Never a dull month - August 2017

When we do our monthly prison ministry outreach in Bangkok, we have the two afternoons and evenings free to relax a little bit.  So we go and explore a bit of Bangkok and then as always spend one evening with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are also from South Africa.

                                                                 

   

Raining season is always a difficult time for many people in Thailand.  Some seasons are very good and then you get seasons or years when severe flooding takes place.  Obviously depending on the amount of rain we get.  This year (so far) we had severe rain storms with flooding of towns, villages and huge areas of rice fields.Rice farmers have the risk of loosing rice crops if severe flooding takes place.  The few pictures shows of some rice fields in our district that went under through the flooding.   We do not have the heart to post some photos of villages (homes) that flooded.  It is too sad to see and too experience.

       

Every 6 weeks missionaries (the ladies) from Ubon Ratchathani and Sisaket have a get together.  It is a very good time for them to have "chit chats" like only girls can do.  Different nations together sharing and just having normal girly talks.  It is good for the soul.

 

Pra Kitti Kun church in Ubon Ratchathani pioneered a English speaking church as many people (foreigners) had called out for a English speaking church.  Not all foreigners here can speak Thai and long to have Praise and Worship in English.  God will use this church for His glory.

It is going well with our weekly Bible Study in our local market here in Kanthararom.  We started off with three Christians and now we have two Catholics and four Buddhists attending to hear God's TRUTH.  We are experiencing and seeing how the Holy Spirit are touching individuals hearts with the TRUTH.

   

   

We started off with Genesis (the creation), got to the garden of Eden and now we talk about "sin"

                                         

       

                               

       

We are not suppose to have a "favorite school or child" but forgive us when we talk about Ban Makrud School a lot.  It is a small village at there is only 24 kids in the school.  From the youngest to the oldest, they are just so keen to learn and they are so well behaved.

 

Khan (boy) is only 4 years old.  In one hour he finished 3 pussels all by himself.  And some of them were not easy though.  Faa (girl) is 7 years old and finished 8 pussels in one hour.  We are so proud of them. 

                        

               

. . . and then little Muay . . .

 she just rule the school.

At Sisaket Rajabhat University I (Andre) teach basic English conversation skills to the 4th year students.  I try to build in some creativity to the classes.  This month we focused on fluency when invitations were given out.  Like in every university world wide you do find some characters though.  

          

The schools are busy with many activities in August and September.  Many of them are also busy on Saturdays but when we have a gap, then football is a nice way for relaxation to the boys.  

Our Kanthararom Little Giants Football team is still building up.  We don't just invite all the children to take to the academy in Sisaket, but patiently waiting on God to pinpoint the right ones to us. 

 We are planning (in God's time) to start participating in tournaments next year.  

 

                     

Relationship building is a key factor for us here in Kanthararom.  We have a lot of friends here but we also have special friends.  Our relationship is at a stage where we can openly share the Gospel to them.  Obviously our "patience" are tested but all we need to do now is just to plant the seeds.  God will make it grow.  You just don't share the Gospel and if someone "immediately" do not accept it at first, give up and move on.  After presenting you have the opportunity to show and share God's Love. in so many different ways.  It is not our job to try to convince someone to follow Jesus, but just trying to be the one showing them on how and what a follower of Jesus is and why.  Not always easy but we would not trade it for any other job the world has to offer.  Khung, Annie (they are married) and Emma (lady in black t-shirt) are very dear to us.  

   

                                    

We taught them on how to bake bread.  

       

 

When we are weak.

We all have those days where we want to re-revolutionize every area of our life, your business, our work and for many – their marriages. At many times we feel so hopeless or frustrated. It is then when we allow Satan to start with his lies again – tweeting in and around our ears.

