Pure Love at Makrud School 23 May 2018

We can't help but to just love the beautiful kids at Ban Makrud School.  They are so well disciplined and eager to learn.

. . . and off course they just love building puzzles.

Every week they amaze us on how quick they learn new English words and combine it into sentences.  

 

18 May 2018 - Lola's Farewell

We had the privilege to attend the farewell function of Lola, Director of Makrud School.   Lola has been transferred to a bigger school in Sisaket.   Everyone at Makrud Village is sad for loosing Lola as Director of the school.   She will truly be missed at school but we are looking forward to many coffee dates as we often go to Sisaket city.

 

 

In the Buddhist culture they have a ritual of saying goodbye and wishing them all the "good luck" on their next journey.   It is simply more than just a handshake.

Everyone attending the farewell function has the opportunity to tie a white string around her wrist witch symbols good luck.  The recipient needs to keep the strings on for no less than 3 days.   Marina took the opportunity to roll on one of our "Joy Club" wristbands that symbols the fruit of the spirit in God's Word.

 

 

Many parents and grandparents attended the function.

17 May 2018 - It only takes one

We visited "Tukta" at Ban Nong Song today for praise and worship (she is the ONLY CHRISTIAN in that village and sub district)  But isn't it just great that Christians can praise and worship at any place and any time.  Bring glory to God and praise Him anytime and any place.  And so what if the flies are so irritating, sand flees crawling all over with dust - forget dust but sand all over where you sit, sweat running down your face and back . . . and so much more to "complain".  BUT NOTHING OF THIS CAN STOP ONE TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP OUR GOD.  

Every Thursday when we go there, people of the village (non believers) are scooping around the house to see what we are doing.  Some deliberately sit outside their homes, watching us and listening to every song and word spoken.  They are invited and they know that.  But we are patiently waiting on God to bring them closer and closer to sit among us and hear His voice speak to them.

                                    

                 

Ezekiel 36:22-28 was our Scripture for today.  We studied it, discussed it and prayed it in for "Thuuk Thaa" and Ban Nong Song village.

"Tukta" is the only Christian in Ban Nong Song Village.  It is really not easy to be in this situation but what a amazing warrior and disciple of Jesus Christ she is.  She encourages us so much every time we go there.  She lifts our spirit and teaches us about love, faith and hope.  

 

Ezekiel 36:26-28

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place My Spirit within you and cause you to follow My statutes and carefully observe My ordinances. Then you will live in the land that I gave your fathers; you will be My people, and I will be your God."

12 May 2018 - What a "ball" we had

What an wonderful afternoon we had spending time with the "Ubon Spirit Football Academy".   First off all we want to bring a BIG THANKS to our friends Francois and Marietjie de Lange from South Africa taking the initiative to connect Frontida Outreach with Living Ball.  Francois and Marietjie, thank you for your participation, love and care for reaching the lost with the Gospel in so many ways.  We love, honor and appreciate you.

Then to Living Ball South Africa.  We are sure you do know what MASSIVE contribution your organisation are making to share the Gospel all over the world.  Thank you so much for your contribution, participation and more important, your love for God and His Kingdom.  

                                        

The MESSAGE of the TRUTH is clear.

                                      

2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, and look, new things have come

This small football academy is called "Ubon Spirit".  Somsak Sufaan took the initiative as God led him to start the academy.  Somsak is also a gifted musician teaching the unprivileged playing various music instruments.

                                   

A new player to the academy . . . what a striker she is (smile)

We had the opportunity to share what Living Ball is all about and also shared some Word from God to the young players.  We love sharing the Gospel to youth as we always look back on how "lost" we were when we were kids.

. . . and the striker handing out some gift packs to.  Multi talented striker if you ask me :)

Seeds of the Good News has been shared - thumbs up . . . . and we pray that the Holy Spirit will let grow according to His will.

