Steve and Carol Strong are missionaries we support in Thailand.
They now send us a monthly newsletter.
Steve spoke at our church last October.

SAWATDEE

February 2006

Dear Family and Friends,

Happy Year of the Dog!  It seemed we celebrated the new year for a month.  In Thailand we celebrate three new years so there is no end of festivities and fireworks.  When I took the boys to school we were in time to ring in the Muslim new year!  In no time we will be celebrating all over again as this new year is already speeding ahead with the speed of light!

We had a great time with the boys while they were home for six weeks over Christmas and New Year (2 new years).  We played soccer, watched soccer and football on tv (mostly late into the night or all night!), played games and did lots of fun things.  The highlight was going to an island for a couple of days where we snorkled and kyacked.  The water was amazing!  At one coral island we were swimming in schools of brightly colored fish.  There are also lots of waterfalls on the island so one morning the boys hiked to a waterfall and swam in the cold, clean water.  This is our new favorite place in Thailand!

January 29 I took the boys back to school.  Twenty minutes before we went to the airport Jordan started throwing up.  He nearly passed out in the airport.  The airport doctor cleared him to fly and he was taken by wheelchair to the plane.  I think we will always request a wheelchair as we sped through immigration etc.  I was happy that I was able to be with him while he was sick.  Just after I left to come home Justin came down with the same symptoms.  He sent us a very pathetic email saying he was very sad and lonely and why wasn’t I with him like I was with Jordan.  It is very hard not to be there for him.  However, Nellie, the school nurse, and his dorm parents took good care of him and he is back in the dorm.   Separation is never easy no matter how many times we go through it.  Pray for the dorm parents and their families as well as they start a new semester.  It is an adjustment for everyone.  We are so thankful for the people who have been called to serve us and our children in this way.  We are grateful for the example and input into the lives of our children of the teachers and dorm parents.  Pray that the Lord will strengthen them and encourage them in the very important work they do.

We want to thank God and you for our new kitchen!  It was completed the end of November and we are enjoying it very much.  At Christmas we had 32 friends and guests join us for dinner.  The girls enjoyed preparing the meal in a spotless, bright, beautiful environment.  Again, we could not have done it without your help and support!  Thank you!

I also want to thank you for helping us with the apartment renovation.  As of today we have received the $2,000 we need for the project.  Thank you!  Whatever funds we receive above and beyond this amount we will apply toward other projects.  We will finish the apartment in two weeks just in time for the new family to move in. 

Please pray for our maintenance man, Pichai.  Yesterday I fired him.  His drinking has gotten worse and he has not been able to do his work.  I told him that he would not receive severance pay but if he would check in to a one year rehab program I will cover all the costs.  This rehab center is in the town where Steve teaches at the Bible College.  It is run by the Chinese C&MA from Hong Kong.  It is an excellent program with good success in helping overcome drug and alcohol addiction.  He has agreed to enter the program.  Steve will take him to the rehab center tomorrow and get him settled.  I told Pichai if he completes the one year program he will be able to come back to work.  Pray that he will complete the program.  It is very intensive and has the potential to be life changing if Pichai is ready to accept responsibility and start dealing with the issues in his life.  There is a strong Bible study component and we are praying that Pichai will turn his life over to God and really be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Pray for me, because we have lots of maintenance projects, and I already miss Pichai!  I need to find someone who can take over his responsibilities.

We are in the middle of a very busy time of year.  Steve continues to teach, which he enjoys very much.  He is involved in lots of different areas, all of which he enjoys, but it does wear on him.  He goes tomorrow (Thursday) to take Pichai and then he has a camp to attend for the Bible College students and staff.  Then he comes home and plays in a 3 on 3 basketball tournament on Saturday.  Sunday he goes to another camp for 100 + students enrolled in the lay-leadership training program.  He gets back just in time to go back up country to teach his class (Wednesday). Meanwhile, the guest home is full to overflowing, which is wonderful, but again, we do get tired. 

Thank you for your love, encouragement, support, both with your prayers and with your finances, and for “living the call” with us so that together we can bring glory to God and build the church!  We are aware of our weakness and how much we depend on you to keep us before the throne of grace.

Love,

Carol for Steve and the 3Js

 News Flash!

   Josh scored his first hat trick in the Malaysian State Soccer tournament.  He has been recruited by a Malaysian team to play in the semi-finals!