Opportunities Abound

As the training center is getting up and going, we are finding the Opportunities Abound. As we continue to try and respond in Faith, the Lord provides us with people and relationships and with opportunities to work in this region of the world. It is been three weeks since we completed training session number two, and we have not taken a break yet. Some of that time has been recovering from one training session, some time has been spent preparing and traveling to take care of administrative duties related to our visas and work permits, and then we have turned around and been provide an opportunity to do a work shop at a local Burmese Church over the course this four day holiday weekend here in Thailand. On top off that, this morning is the third Sunday and it is my turn to preach for the local international community. Praise the Lord. Who ever said being a Christian was boring.

I will start with a brief update on the AG Training held at the training center the last week in March.

Our last email before the training was a request for prayer, because we really felt the pressure of the enemy as we prepared. That pressure continued as the training begin, as we went through with training, and even after the session closed.

During the week before the training and while we were making final preparations, each of our children came down with a fever that kept the in bed for 2-3 days a piece,
As training begin. Jethro’s children contracted the worst case of chicken pocks I have ever seen. Little Zarah could not even eat, because the sores had gone into here mouth. Even today, you can see the remnants of the sores.
We lost all of our Burmese translated materials and had to start from scratch two days before the session began with retranslating and printing our materials in that Language.
On Monday while returning our translator to the border following our sessions, I was hit on my motorcycle by another person traveling the wrong direction in the traffic. Our translator was fine, but after the motorcycle fell on my leg, I was left very sore and swollen.
During the week we were plagued with personnel issues from our employees.
On Friday, when I wanted to celebrate with my family the completion of a successful training, Emma and Pattie both were stricken with a stomach virus.
On Saturday, one of our motorcycles was stolen, and on Sunday morning we spent four hours at the police station.
On Sunday afternoon following the session the Enemy once again tried to take away our joy and our Radiator on the truck blew out, leaving us stranded on the side of the rode in the blazing sun when it is over 100 degrees.

But as I said before, But thanks be to God, For we have VICTORY IN JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!!!!!!

Our training consisted of 18 men who served in leadership positions in there churches from Pastors to Music Leaders to Administrators. Each of them had been hand picked for this training because of there knowledge and interest in Agriculture. It was exciting to see the response that they had during the training and practicum, because they were actively involved, and they saw the value in what they were leaning. John 10:10 tells us that God has promised us an abundant life. We have to faithful to believe and obey.

One week after the training we are already getting reports back from across the border that every participant is already preparing their gardens following the technologies that they learned here. They left here excited and ready to prepare for the rains to begin.

Praise the Lord.

We also taught about leadership based upon the life of David. We talked about a lot of things, but as we dealt with the issues of the stories we really focused on Forgiveness and the need for healthy relationships. After the training, one of the Pastors, a Lahu person told me that he had served as a Pastor / Evangelist, for 15 years. But it was during this week, that Spirit of God pierced his heart about is relationships with his friends and pears. Another pastor of over ten years shared his testimony with us. Before the Lord called him to salvation, and to serve as a pastor, he served in the military across the border. His primary responsibility was to oppress the church, and by force return people to Buddhism. He proceeded to tell us that he had confessed with his mouth many times about these sins. But it was not until his time of reflection and prayer through Psalms 139 that the Lord searched his HEART. He has confessed now these sins against God, and praise the Lord he goes back to his church to serve as a free man.

Our prayer as these men return to the field and their churches is that they will truly experience the Lord active and working in their life and Gardens. People will see this blessing and hopefully ask. “Why is your life and garden different from mine.” Then they can say, “Well, let me tell you about the blessing.”

After a brief recovery following the session, we traveled to Chiang Mai to work on details with the US Consulate and Thai Immigration. I want to say a special thank you to FBC Bryan Texas, for their assistance in obtaining a Marriage license for us. We needed a copy very quickly, and they were able to go to the County Court House in Bryan for us, and send it to us. I tell you this, because I thank God for all of our churches in the SBC. We have been truly blessed by the prayers and support that we get from our friends and family back home in the States, and it is because of you and your giving, prayers, and support that we are able to stay on the field.

Praise the Lord.


On Friday, I began a training session at the Local Burmese Church. This is a four day holiday weekend in Thailand to celebrate Thai New Year. It is called Songkran, or the Water Festival. As the Thais throw water on each other to celebrate, bless, and cleans away sin and sorrow, we are blessed with the opportunity to study Gods word together. I am teaching a discipleship series for about 30 people, My sessions are approximately 3-4 hours each day. As we concluded our first session, I explained that obedience to the Word is useless and meaningless if you do not have the Holy Spirit to Guide You. Obeying a law, God’s or Buddha’s, will not save you. It is only when you repent, and commit you life to the Lord, that you are truly saved. All indications had been, that all of these individuals, from both sides of the border were Christians. But praise be to God, Four people committed there lives to the Lord for the first time.

Praise the Lord.

This morning as I writing I am preparing to go and preach for the local international community. This has become an exciting time, because I can preach and minister to the local community. Also there are many English speaking Burmese present. Following this morning services we will continue with the discipleship program in the afternoon, and close with and all day session on Monday.

Be in prayer for these services and activities, and that the Lord will speak and work through us as we serve.

Continue also to pray for our Visas, and the continuing developments and adjustments for language and culture. I know we have been here for a year, but there is still a lot to get used to here.

Pray also for our first volunteer group coming in May. A group of students from the Kentucky BSU will become to work and minister to the people of North Thailand and Myanmar at our training center.