June 2025 Newsletter

Ever since we came back to Thailand in January, I’ve felt a sense of disconnect. I don’t know if it’s because part of me didn’t actually want to come back to Asia this time, because I’m still fighting my own demons from the past (even at 32, I’m still discovering how deeply my C-PTSD and near death experience has affected me today). But I want to apologize and genuinely ask for forgiveness. I stopped reaching out to our partners, even on their birthdays, because I allowed shame to run the day.

I will be reaching out to all of you who support us financially in the coming days to schedule a reconnection call. I also want to create a WhatsApp group with you all so I can send message updates, and you can feel more connected to us and the mission here in Thailand. And if you haven’t received it already, you should be getting a letter from us in the mail soon. (Again this is only relevant to those who give financially on a recurring basis.)

I felt a sense of shame because of my own expectations for myself. So many times, I expect more of myself in a short time-frame than I should. The truth is, there is nothing easy about what we’re doing. It was a miracle that we got the visa we did after fighting our way through Thai and Vietnamese bureaucracies, were able to move back to Bangkok, and were able to establish ourselves here again. Literally every step has come with trials and tribulations. (Sit down and talk with me someday and I’ll tell you all the juicy details).  

Sometimes I wonder how many people would be willing to go through what we’ve been through and keep going. But on the other hand, how much easier are our lives than the lives of so many that are impoverished around the world, especially here in Asia? Even when times are incredibly stressful, even when we’re having to fly around the world with two small kids and no true “home” anymore, even when finances get tight and we are overwhelmed, even when it is so hot in Bangkok that we want to hide indoors for 3 months– we still have so much to be grateful for. 

Here are some updates from the last 2 months. 

Family

I have to say, I praise God every day for the health of my family. I still can’t believe that at 18 years old, I met the woman who would be the best mom and wife I could ever imagine. We are about to celebrate our 12 year anniversary, and I love her more today than I ever have. And my kids are so happy and content, even in the crowds and taxis of Bangkok.

Mary Ella continues to amaze me with how much she loves people. She makes friends everywhere we go. She made a best friend in our neighborhood here in Bangkok, and yesterday she asked her if she knew Jesus. She’s always asking us about different people and if they know him, and she told me since she was little that she wants to talk to monks about Jesus 🥹. 

Theo is only one, but I love seeing his personality start to shine. He loves his sister so much, and just seeing that alone has been so healing for me. Despite having loved my younger brother so fiercely when he was born, the family trauma we went through made it so that we were already disconnected from a very young age, and I didn’t even know if it WAS possible for siblings to have a good relationship.

Theo already loves soccer and reading. That sounds funny to say about a toddler, but he grabs books every day and brings them to me. Even though he can’t talk yet (other than a few words he has learned— “all done,” “water,” “amen”— yes he says amen and it’s adorable). He plops down in my lap and swings his feet in excitement as I open the books and read to him. He also loves to go out to the big community yard in our neighborhood and run around kicking the soccer ball. 

Saphan Siam Conference

We’ve been visiting churches for the past few months, which has been exhausting, but a good experience to see what is already here in Bangkok. But because we’ve been so tossed about, we haven’t had much stability in terms of church community. One highlight of the last few months was the Saphan Siam conference.

This was a conference of missionaries and Thai ministry workers from all over the country, held here in Bangkok. The big theme for the conference was Biblical Theology, and they brought in a pastor from Portland, Oregon, to lead our main sessions. The whole conference was very refreshing not just because of the teaching, but also the fellowship (some of our Chiang Rai people also came down). 

Thai Partners

We also had a chance to meet with our Thai partners here in Bangkok over the last few months. This is significant. We value these relationships and partnerships very highly. Boom and Aom do campus evangelism and discipleship in Khon Kaen, a city in the Isan region. Bank is now doing campus evangelism and discipleship in Hat Yai, a city in the South with a large Muslim and Malay population. Please pray for them.

Sutthisan Church

At the Saphan Siam conference, we reconnected with two guys around our age whom I have known for years but hadn’t talked to since leaving Bangkok. I found out they had teamed up and were planting a church. So we’ve visited one week and Mary Ella loved both families’ kids (there are about 7 between the two of them and they all speak both English and Thai).

So we’ve decided to plug into their church plant for now and do whatever we can to help and see where the relationship goes. We still have a vision to plant a bilingual church (their services are all in Thai), but for now, this is a great place for us to get some fellowship and for Mary Ella and Theo to be able to have consistency every week, as well as other kids to play with (since if we plant, we don’t know how long it will be before there are kids). 

Haydn’s Creation

One of the cool things about living in a giant city like Bangkok is getting to go to shows when they come through. This month, we went with some friends to an oratorio called “Creation” written by Franz Joseph Haydn, the Austrian composer of the classical period. It was as epic as you could imagine, and sitting in a room full of Thais, in a country that is 98% Buddhist, while they listened to the Bible being sung by a giant choir with an epic symphony orchestra in front of them, blew my mind. God’s revelation is inescapable and beautiful at the same time. 

Prayer Requests:

• Pray for Joe Cole and his wife (pastor at AFBC) as they are dealing with health issues.

• Pray for some American friends of ours who have been doing ministry here in Bangkok, and are now moving up to a city in Isan called Udon Thani.

• Pray for Sutthisan Church as we are helping the team start it. 

• Pray for our friends who launched a new Christian podcast about fatherhood.

• Pray for peace in our world, including Ukraine, the Middle East, and Myanmar. 

As always…

THANKS FOR BEING PART OF THE TEAM!

By God's grace, we have witnessed many lives transformed, and some family legacies changed forever. But the story is not over yet, and we are anticipating and believing for even greater things moving forward. Consider becoming a financial supporter so you can play a significant role in sharing the gospel, addressing root causes of poverty, and creating Christian resources.