Dear
Friends and Church Partners,
Greetings from Utah!
Exactly 1
month ago today, February 3rd, we returned to the States for home
assignment! We went from nice weather in Thailand to freezing cold Utah. As
soon as we got out of the airport and the cold air hit Isobel’s face, she
started to cry!
Back in the
US of A!
We enjoyed
time with family in Park City, Utah and celebrated Moriah’s 5th
birthday. We have now moved to Ephraim, Utah, where we will be based during our
home assignment. We are getting plugged in to the ministries of our sending
church (Ephraim Church of the Bible) and enjoying fellowship and worship in our
heart language of English!
Saying
good-bye
Packing up
our house to leave it for 6 months was a new experience to say the least!
Saying good-bye to our neighbors and friends in Sahatsakhan was especially hard
on Moriah. Jason and Moriah had a nice ice cream party with some of the
neighbors and “Grandma Pam” especially was really sad to see us go. We made a
trip to Lopburi and said good-bye to our Thai friends, teachers, the monkeys,
and missionary friends there as well.
Reverse culture
shock
It’s a lot
easier for us to see the differences between Thailand and the US as we observe
Moriah in her new atmosphere. Moriah’s enjoyed the snow, drinking fountains,
drinking water from the tap, automatic flushing toilets at the airport (she thought
someone else was flushing it) and she’s ecstatic about plums. Driving on the
“right” side of the road was an adjustment (we’ve only messed this up a few
times) and if you follow us on Facebook, the moose incident in my in-laws yard
was quite a shock!
What is on
the agenda for Home Assignment (deputation/furlough)?
Some of the
goals of our home assignment are as follows:
Reporting
and support raising. We’ll give updates
to churches and supporters of what the Lord has done in the last couple of years
and will also cast vision for future ministry. Please see our travel schedule below, we want to see you!
1.
Rest.
Finding time for solid rest for the family so we can return to the field
rejuvenated and ready for another term serving in Thailand.
2.
Training. Utilizing this time to make sure when
we return, we return better equipped and stronger for ministry.
3.
Reuniting. Spending quality time with family and
friends.
4.
Mobilizing. Mobilizing people for mission!
Next term
with a new organization in Isaan
Our
Associate term with OMF is coming to an end and after conversations with
leaders, coworkers and our home ministries team, we’ve decided to apply with a
smaller organization already working in the province of Kalasin in Isaan. We
will be able to work with and have the support of other missionary families in
our district and this will greatly influence our effectiveness and family
health. We are very grateful to have spent our first term with OMF in Thailand,
their language program especially set us up to succeed! We would advise all of our financial donors
to soon cancel their donation with OMF. If you have questions for the financial
office about how to cancel your donation, please call the OMF office at: 800-422-5330.
Thank you
for your prayers over us and encouragement through this first term in Thailand.
We love you and hope we can see you soon!
Blessings,
-Jason & Jenn
