A Good Week of Training in Thailand

It has been an exciting week here in Thailand.  The training has gone super well, even with the few bumps.  The first day we worked through Psalms 42-43 and the pastors were clueless as to the structure which centered around clearly repeated verses.  I have to admit I was worried a bit as it took a lot of explanation for them to finally understand what we were looking for.  The concept of structure is something they struggle with culturally and it was clear they did not understand it here in Psalms.  But, with the Lord’s help we finally got the point across, I hoped.  They made their first presentations the next day on Psalm 73 and they did very well, all of the 4 presenters.  I was so excited that they had figured out the structure and message of the Psalm really well.  

During the course of the week I learned some very helpful ways to help them preach the Psalms better and how to include Christ in the gospel in a helpful way, not just inserting Jesus into the text artificially.  I am so thankful that the Lord continues to teach me step by step, just like I am trying to teach them.  This whole trip has been a great learning experience for me, for which I am so thankful.  

Today the pastors preached on Psalms 107 and did an outstanding job, every one of them getting the structure almost perfect and preaching right through the text.  all my fears about their failure to grasp the structure of Psalms 42-43 were unfounded.  They demonstrated that they had really learned well.  The progress they have made in the last year and a half is simply amazing.  It was hard for me to keep my composure at times as I saw them do so well.  Thank you Lord.  I can just imagine the benefits their churches are receiving with this new biblical preaching.  One student said he had revised his sermon every day as he learned new concepts and had done so again this morning.  His sermon was very good.  

I am usually fully ready to head for home by this time, and I admit it looks good right now, but this time I am sorry the week is over.  I have so enjoyed the men and have been so happy with their progress.  It is fun to see them realize that they are growing as well.  Mentally, I  am keeping home at bay since we leave tomorrow not for home but for Tokyo, where we will work with one of our ReachGlobal teams and some nationals introducing Pathways to them.  We do not know exactly what is in store for us there, do we ever?  But we know God is with us and it will be interesting, come what may.  

Although it is hot and humid here and I am training alone I have managed quite well.  My feet, which were a major concern as little as a month ago, have stood up well standing barefoot on tile floors all day.  It is almost miraculous, well really not almost, it is miraculous.  God is so gracious, my feet feel much better today, Thursday, at the end of the training than they did when I began the trip 3 weeks ago.  I think I am finally fully adjusted to Asian time.  It shows in the fact that I am now having trouble going to sleep at night just like I do at home.  That is the one blessing of jet lag, I can fall asleep easily.  Pray that I can manage for one more week.  

Al

Arrival in Chiang Mai

We finished the training in Trichy with much joy at the progress of both the men and the women. I was encouraged that they were making concrete plans to multiply the training though pastors they will lead to train others. We had our usual send off by the Indians as they gave testimony of God’s blessing and gave us gifts. 

Our flight at 9:20 pm to Chennai was delayed an hour but we had plenty of time in between so it did not cause problems. We flew on from Chennai to Bangkok, leaving at 1 am and arriving at 6 am with an hour and a half time change. Although the flight was only 3 hours, it was still challenging because I was not able to sleep. After a layover in Bangkok and another one-hour flight, we finally arrived in Chiang Mai around 10 am and to our room at 11am. Edie and I both slept for a couple of hours to catch up. We are so thankful for a day off on Sunday to just rest, something we really need. It is so beautiful, peaceful and quiet here; it is very restorative. 

Tomorrow we begin training with the Lahu pastors. I am really looking forward to it, although it will be difficult to train all day without a partner this time. I think there has been great progress since I left 4 months ago. Marting, the leader of the Lahu, and our translator, has really become passionate about Pathways. He says that he had visited five different trainings and that the pastors receiving the training were all enthusiastic. They had commented that before this, they never knew how to prepare a sermon and now they are learning how. Marting has also had some contact with the Hmong people who are interested in the training as well. I will be working with them to see how the Lahu trainers can train the Hmong pastors. This is exactly what we want to see happen, so I am very encouraged. 

Thanks for your continued prayers,

Al

Firecrackers and Laundry delays

Wednesday: Today’s sessions went very well. Three men preached and each gave a very good sermon. I was very thankful to see the progress in each man. One has not historically done as well but this time he did a great job. One interesting side note is that this is the time of the largest holiday in India. It is somewhat like a combination of Christmas and July 4th. It is certainly a Hindu festival and the Christians don’t participate, but almost everyone else does. There is a lot of gift giving like our Christmas time but also a lot of setting off “crackers” (our firecrackers). All day during the sessions loud explosions were occurring at various times outside of the open windows. Their crackers are louder than ours and they are amplified by all the concrete walls and streets. It was like training in the middle of a war zone.

