ความสัมพันธ์ต่างๆ

Hey, friends! 

The month of March seemed especially fast to us! There have been new friendships to enjoy, goodbyes to be said, and lessons to be learned amidst the daily "grind" of language learning. This month and next will be the hottest of the year here in Thailand, and the intense heat (90s-100s) and humidity can take its toll on our energy levels for sure! But God is faithful, and takes such good care of His children, and we have seen this truth manifest in countless ways yet again this month.

We were invited into the home of one of our Thai teachers to make some Thai food with her and her grandmother! It was such a fun and interesting experience -- not only to learn to make some new foods, but to observe Thai family life play out in a personal way! We learned to make Thai papaya salad, grilled pork salad, grilled chicken, and a spicy dipping sauce. I wish you all could try the authentic Thai food here. It's delicious!

Family relationships are extremely close here in Thailand, with several generations usually living together under one roof. Dinnertime conversations in Thailand are usually playful and lively. It was a pleasure to step into this family's life for an evening!

A reservoir in Lopburi with a trail around it that we enjoy walking together from time to time. 

God provided a new friendship for us with Phii Kawn, who we met while exercising one evening. He speaks excellent English and has treated us to several dinners already, just so he can have a chance to practice using it! He has actually been friends with a few other Christians from our language school in the past, so we are thankful to have the opportunity to build on the foundation they have laid as far as friendship and evangelism goes. He is a Buddhist, but not a practicing one, and has been opened to gospel conversation so far. He is a fun guy and we look forward to future opportunities with him!

Our friend, Hans, who we mentioned a while back, moved to Pattaya this month! Ryan and he played a game called "snooker," pictured above, a week before he left. Even though we only shared a short season in Lopburi with him, we are thankful for the opportunities Ryan had to build a relationship with him and share the gospel during their weekly coffee dates. He told us a few weeks ago that although he grew up knowing about Christ, and having a few Christian friends, no one had ever walked through the gospel and its implications in a personal way with him. That was a challenge and an encouragement to us to share Jesus boldly, even if it is easy to assume the other person has already heard or may not be interested.

PRAISES & PRAYER REQUESTS:

- praise for the Spirit's strengthening us in the love of Christ.

- praise for a healthy marriage, which is a gift from God and has been a source of joy and comfort in the midst of adjusting to a new way of life these past few months.

- pray for our neighbor, Phii Bird, who gave his life to Christ a few weeks ago. It is hard to be a new believer, with the devil throwing doubts and temptations in the slyest of ways. Pray that his faith would be deeply rooted in Christ, that he would be able to withstand the devil's fiery darts.

- pray for Hans, that he would be delivered from agnosticism and choose to surrender to Christ.

- pray for us as we continue to discern which decisions to make as language school nears its end.

"If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for." (Charles Spurgeon)