Krabi Baptist Church

This 15 year old church has had one pastor, Dusit (Do-sit). Pastor Dusit has a wife (Gee) and 2 daughters (Dream & Dew). His wife leads a Compassion group of 120 children at the church on Saturdays. He has a discipleship program on Tuesday nights and also encourages his members to witness. Each week 3-10 members go out with us on Sunday afternoons to pass out tracts and witness to people in Khao Phanom (Cow Pa-nom). They encourage and pray for our work.

Ganchanadit and Na Khao

On the 14^th we returned to Ganchanadit district in Surat Province. We taught two more Chronological Bible stories. Each month we give them a review sheet about what we have just taught. (Remember this is the first time that they have heard these stories.) We encourage them to read their Bibles and write questions down for us to answer. We will make a CD with Christian songs on it for the group to listen to between meetings. We were sad to discover that one family in the group moved 20 kilometers away because of family problems.

The group in Na Khao has been struggling and the past 3 weeks has been down to one person. We have also taught some other people in the area, but have stopped because of lack of interest. Obstacles to teaching them keep coming up (such as funerals, accidents, people ridiculing them, and chances to earn additional money). It has become disappointing. After prayer and evaluation, we have decided to stop the group for now.

Prayer and Praise

1. Obstacles have appeared in the two Bible groups that have been started. Pray for more Thais to begin studying with us.
2. Jiap has developed a prayer which she prays 3 times a day. Pray for God’s spirit to work in her life so that she will become more spontaneous in praying and that she will reach out to many near her with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Pray also for God to provide her with good health and healing for her back and heart.

3. Pray for open hearts to the Gospel so that lasting groups will be formed in Khao Phanom, Plai Praya and Ganchanadit.

4. Pray that Richard & I will grow closer to God and depend on God more fully.

5. Pray God will provide us with appropriate volunteer groups who will penetrate the hearts of people in Khao Phanom and Plai Praya.

6. Pray for Mam (pictured in the story above) and her mother to understand what they read in the Bible and begin telling others about God.

7. Pray for Wasana’s development as a Christian leader and her to have a real heart for the souls of the Southern Thai.

Volunteers

Eight Oklahoma Baptist (OBU) students arrived on January 2nd. One had gotten sick the previous week and we took her to the hospital where she got good medical help and recovered quickly. On their first day, the students practiced their English program and worked on their testimonies. Later they went swimming at a thermal waterfall. On the following days, they presented their English program at four junior/senior high schools in Khao Phanom. At each school, at least one of the team gave a personal testimony of how God had changed their life. On the weekend, the team helped with the Compassion Program at Krabi Baptist church. They also got to have some fun going to a beach, snorkeling, and climbing a tall mountain. On Sunday afternoon, we took the team to a market in Khao Phanom to perform a mini concert at different food stalls. While the group sang, members of Krabi Baptist passed out tracts to vendors and surprised shoppers. On their last day in Krabi, the OBU Team out to do door to door evangelism in the country side. Even though there was a language barrier, they gave testimonies (through translation) to those who invited us inside homes to sit and talk. Their programs in the schools have already helped to give us more acceptability in the area. Praise God for their help!

Children's Day

Three members from Krabi Baptist Church helped Richard and Linda at the Children’s Day program in Khao Phanom. Children's Day is an annual event celebrated throughout all of Thailand. We arrived about 8:30 in the morning. Many excited children dressed in their school uniforms were already at the field in front of the city building. Most came to play games, do sports activities, and go from booth to booth gathering free food and free gifts. At our booth, we passed out over 1,000 Jesus booklets and made at least 600 balloon animals! At times, it was hard to keep up with the crowd. In order to avoid confusion, we ended up having the children form lines (which is very un-Thai like). The balloon animals went over well. However, several people fussed at us passing out the "Jesus" booklets. After talking with one such lady, Linda convinced her that Christians have had a positive influence on Thai society by following Jesus example of showing love toward others.

Cell Groups

On the 17^th we traveled the 3 hours to Ganchanadit district in Surat Province to start a new cell group. Khun Jiap had provided us a lead to some of her friends in the area of her birth. We had 4 adults and 2 children attend the first cell group. They heard the first 3 stories in the Chronological Bible Storying series and began singing choruses. In the teaching, they learned about the creator God and about an amazing book of truth that's solid and reliable, the Bible. On the 29^th we started a group in Na Khao in Khao Phanom District with 3 adults studying. Everyone seemed to enjoy singing songs and the Bible teaching. They had many questions. One man named Phun, asked that we give him time to learn because there was so much he didn’t understand. What a great, workable attitude. Praise God for these 2 great beginnings!

Praise and Prayer Requests

1. Our first cell group in Ganchanadit was held at Khun Si’s house. Si is afraid of knowing the truth because she has dabbled in the occult and is well aware of what evil spirits can do. Pray that she will have assurance about God's power over spirits.

2. Praise God for the OBU students and Children’s Day activities. Pray that these kind of events will open he hearts and homes of people in Khao Phanom will to us so that they will know Jesus as savior.

3. January 29^th we started teaching Chronological Bible Storying to a group of 3 in Na Khao. Pray for Phun to open his heart to the truths of the Bible.

4. Pray for these new groups to draw other people, that leaders will emerge and that the groups will grow into long term churches who proclaim the power of God and His salvation.

5. Jiap grew a lot in the Lord within a short period of time, but has now turned to other pursuits instead of God. Pray for God’s hand to bring her back to Himself.

6. Pray that Richard & I can more clearly ascertain God's will in our work in Krabi, with our Thai co-worker, and our lives.

7. Pray that this year God will provide us with appropriate volunteer groups who will penetrate the hearts of people in our target areas of Khao Phanom and Plai Praya.