"No coach, I don't want to play football now.  I first want to read about Jesus Christ"

We prepared the gift packs for the academy.  Included is a animation version telling the story of the Bible.  The book is called "Good and Evil" by Michael Pearl.  The book is translated into Thai language and is a great tool to use sharing the Gospel.

                                

We had a great time and in two weeks  we will visit Somsak's other academy sharing the Gospel and hand out some gifts with Living Ball etc.  The academy is in Amnat Charoen which is about 110km from Sisaket.  

10 Mei 2018 - God is By Ons

Johannes 1:14

 

“En die Woord het vlees geword en het onder ons gewoon — en ons het sy heerlikheid aanskou, ’n heerlikheid soos van die Eniggeborene wat van die Vader kom — vol van genade en waarheid.”

 

 

Dit kan moeilik wees om 'n duidelike beeld te kry van hoe God is, veral met al die abstrakte terme wat ons gebruik om Hom te beskryf. Terme soos onsigbaar, alwetend, alomteenwoordigend, almagtig is maar net ‘n paar om te noem. Maar in Jesus verdwyn al die abstrakte en skielik is God hier. Hy loop rond in die stof met sandale op sy voete, eet etes en gaan woon troues by. Jesus het geween, gelag, geslaap en selfs in argumente betrokke geraak. Hy is regtig “GOD BY ONS.”

 

Wanneer Johannes sê, ". . . ons het Sy heerlikheid aanskou . . .", beteken dit nie hulle het in boeke na prentjies gaan soek en uitgeknip nie. Johannes sê: "Ons het in die straat met God se glorie geloop.” Hy het gepraat en ons is deur Sy woorde en teenwoordigheid verander. Ons het dit nie voorgestel nie, ons het dit gehoor, gesien en beleef”

Maar wat het hulle gesien?  Hoe lyk God se glorie?

Dit lyk soos 'n baba wat in 'n krip gebore is. Dit het gelyk soos 'n man wat dalk geensins of besonders aantreklik gelyk het, dalk kort of lank was, ongeag, hy het 'n groep van volgelinge gehad wat saam met Hom in Israel rondgedwaal het.  Dit het gelyk soos armoede, verwerping, vernedering en uiteindelik die dood. Dit was gewis nie wat almal verwag het nie.  

Dit is ook nie wat ons verwag nie. Maar God was en is nog nooit beperk deur wat mense verwag nie. Sy hart vir die wêreld is groter as wat ons kan voorstel - so groot dat Hy opgetree het om die sondeprobleem wat ons vir onsself geskep het, uit te sorteer. Hy het opgetree omdat Hy liefgehad het. Hy het opgetree deur die onverwagte, ondenkbare daad te laat gebeur waar God sy Seun gestuur het om vir ons (sondes en redding) te sterf.

God stuur voortdurend Sy mense om die onverwagte, onvoorspelbare dinge deur Hom te doen. Hy vra niks meer van Sy volgelinge as wat Hy self vir ons gedoen het nie.

8 May 2018 - Bible study in Kanthararom market

We had a wonderful time today with our weekly Bible study group in the market.  We praise God for allowing us to have the freedom and opportunity to learn from His Word inside a place surrounded by darkness.  And with the presence of the Holy Spirit and his guidance, we are able to have much joy and fun as well as we dig deep into what God's Word teaches us.

It is great to have Bible study together but even greater when everyone participate in conversation and sharing thoughts from the topic on the table.  We are really hungry to learn from God's Word and with that been said, we are more eager to learn on how to apply His Word to the unreached and lost and ourselves.

Today's topic was: What is Christian Faith?

 

It was very hot today.  Open air in the market with just one fan running . . . Bible study is "HOT" dude :)

We also shared some testimonies on times when we do not have faith or lack off.   It was really a blessing and encouraging to hear each others voices on times we really had some doubts on our faith.  Honesty was shown today and that is the only way we can learn from each other and also encourage each other.

                                                  

Khuun's smile says it all.   

Pii Ot, an elder from our church listening very carefully as we have conversations on faith.

Some of the notes from our study.