Hey Guys

Lamout is a 5th grade Thai-girl in Nahong. She has been influenced by our team over the last 4 years. Two years ago, she really was stirred toward Jesus. Last year, that grew. Now she is expressing her wish to follow Jesus and become a Christian. Her mom said that she'd give her the freedom to choose. In Nahong this is incredible. Over the last 2 weeks she was reading her bible constantly and often coming to the team house to ask our women questions about what she was reading. A few of our Gals wrote out introductions to some of the New Testament books and our translator turned them into Thai.

Lamout tested highest in English ability out of all the students in 100 schools. She is a serious minded and intelligent young lady. Now she is in Nahong and our team is in Chiang Mai preparing for our flight home. Please pray for her. I believe that she loves Jesus very much and has the potential to be a huge blessing to Nahong and Northern Thailand. She could be feeling very alone right now. Pray also that she'd influence others. Often she'd bring other girls when she visited the team house.

Two important side notes. The first is that many in Nahong attribute Lamout's success to our team. Nahong can boast of a 6th grade girl, Pooky, who has earned a scholarship to an esteemed secondary school because of her English ability. The teachers have told the village leaders that we are a huge asset. This gives credence to our message and presence in Nahong.
Second, this year a church in Rhinelander wi. invited Lisa, Roger and me to share to their entire Children's Sunday school program about Nahong. The kids in Rhinelander raised money to buy the kids of Nahong bibles and soccer balls. They also committed to pray for the childern of Nahong. A commitment they have deligently kept. Is it surprising that one of the greatest step forward this year was in a 5th grade girl? The Sunday that we shared in Rhinelander, I was moved to tears, hearing those beautiful kids pour their hearts out to God for friends on the other side of the world that haven't met yet.

Prayer matters. As my time in Thailand is winding down this year lets not let our prayer for Nahong wane. God is on the move.


I love you guys. Thanks so much for your support, prayer and encouragement.   tom

Hey Guys

On last Wednesday, we went on what we call the "Boy Scout death march". Its a long walk through the jungle, followed by an over night. We were told that we'd not be in the river so, we all decided to wear our hiking boots or tennis shoes. Boy Scouts is mandatory for boys and girls and is run through the school. All the teachers go and at night there is a program around the camp fire. Its a big deal for the village.

The teachers all jumped in trucks and drove ahead to the campsite. About 9 of us made the trek with the kids. We left mid morning and it was getting hot. At first it was a nice little walk on a jungle path. We climbed gently up a hill as the rice patties spread out surrounding Nahong. The farmers gave the children and us broad smiles as we hiked by. Over the first hill, we descended to cross the river for the first of 6 times. Off came my shoes and socks while the kids waited patiently for me on the other side. This process was repeated 3 more times and then I couldn't slow the kids down anymore and just walked through making my footwear soggy, heavy and and dirty. After the third crossing we climbed a super steep hill. A few of the girls really struggled in the sun as they marched upward. The next crossing brought us into a jungle thorn grove. There was a path, but it had a low canopy. Most of the kids had no problem but not the adult foreigners. Even the jungle in Thailand is designed for those 5' 7" and under. I proceeded by crouching low and stooping while the occasional thorn reminded me that I'm six feet tall and have wider shoulders then 4th grade Thai kids.

Two more crossings and a lot of dust and heat and we made it. Our cook had lunch ready and a shady picnic felt pretty wonderful.

After lunch, the principle, teachers and the head Boy Scout leader for the district set up a small altar and placed an idol of a former king on it. They burned candles, offered food and prayed before it. Our team stood at a distance trying to understand what was happening. Later that day, I asked on of my teacher friends about the ritual. He explained, that they were praying to the spirit of a dead king and when they do, the boy scout camp always seems to go better. This lead into an amazing conversation about spirits and Jesus' authority over them. We also talked about personal faith and that people are not born Christians but its something you choose. Buddhists have been fated to be Buddhists, they believe. My teacher friend (Botim), also explained that Nahongs's religion is not pure Buddhism but a blend with Brahma which believes in many gods. It was an awesome conversation and I know Botim was challenged with information he had never considered before.

So that's what missions often looks like. You walk through jungle thorns to build relationships and gain the right to be able to share nuggets and receive  important information from friends who see the world radically different then we do.

I love Botim. He's a good man. Before we left Nahong, Kurt( a team mate) and I said good by and were able to pray for Him. He respects Jesus very much. Hopefully, he will worship Jesus alone soon.

