August 29, 2005

Dear Friends,

The top stories for this letter are family, Feun Foo, flooding, and furlough.

Family first

Esther and Rob and our children Nathan (23) and Anna (19) journeyed with Esther’s parents back to Kabul, Afghanistan, during April for the visit of a lifetime. Al and Thelma Wakeman had taken Esther with them there when she was just a few months old and stayed for six years. Al taught English and Thelma had more kids, and they developed deep ties with the place, people, food, and friends that have lasted even though they had not been able to return to Kabul for 43 years. It was wonderful to hear Al and Thelma’s memories and make many new ones together. God is breathing an Afghan church into being, and it was precious to be together and experience bits of it there. Afghanistan is poor and bedraggled, but rebuilding is moving forward at an amazing pace. There is great need for teachers in both Afghan and international schools.

Feun Foo with the Christian Communications Institute (CCI)

As they do each year, CCI is performing their week-long evangelism (called “Feun Foo” in Thai), dance, drama, and music program at schools all over the country. Students are responding more readily to the gospel message than ever before. At Payap University 48 of 153 first-year nursing students signed cards saying they had prayed to receive Christ into their lives. Many other students from the other departments of the university also responded. Our volunteer student ministry staff is working with the Payap church to follow up and disciple these precious young believers. Pray that each one will find a new Christian friend to love them, teach them, and encourage them in their discipleship of Jesus Christ.

Flooding

On Sunday, August 14, 2005, Chiang Mai experienced the worst flooding of the river in over 40 years. We had six-inches of river water flowing through our living room, but fortunately we were able to get all our “stuff” upstairs before the water inundated us. Many others throughout the north of Thailand were wiped out by the flooding. The Payap University music department raised 30 pianos above the floodwater in time through the heroic efforts of many students and staff. Almost 80 Payap staff families were affected directly by the flood.

Furlough

Rob and Esther will be in the United States for interpretation assignment during September and October (i.e. right now!). Nathan and Paul will join us to take their little sister to begin her first year of college at Whitworth in Spokane, Washington. Then we’ll have some family time in Ohio with Esther’s parents and siblings.

For the month of October we’ll be guiding the CCI Likay Drama Team on a tour of the United States. Please join us for one of the following performances (they begin at 7:00 p.m. at the church in the cities listed below). This is guaranteed to be one of the most enjoyable missionary presentations you will ever experience. Every place we have performed audiences have bemoaned the fact that they didn’t invite more people to come. You will be amazed by the beauty, delighted by the humor, and moved by the message.

Thank you for sharing in prayer and support of our work at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We love the privilege of partnering with the church here in sharing the good news of God’s love in Jesus Christ. We hope to see many of you soon.

Blessings in Christ,

Esther Wakeman and Rob Collins

The 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 121

Sept. 28 Edmond, OK First Christian Church 405-341-3544
Sept. 29 Kansas City, MO Second Presbyterian 816-363-1300
Oct. 2 Bloomington, IN First Presbyterian 812-829-6111
Oct. 3 Spencer, IN Spencer High School 812-829-6111
Oct. 4 Maumee, OH First Presbyterian 419-893-0223
Oct. 5 Toledo, OH Collingwood Pres. 419-243-3275
Oct. 7 Wooster, OH First Presbyterian 330-264-9420
Oct. 9 Mechanicsburg, PA Silver Spring Pres. 717-766-0204
Oct. 10 Reisterstown, MD Northminster Pres. 410-833-3815
Oct. 11 Fairfax, VA Christ Presbyterian 703-470-9841
Oct. 12 Washington, DC National Presbyterian 212-537-0800
Oct. 15 Greensboro, NC Westminster Pres. 336-209-3944
Oct. 16 Waxhaw, NC JAARS (SIL) 704-843-6469
Oct. 17 Montreat NC Montreat Conf. Cntr.
Oct. 18 Johnson City, TN Milligan College
Oct. 19 Hendersonville, NC Trinity Presbyterian 828-692-6114
Oct. 21 Atlanta, GA Peachtree St. Pres. 205-824-4569
Oct. 22 Louisville, KY Crescent Hill Baptist 502-896-4425
Oct. 23 Smyrna, TN Smyrna Assembly 615-217-0856
Oct. 25 Port Arthur, TX First Christian 409-962-7714
Oct. 26 Houston, TX First Presbyterian 281-579-9596
Oct. 27 Wimberley, TX Cypress Creek Church 512-847-1222
Oct. 29 Plano, TX Disciples Christian 940-368-4851
Oct. 30 Dallas, TX East Dallas Christian 214-824-8185