Dear Partners in Ministry,

They come, they leave, and they make a difference.
Over the years we and our community have been blessed by visiting teams. Often they help teach English at schools, and get involved with what we are doing in the community. Last month we had a team with us, and we’d like to feature what they did during the week they were here. In featuring this team we want to thank all teams and visitors that have shared with us here in Ban Luang.

Catalysts
Lung Ngeun* said he wanted to block in under his house so he could move downstairs but his family couldn’t afford it. The team said they could pay for cement, rock sand, and blocks and help with some cement mixing. What could the family provide? At first they said “nothing,” but when pressed they provided windows, doors, tiles, and most of the labor as family friends and neighbors all pitched in. *Lung Nguen is a stroke victim who is learning to walk again.

A local school is having trouble finishing its library. Again the donation of cement, rock and sand and a little labor has spurred parents to donate labor, and the project has moved along significantly.

Kids came out on top!
The kids in our village were given a special treat on Children’s Day:  The team played games, acted out a Bible story, and gave out small gifts.

Kids from five schools were blessed with a “trip” to Australia, when the team conducted two English days. All the teaching was done in English, and the kids had to listen and figure out the instructions for the different activities. A popular event was painting and throwing boomerangs. Vegemite tasting, however, was not met with the same enthusiasm.

The shoe’s on the other foot.
Our high school students met with them for a language and cultural exchange on three occasions, and the students enjoyed being the teachers as they taught Thai and Thai cooking. Testimonies were shared and our students listened intently.

God’s work requires a team effort.
Following up with Frances* the physical therapist’s efforts, Robyn, the team physio, took the notes Frances had sent her and visited the kids, bringing bits and pieces with her to make things to help make life a little easier for them and their families. We were totally amazed when our sewing machine (the most neglected piece of equipment we own) burst into life and stayed the course. We were even able to find a new needle when the old one bent. * Frances was with us for five months last year.
and was the one that got Lung Ngeun walking

Used but hopefully not abused
It wasn’t all work. Time was found for bike rides, walks, a ride on a local tractor, and a trip to a local waterfall. They had fun swimming in a pool at the bottom of the waterfall.

Just the two of us
And when they left we found a nice spot for bird watching, and vegged out for a day. Fifty species were sighted, five of them new to us—a great end to a wonderful week.

There was a sense of God’s presence with us throughout the week, because things fell into place as thirteen people, sharing a small space, worked together to see His name glorified. Classes were taught, cement mixed, meals prepared, children with handicaps visited, equipment made, and energy was provided. When we look back we can just say, “Thank you, Lord!”

You weren’t part of this team but you are part of our team – Thank you.  We trust that you too have had a month where you have sensed God’s enabling.

In Christ,

Jan and Larry

Prayer and Praise

• Praise God for His presence leading and empowering.
• Praise God for the many opportunities to share. Pray that people will look to Him.
• Pray for people on the team that God is speaking to about how He will use them in the future.
• Pray for our team retreat this month—that it will be a time of fellowship and growth, plus a time for setting strategies and goals.

Dates

• February 10  Baptisms and Thanksgiving service at Payameng Rai
• February 22-27  Team retreat in Chiang Mai