2024 Recap and what's next

Our last update gave a thorough update on the first half of 2024. The year was busy. God was so faithful to be who He says He is; and provide every need we had, as well as meeting the needs of the students entrusted to us. After graduation in July, we turned around and conducted a second term of students that graduated just before Christmas! Many do not fully understand how intense and demanding the 4 month term can be, especially since we do not have any designated staff to assist. (One student said this was a spiritual boot camp). To hold two terms back to back, preceded by a major relocation was a lot - grocery shopping, scheduling, student visa issues, ministry opportunities, teaching, lessons, meetings, counseling, worship, gardening, driving, cleaning, etc... while living with an extra 10 multi-cultural, multi-lingual, strangers, who become like our own family within the four month period. Essentially we worked 9 solid months with no days off; so it is necessary to make some time the beginning of 2025 to pray, fast, rest and seek the Lord for wisdom, timing and rhema before we do much more. But, let's recap a bit and lay out some prayer points.

In 2024 the Lord provided us a new place; an old truck to transport the students, a drum set, student's school supplies and furnishings to do the school. {He also provided the money for us to record two new original worship songs written by the students. Those are on Youtube if you are interested.) We will upgrade as we can, but the overall need was met because of your generous giving!

Let me testify that in this year we saw one miraculously revived from unconsciousness, two delivered from demons, and others set free from religious bondage and unhealthy attachments. My joy was to see so many fall in love with Jesus, moving from Christianity as a religious philosophy into Christianity as a lover of God, a worshipper, emerging leader and disciple of Christ. He also sustained us during the massive flooding. Our property sustained very little damage during the floods when everyone around us lost much. We were able to provide relief near the border and our students spent numerous days driving back and forth to dig mud for hours each time.

While all of this was happening, we continue to lead the worship team at New Life Church in Chiang Rai, lead worship once a month at Victory Church in Mae Sai, and at The Seed in Chiang Rai. We also continue to return to Faith Village in Thaton and check in on our alumni from time to time.

We have graduated 31 students since we started Asaph's Journal School of Worship. Of those, I can personally attest that at least 28 are still pursuing the Lord. Some are active in their local church while they work or finish their schooling, others have been hired on by outside ministries, and others are still in frequent contact with us while they seek God for their next steps. Honestly, it is hard to release them to pursue what God has for them, when the temptation to hang on to them because we need helpers - but His plans are bigger than this place and we get to be the ones who scatter good seed; the ones who provide building stones to those building good works.

2024 God exceeded our expectations. We celebrated much, but we also endured threats, slander, sickness and loss. While the enemy raged, God's grace was and is still sufficient. One day, feeling discouraged I lamented to the Lord about loss, and that we had "invested" so much. He gently reminded me that He didn't send me here to "invest", but to "sow". If I invest, I expect the return; I calculate risk. If I sow, I discern seasons, I plant and scatter good seed and trust Him to bring good fruit. The growth or death or gain or loss in the process depends solely upon His sending the sun to shine on it and rain to water it.

Going into 2025, we are still leading worship and ministering in all the places mentioned above. We also are in the process of planning to assist hosting a team in the village, a prison outreach, and possibly a worship camp during the April school break. We are tentatively shooting to begin the next school term in July - we are waiting for a definite date from God before making a formal announcement.

Pray for the visa process. Thailand has made an additional hurdle that is affecting many missionary visas currently. Pray this gets resolved before our visas come due for renewal. Also, Timmy cannot remain in Thailand under us next renewal because he ages out. This year he graduated High School, as well as Asaph's Journal School of Worship. Pray for wisdom and favor and finances to navigate his independent visa and his next steps in July.

We are aware we are sometimes slow to communicate because we wear so many hats. Thank you for praying with us, for us. Thank you for standing with us in faith and also being so faithful to obey when God directs. Thank you for giving and honoring and trusting us to be good stewards of His plan and your trust. If you have any questions or concerns about our budget or clarification on our activities, please do not hesitate to send us a message!

(Giving statements were emailed out the end of January. If you have not received that check your junk folder.)

Prayer Points / Giving Opportunities.

• An interpreter who feels called to partner with us.

• A bi (or tri) lingual helper to assist in some capacity (whether domestic or administrative) and the funds to pay them.

• Our visas get secured and the funds to renew them.

• A work crew to repair the rain/ flood damage to the girls dorm and modify it to diminish further damage. We estimate the cost of repairs around $1,000.

• A restaurant style cooler for the school term. Our existing refrigerator was purchased for our home. It is small and gets damaged with each term. (Our students come from many varied levels of socio-economic backgrounds and education levels. Something as simple as a refrigerator shelf or a toaster can be a new experience for some, which results in accidents and damage). A cooler will cost about $650 and much less likely to break.

• An upgrade to the school vehicle. Last year we purchased an old truck for about $2,500 that took us more places than we ever thought possible (oh, the stories we have to tell!). We have done some repairs to keep it running, but it no longer qualifies for the proper insurance. We can keep the truck but will have to eventually remove the tunnel cover and seating in the bed, which will make it good for work or market for students to drive to do errands, lead worship locally, or border runs. But to do more, we need an upgrade. Either a passenger van, or another song taew truck. Of course, we would love a new one. but I am content with "new to us". I am believing for $7,000 to meet this need.