Always Faithful

God is faithful to provide. As many parents do, we have been praying that God will provide opportunities for our children to grow and learn the things that are important to God. God has been faithful each year to allow each of our children to have unique opportunities here in Thailand. Our first year in Thailand, Hattie played soccer with a neighborhood soccer club. Our second year here, we located a ballet school for Emma. Also, during that same year, Harry and Nellie attended a Thai school that allowed them to grow and flourish in our community. Harry loved playing soccer with his school, and Nellie just loved playing with her friends. He has been faithful to provide each child just what they needed for each time frame.


When we returned to Thailand back in August, God had already opened a door for them to attend the Family Learning Center in Chiang Rai. God provided a vehicle for us to drive each day to school, and He provides the tuition that we pay each month. He provides in His timing. Also, God has provided the opportunity for Pattie to teach middle school and high school math at FLC this year.

The Family Learning Center started about 12 years ago as a home school cooperative for the families serving in and around Chiang Rai. This is a real blessing for those who homeschool. Helping each other to educate our children is a big part of home school. Over the years, the school has grown and flourished into the school we know today because of many volunteers who have helped to develop the school and the children who attend the school. The school is presently transitioning from a homeschool coop to an international school.

Our children have had the opportunities to participate in class parties, sports day, a talent show, the Christmas program, a community outreach, field trips, school dances, International Day, and much more. These are all new opportunities this year. We have been so blessed by the many things they get to do. Also, our children have had the opportunity to learn many things. Hattie, Emma, Harry and Nellie are all doing very well in their studies. Hattie has found that she is really enjoying Science, and she is hoping to be a vet for large animals one day. Emma is really doing well in Bible Class. Harry is excelling in reading and math. It is amazing to see all the things they are learning. This year Nellie is attending a Thai school, and she is doing great at learning Thai and English writing. We are so proud of all the accomplishments this year.


All of these opportunities came about because of the people who are involved at Family Learning Center this year. We have many volunteer teachers who commit to coming and teaching at the school. Some teachers have returned for consecutive years of teaching. The following paragraphs were written by Brent Pennington, the school superintendent:

The potential for community impact through The Family Learning Center, soon to be Chiang Rai International Christian School, motivates all of us who work here. Uniquely exciting about this opportunity is the promise that a teacher can come here with no knowledge of the Thai language, commit to only one or two years of teaching, and still make a life-changing and eternally significant impact. Wow! Many missionaries take years in missions training courses along with language and culture learning before they get the go ahead to enter a community at this level. Yet, our teachers impact the lives of the Northern Thailand community every day in the classroom. How? The impact points are many. We educate students from various cultures who will be future church and community leaders both in Thailand and beyond. We educate children from missionary families and thus facilitate service to the community through the love of Christ in our families’ various missions. We introduce Christ to our Thai students; many have accepted Jesus as their Lord and are influencing their families. And of course Jesus is always working and impacting this community in new ways that surprise all of us. 



All of this is wonderful. However, we cannot continue our efforts to serve the servants and leaders of this community unless we have great teachers. This is our primary challenge, and this is where your church community may have a role in Northern Thailand. What possibilities exist in your church to help our community impact Northern Thailand, Burma and Laos?

Is God calling you to volunteer to come to Thailand for a season? Long-term? Are you a retired teacher looking to make an impact? Are you a new graduate that has not found the right opportunity for a career? What's your story?

We are excited to be a part of the Family Learning Center, and we look forward to hearing from you about what God is talking to you about. God is faithful to provide...always faithful.

PRAYER REQUESTS -

* Pray for our Sunday Worship time this week.
* Pray for financial resources to begin construction of Farm facilities and Pasture.
* Pray for our short term (individual and group) volunteers who are coming to Thailand to serve this summer.
* Pray for God to call out two long-term singles or couples to serve in the English and Evangelism ministries of Narrow Gate Asia for one or more years.
* Pray for God to call teachers to serve the missionary community at the Family learning Center.
* Pray the God's Kingdom will come and His Will be done at Narrow Gate Asia.

To Become a Narrow Gate Asia Partner
Send Letters and Tax Deductible Contributions to:

Narrow Gate Asia
P.O. Box 260275
Plano, TX 75075 USA

Contact us on Facebook, or at info@narrowgateasia.org

Thank you for your prayers and support,
In His Grip
Harry and Pattie