It has been a whirlwind 3 months since we have arrived in Thailand and settled at Lopburi! Day by day, we are getting used to the quieter and slower pace of life.
One thing that we have been getting used to living in Lopburi is the lack of public transport options compared to Singapore, with most public transport ending before 6pm. This was something that we were trusting God with as that would affect how we get around the city and how we would go about our day to day lives. God answered our prayers when shortly after arriving to Lopburi, a missionary family which was going on an urgent home assignment offered to lend us their car for a year. We are thankful that this not only allows us to get around easier, but also allows us to minister and bless other team members.
As we go through our daily language lessons, we recognise God’s grace and strength that enables us to absorb all the nuances and expressions of the Thai language. As we progress through the modules, we are also reminded that, while our main priority now is language and cultural learning, that it is just a means to which we can better communicate the Gospel to the Thais through word and action. We are thankful for the patience of our teachers who put in much effort to correct our mistakes, share many cultural insights, befriend us, and prepare us for our future ministry.
Another blessing we have experienced is the learning community around us where we get to talk to other missionaries about their life experiences and learning journeys on a daily basis. Being able to see them daily and be involved in each other’s lives has left us with the appreciation of having a supportive community around us to uphold us in prayer. Part of being in this community in Lopburi is also weekly men’s and women’s fellowships that allows us to share lives with each other, to continue to study God’s Word and to uplift each other.
Photo above: Us on a fieldtrip in Lopburi with some of our Thai teachers and missionary friends
As we have experienced God’s blessings, there are also periods that we have been frustrated and encumbered with the administrative processes and paperwork that have to be completed for us to stay here long-term. Instead of complaining, we have learnt to give thanks in every little step no matter how small, and to be patient when things do not go as we expect them to. There have also been truly heart-breaking moments when we come face to face with how some Thais live day-by-day (for example, we had to deal with a kitten’s death). These moments remind us that we are all sinners in need of God’s mercy and grace.
Left photo: After many administrative steps, we finally obtained our Thai driving licenses! Right photo: A small tribute to a kitten in our neighbourhood who died (read more here)
Every Sunday, we travel about an hour to a church in Singburi, the province next to Lopburi, to attend service. In the small church of around 20 plus people, believers gather each week to worship God and hear God’s Word. One thing that amazes us is how the church services run each week despite there being no pastor, with local believers leading and even preaching. This has allowed the church to not only thrive in the community but also reach out to support churches in other provinces such as Ang Thong, which we attend in the afternoon at least once a month. The church in Ang Thong, a building owned by one of the believers, ministers to children in the neighbourhood, allowing them opportunities to hear the Gospel. We have been blessed by the warm people in both churches as well as being part of the community each Sunday.
Left photo: A typical Sunday in the Singburi church where church members lead and preach at the services
Right photo: A simple car blessing ceremony for the Thai couple from the Singburi church who recently bought a 3rd-hand car
The next few months will be busy as churches in Thailand are ramping up towards Christmas where there will be a month-long series of celebrations and evangelistic activities with the aim to bring the Gospel into the communities. We will be involved in these activities while progressing in our daily language learning. Do keep us in prayer for strength and endurance as well as a breather by the end of the year to reflect and prepare for the exciting year ahead.
Jon and Phoebe's thetomyumkongs journey. 