GREETINGS TO ALL OUR FRIENDS from Bangkok. How have you been? I know the BP oil spill is frustrating a lot of people. My family certainly doesn’t enjoy seeing the news photos of the damage. Things have also been rough for Thailand this past spring (Thai summer). But people are back to their normal routines now, and everything seems like the way it was, except for the burnt buildings. There is fear that the political unrest can continue off and on for the years to come. Four of five mission teams have canceled their trip to Thailand this summer; one brave team from Irvine, CA (First Harvest Chapel, Rev. Rick Kim) will be here in early July.
WE’LL TAKE OUR FIRST FURLOUGH earlier on around July 20 because of the mission team cancelations; Sarah and the kids will actually go to Los Angeles on June 28. We’ll be back to Bangkok on November 20, but will spend the rest of our one-year furlough resting and researching for a productive 2nd term beginning June 28, 2011. We’re looking forward to spending some time with our home church, Torrance Good Shepherd Church, and other supporters and friends. And from September 6, we’ll drive around the country (trying not to think of “National Lampoon’s Vacation”) to visit as many supporters and friends as possible. See our webpage for more details. We’re wondering if we have to have our passports ready when we drive through AZ!
I attended Tokyo 2010 last month, and got to visit Christ Bible Seminary (CBS) and the team of Japanese students that had visited us last January. Check out the photo. It was good to enjoy the generous hospitality of old friends Joe and Juliet (and their sons Isaiah and Evan), and also to meet Michael Oh, the founder of CBS.
WE’RE BLESSED TO HAVE Susie, the daughter of Missionary Lee Yong-woong (Director of GP Korea), tutor Lydia with math twice a week after her work at the UN agency in Bangkok. And, we thank Sonia from NYPC for offering her educational expertise to tutor Lydia’s writing every week online.
SUSTAINABILITY is a hot issue these days. Chonburi Center is planning to plant 5,000 rubber trees at a cost of 15 baht/tree (about $0.50) and 4,000 palm trees ($2.50/tree). If you or your group would like to sponsor a tree (or a little forest!) please let us know; thanks to many of you who have already pledged and donated. I was particularly touched by a youth group class from LAKMC who donated a lot of money for this project. Check out the Facebook group “10,000 Rubber Trees for Chonburi Center” for more details!
OLC needs someone to lead English Bible studies while I’m gone for four months from July 20 – November 20.
Please pray that:
1. Our furlough will be a restful and encouraging one, for our family as well as our friends.
2. God will instill in us a greater burden for the church in Thailand.
3. The leaders of the Thai church will grow stronger and contribute more to the global body of Christ.
In Christ,
Paul, with Sarah, Lydia and Timothy
