around 2 percent, making
our scholarship aid drastically more limited than in the past.
Consumerism and urbanization are taking their toll on the fabric
of family life. People are madly seeking money and spending less
time together simply enjoying life. Our goal at Payap is for each
student to experience God’s love personally—through
a friend or teacher or staff member. We want each student to know
she or he is a precious lamb for whom God has good plans.
The Christian Communications Institute (CCI—which Rob heads)
held a wonderful week of plays and music for our “Spiritual
Emphasis Week” this August. The theme was the “value
of life” and the chapel was packed. We followed up with
a new believers’ retreat, which included 30 new believers,
five Campus Crusade staff, and 25 other staff and student leaders.
The weekend was filled with laughter, great music, solid teaching,
and tons of delicious food. The rebuilding of our Christian student
group has begun in earnest. Our activities include a music club
and an English conversation club. These are avenues through which
students can experience God’s love and care. The Shepherd
is gathering his lambs and carrying them in his arms.
Please pray with us for Payap University during this challenging
30th year: that God will multiply shepherds at Payap who will
express God’s deeply compassionate heart to our students
and to our staff who don’t know him. Currently only 30 percent
of our staff is Christian and 4 percent of our students. Please
pray that the Christians would be wonderful witnesses of God’s
love and that more students will have the opportunity to become
followers of Jesus, as Kung has. If you would like to share in
this ministry with gifts for student scholarships or CCI’s
work or Payap’s ministry in general, you can do so. Find
the specifics below.
Blessings,
Esther Wakeman and Rob Collins
The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
184
P.S. God has been shepherding our family wonderfully in this
year. Nathan (21) is finishing his senior year at the College
of Wooster in Ohio and plans to graduate in May with a major in
International Relations. Paul (21) is in the first class of International
College (studying in English) at Payap University. He’s
majoring in international business management. Anna (17) is in
her junior year at Chiang Mai International School and is studying
guitar and writing wonderful songs. Rob’s daughter Kris
and son-in-law Troy just had their first child, a beautiful boy,
Nathan Sawyer. We’re looking forward to all the family being
together at New Year’s to celebrate the 50th anniversary
of Chiang Mai International School.
P.S. Contributions to the ministry of Payap University may be
sent to: Central Receiving Service, Section 300, Louisville, KY
40289. Write the title (Payap University) and the ECO number on
the subject line (ECO#862211) of the check and put it on your
cover letter, too. Send a copy of the cover letter to the Office
of Global Education and International Leadership Development at
100 Witherspoon St. Louisville, KY 40202-1396. Send us a copy,
too. If you would like to contribute to scholarships for theology
students at Payap University, use this number: ECO#862414. Or
click here
to contribute to Payap University and here
to contribute to the scholarship fund for theology students.
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