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
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