Leaving Chanthaburi was weird for me. It didn’t make me cry nor was I sad to go. But an anxiousness was in my spirit to return back some day. A good anxiousness; a healthy one. I look forward to coming back one day and ministring in these villages. These are people who are seeking the Truth and the Way and you can see the Lord’s Revelation growing and spreading among them.
This month, our time and ministry was split up into two parts. The first half, we ministered through bar and prostitution outreach in Pattaya. The second half of the time spent in Thailand was in a small city called Chanthaburi. Chanthaburi is made up of small villages (who’s names are to difficult to spell). Our contact for the last three weeks there was Ekachi, a pastor of a small church, and his wive and two sons. He use to have a congregation of 200 villagers or so, but through time, the people have left the church to become pastors themselves and have churches throughout other villages. Which, Ekachi was very happy and thankful that these people are serving the call of the Lord on their lives but on the other hand, very sad that his church in now down to 4 members. While speaking with Pastor Ekachi one evening he told me that his heart was very sad and discouraged because of the lack of members in his church now. He feels that the Lord’s blessing is no longer on his church. He use to support his family by the tithes of the congregation. But now, it is a heavy struggle just to keep his youngest son in school and older son in seminary school, provide daily meals, and other common needs all on the tithe of his 4 church members. His income equals to be only $100 for the whole month. But you would never know this sadness was in his heart by just seeing him and his family. Because of his faith, the Lord provides just enough for his families basic needs and the ministry outreach. Ekachi spends most if his time making home visits and evangelizing throughout the villages. They are a family of true faith. They live it everyday, all day. They rely on the Lord for everything in their lives. Even the two sons understand and walk in that relationship with the Lord. It has been an awesome privilege to learn for them and exercise that faith along side them. Although Ekachi was sad over the loss of his members, this time has strengthened his spirit and the spirit of his famiily in faith. And they have many testimonies of when the Lord provided for needs in amazing ways. It is soo beautiful to see Ekachi’s face light up with joy when he tells about the wonderful things that God has done for his family.
