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September 2000
Dear Co-laborers in Christ,
"Summer" here in Thailand was quite different from
what we were used to. Although it was our second "summer"
here, some of the differences became much more evident to us this
year. But now, after a very different but good summer, we’re
thankful for the opportunity to reflect on it and share with you,
our precious family and friends. Thanks for your patience in waiting
to hear from us and for your continued faithfulness in supporting
us with your many expressions of love and your prayers. We are,
indeed, richly blessed in Christ!
Probably the main reason our summers are so different is because
the Thai school year does not coincide with the North American
school calendar that our children’s international schools
follow. So, in June, when Leith and Carol were just beginning
their first term of teaching at the Bangkok Institute of Theology
(BIT), the children were getting ready to close up their books
for the year and…. Well, being only too aware of the potential
for family chaos, frustration, and eventual boredom, some major
adjustments needed to be quickly made. The mindset of a relaxed
"summer vacation" had to be remolded into a "summer
program," with defined individual goals, responsibilities
and schedules—ouch! That adjustment probably ranks right
up there as one of our toughest adjustments since we’ve been
here!
After some major early groaning and a shaky start, it was as
if we succumbed to the realization that this crazy idea wasn’t
going to go away, and gradually we got into the groove of things.
As the summer progressed, we were actually able to do so much
of what we had hoped, and without being tangled around each others’
plans! Mom and Dad were able to juggle their teaching responsibilities
so that someone was available to tutor at home also, and the children
really rose to the challenge. We can say that we made it through
the summer without the "bored, nothing to do bodies"
moaning around the house. More than this, at the summer’s
end, we were so grateful to be able to share and celebrate with
one another the individual and family goals we were able to accomplish.
Some of these included: Karin, Joy and Dad’s daily morning
runs together throughout the summer; Joy and Karin’s work
experience as tutors (and at the same time continuing/beginning
their own language studies in Thai and Japanese); opportunities
to be with friends visiting from and returning to the United States;
lap swimming as a family; Mark and Lani’s progress on trumpet
and piano; helping to host a missions team from the U.S. at BIT;
and, in a fitting conclusion to our summer, our reunion with Leith’s
parents and his sister, Sheila, and her family. It was wonderful
opportunity not only to be able to celebrate Ron and Dorothy Fujii’s
50th wedding anniversary, but also to show them some of the many
answers to their prayers and yours. Thank you for praying!
Also in answer to your prayers, Carol and Leith have enjoyed
this first term of working with the students at BIT, teaching
them English (while they keep helping us also to improve our Thai).
English is not just another foreign language that many are interested
in learning, but it is vital for our students to have access to
the materials and tools in our library and beyond, which are not
available in Thai. Many of our students are from the "hill
tribes" (tribal people groups primarily on the northern Thai,
Burma, and Laos border), and have not had the same opportunity
to study English as others. We are certainly sympathetic to all
of their struggles. Pray that we might be able to effectively
assist them with English, and help them also to grow as disciples
of Christ with vision and skills to serve others.
Leith has continued to meet weekly with Rattanak, our Cambodian
friend. Rattanak often refers to Mark 12:30 ("Love the Lord,
your God, with all your heart…") and his heart is very
open to obeying the Lord. As a young believer with strong ties
to the Mormon community, which has greatly assisted his family,
he is sincerely wrestling with the differences in our faiths.
The Mormons see the potential is this man and are vigorously attempting
now to secure a visa for him to relocate to Utah. Can you imagine
how good this must look to someone who has been waiting as a refugee
for almost three years? Rattanak hasn’t jumped at this offer,
but continues to wait on God’s guidance. The power of God’s
Word in the hand of His Spirit is our confidence as we pray over
John 7:16,17 for Rattanak and his wife, Chivrong.
We are thankful for other opportunities that have also recently
opened to us to work with people interested in growing in Christ,
and using English! We’ll tell you more about these in the
next letter, and we’ll also give you more details about plans
for home assignment next summer. It’s hard to believe, but
we are already in need of discussing plans for being in the United
States, probably from the middle of June to the middle of August.
Our differences in "summer" schedules will again be
a very significant challenge in planning for the right time and
arrangements for both schools’ schedules. We are looking
forward to seeing as many of you as we can next summer!
Gratefully in Christ,
Leith and Carol Fujii
The 2000 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 158
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