December, 2004

Dear Friends and Family,

I hope you have had a blessed holiday season. It was definitely different leaving most of my Christmas traditions in the States, but a joyful time nonetheless. The reason for celebrating Christmas had not changed, though all of the trappings of the day might. God has made his dwelling here on earth not only in Bethlehem or the US, but among believers the whole world over. It was powerful to see Christians here in this pagan country, where Christmas means very little, praising God for the gift of his Son.

Christmas in Bangkok

Nearly all of the believers in the Peace Community church network are former Buddhists and pagans. They did not grow up with Christmas traditions, so the parties, caroling and celebration of the church are for many where they have learned how to celebrate Christ’s birth. These activities also serve as a fun way to reach out to neighbors who have not heard much, if anything, about Jesus, and who will seldom turn down games and good food.

One of the most popular pastimes in Bangkok is karaoke, so it is fitting that Thai Christians love to go caroling. But in contrast to the brisk door-to-door singing that sometimes happens in the States, here it is an elaborate affair. One evening this month a group of about two dozen of us piled into cars and stopped at 10 church members’ houses in different neighborhoods, mostly slum communities or low-income government housing. At each home there was singing, prayer and blessing for the house and those who live there, and then a time of sharing food and fellowship. As we walked through the community we sang songs and handed out small gifts to the children. The trip started at 6 p.m. and wasn’t finished until nearly 2 a.m.

On Christmas Eve the Permsup house church hosted a huge Christmas party at Dave’s house. A few women from the community cooked up a feast, feeding the 70+ people who came with plenty of leftovers. There were games and singing for the kids, a gift exchange, and a showing of the Jesus film. A good time was had by all.

As for my own Christmas day, I spent it with my teammates Jen and Dave. We ate good food, relaxed in our team leader’s air-conditioned house, opened care packages from friends and family and spent some time in Scripture together. It was a very special time.

Going North for New Year’s

The big Thai holiday this time of year is New Years (Bii May). Ratchai, the new believer in Permsup, has invited our team to join his family on their annual trip back to their home province of Kalasin for the holiday. We will make the 7-hour trek on the 28th and probably come back on the 3rd. It sounds like this will be a laid-back time of meeting the family’s relatives, eating a lot of sticky rice and a spicy papaya salad called Som Tam, and a break from the heat of Bangkok (it is still in the 90s during the afternoons here). Jen and I will be taking a break from Thai lessons during this week, but will have plenty of opportunities to practice, I’m sure. Dave will be trying to learn more of the family’s first language, Issan. We are still trying to figure out this heart language of the majority of Bangkok slum dwellers. It appears to be similar, if not identical, to Lao, though we have heard that it once had a distinctive alphabet. This, however, has disappeared ever since the Thai government destroyed all written forms of the language several decades ago. It is still passed down verbally, however, and most families in the slums are bi- if not tri-lingual. It my hope to one day be able to speak about Jesus in Issan to the poor of Bangkok.

Language Learning

My daily language lessons and practicing with friends and neighbors is teaching me much about perseverance, but is also progressing quickly. I can now hold simple conversations with people and have started to develop some real friendships. I now definitely know more Thai than either Spanish or French, which I have studied in the past. And though it is a lot of work, especially as an introvert, thinking on how God will soon use my voice here compels me forward. A few weeks after we return from Kalasin, Jen and I will be learning the Thai alphabet. As an avid reader and writer, I am excited to be able to understand written Thai.

Prayer Requests

1. Please pray for two of the youth in Permsup: Ahng and Fon. These two teenaged girls seem to be the closest to accepting the Gospel. Fon, who is 14, has already expressed interest in committing herself to Jesus, but seems reluctant to go against her family which is devoutly Buddhist. Ahng is my neighbor and my landlord’s daughter (she was in one of the pictures in my last letter). She is studying the Bible as an optional class in school and is often asking questions about God. Both girls have been coming to the house church together. Pray for God to be continuing to till the soil of the hearts and that I would be faithful in modeling, interceding, and witnessing in the simple ways I can now.

2. We have just approved a new member to the team named Clara. She will be joining us hopefully in the early fall. She has some background experience in youth work and ministry to addicts—I am excited to have her join us. Please pray for her fundraising and preparations.

3. As always, pray for my language learning. Ask the Lord to continue providing what I need to keep my energy and determination levels high. Thank him with me for the generous and kind language partners he has already blessed me with.

4. Pray for my trip to Kalasin to be a safe one and a time of bonding with this family from Permsup. Pray for Pie, Ratchai’s wife, and Nat, their son, who are not yet believers. Dave and I will probably be asked by many about our faith and why we have come to Thailand; pray for open hearts to what we have to share.

Blessings to you in this coming new year.

In Him,

Sara Stephens