God Bless You-- tom

Greetings All,
Our time in the village of Nahong is done, the goodbyes have been said, and there is so much that God has done.  Our last week in the village since the most recent update was eventful, so I will try my best to recount the highlights.
First of all, we are very excited that God led us to have a big end-of-English-class party for all the kids at the school.  They were out of class for teacher conferences on Friday, and we had to act fast to get everything together.  By God's grace, everything came together in just a day or so, and we threw a huge event to bless the kids.  We had games like bucket toss and bobbing for oranges, relay races, face painting, music, soda and cookies.  But most importantly, we had the opportunity to share the Gospel with about sixty of our students.  We performed a drama with a Gospel narration translated into Thai, and then our translator, Bear, shared his powerful testimony of how God brought him out of a fully Buddhist life, even as a monk, and brought him into spiritual life through Christ.  Many of the kids listened intently through the entire thing, and we pray that the seeds planted will flourish and produce lasting results in these precious kids.  As a leader, my heart was warmed as I watched the DTS students and others on the team loving the kids with all their might, and serving God whole-heartedly.  Overall, the event was a tremendous success, and we thank God for that, as well as for the results that are yet to be seen!
In a previous update, I mentioned a young lady named Lamote, who is in fifth grade and wants to be a Christian.  During the last week, we have been astounded by this girl and what God is doing in her.  She has been around our team and at our house almost constantly, and as we have been interacting with her, it has become clear that she is in fact a follower of Christ and a fellow believer.  She has made a firm commitment in her heart to follow Christ no matter what the cost, and has begun to study her Bible like crazy.  She comes over with deep and thoughtful questions about the Word, and some of the girls have put together an information packet to help her understand some of the background and terms she will encounter as she reads her Bible and invests in her relationship with God.
Also, we have been blessed to see that Lamote is a tremendous example of what it is to be salt and light (Matthew 5).  She is a terrific example to her friends of what a Christian should be: loving, gentle, kind, compassionate...  Every time she comes over she brings another one of her friends, and she's excited to tell them what she finds out about God from her Bible and talking with our team.  In class, she faithfully tutors and assists a learning-disabled, looked-down-upon girl, in spite of the ridicule that is sent her way.  If any of the kids is in need, she is the first one there to lend a helping hand.   And all of this is not the result of what our team has done; we did not tell her how to be a Christian or how to say a certain prayer.  She simply was moved by the grace of God, and came to follow Christ because that was what was in her heart to do, thank God!  Please pray for Lamote, as she will undoubtedly be under persecution as she walks in her new relationship with God.  She may be the only Thai Christian in the village right now, but we believe that our amazing God can use a fifth-grade girl to impact her friends, her class, her school, her village, her country, and the World for Christ!
Sunday morning brought a long string of difficult goodbyes.  As always, looking back our time in the village seemed short.  Relationships that had been built upon great emotional investment had to be put on hold.  Many of the kids and teachers huddled around our house, bringing last-minute gifts and offering tearful hugs and goodbyes.  The most common words in the last week were, "You'll be back next year, won't you?" from countless people in the village.  Somehow, by the grace of God, our team has made it's way into the hearts and the lives of these precious people, and to leave without knowing when or if you'll see these people again is, frankly, gut-wrenching.
Looking back over the previous updates I've sent, and talking with the team this morning about all that God has done in us and through us, there are many emotions and thoughts that arise.  But one thing is certain:  God is moving in the village of Nahong and in the country of Thailand, and our team has been richly blessed to be a part of that.  Thank you so much for reading these updates and for praying, whether faithfully or just one time.  It means the world to us that you care to take time out of your day to invest into something that's eternal, something that's bigger than what we see on a daily basis. Blessings!
With Deepest Regards,
Tyler and the Team

Hey Guys

The last week looks like a busy one. Tonight we are dining with the Government officials in Nahong. The are crazy and fun and maybe open to learn more about Jesus. Should be a blast and hopefully more. Tomorrow night is a teacher party. Again another very festive time and again an opportunity to have some great conversations. On wed/thurs we have a boy scout march and camp out. This is run through the school and its a big thing here and fun. All the teachers will participate and all the students. So its a night in the jungle for most of our team, me included. Camping can be a bonding time and we could be eaten. On Friday we are planning an all School good bye party. Snacks, games and a final chance to share the gospel with the great kids here.

So, keep praying. I love you guys and are so glad that we're partners in what God is doing.

Much Love Tom