June 2010 Prayer Letter

DOWNLOAD PDF - JUNE 2010 DAHLFREDS PRAYER LETTER

Dear Friends & Family,

June signals the start of the school year here in Thailand and life is busy and our days are long.  Karl has restarted the evangelistic kids club in Nong Doan and our first week had 20-30 kids, mostly returnees from the previous year.  As we reviewed Creation, Sin, and Noah’s Ark, some kids called out, “We know that already!”  That’s great.  It means that they remember some of what we did last year and we can build on those foundations.  Last year we spent lots of times doing Old Testament stories, especially the first part of Genesis. This year we’ll focus more on the New Testament.  Student worker Tam, some new student ministry interns will help out, as well as Pastor Jareun from the PhraBaht church.  Please pray for these children from poor homes in rural Nong Doan.  Pray that these stories and songs at kids club will be used of God to bring about faith and repentance in their lives as they grow up.

Also in Nong Doan, Karl and Pastor Jareun are trying to track down people to visit.  We located Mr. Ting and met with him, going over the story of Noah.  But the following week he was gone again.  His sister says he’s went to Bangkok.  We also visited once with Lek, a man who “prayed to receive Christ” a couple years ago but whom we have barely seen since.  When Jareun asked him if he still believed, Lek replied, “Well, yeah, I believe.  I mean, all religions teach you to be a good person after all.”  Lek seemed open to meeting with us to look at Scripture some more but we have had a few missed appointments with him since then.  

Sun continues to meet up with Arui to study through the book of John, and to teach her written Thai.  Being one of the few Burmese in Thailand who can speak Thai fluently, many other Burmese in the area rely on her for practical help, both Christians and non-Christians.  So if Arui perseveres in Scripture study and matures in her faith, she has great opportunities to be a light for Christ in the Burmese community in Thailand.  Sun is also taking advantage of opportunities to visit a few

other women each week, but making the timing work can be tricky as we juggle kids and plan around baby Caitlin’s feedings. Please pray with us as we continue to think and pray about how to use our time faithfully and wisely.

Every time we think that things at PhraBaht church might be looking up in some way, we hear of a new conflict or experience a new frustration or disappointment.  Please be in prayer for the growth and maturity of the believers there (and for those who may think that they are believers but are really fooling themselves and others).  On a positive note though, the most recent conflict that was brought to our attention has been quickly cleared up when the the relevant parties talked it out before church this past Sunday.  Praise God for His mercy, and pray for more humility and willingness to deal with issues.  Conflict avoidance and saving face are deeply held cultural values in Thai society at large.

At the end of the month, we will welcome a short-term team from East Sarang Community Church.  They will be helping with outreach in PhraBaht, Nong Doan and Lopburi.  Pray for their short time (2 weeks) here in Thailand, and please continue to pray for us, and for God’s church in Thailand - for growth and maturity.

by Christ’s grace,
Karl & Sun Dahlfred

PRAYER POINTS

• Discipling Thai Christians
• Visitation & Evangelism in Nong Doan
• Growth of Thai church
  

PRAISES

• Visitation & discipleship opportunities
• Reconciliation between some church members

CALENDAR

6/12 Mini English Camp in Saraburi

6/13 Karl preach in Ayuthaya

6/20 Karl preach at PhraBaht

6/24-27 OMF Thailand Annual Conference

6/27 East Sarang Community Church Short-Term Team arrive