February 2025 Newsletter

Dear Brethren,

January was a great month, even though we were very busy. It has been very cool this year. We have had to wear jackets for most of December and January. The temperature has been down in the 50’s!! That is a big drop from temperatures well over 100 degrees. It is the time of year that baby goats are born, we had 5 baby goats born this month. They are really cute.

On the second of January, the Park’s family came to be with us for two weeks. We first went to Mae Hong Son to visit with Ratchanok. While visiting, Ratchanok told me she wanted to be baptized. We found a nice place in the river and she confessed Christ and was baptized to wash away her sins. When taking one’s confess here… we do not ask do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God. We ask, Who is Jesus? They usually respond with, the Son of God and our Savior. We were so excited for her to become a Christian. She is the first Christian in her village. The only problem is that she is 3 hours one-way from the nearest congregation. So, we have been going there each week in addition to all the other places we go on Sundays. It is so important for every Christian to be able to worship every week. We went from there to Maesariang where we stayed for two nights. We went to Maelati on Friday and prepared for Children’s Day. Children’s Day is a day in Thailand that has events and giveaways for children. This year we decided to have games, activities and giveaways at the church building at Maelati. On Saturday, we had around 30 young people come. We played games, ate noodles, had activities, and gave away a lot of snacks and school supplies. Fun was had by all. On Saturday afternoon, we drove to Maetan. On Sunday, we worshipped at Maetan, Maethawah, Maekhaduan, and Maehongson. Driving time throughout the day was around 6 hours. Nathan preached and I translated at each of the places. The Parks family also gave away snacks and school supplies to many young people.

We went to Mae Hong Son to visit with Ratchanok. While visiting, Ratchanok told me she wanted to be baptized.

Children’s Day is a day in Thailand that has events and giveaways for children.

The Parks family came to be with us for two weeks.

Passakorn, Chaichana, Suchat, and I went to a lectureship in the North East of Thailand. We went to the town of Amnat Chearun. We each gave lessons. There were three baptisms during the week. The lessons were about helping the church be strong. My lessons were on “Be Strong in Obeying all of God’s Will” and “Be strong in Church Discipline”. After my second lesson, there was a lady who wanted to be baptized. She told the preacher there that she wanted to be baptized. This was Sunday morning before worship. He came and asked me if I could stay in the afternoon for the baptism. I asked why we were waiting. I said that she should be baptized before we worshiped so that she could take the Lord’s Supper. So, we went to the place they use for baptisms and baptized her and then came back to worship. After lunch, we started back to Chiang Mai.

Passakorn, Chaichana, Suchat, and I went to a lectureship in the North East of Thailand. We went to the town of Amnat Chearun.

This year is the year that I will make a trip to America to give reports. I am planning to be there in August and September. If you want me to come and make a report at your congregation, please let me know as soon as possible so that I can fit you into the schedule. It will be first come first serve on dates. Like the last trip, if you would like a mini gospel meeting (Friday through Sunday, or Sunday through Tuesday) please let me know.

God bless,
Michael