LaojunNewsletter January 2025
THAI TUESDAY
WAVES HOLIDAYS WAITING
WHEN HIGH-SEASON AND STORMYSEASON COLLIDE
WELCOME TO AN EXCITING EDITION OF THAI TUESDAY
REMEMBER LAST TIME WHEN WE INTRODUCED THE QUIET TRANQUILITY OF THE PINES, AND OUR ROLE TO PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED REST FOR THE WEARY? WHILE ALL OF THAT REMAINS TRUE, LET’S TAKE A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES OF WHAT LIFE IS LIKE WHEN HIGH SEASON AND STORMY SEASON COLLIDE.
THANKSGIVING CHRISTMAS NEWYEARS
Celebrations
Joy to the World
When Tum and I first started serving at The Pines I was already anticipating the joy and fun of the holidays--and I was not disappointed! Special holidays bring in a special group of guests. These are the guest who truly have made The Pines their home. This group books all the major holidays together, so it felt like a big family reunion. For many families serving overseas, it’s difficult for them to define where “home” is for them. This makes the holidays difficult. Traveling to their home country is nice, but often families no longer fit in with their home culture and feel like outsiders. Traveling to their home country is also not often an option due to time and expenses. On the other side, they might not be able to openly celebrate Christmas where they live depending on their context. So having The Pines where they can celebrate Jesus openly and enjoy fellowship with other Christians becomes an even sweeter celebration.
Ending the Year with Friends and Family
Then the North Winds Blew In
All we could do was watch and wait as more ground was swept out from under us. Then as soon as the tide went out, we would salvage what we could from the beach. Thankfully no one was hurt, and the rock walls on the edges protected the pool. However, we still have a few more weeks of high tides that could potentially cause more damage.
Even this morning there was more damage.
We had just rebuilt the fence and stairs, but the ground was swept away again.
You can even see there is a massive hole under the gazebo. The edge of the property is essentially suspended over nothing.
Late December-February is known as stormy season in Southern Thailand. While the weather is cool and dry, the sea levels are at their peak. The tides should start retreating soon, but each year we lose more and more of the property.
Ultimately OMF Thailand’s Admin Council makes all the decisions about major renovations. Please pray for wisdom as they decide how to invest in new safety measures to protect our guests and property.
A few months ago, I received an email from a young adult asking if she could visit. She told me her family used to stay at The Pines and it was one of her favorite places from childhood. Even now she still has dreams about The Pines!
Guests’ Stories
She came for lunch a few days ago and shared that her family lived in a closed-country while she was growing up. They moved every 6 months-1 year. “The Pines was one of the very few constants I had in my life at that time.” It was obvious that talking about her childhood brought up a variety of emotions, but watching her eyes light up as she walked through happy memories reminded me of the importance of this place.
Similar stories have stood out to me the most over our first six months here. I knew The Pines was an important place for families, but I didn’t expect to see so many TCKs returning to The Pines as adults. They beam as they take their spouses, children, and friends on tours through their memories.
Clarity for the Future
While we absolutely love The Pines and would like to stay long-term, we’re not sure if it’s actually possible. Please pray for wisdom as Admin Council decides on the terms of renewing our contract. OMF made a first-ever exception for our current contract in which they provide a salary for Tum with the understanding that we must increase our support from the US to as close to 100% as we can. However, the details have not been defined yet, and AC will decide whether or not they can continue providing a salary (or a partial salary) when they meet at the end of February.
In the meantime, I’ve started updating my resume and researching other jobs as backup.
Prayer Requests
Restoration
Alongside all the physical damages to The Pines, we have also experienced difficult confrontations with some of the staff. We love our staff which makes it extra painful when there is dissonance. Two of our staff were also involved in a motorbike accident this week. They are both ok, but our laundry lady has a broken finger and her arm is in a sling. Please pray for healing, peace, and trust among our staff and team.
Additionally, Tum and I are feeling pretty exhausted after the holidays. We have been running at max capacity since Christmas. We also provide additional activities to make the holidays special. It’s fun, but it’s hard to juggle with our already busy schedules. We are still in the thick of highseason due to Chinese New Year tomorrow. Please pray for energy and strength.
Please also pray that God continues to bring restoration to Tum’s family. We’ve been blessed by a closer relationship with Tum’s brother and we hope to see this relationship deepen.
ThankYou
Lastly, we want to take a moment to truly thank each and every one of you for your support and prayers. It’s a joy to share this journey with you, and we are grateful to have you in our lives. If there is any way we can be praying for you please let us know!
Also, if you know of any churches, mission boards, or friends who have a heart for member care in missions we would love to talk to them about out ministry at The Pines.
Love, TheLaojuns
