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April 1999
Dear friends,
It's been some time since I've written to you, so let me go back
a few years and give you a long view of what I've been up to.
Class of 2000—dear to my heart
In June 1996, I was ready to jump into the university school-year
with both feet. At the music department's freshman orientation,
I recognized many of the 15 new faces because I remembered them
from their auditions. I was determined to learn their names quickly
and to use my increasing confidence in speaking Thai to be in
close relationship with this group of students. I spoke Thai when
I introduced myself and told the group how eager I would be to
help them struggle through their English classes or build a Bible
study group with them. My job, they already knew, was to teach
woodwinds or the occasional class in music therapy, but none of
these students played any woodwind instruments—yet. They
had auditioned by singing hymns, or playing piano or guitar. Something
clicked. This particular class of students has come to me for
everything from eye drops to counseling. And, in fact, four of
them took up flute as a minor instrument. One who is dear to my
heart practiced very hard, changed his major to flute, and now
plays with a beautiful tone that is amazing for someone who first
picked up the instrument two-and-a-half years ago. Another student
was going through apartment problems, loneliness, and anxiety
about her decision to be a music student. I recommended she apply
to live in the dorm where I stay; she has since become a confident
and contributing member of the seminary dorm. This group has been
special to me. Perhaps it is because about 70 percent of them
were Christian (now the percentage has increased); perhaps it
was simply because, after five years in Thailand, I knew how to
contribute more than the basics of my job description. Most of
these students went through my English class with flying colors
(I give high marks to those who attend and do their homework),
and several elected to study music therapy with me last year.
In June, this group of students will start their senior year.
I've watched them grow up and take leadership in the department.
It has all been very gratifying. When Ms. Marilie Blanchard from
the People in Mutual Mission office visited missionaries here
and asked me my plans for the future, I was sure of one thing—I
wanted to teach, and especially to teach this class of students
through their senior year and be at their graduation the following
year. She had a better idea. Why not set my sights for long-term
teaching here at the university with a change of position title
to "mission co-worker" (now called "mission specialist")?
I was so shocked. This was a dream I had given up on—to be
able to stay here, to think long-term, to be "settled."
I am very thankful to be able to write you and tell you that "Music
Department, Payap University" may be my address for a long
time.
A Bible study
I don't actually live at the music department, but sometimes
it seems that way. Actually, many of my evenings are filled with
volunteer work and a Bible study group. The Bibe study group,
an opportunity for which I had prayed for a long time, started
in this way: A lady about my age who was a new Christian at the
time asked me if Christians have to go to church every Sunday
in order to remain Christian. About a week later, she asked me
about tithing. Evidently her new church was trying to enforce
a strict sense of responsibility on her. I didn't want to trash
her church or her teachers, but neither did I want her to think
that being Christian was a matter of following rules. Part of
the problem is that the Thai verb for "have to" is a
bit squishy. It could also, depending on circumstances, translate
as "must," "want to," or "ought to."
Complicating the situation is the Thai attitude toward rules (usually
quite lax, if you will permit my Western generalization). I told
my friend that, if she had truly committed her life to Christ,
then she had committed 100 percent (time, money, talents), not
10 percent, and that beyond that, the decisions about parceling
out that 100 percent among family, church, and other priorities,
were between her and the Lord. I guess she liked my answers. When
I asked her if she wanted to study the scriptures with me, she
jumped at the opportunity and invited her church advisors to come
along. She usually brings her daughters along, and sometimes a
friend now for Wednesday night Bible studies. One of the friends
that she brings is Filipino and speaks only a bit of Thai. We
have a multi-language class—giving us ever-new perspectives
on the meanings of the Word in our lives.
I hope you see from this babbling, that my life is full of answered
prayer. I am grateful to all of you who have been praying for
me. I am healthy (only problem last year was a broken toe—don't
ask) and growing spiritually. Thank you for all your support.
Yours truly,
Annette George
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