July 2025 Newsletter

Dear Brethren,

Last month was all about getting our students who are in High School settled in; this month was about getting the University Students settled into their dorms. One thing that may be hard to understand about the students that we help is that they have nothing. Many of them came without anything. They have to cook their food for the most part in Universities here. They came without rice pots, plates, forks, spoons, bowls, bedding, and pillows. They also came without soap, shampoo, cleaning supplies, and many other things. So not only did we spend a lot of time moving students from point A to point B, we spent a lot of time and money buying the things they needed just to survive. The reason they did not bring these things is that they did not have these things, nor the money to purchase these things. This is the first year we have had this many university students. All except one of the university students that we have had in the past lived in Chiang Mai and attended universities here in Chiang Mai. We were not prepared for what we needed to do to get them settled. We spent way over what was budgeted for these students. In addition to that, we are their guardians. That means that we had to go to all the Parent/Teacher orientation days at each of the universities. That wouldn’t be too bad if all of the universities were near Chiang Mai… but many of them are in other provinces.

The university closest to us is Maejo University. They welcome the new students by making all of the new students walk about 10 Kilometers. When they get back to the university, people and businesses in the community give them food and snacks. This is the second year that we have participated in this event. It brings us a lot of goodwill and recognition in the community. We provided 330 meals, 500 sets of meat dumplings, 500 sets of fried meatballs, 700 bags of chips, and 750 drinks. We were able to talk to a lot of older people in the community while we waited for the young people to get there. Then we spent time talking with the young people as they came in. This event also gives the young people who live in our dorm an opportunity to learn to serve others. We had 10 of our young people go and help. They set up, cooked, packed, served, and then helped clean up.

We have been working on the new land that was purchased at the end of last year. We have torn down the fence between the two properties and built a new fence to enclose the new property. Now we also have electricity and water at that property. Getting the electricity to the property was a time-consuming effort. We had to buy new power poles, put them in place, buy the electric wire, string the electric wire, then wait for the power company to come check the wire, approve the work, and put a meter in for us.

In addition to all of that, we continued with all of our regular work. We teach the young men Bible each day. We also teach additional Bible studies. Our Sundays are busy. Passakorn takes one of the young men with him and worships in Thasongyang, Maethawah, and Maekhaduan. Chaichana takes care of Maelati and Maelaw. Suchat takes care of the congregation at Thichawmae. Two of the young men ride a motorcycle and lead the worship in Phrao. My Sunday starts at 5 a.m. I get up, prepare the Lord’s Supper, and then start picking people up. I get one family and take them to the church building. Then I drive 40 minutes to Ratjabhat University and pick up the students we have there… then drive 40 minutes back to the church building. I teach Bible class and worship. Then I take those students back on my way to Mae Hong Son; it’s a 4 ½ hour drive one-way. I then worship with the brethren there. Then… I am done for the day. I spend the night there and return to Chiang Mai on Monday. The young men who stay in Chiang Mai lead the evening worship in Chiang Mai.

It is nearly time for me to make my trip to America to give reports. This coming month, starting on the 18^th, we will have one of our schools. Greg, Perry, and I were splitting up the teaching. It will be a 10-day school. In that time, we will cover all of Luke and Acts. Two days ago, I got a call from Perry, and he will not be able to come because he has a partially torn retina. He will have to have surgery this week. Please keep him in your prayers. We hope that all will be well and he will be able to return in October to teach here in Chiang Mai once again. Greg and I will be dividing up Perry’s lessons. I am still translating the lessons for this school. The school will end on July 27^th, and on the 28^th, I fly out to America. I guess that I will spend most of my time on the airplane sleeping.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone and sharing with you firsthand what we are doing together here in Thailand.

God bless,
Michael