January 2006
Dear Friends in our supporting churches,
Thank you for your support for our family through the years.
We are grateful. Your gifts make it possible for us to live and
serve here in Thailand as part of the worldwide ministries of
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and to extend the ministry of
your church in partnership with the Church of Christ in Thailand.
Thank you.
This past year has been one of our most fulfilling years as a
family and in ministry in Thailand. Some of the highlights we
are grateful for include:
January
Esther’s long-time dream to hold our program for fourth-year
students (called “going out into the wide world”)
at the mission cabins of Payap University at the top of a mountain
in the middle of a national park was realized! Eight-hundred students
and teachers in four groups hiked the two-hour walk up to the
newly renovated cabins and campsite for a gorgeous, fun, and inspiring
time together before graduation. (We’re getting ready to
do it again next month, too! Please pray for safety, and that
students will realize their preciousness and potential to make
real positive contributions to the human community.)
February
Son Paul was released from prison in Chiang Mai, and began the
long journey back to health and wholeness. He’s been living
at home, traveled with us to reconnect with family and friends
during September, and is working steadily teaching English in
Chiang Mai. We enjoy his humor and help, and continue to pray
for the deepest healing and restoration of his soul.
March
Esther’s staff headed up our international work camps with
International Christian University and Keisen University, both
Japanese Christian universities similar to Payap. One-hundred
campers worked together to build the floors and wall of a northern
Thai church in Chiang Rai province. Good friendships were begun,
and campers were invited to consider more of what it means to
be disciples of Jesus Christ.
April
Esther’s parents came to Chiang Mai, and then all but Paul
went to Pakistan and on to Kabul, Afghanistan, where Esther lived
from babyhood through kindergarten. We loved seeing the sights,
smelling the smells, and tasting the delicious fruits and food
that were dearly loved memories deep in the hearts of Esther and
her parents. We met new friends and old and had a generally amazing
and wonderful visit.
May
The Christian Communications Institute (CCI) put the finishing
touches on their new songs and dramas for the program for Spiritual
Emphasis Week that was shared in 16 schools around the country
from June through November. This year’s theme was “power
for living,” and students responded to the gospel more readily
than ever before.
June
Payap University started the school year. Esther’s fifth
year at Payap proceeded well, with an experienced and committed
staff ready to build on good programs developed over several years.
Our English club, music club, and Campus Crusade volunteers are
working together well to make disciples of Jesus Christ. The convocation
worship service included handing out plaques to more than 70 staff
members who had worked at the university for 25 years or longer.
July
Anna graduated from high school in June, and in July said goodbye
to Chiang Mai. She sorted, packed, sold, and tossed stuff to get
ready for college, and then helped Esther go through decades of
clutter and reduce it significantly. That was a great help when
it flooded in August—there was space upstairs to move furniture
and books out of harm’s way.
August
CCI led the annual Spiritual Emphasis Week at Payap University,
Rob preached, and God blessed with good participation and good
responses. The spiritual atmosphere at Payap and throughout Chiang
Mai and Thailand seems much more open to the message of God’s
love and salvation offered through Jesus Christ. Churches are
being planted and growing in greater numbers than ever before.
Payap Church is growing in strength and numbers under the able
leadership of the Reverend Teerapong Chaisri, and cooperation
between the church and the chaplain’s office is bearing
good fruit in ministry to both staff and students.
The first of four floods in Chiang Mai sent water right into
our living room. We’re grateful to report that we sustained
no serious damage.
September
Rob, Esther, Nathan, and Paul took Anna to begin her first year
of college at Whitworth in Spokane, Washington. The orientation
weekend was welcoming, informative, and fun, and the difficulty
saying goodbye was mitigated by our confidence that Anna had chosen
the right school and was in the right place. Nathan then headed
back to Alaska to finish up a summer construction job, and Paul
went with us to visit Esther’s family and friends in Ohio.
We loved watching John’s children, Ben and Connie, run well
in cross-country; they are growing into delightful young adults.
Andy, Ellen, and their energetic sons, Christopher and Jonathon,
entertained us during a brief stop in their home in North Carolina
during our travels, too. We celebrated our twenty-fifth wedding
anniversary (one month early) and the 80th birthdays of Esther’s
parents.
October
Paul headed home to continue teaching English and Nathan to continue
his work with Free Burma Rangers (who work with internally displaced
people in Burma). Rob and Esther were joined in Texas by the CCI
drama and dance troupe for a tour of 25 churches and schools in
11 states, in five weeks, driving 6,000 miles to share the beauty
of Thai music and dance, and the fun and glamour of traditional
Thai drama—Likay. We made lots of new friends along the
way and enjoyed some special sightseeing opportunities as well.
The Hallmark card company, the new Air and Space Museum, and Washington,
D.C. stand out as highlights. Special thanks to all our wonderful
hosts. Bless you.
CCI is planning another tour for October 2006. If you would like
us to visit your church or area, contact us now at the email address
on our home page.
November
Work in the chaplain’s office at Payap had continued apace
in Esther’s absence and she hit the ground running upon
our return—with a counseling skills workshop for Payap teachers
and three days of preaching for spiritual renewal chapel services
at McCormick Hospital (the Christian hospital founded in the late
1800s by Presbyterian missionaries). Rob spent a week in Bangkok
working on Bible translation, as he does several times a year.
December
An all-day Christmas party with worship, Santa, supper, and the
Payap choir singing The Messiah made for the “best Payap
Christmas ever” in Esther’s view (you can read more
details in a Mission Connections letter
that should be coming to you soon). We’ve just enjoyed a
quiet, joyful Christmas with family and friends here in Chiang
Mai. We love having Rob’s daughter Kris, her husband, Troy,
and son Sawyer here in Chiang Mai. Two-year old Sawyer is chattering
non-stop, and hearing “grammom and grampa” is music
to our ears.
Once again we want to say how grateful we are to God for his
gift to us through you. We love knowing and serving Jesus Christ.
We love the privilege of working with the church here to share
his love and to invite people to consider following him. Our prayer
is that you will grow in your knowledge of and love for him in
the coming year. We also hope we may be able to see a few of you.
We will be in the United States from March 17 to May 15, 2006.
Much of our time is being arranged by the PC(USA)’s Mission
Connections office, but we’ll be in the Pasadena, California,
area from March 18-24, and in northeastern Ohio from April 3-21,
and in the Portland, Oregon, area from May 11-14. If you would
like us to visit during one of those times, let us know.
God’s richest blessings on you all,
Rob and Esther
The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 122
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