Fall/Winter 1999

Dear Family and Friends,

What a year it has been! Emotionally, I feel as if I have gone from a deep valley to a high mountain in this past year. God continues to show me His goodness over and over again. The verse, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good" reflects my first year of living in Thailand .

God has helped me move from fear to faith. When I finally said, "Here am I Lord, send me, you can have my life, I yield myself to you," then the peace that God promises began to fill my heart. I have felt very at home living among the Thai. Even in this big city of 10 million, I generally find the Thai people to be warm, helpful, and patient. I love being with the Thai people.

God has helped me give over my children. Their fears and aversion to coming here greatly affected me to the point of almost closing the door on this opportunity. I’m glad now that we went forward, even with much trepidation. Although I anticipated the worst, God knew all along what was and is best for His children. We belong to Him. We are His responsibility. Although our children’s number one choice is still the United States, I think they are beginning to see how living overseas can be an invaluable experience in their lives. We still struggle with teenage issues—freedom and trust to name a few. Mark is quickly joining the forces, so now we have three adolescents! They "think" Dad and Mom are no longer needed, except for money and chauffeuring. I’m so thankful Lani still loves having us around. God knew we needed Lani!

These days I feel more freed from a focus on self, especially worrying what others think, and I am able to a focus on what God says about me. God loves me in spite of all my shortcomings! I am continually challenged to take negative thoughts "captive to the obedience of Christ" by filtering them through His love for me. I desire a closer relationship with Christ but still too often allow "busyness" to hinder that. Please pray that God would give me that heart to seek Him and not to substitute activity for communion with God.

The Lord has given some special relationships—one with Yuki, a Japanese young woman who recently returned to Japan. We were studying the Bible in English together. I am unsure when I will see her again. Please pray for God’s continuing work in her life. The international community in Bangkok is rich and diverse and gives us many opportunities to be God’s witness here. My wonderful neighbors give me the chance to khui (chat) in Thai. Although it is hard to go beyond surface conversation because of my level of proficiency, I believe that I need to keep trying and trusting God with the language.

This fall school year, I sense the Lord has lead me to serve on the PTO Executive Committee of our children’s school in the area of communication. This involves overseeing the publication of a bimonthly newsletter and organizing parent meetings. I have been shy of leadership in the past due to a fear of failure. I am learning that God can indeed enable me to do that which does not come naturally, and I am enjoying this new challenge.

I also want to update you on Vouchleang, for whom many of you have prayed. She is doing better than before and is now home in Cambodia with her husband and son. Her lupus is still very severe but chemo treatment is helping. Through our involvement with her, we met a Cambodian couple who are political refugees here. Rattanak and Chivrong are both college grads who formerly worked as editor and staff of a Cambodian political newspaper. Since Hun Sen’s rise to power, Rattanak’s life has been in danger, as he represented the opposition party’s views. He and his family are temporarily living in Bangkok with a dream is to be able to go study in the United States for graduate work in political science or journalism. They are also of the Morman faith. As Rattanak reads his Cambodian Bible, please pray that God would reveal the Truth to him. They are like family to us.

As this year quickly comes to a close, we look forward to not only the momentous 72nd birthday of the beloved king of Thailand but a special visit from my parents, Mas and Jane Hamada, in the month of December. They will be spending the Christmas holidays with us. As the Thanksgiving season is upon us, we want to thank our Lord for His goodness and for your partnership in our lives. What a privilege to know that you pray for us!

With Love,

Carol for all the Fujiis

The 1999 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 152