Sharing and Rejoicing in Thailand

In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 2 Corinthians 8:2 (NIV)

Many members of our home church in Thailand are experiencing the impact of Covid-19 in ways few of us will encounter in the U.S. Most of them are immigrant workers or tribal natives that live very simply on low incomes from pay day to pay day. Now, with the work shut-down, their families stand in very real danger of going hungry or being evicted from their housing. Despite this situation, they are sticking together and helping one another by foraging for fruit and vegetables, growing gardens, fishing, and raising chickens. However, there are still some vital things that only money can buy like rice, the staple of their diet, and the oil they cook with.

Eagles Rest International Ministries has been honored to participate in providing a large sack of rice and two bottles of oil to every family in Lighthouse Church, our church home when we are abroad. In the picture above, our pastor gives rice and oil to a family in need. Below, is pictured the supplies given to each family, and also a picture of our pastor’s wife taking the temperature of a family representative who has come to the church to receive the allotment for his family.

The members were thrilled to receive their provisions, however, their thoughts were not only for themselves, but for the struggling families in their neighborhoods, both Christian and non-Christian. Plans are being made to share beyond their membership, and Eagles Rest will participate with them in this outreach.

Any donations to ERIM marked for helping provide food, housing, or other necessities to our friends and neighbors in Thailand will go for that purpose. Our mailing address is below, or if you have PayPal, donations may be sent to [email protected]. We thank you for your support–past, present, and future. Please pray for hearts to be opened to the gospel through these shared blessings in a time of crisis.

Home in Time to Stay Home

From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2 (NIV)

The situation was well on its way to weird when we arrived in the U.S. on March 10. Our jaws dropped when we attempted to buy groceries for the first time since reaching home, and the toilet paper shelves were empty. Surely, this couldn’t be happening in the United States! But a lot of things were happening in the United States that none of us have ever experienced before.

Speaking for ourselves and for our family, we are deeply thankful that we are blessed with abundance of food and comfortable housing (and even plenty of TP!), unlike what is being experienced by many in Thailand (as talked about above) and other nations. Like many of you, our chief complaint is the inability to be physically present with our children and grandchildren. We also miss being able to join our church family in the same building for worship. But even in these circumstances, we are grateful for the electronic media so readily available to us.

We continue to pray for you and for the world situation, and we thank you for your prayers, also. Stay safe and well with your focus on Jesus, our Rock and our Redeemer.