Update – The Young’s – Thailand

The Young’s – Thailand

Dear friends,

Thank you for your vital role in our ministry. We look forward so much to sending out these prayer updates, knowing that our praises & needs will be lifted up to the Lord through you all! Here is an update of the past month:

We started our formal language study and are still getting used to the program, managing our time, and preparing our lessons. We employ a language helper who comes to our house and does 2 hour sessions, twice per week with Jess and four times per week with Jared. In addition to those sessions, we also have planning time, participation out in the community, putting the information we’ve learned into our computer program, listening and reviewing audio files from our lessons, and practicing our language. All of that = a full time job! We enjoy learning Thai! There are ups and downs (as with everything) but overall it is going well. Please pray for wisdom in how to participate in the community and how to best use our time.

Amongst all the busy-ness we have been getting time with the Lord, but consistency is needed! This time has been so good for us. As you know, hard/uncomfortable times push us to a point where we can’t rely on ourselves any longer. We find ourselves leaning on the Lord. Please pray that we would continue to trust in the Lord and make time to learn and grow from the Word.

Update: Last month we asked for prayer about our attitudes, thanks to those who prayed! We see the Lord refining us in our parenting and have seen a good response from our kids. They aren’t perfect, but neither are we! Pray that we would show them the grace of God as we train them and take opportunities to share the Gospel with them.

Just this week Jared had to cancel a language session and be in bed most of the day because of back pain. We had lifted a couch the day before, I guess that wasn’t a good idea! Even so, he has bounced back and done well the rest of the week. Praise the Lord for sustaining us physically!

God is also sustaining us financially! In the past month we have gained the financial support of a new church, a few new individuals, and seen the support of another church increase. We are amazed at the things God does and at the proper time. Thank the Lord with us for these provisions. Please pray also, as we are adjusting to a cash based society! Credit cards are used sparingly here, which is something we are getting used to. We have started to budget using a envelope system and we could sure use your prayers. Please pray that we would be good stewards of what God has given us.

Since arriving in Thailand we have been borrowing a car from friends who are not here right now. It has been such a blessing to us to have our own transportation right away! Our friends now need to sell their vehicle and we need to purchase one. Pray for us as we shop for a car to fit our family’s needs. God has supplied money for our purchase through previous fundraisers, selling our car in the U.S., and a donation from our home church. Praise the Lord!

We’re still not completely sure about putting Boston in “day-care”. It isn’t really a school, more like a play group. We think this will be good for him to play with other kids (both English & Thai speaking). We’re waiting to hear back from them on what the cost will be for him to attend. Please pray for this decision, we would like him to have some time with other kids his age.

Last, but not least….Relationships. Please pray that we would develop deeper relationships with those we come into contact with: neighbors, church members, shop owners, etc. We are here to build relationships with people and we would love more opportunities to do so!

Thanks for reading & praying,
Jess, for the Young family