Prayer Letter Feb 06 Written on February 10, 2006, by admin.
Dear Friends,
Family
It has been just over 2 years now since we came to Chiang Mai, Thailand. It was about 5 years ago that we felt that God wants us to be in South East Asia. After much prayer and also meeting with some people, we felt that Thailand is the place. The first year was rather difficult in many ways especially the language study. Fortunately, our Thai neighbours were (and still are) very patience with us and also teaching us along the way.
We had our ups and downs here trying to settle, learning about the culture and the people here and finding “our feet”, where we belong. Things seem to get clearer starting the 2nd year and have improved since. We as a family is getting better and building more stable relationships especially for Tina with other mothers. Tobias will be 3 years old in March 2006 and is a lively happy boy. He is the main person for our connections with people in Thailand (evangelist). He is learning to speak 3 languages simultaneously – English, German and Thai from everybody he meets. We think that is enough for now (maybe Chinese and Malay for later).
Ministry
Though language was a challenge for us, we managed to build up many relationships with the locals in a particular area which we felt God ‘gave’ us. When we first came to Chiang Mai, Thailand, we move into a rather poor area. We felt that this is ‘where God’s heart is’. We continue to build relationship with the people in the area where we lived for a year and since we have moved, we continue to visit them regularly. Our new house is only about 10 mins drive to ‘old’ area. Stefan is spending a lot of time with the people in that particular area and led 3 people to the Lord in recent months and continues to follow them up. 2 of them received physical healing. They do not speak any English at all. Stefan is studying the Bible in Thai and is doing very well. There are many more out there need Jesus. Just continue to pray for their salvation. This is where we spend most of our time besides learning the language.
Since returning from London last year in the summer, we started English classes and playgroup. Many kids came and they enjoy playing and learning English at the same time. We never thought of teaching English but a lady approach us and asked if we could teach English as it is a need in that area. God gave us this perfect building and that place is call “kamsiri” – means Word of Glory. Isn’t that amazing! Parents in that poor area cannot afford to send their children for English classes as they were expensive. English are taught once a week in the ‘temple’ school. Most kids go to the temple school as it is the cheapest and the standard are very low. Over the Christmas period, 2005 we managed to share to the children about Jesus and what Christmas is all about. The children have no knowledge about Christmas except it is commercialised in the shopping malls. They only know about Santa and Christmas trees and snows – very westernized. We had a great party for Jesus, games and foods and lost of presents. They had great fun and so did we. We want to build relationship not only with the kids but also their parents. We will share more on Jesus towards Easter. The children know that we are Christians. On Saturdays in between lessons, some kids stayed behind and we have lunch together. We pray before having our lunch and they joined in. We have between 7 – 12 kids for each class. We have the classes 3 times a week. They range from 4 – 13 years old.
Prayer Points
- Continue to go with God in ministry
- Unity and good health in the family
- We will be the fragrance of Jesus to the others we meet
- Stefan, as the follow-up the new believers
- Thai language study for Tina
- Pray for the children we are teaching especially during Easter period as we want to share more about Jesus Christ and also using English to share the gospel.
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Prayer Letter Oct 05 Written on October 21, 2005, by admin.
Dear Friends, October 2005
And I, as I’m lifted up
From the earth, will
draw all men to myself
Thank you for all you support and prayers. You all are a great blessing to us.
Family
We are doing well here, settling down in our new house, which is about 10 mins drive from the Old City.
Tobias is doing well overall. He is now 2 years and 7 months old and talking a lot in 3 languages, but predominantly English. He is also becoming more independent and knows what he likes to eat and wear. He is looking forward to going to school next year as he knows many of his friends do already. Tobias is very sociable, has a lot of friends, opens doors and is really a lot of fun to be with, so he can be a hand full at times.
We continue to study Thai language. Stefan is concentrating on reading the Bible in Thai and he enjoys it very much, and also challenging, as the vocabulary is different from normal daily spoken Thai. Tina has more time to study now, as we share looking after Tobias. She has more confidence to talk more to our neighbours now, there her language skills are really picking up now.
Ministry
Even so we have moved to another area God still places in our hearts the previous area where we lived in the city. We still continue to visit people in the “old” area, continue to build relationship there and getting to know more people.
After praying and talking to some neighbours we recognized some of the needs of this community. One of them is teaching English and also we felt we should do a playgroup for the younger ones. Learning via play, which is a new concept in this area.
Through Godstance we found a building right in the middle of the community, called “Kam Siri” which translated means “Word of Glory”. We certainly pray over that building and the entire area that God’s glory will come and draw people on to Jesus himself. In fact- God’s kingdom has come on some people already. We prayed for Uan, who had Diabetes. A week later he told us his doctor sees a substantial improvement of his condition. Stefan, visit him regular, we read the bible together and pray.
Another friend, her name is Duan, was involved in an accident and broke four ribs. She was to rest for two months. After we prayed for her she was back working at the market after two days, telling us the fast improvement was due to our prayer.
So we started teaching English. 4 weeks ago we had registration and a big party for the kids. About 20 children came and they had fun with games and lots of foods. We started the classes for free as it is a need in that area and the parents cannot afford to send their kids for extra classes in English language. One of the parents was so touched that she sewed a curtain for us for free and another parent brought us lots of delicious food and fruits on the opening day. They really blessed us.
Last week we went to a Vineyard conference in Bangkok, where we met many old friends and made new ones. People came from all over Asia. It was awesome to worship together and spend time with so many people from different cultures. Very encouraging.
Prayer points
- We want Jesus to draw all those he has given us to himself. Please pray for the kingdom of God to come more and more and manifest itself in the area
- Uan, Manit , Sawat , Duan, Lombow, their families and many others to come to know Jesus. They all live in a very poor slum in our area
- Nit & Na are 2 Thai mothers – their salvation and their family too.
- We will be sharing with the kids about Jesus in Dec, what is Christmas all about. Pray for their hearts and openness to Jesus and His love.
- Home group in the near future in Thai ???
- Christmas party for the adults too – Christmas message.
- For us as we teach English classes with our limited ability.
- Finance for buying gifts for the kids for Christmas and also foods.
- Continue to pray for our Thai language study.
- Protection as a family.
- Phom is a friend of ours, who gave his life to Jesus about 6 months ago. Please pray for him, there he is in need of direction and what to do now with his new life. Also how can we help him in a constructive way , which points him to Jesus
- Please pray with us for the future as we are seeking God about expanding the ministry by having a sort of “drop in center” during the week at Kam Siri. We just need to know how to attract people to come and feel comfortable.(if God shows you anything, please let us know)
How to contact us:
We will be distributing regular news for prayer. This will be
- By group email
- Hard copies
- Through prayer gatherings.
For those in our home church – Riverside Vineyard Church, Feltham – contact Claudia Lamb (Tel 020 8751 6635 – Email mail@twolambs.net)
For others contact Ian Watts – 020 8944 0982 – hallelujah150@yahoo.com
Or you can contact us here in Chiang Mai. Our Email address is stefan@mickel.freeserve.co.uk
Thank you all so much for your support and prayer. We miss you a lot, but it is great to know that you are right behind us.
Lots and lots of love
Stefan, Tina & Tobias
P.S.
Uan gave his life to Jesus yesterday. He told us that he understand the bible better now, when he reads it. He also had a dream a week ago, where God showed him heaven, which he saw in the dream as a beautiful place, where he experienced piece, happiness and a lovely cooling breeze.
Please pray that God will protect him, speaks to him and draws him close to himself.
Also pray for me, Stefan, as I help him to grow in his newly found relationship with Jesus.
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