Well if you haven't heard already...we are at 100% of our funds. We are leaving in July! We will go to Singapore first for our orientation course and then to Lopburi, Thailand (the "monkey town") in the beginning of August to begin language school.
Thailand has been our dream together since 2007.... 5 1/2 years later we are finding that dream realized. In those years we've seen God strengthen us in His Grace, strengthen our marriage, and unite us for the coming ministry ahead.
We want to thank ALL of you for your prayers, your words of encouragement and support that you have given us. We would love to see you before we leave. We will be in Ephraim, UT, Park City/Heber, UT, Lake Geneva, WI and Mission Viejo, CA prior to leaving. You are ALL INVITED to the commissioning service held at Ephraim Church of the Bible in Ephraim, Utah on Sunday morning, June 16th.
Please take a moment to read a short reflection called "The Smoke of a Thousand Villages," written by our Dutch field leader Marten Visser in Isaan (Northeast Thailand). He reflects on his plane ride over Isaan. He writes: “Lord, send people to this area to tell the thousands of villages in Isaan about you.” Read his reflection by clicking here to read on the OMF Isaan team site. We, like Marten, would love for many more to come to Isaan!
More to come!
-Jason, Jenn & Moriah
P.S. If you want to receive regular, monthly prayer emails, please sign up to prayer partner at: www.omf.org/us/partner
PRAYER REQUESTS:
-For strength and endurance as we "pack it all up"
-That our minds would be "set on Him" always and especially as we will face new battles in leaving home
-For our family and friends that we will not see for awhile
-For Moriah and her new adventures ahead (she is excited about the Elephants!)
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This last month in Thailand, Songkran was celebrated. It is the Thai New Year and also a Buddhist holiday. It is the hottest time of year in Thailand, and old and young alike throw water on each other to celebrate. Many Christians participate in the fun of Songkran (ie the water throwing) but don't participate in the Buddhist rituals. On the Sunday around Songkran, many Christians will have different blessing ceremonies at their church. One missionary said, "We had a blessing ceremony after church today - pouring water on the hands of senior people in the church. In the process, people started washing each others' feet while blessing each other - including but not only for senior members. The bonding and emotions expressed for each other was profound. I love this group of brothers and sisters." - Tim Noble
