Home Assignment 2016 video

Back in the good ol' US of A! March 2016 update

Dear Friends and Church Partners,

Greetings from Utah!

Exactly 1 month ago today, February 3^rd, 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 5^th 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

 

Christmas/New Year video 2016

If you would like to view our Christmas video, please email me: mrs.jenn.byers@gmail.com   I haven't listed it here to protect the privacy of the people in the video.

December Christmas Newsletter

Christmas Greetings from Thailand,

“Yay! Christmas is almost here,” is what I keep hearing from Moriah and Jenn almost daily. Our family’s excitement for the Christmas season lasts 365 days a year. Seriously, we love Christmas. I hope you enjoy this year’s “Byers’ Christmas letter” and I pray it will cause you to be grateful for what God has done and is doing in the world. 

I think we can all agree that we live in a changing world; from the way we communicate with one another, to the rise and fall of political powers and the shifting economies. The effect of globalization and the digital revolution has made its mark around the globe. Whether we like it or not, things change. Whatever emotions this reality causes you, there is one change that brings joy and praise: this is the growth of the global church of our Lord Jesus. During this season, let’s not only celebrate the coming of the Savior over 2,000 years ago, but also celebrate how the Lord is birthing himself in lives and in nations around the world.

No longer in missions is it only the west going east, but now it’s everywhere going everywhere. The Boomer generation (born around 1946-64) is really the generation that can truly stand amazed at how and where the Lord has built his church. Can you believe?! The land of the Khmer Rouge (Cambodia) is seeing church planting movements. 

Have you heard?! The children of the Laotian and Vietnamese refugees are today’s modern day missionaries, bringing the gospel of reconciliation to their parents’ home countries. Did you know?! The Mongolian church is growing and the country now allows Christians to come in and freely proclaim new life in Christ. South Korea now stands as the number one sending country for missionaries in the world. In the modern day mission movement we can honestly say, all nations are working together to reach all nations. This is truly something to celebrate!

I hope this Christmas season you and your families find the joy in knowing Him as Savior and Lord, and also pause and reflect on how He today is working in the local and global church and using people like you and me to build His kingdom.  We also thank you for supporting our family and your prayers for us, the body of believers in Sahatsakhan district and for the Isaan people.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from our family to yours!

-Jason, Jenn, Moriah & Isobel Byers