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We had a great time with our Lawa Brothers and Sisters in Mae Sarieng, Thailand in December. We were honored to be representatives for our organization at their annual conference.
New Years Greetings from Thailand 2013 will bring huge changes: THE BIG MOVE
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A move to a new location, learning a new language and adjusting to a new culture will keep us busy. In January we will lay the groundwork for our move to a village 12 hours away from
where we live now… in Northeast Thailand. In many ways this big move is comparable to our first move to Thailand: we don’t know the local culture, we can’t understand the people’s native language and we have no friends there to speak of. Except this time we have two huge advantages: 1. We already learned a related language and we know a language that the people can understand. With God’s help we will see a church planted.
Ric and Sharon Bruce
More inside!
What is a friend? A friend is someone around your age (within a year or two) who you see often and with whom you have many shared experiences. Your relationship is mutually beneficial in some way. Our American definition may be a bit different.
www.ntm.org/ric_bruce
517-490-1032
Life in the village Life in the village will look different than it does here in the city. Our living conditions, eating habits, leisure activities and pace of life will have to change… again. Life in the village will be slower than life in the city but that doesn’t mean the pressures and challenges will be any less intense. We’ll likely face closer scrutiny, more criticism and new things we can’t yet predict. Often we’ll wonder when it will end but this is why we came: to demonstrate Christ to a group of lost people. We are looking forward to wrapping up our final sixty lessons in Thai study and getting started making our new life and home in our final destination! Please be praying with us as we make this move. Currently, the options for housing in the village appear very limited. We need something that will meet our needs and we’re very hesitant to build something permanent at this point in our lives and ministry. We’re praying God will prepare the way for us to find a house that we can rent and modify for a reasonable price. Thank-you for your prayers!
The church that we attend on Sundays was planted by a Korean missionary about 8 years ago. This community of believers has been a rock of stability for us despite (like any church) having its ups and downs. As the saying goes: if you find a perfect church don’t go to it. You’ll just ruin it. But seriously: we’re praying that we can find a good church to attend in Northeast Thailand. We may have to drive a ways to get there and we may not personally participate in some of the church practices but we feel that going to church on Sundays really helps us maintain our walk with God and a positive attitude toward the work we’re engaged in. A side benefit will be that the services will probably be in Central Thai, the language we’ve been learning for 2 years
Please keep asking the Lord of the harvest to bless His work in 2012 Ultimately, the work Sharon and I are doing in Thailand is impossible without your financial support, your prayers and your encouragement. Thank-you for your ongoing partnership with us! We appreciate you more than words can express and pray God’s blessing on you and yours this New Year! May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, ever closer to His wondrous face. Yours truly,
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