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New Recruits
As you may remember, we have a Thai roommate, Pai. She is the Field Secretary, CIC’s Treasurer, Immigration liaison for Bangkok missionaries, Thailand District’s SDMI president, and worship leader in our church, Oikos Church of the Nazarene. Woo! Talk about wearing many hats! And she just celebrated her 30-something-th birthday!
We invited her to join our badminton team. When she arrived on the court, she offered to carry Reilee while Terence and I set up a mini-baby-safety-place on the side of the court. Our team has become protective of Reilee, so seeing a strange girl holding our baby was a bit jarring. But once Pai started talking, she and the team clicked immediately. She joined the team that very night. Pai then invited our pastor, Phanom [PA-nom] to join next week. Unlike Pai, Pastor Phanom was an avid badminton player.
The next week, Pastor Phanom joined. He was like a beacon. We saw people sit to talk to him, play a game, and go back to continue their conversations. We couldn’t even talk to him because of how many people wanted to speak to him. We have no idea what they were talking about, but we know that seeds are being planted.
We know that there is no better person to reach local people than the local people. We are so excited about this collaboration between the local church and our local ministry.
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The Power of a High Five
(side story)
When Terence first started playing in Bangkok, he brought something from the Filipino badminton court: the high five. At first, the Thai people (who are used to bowing to say hello, thank you, please, sorry, and goodbye) didn’t know what to do with Terence’s high fives. If his teammate messed up and cost them a point, his teammate would immediately bow in apology. But Terence would just smile and give a high five. If they won a point, smile and high five. The confused faces started turning into grins.
As we mentioned a few newsletters ago, there was a Thai teammate who was making fun of Terence and was trying to show how dumb the high fives were. But slowly, people started wanting to play more and more with Terence. And soon, they were initiating the high fives when Terence would slip up a point or gain a point.
When Pai and Phanom joined the games, Ingrid turned her eyes to their games as well. Pi Pai missed a point and bowed an apology to her teammate.
Her teammate, an elderly Thai gentleman, just smiled at her and gave her a high five.
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Why, God, Why?
Our hearts are breaking right now.
A Korean missionary in our field has passed away. Seongchul Go slipped on concrete stairs and never woke up. After several hours in surgery in Cambodia, the swelling in his brain would not go down, and he joined His Creator. It happened so fast. He leaves behind his wife and two teenage daughters. Although we never had the chance to meet him, our family in the field is devastated. We remember that we are the Body of Christ, and when one part is hurting, we all hurt.
We really cried hearing the news of his passing. What will happen to his wife and daughters? What will happen to his ministry in Cambodia? Why did the Lord take him the way He did?
At times like these, we ask God, “Why?”
Why him? Why now? How could this happen? We are angry and upset.
Some may be wanting to say “It’s God’s plan,” “He’s in a better place,” or “You shouldn’t be angry with God.” But we believe God can handle our anger, frustration, and sadness. Jesus wept at the death of his friend, Lazarus… even though He KNEW that Lazarus was coming back. Jesus still wept. It’s okay for us to weep as well.
We may not understand, but it does not stop us from believing.
Join us in prayer for the Go family.
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Reilee Report
MKs (Missionary Kids) on our field were asked to write about what life is like for them during COVID. We want to share with you Reilee's submission:
It feels like my whole life has been during the virus. I like to play with new friends and ride in the car. I do not like to take naps when I know there are friends around. I am learning to eat solids but I hate eatting veggies. I am asking God for teeth. Please pray that I stay healthy and happy.
Love, Jubilee "Reilee" Rei, 6 months old
(written by her parents)
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Prayer Requests
Lustaña Healing: Thank you so much for all of your prayers for Terence's family. After nearly a month in the hospital, they are all COVID-free and back home! Praise God!
COVID19 and 2021: The General Assembly has been pushed back a few years. We still do not know what will happen with our Home Assignment next Summer. We urge you to please take this pandemic seriously. Stay home if you can. Wear a mask and wash your hands often when you are out. Let's fight this thing!
Work Balance: Please lift us up in your prayers are we balance what our priorities are in this Field. Although our first priority is supposed to be language study, the workload of CIC continues to grow to a point where we are having difficulty handling the demands. We are currently training two CIC teachers to record and edit their own videos to lay off some of the load from Terence. Please lift up these two teachers as well.
Language Study: We have found a Thai tutor!! She used to teach Ingrid when Ingrid lived in Chiang Mai five years ago. Due to the pandemic, online education is more feasible, so now our teacher can teach us from home! We can bring Reilee to classes, we have one-on-one tutoring, and the time is very flexible. We are so happy for this opportunity. Thank you for praying for this need!
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