Letter from Geoffrey & Pat September 2006

As the Father has loved me so have I loved you.  Continue in my love. John 15:19

 Dear Chrestos Family,                                                                                                        

Geoffrey had a wonderful trip to Canada and met with many friends in Vancouver and Toronto and then three volunteers from Toronto: Mandy, Sophia and Tim joined us for two weeks in Mae Sariang.

Student Body:

This year we have thirty-nine students in the Bible School: nine in the third year; twelve in the second year; eighteen in the first year.

One of the first year students, Saw Chi Noh, joined us after the term had started.  He asked us if we would take him as he felt that he had reached ‘the bottom of the pile’ [due to his lifestyle], but now wanted to start afresh with God. He is making good progress and we see many changes in the lives of those who take the Word of God seriously.  One of our lady students, Naw Ker, is blind.  She loves God very much and is a challenge to all of us.

It is wonderful to see the more mature students encouraging and nurturing the younger ones. The students are all now settled into the recently built dormitories on the new land.  We feel so blessed by all that the Lord has provided for us through your love, prayers, and support.

The General Secretary of the Thai Karen Baptist Convention whom we work closely with said to us recently, ‘You have come just at the right time’. This is a crucial time for the Karen young people and it is our privilege and responsibility to reach out to them.

Chrestos Community:

We realise that God has formed us not only as a Bible School but also as a community of believers.  From our base here staff and students go out with relief supplies to the refugee camps, migrant-schools, and villages in need.  We also seek to encourage village churches in more remote areas, and take the gospel to young people and children in schools and hostels.  Some come into the community for studying the Bible, attending conferences and services, and for help of different kinds.   We want to continue to grow and to be a blessing to others as we live, learn, and work together.   Please pray for us.

 Teaching Team:

This academic year we have been teaching and also four young men on our Karen Team.  We have also welcomed four visiting Karen teachers, who share meaningful experiences and insights with the students.  Mornings we study the Bible and afternoons other subjects such as

Karen, Thai and English, Music Notes and Choir, Health, and Basic Agriculture.

Karen Youth Conference:

Next month we have a Youth Conference for three days with up to 100 young people coming from the villages.  This will be good training for our students as they work with them.  Please pray for our team as they prepare and that the young people with listen and respond to the messages given.

The ATOM [A Taste of Mission] TEAM from Oakhall Holidays will be visiting Thailand from October 15-19, and among other activities will be at the Karen Youth Conference – that should prove to be a real cultural experience for them !!   We look forward to receiving them.

Schools’ Ministry:

A Karen pastor asked for our help with The Schools’ Ministry.   He had been asked to teach the Karen children the Bible and Karen literacy for three hours in a Thai School.  We have provided a team to go with him. We now have two teams in two schools and a third school has also requested a team.  Please pray for this vital expanding ministry.

Chrestos Communications – Recording Studio

The Recording Team is rapidly producing CD’s for the villagers and young people. ‘The Lost Son’ dramatised by the students with music and sound effects is ready to go, and now they are starting on Genesis.

Chrestos Communication - Literature

Two more booklets are in the pipeline: ‘A Bible Overview’ and ‘Doesn’t Anybody Care?  The latter is a book on counselling translated into Thai by O.M.F. in the 1980’s.  Pat is now revising the manuscript and it is being translated into Karen. 

Situation in Burma remains very serious.

More and more villagers are fleeing into the jungle.  Chrestos is helping these dear ones in practical ways where possible.  Please pray for them.

News from Laos:

Pastor Sionh Chan and his wife Khamyeng recently visited Laos to encourage the Khmu Christians.  Please pray for Khamyeng as her health has been fragile and also for the Khmu students at the Bible School in Chiang Mai.

With our loving greetings, Geoffrey and Pat