The multiple lane road reduced itself to 4 lanes, then to two, then to one.Eventually the pavement ended and the dust started.Finally the road itself ended.We beat the layer of dust off the backpacks, loaded ourselves up and started walking.Even the trails are dusty this time of year and the long file of walkers made their own small cloud of dust.The temperatures were in the 90s, but at least it isn't humid at this season.Through the woods, along the dry rice paddies, across the river, then up the mountain.After three hours of walking we were at Ee Wee Jo.

It has been 12 years or so since I was last there.At that time the road wasn't as close so the walk was longer.I was there to help build an irrigation ditch.Later our project helped send seeds and seedlings to the village.Twelve years ago, there were only one or two Christians in the village.On this trip though, we were there to celebrate and dedicate the village of Ee Wee Jo as a church.That means almost the entire village is now Christian.They have a pastor, elders, treasurer, a church building, a youth group, women's ministry, etc.The village looks pretty much the same, but there has been a lot of spiritual growth.

We were an interesting group of visitors.There was an American, a German, a Korean, 4 Swedes, Pwo Karen, Sgaw Karen, and a Lawa.In addition, many people from surrounding Christian villages had walked, in some cases many more hours than we had, to join in the celebrations.The size of the group varied somewhat over the course of the weekend as we walked from Ee Wee Jo to S Gaw Tha, then to Jew Tha, dedicating new churches at each village.But there was joy in welcoming these new churches into the fellowship.

That trip was two weekends ago.This past weekend we were in Chiang Rai and attended the graduation service at the Chiang Rai branch of the New Life Center.Thirteen young women ranging in age from 17 to the low 20s had finished various levels of education from the equivalent of 9th grade to vocational school, to Bible school.Some were leaving the New Life Center to join the work force; others were continuing their education.The New Life Center gets support from around the world.Attending that night were people from America, England as well as local Thai, Akha, and Lahu.Parents, obviously from the mountains in their traditional dress nervously gave flowers to their equally nervous graduating daughters.The contrast was stark.The daughters have at least several years of experience living in the city, speaking Thai, wearing western clothes, fitting in to the "modern" world.The parents speak little Thai and the rush and roar of the city leave many baffled.But the future lies with the young and the parents are working hard to give their daughters the opportunity to better fit into the world that is changing so fast around them.

Both the dedication of the churches and the New Life Center Graduation serve to show we do not work alone.Whether in a mountain village or in the midst of town, the Lord uses our families, neighbors and others near us to offer support, direction and encouragement.But then the Lord also uses people from around the world to open doors and also offer encouragement and support.The Bible talks about how we are all part of the body, performing various functions.We may not see the immediate results or feel our role is particularly important, but if we're within His will, then we can be sure our efforts are bearing fruit around the world.Thank you for fulfilling your role that enables us to be here and perform the ministry the Lord has put before us.

In His Service,

Duane and Marcia Binkley