My back is much better, still a little stiff but it did not restrict me at all. The Indians had prayed for me diligently and were all interested this morning to hear how I was doing and thankful to God for my progress.  

In the afternoon we discussed the issues of multiplying the training to others in the area and region. I think we made substantial progress in helping them understand the issues involved and the way forward for them. In addition, I learned a lot about how to facilitate the development of training networks and some ways to incorporate that more fully in our training. We thank God that he is consistently teaching us how to make our training better and more effective. So far I have learned a lot on this trip about improving our approach in many different areas. Now if I can find the time when I get back to the US to start revising our curriculum and passing on what I am learning to the rest of the team, we will make substantial progress.

We are thankful for cooler temperatures due to the monsoon season beginning. It has rained every day which has added to the humidity levels greatly, but it is still more comfortable than last week up north when it was so hot. Unfortunately, because of the holidays it is taking more time for us to get our laundry back. I have been wearing my last shirt for awhile and I think everyone is rooting for our laundry to come back.

Al

A Testimony of Grace

Friday:  This is Edie again! I just have to share what God did for my study group today by way of a testimony from one of the ladies. Last night my translator, who runs an orphanage (40 children) along with their church, was busy in the kitchen when a woman came to talk to her. 

Sheri said, “ I greeted her differently than I would have normally (Indian pastor's wives often have women come for prayer and other things at inopportune times). She was surprised by that. I listened and asked her questions (as I had been encouraging her to do instead of just preaching).” Sheri said the woman didn't want to share her problem, she would just cry. She did find out that she is 34 years old, Hindu, educated to be a pharmacist and spoke good English. Finally, the woman opened up and said her brother died of murder, her mother died of grief, her sister got something wrong in her head and died and then her Father died all in a relatively short period of time. It had been arranged for her to be married but the Hindus are saying she is an unlucky woman and don't want to marry her. So her fiancé broke it off and now she is all alone and has no peace. Sheri said, “ I spoke all we had talked about being in the gospel and asked her to repent of her sins and come to Jesus. She got on her knees and prayed. I told her she is not alone, she is her sister.” 

Our study group was so pleased and rejoiced in what she had done. Pray for Shandee (my spelling). Pray she stands firm in her new faith, that Sheri has more opportunities to minister and disciple her. Sheri shared that she could tell that she was speaking to this woman so differently as if the Spirit was in control of everything she said. Praise God that we reviewed the gospel and she was ready to share with a renewed attitude. On a number of occasions, women will stop by while we are having our study to talk to the Pastor's wife or Pastor. It can get wearisome at times. I praise God we had a part in preparing Sheri with the good news of the Gospel to share with this woman.

Alan and I are now resting up for the arduous trip to Thailand. We will leave for the airport around 8pm. My stomach isn't the best but I am doing OK. I ate a mild lunch and plan to have a cup of tea later. Rejoice in the Lord because he has made us his own! It is good to be under his care. 

Edie

Saying Goodbye

Thursday:  Our time in Trichy will soon be over and we will be on to Thailand. The believers here are incredible and I especially enjoy the love and enthusiasm of the women here. Yesterday we finished our study of Philippians early. I had prayed that morning for God would show me what to do if this happened and He did. I asked the women to look back over the book and look for what Paul tells us about the Gospel. We made quite a list!

Then I asked them to make up a story about a woman who is coming to them for advice and prayer. We did that and then I asked two women to role-play and think about how we can apply the gospel to her situation. The tendency is to do a lot of talking as a "counselor" and so I encouraged them to ask questions instead. I also talked about getting together with the woman again after a week of prayer and thinking about what would be helpful. I encouraged them to think about studying the word with a woman, to instruct her in the way of Christ. We had a great discussion and they were enlightened it was clear to see. I am thankful that God chose to use me in this way. There was a lot of laughter as they did the role-playing making it a change of pace too. God is as good to us as we seek humbly to be used by him.

I am sad to say good-bye to the ladies here. However, I confess I am struggling to eat any more Indian food. The last two mornings I am dealing with the intestinal stuff from what I believe was some bad water I got by mistake. We travel tonight so hope and pray it is not a problem. Thank you for your faithful prayers. This study in Philippians was God breathed for sure and I know will impact me for as long as I live!

We have had two nights in the homes of the leaders of this group. We greatly appreciated their sweet hospitality and delicious cooking. May The Lord continue to give them the fruit of righteousness as a light in their community here. We count it a privilege to partner with them in the work of Christ. 

Edie