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A letter from Carol and Leith Fujii
in Thailand |
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June 2003
Dear Friends and Family in Christ,
So what is God doing at the Bangkok Institute of Theology? I
want to share with you a little glimpse into the lives of three
women associated with BIT.
Varunaj Churnai, better known to us as “Sim,” graduated
from BIT with her masters of divinity (MDiv) in 2000. The professors
recognized the way God had gifted her and that she would be a
wonderful addition to our faculty. After praying about and looking
into opportunities to pursue a doctorate overseas, God opened
a door for Sim to study at Concordia Seminary in St Louis, Missouri,
to better equip her for future ministry at BIT. Sim has just completed
her masters of theology studies, and she has just been accepted
into the doctoral program in Old Testament studies. In Thailand,
very few have their doctorate in OT. When Sim finishes, she will
be the second Thai woman to have her doctorate in OT studies. |
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Varunaj Churnai ("Sim") and family. |
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After leaving Thailand in 2001, the
first months for Sim were difficult, having to adjust to homesickness,
the cold climate, and a new lifestyle. By God’s grace Sim
and her family have adjusted well and also are serving in a local
church ministry. Please pray that God sustain them and provide for
their every need. Doctoral studies are long and grueling. We hope
to see them this summer in Chicago. |
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Ajarn (Professor) Nantiya, or "Nan,"
has been serving with BIT since 1988. Besides being the assistant
to the dean of academic affairs, she teaches four or five courses
a semester. The newest course she teaches is in the area of women
and theology, after briefly studying feminist theology at the Lutheran
Seminary of Theology in Chicago this past year. Her faith journey
had its beginnings when she decided to leave southern Thailand to
study at a university in Bangkok. Graduating with a BA in Thai literature,
she began teaching at a school belonging to Satorn Church. It was
here that she heard the gospel for the first time and began reading
and studying the Bible. |
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Ajarn (Professor) Nantiya, or "Nan."
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After two years of searching,
she accepted Jesus Christ into her life. In 1983, God began to
burden her heart for those without Jesus. She saw her younger
sister receive Christ that year. Matthew 9:37 burdened her heart,
“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”
Keeping a promise to God, she resigned from teaching the following
year and entered the MDiv program at BIT, the first of two students
to enter this program. That year BIT wanted to develop more faculty
positions and Nantiya was invited to join the faculty. After studying
at BIT for a year and a half, she went to Korea for three years
to complete her theological training. |
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Currently, Nan is doing “cyberspace
evangelism,” where she participates in the writing for a Web
site and chats on line with many non-Christians who write in to
raise questions and express their opinions about Jesus. She says,
“It is a wonderful to learn that many Thai are interested
to know about the Christian faith.” She has had many chances
to dialogue and because of her theological training and expertise,
she can intelligently share and defend her faith in Christ. Please
pray that God would provide time for Nantiya to write and publish
theological texts, as resources written by Thai theologians are
few and quite in demand. |
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Kay at Christmas. |
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Kay is one of our graduate students
in the MDiv program. Last year she participated in a year-long volunteer
program sponsored by the Mennonite Central Committee in the United
States. Since returning, she has had her nose buried in books in
order to catch up and graduate in 2004. She is here at BIT to gain
a wider vision of how she can serve the Lord. Her dream is to serve
in the neighboring country of Laos. Kay has a smile and spirit of
encouragement that touches and lifts up everyone she meets. This
summer break she served at her brother Suraphan’s church in
northern Thailand. Please pray that God would equip Kay for her
the completion of her MDiv degree, her future ministry, and for
God’s leading in marriage.
Thank you for your partnership with us in the ministry. |
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It’s been an exciting term
break. We’ve had a chance to take on projects outside of
the campus and, working through a multitude of arrangements, we
finally came up with our calendar for our interpretation assignment
period this summer. We look forward to sharing more with you in
person about some of the blessings from this past couple of months,
but here’s what we came up with for the plans ahead:
- June 14-30: A time of closure and inurnment of Mom (and Dad)
Fujii in Hawaii
- July 1-17: Visit with Chicago area churches (Carol and children
in New Mexico with Hamada family 1-7 July)
- July 18-28: Drive to churches in New Jersey, Washington D.C.
area, and Pennsylvania
- July 29-Aug 10: In Chicago except for visit with Community
Presbyterian in Cannon Beach, Oregon, August 2-4
- August 10: Leith and Karin return to Bangkok. Mark and Lani
attend youth/teen camp in Wisconsin
- August 17: Carol, Mark, and Lani return to Bangkok
During our interpretation assignment in the United States we’ll
be using Joy’s cell phone: (847) 224-0574, and our mailing
address will be:
c/o Church of Christ, Presbyterian
5846 N. Spaulding Ave
Chicago, IL 60659-3512
Please send email to both fujii6@loxinfo.co.th
and fujandham@hotmail.com.
To God be the glory, great things He has done,
Carol and Leith Fujii
The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
184
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