UPDATE FROM

UPDATE FROM

Cathy and Mark Wimble

Serving in Thailand

During the last three months we have been:  entertaining 14 visitors who stayed in our home, and 10 visitors who stayed in local hotels; attending the MUP International Conference in Chiang Mai for one week; going to Bangkok for our adoption committee interview; taking a trip to Chantaburi to play and swim with the dolphins; hosting a baby shower for our worship leader, and then sending them out in the same weekend; celebrating Easter; along with all of our usual demands of pastoring a church, home schooling, and raising our sons. 

     A highlight of these months was the joy of having the adoption committee interview go so well, and having it completed.  Thank you for praying for us so faithfully at that time.  The three women doing the interview seemed very impressed with our sons and family.  They informed us that we should have David’s adoption completed by September ’08.  We will have three more home visits from the social worker.

     On any given week in our church there are at least 13 different nationalities present.  For at least half of our congregation “English” is their second language.  “All Nations Christian Fellowship” is an accurate name for our church.  Almost every member of our congregation comes from a different denominational background, (Anglican, Salvation Army, German Free Church, Charismatic, Lutheran, Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Fundamentalist, Bible Fellowship, etc….).  Imagine pastoring such a church!!!  Also, our members come from various economic backgrounds.  On any given Sunday the number of visitors is usually equal to, or more than, the number of our members.  It is a challenge to pastor such a Body.  It is our joy to be here as God’s servants.  However, we need your faithful prayers behind us.  Because we live in a tourist city, people do not come here for work like they would in the larger cities, such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai.  Most people who come here are running away from their previous lives, families, or themselves.  They are most often very wounded, hurting individuals.  Some come here for half of the year to get away from their cold winter climate back home.  Others move here to live out their retirement days.  We know God is using us in the lives of people who end up all over the world, (Burma, Philippines, England, Germany, Columbia, Korea, Japan, Norway, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Holland, New Zealand, Australia, America, Sweden, S. Africa, Ghana, Malaysia, Nepal, etc…).  What a taste of heaven…  Believers from every tribe and tongue and nation!  However, in spite of knowing God has put us here, this ministry is a very difficult and often discouraging one.  Please continue to pray for God to build His church here in Hua Hin, Thailand.  Pray for Mark as he preaches, teaches, counsels, evangelizes, leads the services, runs our fellowship group, disciples, and shepherds the Body here.  Pray for us to be a light for Christ in this dark, sin-sick city.

     Our biggest news is that Pastor Dave and Deb Schoen have graciously offered to be Josh’s host family.  So, Josh will fly home alone around Aug. 18.  He will recover from jet lag at his grandparent’s for about a week and then move into the Schoen’s home on Aug. 28.  He will do his senior year at Emmaus High School.  It is to be an excellent school, but naturally it will require a massive adjustment for Josh (from a class of 1 in home school to a class of 600 in public school!).  Josh will attend the Bethel BFC church and youth group.  He can walk to church and school.  He is excited and thankful that God has opened this door for him.  Pray for him to continue to grow in Jesus, have a great relationship with the Schoen family, and to have a wonderful experience for his senior year.

                       Together for God’s glory……….

                       Cathy, Mark, Caleb, Josh, Daniel,

                       Stephen, David, and Jonathan

Prayer Requests:

* an interim pastor/missionary to take our place next year (from end of Nov. 08 through Oct. 09).

* long-term co-workers to come join us in our ministry

* a new worship leader, and more musicians for ANCF

* God would keep us, encourage our hearts, and bind the evil one and his attempts to destroy us

* for Emmaus High School to accept Josh’s transcripts and credits

* for our remaining three home visits in David’s adoptions process

Praises:

* Schoen family as Josh’s host family (Aug. 08-Jan. 09)

* we will be home in the US from Jan. 09-Aug. 09

* God has already defeated the evil one!

* God provided the money for Josh’s flight

* memories playing and swimming with the dolphins

* all the visitors we enjoyed in the last three months (thanks for coming!)