April 2023

​Hope everyone is doing well. It is very very hot here in nakhon right now, and that is more challenging than it sounds. Our electric bill is too high, and the air conditioner in our bedroom struggles to keep it cool, which is why i have a migraine this morning. I can't imagine having no air-conditioning at all, just leaving mine off for a few hours to save electricity is really miserable. So keep nakhon in your prayers with regard to the heat, people are struggling, and the electric company is increasing the electric price at the same time. People are hoping that after the election, very soon, this issue will be first to be resolved. Please pray for the election as well, there is a lot of political tension now, and if someone trys to rig the system, there will be riots, and its going to be much worse than the so-called jan 6th riots. Here in thailand, and in much of the world, election rigging is the reality. So please keep thailand in your prayers this month. That being said, here are some updates, and ways you can pray for us. 

Church

We really would like to get a church going, and we've tried just about everything, but its more difficult than ever since covid, when regular church goers started staying home, now its even more of a challenge, and we don't know where to start. One local church has gone completely off the woke diving board, and have openly homosexuals leading the church, now this is a terrible thing, and it breaks my heart, but God is still in control. There are probably lots of bible-believing christians who need a bible-believing church, so its all a matter of making sure people know where to go. Creating a youtube presence is a great idea, and it would be beneficial to take each tract, preach through it, and put it on the channel. I don't want to do a bad job, so ill invest in a good audio interface before i start into this project. I have a few things i need to wrap up, but this is the direction we will be going as we move forward. This channel will also have translated sermons, sermon jams, evangelistic interviews and childrens songs ive written. Although, since calvins starting to sing, i may wait until he can sing clearly and have him do the singing. I've noticed, calvin is interested in childrens songs sung by children. 

Tracts

I know im behind here, i have 2 tracts on the wrap up, the passach-easter tract, and the homosexuality tract. The first is now nearly complete, and has mostly been translated into thai, so soon ill have my wife check, then formating, artwork, printing, uploading. The second is difficult because of the research, i wanted to provide a host of statistics that show why the homosexual community is indanger, and why it is actually unloving to encourage the behavior, because the further they go down that road, the higher rates of suiside, crime, and disease. I have found a bunch of useful information, and while im not completely done with the research, im getting there. The research is about homosexuals, trans, and a section on those raised in fatherless homes. Then the scripture section which is easy enough, and i may add a few high profile testimonies to the end. This one may take me another month, not sure. I've been teaching a lot more since the kids are on school break, so that makes it difficult as well.

Building

I got an exhaust pipe with a powerful fan in it put over the stove, its really great, and it truely shows how you can spend 10% the money to get a more effective and more interesting and attractive tool. Not completely done with it, still have to poke the hole to outside, but im close, only took me an hour to set it up. I refinished a slab table in the classroom, and it looks great, sanded it to 2000 grit and finished it with teak oil, its super weird looking, but very smooth to the touch, and my son and students seem to love it. I will now try to flatten another slab so i can make a workbench out of it, and that leaves 3 more i can make tables and sell. Im a bit hesitant, but im sure once i get the router sled going, it won't be too hard. Makes me wonder the methods Jesus would have used to flatten a slab in Josephs shop. That would have been a pain without any power tools. 

Homeschooling

Calvin has supprised me this month, he now can sing the vegitables song and fruit song, which are basically singing through a large stack of flashcards of vegitables and fruit. He can sing along to the bones of the body song too, which covers all major bones of the body, i wrote it based on lessons my 5th grade teacher gave that is still remember, "pelvis like elvis" and "scapula like dracula". I have written several songs, but need to keep it up, most of them are 5 years old now, and i haven't kept it up. 

Health

So i am on the verge of fixing my stomach, basically any fruit that causes constipation is great, mainly guava, and i eat it every meal, and feel much healthier. Fang is doing well, she is pregnant with a little girl, her name will be Abigail. I am excited to have a little girl, but also a bit nervous, i grew up with only brothers. I've given it a lot of thought, and i have begun designing the perfect dollhouse, i have so much scrap wood, ill be able to build it for almost free. Should be something i can do with calvin as well. So, anyway, fang is healthy and other than being very hot and exhausted, we are doing ok. 

Finances

I am on the way to saving the amount i took out for the car. Should be good, but with this electric bill this month, im nervous. I really don't want to get behind, and my wife is struggling to cover her half as well, and id like to help her out so we don't get behind. If anyone is able, and can help us out with a hundred bucks or so, that would really help us right now. I think the temperature is supposed to start getting cooler soon, lets hope. 

Conclusion

We are confident that God is using us to do something of lasting significance in this province. We will be consistent and work hard, running the race of endurance that has been marked out before us. This is by no means a sprint, we would have lost heart a long time ago if thats what we thought. Where God calls us, God is faithful. Thankyou again to those of you who stand with us.