Survey: Trang

The purpose of our 2nd survey trip was to determine whether to work in Trang or Krabi Province. We began first by checking out some non-Christians in Trang we had taught. Our desire was to find Thais who wanted to know more about God. Instead, they wanted us to teach them more English. This was disappointing because along with the English we had also taught Bible stories. There appeared to be very little spiritual interest. However, a highlight of our time in Trang was finding a young woman named Joy. We had taught her English and Bible when she was a teenager in Phatthalung. She became a Christian as a result of those lessons taught at our dining room table. She is now married and living in Trang.

Survey: Krabi

In Krabi we talked to pastor Dusit of the Baptist church. He began to tell us about his burden for 3 districts of Krabi which had no churches and volunteered to go with us that afternoon to one of them. In Kal Panom district, we passed out tracts, talked to residents, and took pictures. (Some of these the pastor would use to challenge his church about the need for a Christian witness in those districts.) The next day we went to Plai PraYa district and did the same thing. Sunday after worship, we went with the pastor to the third district, Koh Lanta. This island had been affected by the tsunami 2 years ago. Pastor Dusit introduced us to some Mogen (sea gypsies) and other Buddhists, who had been helped by Baptist after the tsunami with food & clothing distribution, fishing nets, and boats. We even went to Baw Island, a bumpy long-tail boat ride of 20 minutes from old Lanta town. The mostly Muslim populated island had a satellite dish at the school (necessary in remote places so the children can get instruction where there are not enough school teachers) given by Baptists.

House Hunting

After deciding that God would have us work in Krabi, we spent four days of driving around the streets of the city looking for a house in which to live. We were pretty discouraged because we couldn’t find a decent house to rent. We looked at several houses but they were either too expensive or had major repair work needed before we could move in. Finally, we set a deadline and prayed hard. God answered our prayers as we found a two story shop house on our last day in Krabi. The house is smaller than what we had previously lived in. It will mean some down sizing and selling of furniture, but that’s something we needed to do anyway.

Cell Group

During the time in Krabi we attended a cell group meeting on a bamboo shelter in Krabi Noi. Two of our fellow missionaries, Matt & Erin Malone led the group. After singing and teaching, we watched the baptism of two ladies in a nearby stream. We are sure the angels rejoiced in heaven. Praise God for the faithful witness of a Thai Christian, who urged this missionary couple to come to this community to teach the Bible to her friends and neighbors.

Prayer Requests

1. For smooth preparation, move & transition to Krabi.
2. To meet men & women of peace, who will enable our presenting the Gospel in the district of Kal PraNom.
3. For divine appointments with people open to hearing God’s message of love.
4. For God to give us cultural sensitivity & the ability to communicate the Gospel clearly in Thai.

5. For Thai Christians to join with us in bringing people to Christ.

Your Prayers Answered!

1. The selling of our house in Newport News.
2. God leading us to Krabi as a place to minister.
3. Finding a place to live in Krabi.