Greetings again. Here is our report on our latest English Camp. God has again blessed us greatly. He has provided a second team of volunteers to conduct English Camps on Saturday at country elementary schools. We are also now moving in to schools that are grades K-9.

Our latest English Camp was held at Ban Gaeo Pad pong school. Students attending were in grades 5, 6 and 7. Students conducting the camp were 8 of my now 10 first year university students.  There were 6 girls and two boys. They are majoring in English and want to be English teachers. They are with me about 4 hours a week for tutoring. The fee they pay is to volunteer to conduct one English Camp a month. This was their second time out. You will also see an older couple in some of the pictures. They are Joe and Candy Boys. They are here in Thailand with World Teach, but have volunteered to help teach and observe and give me evaluations.  This helps me greatly to improve our program. Both of them have been teachers for several years, and are dedicated to helping kids learn.  We praise God for all of this that we can help the kids even more. Item for prayer: The 10 university students who do not know Christ; that they might come to know Christ through these activities and accept him as their lord and Savior too. [Read more...]

Greetings from the Christian Mission. December is almost half gone and the year is almost finished. As I look back over the past year I can’t believe all that has happened and yet it really has.

Please pray for our students who live here with us. The 6^th graders, Toom, Phon and Lita, as well as Tat and Beem 1,  are having major problems in adjusting to living here and we are in the process of meeting with the parents to take them back home for at least the rest of the school year. They have been taught since the beginning of time for them that the world revolves around them and whatever they want for fun is okay; as long as they don’t get caught. Our three thought they would have a great adventure on Monday – Father’s Day in Thailand. They asked to go home to pay respects to their father. However they forgot that; two of the girls told their mothers they had to go do homework at a friend’s house – a lie. Their mothers let them take motorcycles – no license; against the law – they rode three on a motorcycle – against the law and did not wear helmets – against the law too and spent the day joyriding.  It has taken three days to get the whole story out and we will meet with the parents on Sunday afternoon – please pray that it will all work out according to God’s plan. [Read more...]

Greetings and an update from the Christian Mission. What started as the 27^th has gotten to the 29^th. We have had some busy times again the last couple of weeks. We were blessed to be able to attend the send off party for Buey and his wife and children.  Buey was born a Lao, spent several years in a “relocation camp” here in Thailand – not too far from where we are located. He was able to get to the United States, married a Thai girl and got his American citizenship. He came back to Thailand and has done extensive missionary work in Lao – in his home village and with the youth there. However, he was here as an independent missionary and because of the downturns all around the world, his financial support ran out. He physically left yesterday to return to Texas, following God’s plan for his life. Although 40 or so years younger than I am, he has been a good model for me here at our mission. He has spoken to our youth on several occasions and had a short camp here earlier this year.  Please pray for him.

Sundays continue to be Sundays and our teens continue to work well – those who have accepted Christ.

And now October 27 has become October 31. Enjoy looking and the pictures and see what is going on. Please continue to pray for all of us here and Thailand – Bangkok – in particular. In the beginning the authorities were indicating that they were in control and there would be no flooding in Bangkok – as you can read and see in the nightly news, much of Bangkok is still under water and it may extend for another week or so. I am not sure that anyone has yet considered the costs involved in cleanup, both public and private. Many people have no home to go back to. Several hundred thousand people have been or are being evacuated. Cleanup and getting back to normal” will take many, many months. Keep us in your prayers. We are starting to see shortages of some items in our stores already, and the prices are starting to go up on many items.  God Bless, John and Maeo

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Greetings from the Christian Mission once again:

Lots happening since the last news. Both Maeo and I have been to Sakon Nakhon and Khon Kaen for a series of medical checkups and we go back to Sakon Nakhon on Sep 8 and 9 for more. Up to this point, the doctors say not much wrong, just getting old. Everything is under control either with diet or medications and both seem to be working, except neither Maeo nor I seem to be able to lose weight. – I say this as I sit here having Doritos Nacho Cheese as a snack after breakfast.

On August 25, three of our English Program girls, Ploy, Eye, and Milk told me they had decided to move back home Eye and Milk said it was to help take care of their mothers and Ploy did not like being told “no” all of the time. Our rules here appear too restrictive:-) As Maeo and I were thinking about how nice it might be to have five girls instead of 8; two 6^th grade and two 7^th grade girls were telling us that they would like to move in here. They have been coming to church and participating in English classes, so, knowing John, I don’t have to tell you that now, instead of 8 we have 9 girls living with us. Please pray for me and them; that this will be a witness to Christ and the girls will open their hearts and minds to Him.

Saturday, Aug 27 was a regular Saturday, with about 14 elementary and 15 teens in attendance; but Sunday helps to show what kind of problems we have here and need prayers for. [Read more...]