March 2007
Dear Friends,
We are doing well. The Christian Communications Institute Thai
drama team is preparing for another tour to the United States.
We leave April 10 and return to Thailand May 10. We’ll be
performing in California, Nevada, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois,
and Ohio. Please
contact me if you'd like to see the schedule. We hope to see
as many of you as possible during this short time.
Rob is teaching in a new master’s level programs started
by the Church of Christ in Thailand for lay leaders. His students
are hungry to learn, and he’s enjoying some of the most
satisfying teaching of his life. He’s also still helping
the Thai Bible Society on translations and revision projects.
And he’s being a wonderful grandpa, enjoying three grandsons
who live here in Chiang Mai and who are a delight to us all.
Esther and the new Payap president, the Rev. Dr. Pradit Takerngrangsarit,
officiating at the funeral of the father of a long-time Payap
teacher.
I’m thoroughly enjoying my work at Payap University. We
have a new president, the Rev. Dr. Pradit Takerngrangsarit, who
was in the first graduating class of the university and has a
Ph.D. in Old Testament. He brings a strong Christian faith commitment
to his work and has supported our ministry in the chapel with
two new full-time student ministry staff people. They are doing
a great job of building relationships, learning how this big institution
functions, and reinvigorating our Christian Students Club. I also
now have a Thai Christian artist on my staff, and he is bringing
creativity and beauty to our events and worship services.
In addition, the president has just given me added responsibility.
I now oversee both the chapel and the Student Development Office.
The team that has been running Student Development is still in
place, but as vice-president for a combined “Office of Student
Development and Religious Affairs” I have more opportunity
to get more of Jesus into more student development activities.
Young people today are surrounded by voices that denigrate and
demean them. They are valued most for the money they spend on
consumer goods. I feel more passionate and committed than ever
to strengthening our community at Payap University so that we
will communicate to every student how precious they are. We want
them to believe they can make a real difference for good in the
history of this nation, region, and world.
Thank you for caring. And thank you for your prayers. We need
lots of wisdom and creativity to love and bless our students.
In Christ,
Esther Wakeman
The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 119 |
