December 10, 2007

Dear Friends,

Rob’s favorite Scripture is Philippians 2:5-11, which includes, “The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had—of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness.” This is the good news we celebrate at Christmas. God’s way of transformation begins in giving up everything, but ultimately “God raised [Jesus] to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name … and all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees, and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” We eagerly await that day. While on earth, Jesus taught that our discipleship also begins in giving everything up, but that all will be returned to us, multiplied many times over. As our family celebrates Christmas this year, we’re enjoying such a season of multiplication. Living on the other side of the world from family for years hasn’t always been easy; but now Esther’s parents, 4 of our 6 kids, and 3 of 5 grandkids are living near us in Chiang Mai.

Clockwise from left: Kris, Troy, Andy, Ellen, Esther, Rob, Christopher, Jonathon, Sawyer, Paul (in driver's seat), Grampa Al, Gramma Thelma.

Kris and her husband Troy with Sawyer, 4, were the first to move back home (four years ago). Troy is an amazing sixth-grade teacher, and Kris a compassionate admissions counselor at Nakornpayap International School where Sawyer, who loves to draw bacteria and viruses, is in preschool. Their presence was part of the draw for Andy and Ellen and their boys Christopher, 12, and Jonathon, 5, to move here over a year ago. Andy is a videographer working at Christian Communications Institute (CCI) with Rob, putting their wonderful dramas onto DVDs for the church in Thailand to benefit beyond live performances. Ellen has begun part-time study at McGilvary College of Divinity at Payap. Christopher regularly beats his dad and grampa and anyone else who plays him at Ping Pong. He also has amazing moves on the soccer field. Jonathon is branching out in sports and he is an expert cuddler. The boys study and play at Chiang Mai International School, where Andy, Kris, and their brother, John, finished eighth grade some years back. John married his sweetheart Sue in August. They live in Ohio; John’s son Ben started at Ohio State this year, and daughter Connie is in high school. Both are outstanding runners, and we hope they’ll all be able to visit us soon.

Paul has been teaching some English and recently decided to be his own boss and learn the tourism business from the ground up by renting a tuk-tuk and tooling around Chiang Mai looking for fares. He’s gotten rave reviews from some church visitors who’ve enjoyed his services. Come for a visit, and let him show you the sights of Chiang Mai! Nathan has been working with Free Burma Rangers providing relief to internally displaced people in Burma for the past several years. Check out the Free Burmese Rangers Web site to learn about their practical, creative ministry to people in desperate need, running for their lives, and hiding in the jungle from the Burma army. Anna is in her third year at Whitworth University studying art, living in a house with six other women, and loving her friends, her music, and her art. We’re glad she can join us for Christmas this year.

I’ve been trying for several years to convince my parents, Al and Thelma, to come and live with us, and they finally agreed to try it out for a while. We upgraded our home to include wireless ADSL Internet so my mom can keep up with her email, and satellite TV so my dad can keep up with world news. Paul and Nathan are not so sure why their begging for these things for years was not effective, but they aren’t complaining too loudly because now they can enjoy along with gramma and grampa. I love bringing my parents to lots of community events at Payap University—classical music concerts; cultural events like loy kratong—floating paper lanterns up into the sky; American Thanksgiving celebrated in our international dorm with 150 students and teachers; graduation—full of pomp and circumstance and quite gorgeous; and Christmas—caroling all over campus, a huge free dinner, and lots of gifts given to staff and students.

As a family every Thursday evening we host a spaghetti dinner for friends from school, community, and church. The food is predictable and there is a core group of people, but a variety of visitors show up—any number from 10-40 people might come. After finishing their homework, filling up on spaghetti, salad, and French bread, most of the kids go outside for soccer in the dark with a few of the more energetic dads, while the rest of us catch up on the week’s adventures—both joyful and difficult. We’ve enjoyed this tradition for over 15 years; it’s one way Jesus has multiplied family for us for a long time already, and will continue to do so wherever our offspring and parents might be in the future.

May God continue to multiply every good thing in you and your family as you seek to follow our humble Lord Jesus who rules and reigns in power above all powers.

Esther and Rob

P.S. Thanks to many of you for your warm hospitality during October. Your gifts paid for all my airfare and travel expenses, and I had gifts left over which helped pay for Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations at Payap University, and for scholarships for the children of a Payap staff person whom we’ve been helping for several years. Thank you for your amazing generosity in so many ways.

P.P.S. The CCI is planning another tour March 25 - April 25, 2008. We’ll be in California, Texas, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Missouri, and Oklahoma, then back to Texas and California. If you’d like us to visit your church with amazing Thai dance and drama please email us now.

The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 119