Dear Team,
We leave our home here in Chiang Mai in about 12 hours, for a summer trip to the USA. We’ve wanted to get an update on our Tsunami Projects to you and if we don’t do it now—it won’t get done. Mike has been very involved in our work in southern Thailand. Last week, he shared his thoughts as he left the victims and projects for a few months. We will continue to work building homes and helping to restore their lives at least until the end of next year. He shares this:
“As I sit on my last flight of 10 trips to southern Thailand to assist with Tsunami relief work. I am feeling a tightness in my chest over leaving an area of Thailand that has for the last 5 months captivated my heart, mind and soul. Today I said goodbye to a very good friend and new believer, Uncle Lek. The words of Jesus were made real to me through Uncle Lek when Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor and blessed are the meek.” Lek is a picture of a poor and meek man to me. After the Tsunami hit, Lek had no way of having a home on the island of PraThong. However, today we put the finishing touches on his newly constructed home that was built and financed by Christians from around the world. His home was built in just two weeks by over 90 people joining together to show God’s love to this hurting group of poor and meek people. I’m filled with emotion as I think about this man and all that God has done for him. Two days ago at Uncle Leks request, we had a church service under a tarp strung between two coconut trees. Lek and his wife Nit, shared their experience from the day the Tsunami hit their island. Nit shared how the wave rolled her over 100 yards until Uncle Lek swam to grab her from going under the water. He pulled her into a cashew nut tree to save her life from the wave of the Tsunami. This took place a mile and a half away from the beach. After they both shared with us, they thanked the group for building a home for them. With a huge smile on his face Uncle Lek thanked us for bringing Jesus to him and Nit.”
As a family, we’ve been separated a lot. With my teaching responsibilities at Grace International School and Jenny’s activities, Mike has led several teams to the south without us. While in the USA, our schedules are still a bit strung out. We will be in Colorado at our Campus Crusade for Christ bi-annual conference and another special Global Campus forum, July 10-27. Mike has also been invited to share at a Christian Motorcyclist Convention about the Tsunami projects, and we hope to meet with many of you to share updates of what God has done in your lives and ours this year. We will be in and out of the Waterloo area June 25-30 and July 29-Aug. 10. We hope to get a cell phone and will let you know that number later.
Each of our girls is going through some sort of transition, which adds even more responsibility to our time in the USA…….
1) Marisa, Jon and Collin have felt a tug in their hearts to return to Thailand and work with Campus Crusade in Chiang Mai. Jon will be leading a team of 4. They have a lot of financial support to raise before their August project departure date. We appreciate your prayers for them. They will be visiting with us in Iowa, June 26-30.
2) Lori is working at Kanakuk Kamps in Branson, Missouri this summer and will return to North Greenville College in the fall.
3) Bethany had a great year at the Joshua Wilderness institute in central California. God clearly showed her that he wanted her at the school of her choice, by giving her a great financial aid packet. She will be attending Hope International University this fall, and majoring in Intercultural Studies. Our first stop in Calif. tomorrow is to move her “stuff” from central to southern California in preparation for this fall.
4) Jenny is officially a high school senior as of yesterdays last day of school. This summer, we’ll be looking at college possibilities for her. With her sisters in South Carolina, Florida, and Thailand, - the decision probably will not be based on a geographical location.
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.
Because of Him,
Mike and Judy Christian
