BlackThaiTalk - November 2018 Newsletter

November 2018 Newsletter
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HARVEST
H
ere
About 20 people work together in lines
as they walk through the field cutting
the rice with their sickle. It was obvious
that I (Liz) was new to the job as I tried
my best to keep up with the line, not
leaving any rice behind.
in Ban Luang the fields have now turned from a dark
green to a deep gold as the harvest begins. This week we
have spent some time helping our friends harvest their rice
field. It’s quite an experience.
As we all worked together this verse
from Matthew came to mind. In the
modern days of the west and our great
big harvesting equipment, I don’t think I
have ever really understood the metaphor as clearly as I do now. I
step forward, cut a bunch of rice, lay it behind me, and repeat, to the
beat of my fellow harvesters. As I try to keep up I wonder how hard,
even impossible, it would be to harvest this field alone.
As we take rest in the sala (small wooden shack) we share a meal
“The harvest is plentiful but
the workers are few. Ask the
Lord of the harvest, therefore,
to send out workers into his
harvest field.”
together and encourage each other on the work well done. At one
point about 15 women sat together in the group chatting and
passing around water. I asked my friend (and fellow believer), Tong,
now that we’d cut the rice what happens
next. She told me that the cut rice stays in
the field for at least 3 days to dry out
before they come back to collect it all up. I
asked her what happens if it rains and she
says we just need to pray that it doesn’t.
In front of her family and friends she
asked me to pray to Jesus that it wouldn’t
rain before Thursday. Sadly as I write this,
a day later a huge storm has hit. Please
pray that not all of the harvest will not be
lost and for peace for those that rely on
this for their yearly food and income.
Please will you ask the Lord of the harvest, to send out
more workers here in Thailand to join us in His work.
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TBMF CONFERENCE
Last month we met with about 70 other missionaries here in Thailand
who are sent from Baptist churches through out the world. The
annual 4 day retreat was a wonderful time of fellowship, biblical
teaching and sharing about the work God is doing here in Thailand. We
were blessed to be led in teaching by Pastor John Beasy, who came all
the way from Adelaide to share with us.
The kids had a wonderful time also. They were taken care of by a team
of volunteers from the UK, who ran a kids church each day. We also
made a day trip to visit some elephants.
Rambutan
D.A.R.E. Drug Awareness Day
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CAL CONFERENCE
Long boats gathering
for opening ceremony
Following on from the TBMF conference, I (Liz) attended another
conference in Chai Nat (a town about 3 hours north of Bangkok). As I
left for the conference Glenn drove the boys back to Ban Luang for 2
weeks of “boys time”. The conference was more like a 2-week
intensive course to equip language learners and language coaches.
The course was about 8 – 10 contact hours of lectures and activities
each day (except the middle weekend). During this time, I learnt a lot
and I feel much more confident in my own language studies as well as
empowered to coach and encourage others as they learn more about
host people. Two areas that really stood out to me the most was the
importance of seeing our language learning time as also a time of
ministry. The many hours we spend with our language nurturers
studying bible stories, sharing about our lives and praying for them is
a powerful time of sharing Jesus. The quote of the course was
“becoming knowable so Jesus is meetable”.
I’m thankful for Glenn and his willingness to hold down the
fort at home with the boys while I was gone. He did an
excellent job. Uncle T having a joke with Liz

VICTORIAN LOTE PASTOR’S VISIT
WHAT’S HOT
IN BAN LUANG
HHHHHHHARVEST! Last newsletter I (Glenn) shared that I was waiting
for my neighbours crop to be ready so I could experience the harvest
here in Ban Luang. Well, As you have read above, Liz beat me to it!
There are many weary locals here, as they have been harvesting for
the past 2-3 weeks straight. Rather than harvest by themselves, the
villages come together to harvest, going from field to field until
everyone’s rice is harvested.
It’s VISA time again. Please pray that Glenn’s Work Permit and our
subsequent Visa’s will be processed smoothly. Praise God that
Glenn’s school has been helpful in this, and that if everything goes
smoothly, we should have our new Visa’s one day before our old ones
expire.
Mandarins! It’s orange season here, which is great, because, although
not as exotic as other fruit we have had, they are being eaten up very
well in our household!
This past week we’ve had a team of pastors from Languages Other
Than English churches in Melbourne, come and visit. We have been so
blessed by this wonderful team from a variety of backgrounds
including Burma, China, Korea, New Zealand (Samoa), Thailand and
their leader Ryan Smith from good old Melbourne.
During their few days in Ban Luang this team were a blessing
wherever they went. We spent time sharing stories, visiting locals,
praying for each other and locals, attending fellowship groups, a
funeral, making a craft with our nurturer and eating lots of spicy food.
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Liz in her harvesting gear

Communities of Faith
In our previous newsletter we asked for prayer for Uncle T. Uncle T
was one of the first believers in the Ban Fa faith community. He had
struggled with a crippling disability over the years that left him
unable to walk and later sit up. Despite his challenges he always had
a huge smile and brought a great sense of joy. Often laughing and
joking with us when we visited.
Late on Friday night Uncle T went to be with Jesus. I can just imagine
him running and jumping in his new body. The LOTE Pastors team
joined with us and the community of faith in Ban Faa on Friday night
as we celebrated his life and rejoiced that he is now pain free.
We thank God at this time for the faithfulness of previous Global
Interaction staff, Anna, and Larry and Jan. It was through their
faithful witness of sharing stories and spending time with Uncle T
that he came to know and love Jesus.
Please hold up in prayer his wife Aunty K as she grieves and
his two adult sons who are yet to know Jesus.
In late September, the leaders of the faith communities came
together for a time of fellowship and biblical training, We thank God
that this was a great opportunity for growth in the local leaders.
Empowering these leaders is an important part of our work here in
Thailand.
Please keep the leaders of the Communities of Faith in your
prayers, especially Prakij, Nan Tong and Mae Ran as their
support from Global Interaction staff reduces.
Coming Up……..
At the start of December our cluster-mates, the Harlands will be
returning to Australia for Home Assignment for 7 months.
In mid-December we farewell Tom & Cathy Bryan. We are so thankful
to God for their service in Thailand, and they will be missed by
everyone in our family.
The Communities of Faith will be holding a Christmas Party in mid-
December at the local market place. This is an exciting time where the
members feel more comfortable inviting their extended families.
Please pray that this would be an opportunity for the to
continue sharing their faith.
The boys finish up at school for the year on December 7th. We will
take annual leave, with a holiday to Vietnam with Liz’s mum and
sister’s family.
Love,
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