In my personal life I have been, and are still struggling with “patience.” Believe me, I get tested every day. Every time I start to get going with something there is always something happening that slows me down. Wait and wait and wait. It is during this “waiting” time that the testing of my patience starts. I really do not like it. And you know what gets to me on all of this . . . God knows it. He knows my ability to be patient stretches me. He knows I get frustrated, cross and sometimes losing interest again on what I was busy with.

But I am learning that it is then, at that specific moment when the tweeting of the lies want’s to start whispering in my ears and stirring up my emotions . . . that is the time and moment God wants me to pick up the Bible and spend time with Him, at that very moment when I am weak.


The Bible is a book of treasures. The Apostle Paul calls it “the unsearchable riches of God.” In Scripture there are three priceless treasures - The treasure of FAITH, The treasure of HOPE and more importantly, The treasure of LOVE. Find those treasures from God for you. You will find these treasures when you feel at your weakest. Trust me, it is worth doing it instead of sitting back and let millions of questions and uncertainties run through your mind.

Pick up your Bible, it is God’s hand stretching out to you.

Nuusbrief Julie 2017

 

Ons geniet die monsoon rëens op die oomblik.  Die aand temperatuur daal bietjie na so 32grade en dan natuurlik lê al die groen ryslande rondom mens.  Van die ryslande lyk soos ‘n sagte groen dik wolkombers.  In jou verbeelding sien jy net hoe jy heerlik daarop snoesig lê en rondrol.  God se skepping “whoo” mens elke oomblik.

Tyd vlieg darem.  Teen Desember sal ons al vier jaar hier in Kanthararom wees.  Ons sit nou die dag en dink hoe dit was toe ons hier aangekom het – rou - rou en elkeen met net twee tasse vol klere.  Om die werklikheid van “sendingveld” te beleef het eers twee maande later begin toe ons ons heel eerste verlorenes by ons huisie gehad het. 

Agt kindertjies het hier in ons huisie gesit die oggend en ons het mekaar aangestaar en bekyk.  Intussen het die agt kinders ouer en meer geword.  En van hier af het dinge net begin vloei.  God het ons na plekke en individue geneem waar ons nooit in ons wildste drome dink ons sou beleef of gesien het nie.  Glorie tye, hartseer tye en meer.  Maar die lekkerste lekker is om te weet en te sien dat God aan die werk is.

 

Ons het hierdie jaar meer kerke opgesoek in ons provinsie.  Ons het verhoudinge met verskeie kerke hier waar ons gaan kuier en ook hul Sondag dienste bywoon.  Ons het nuwe kerke sien opkom en dan ook gesien waar ‘n kerk ontbind het. 

Onthou dat kerke oor die algemeen maar klein is hier (tussen 7-12 mense.)  Maar ons is dankbaar om verhoudinge met die kerke te hê en hulle te help waar ons kan en hoe ons kan.

 

Ons is mos nog in die proses om ‘n junior sokkerspannetjie hier in Kanthararom op die been te bring.  Aanvanklik het ons gedink om sommer net ‘n groepie seuns bymekaar te maak en “wala” daar is ons span. 

Maar ons het vining agtergekom dat God ander planne of ‘n ander manier van werk het.  Ons is genoodsaak om geduldig te wees tot Hy vir ons uitwys watter seuns ons moet vat en nie.  Ons het ses seuns op die oomblik.  Vir die junior spannetjie kort ons nege spelers.  Intussen neem ons die seuns elke tweede naweek na die Sisaket Football Academy toe waar hulle afrigting ontvang.  Die seuns geniet dit so baie dat hulle al 08:00vm op ‘n sokker dag aan ons deur kom klop . . . en ons ry eers 13:45nm.  Huidiglik is daar een Christen seuntjie in ons span en ons weet wat sy taak sal wees.

 

 

Ons maandelikse besoeke aan ons mede Suid Afrikaanse broers en susters wat in Bangkok in Khlom Prem tronk is was die afgelope tyd baie emosioneel.  Een van die mans in die tronk se seun het vir hom kom kuier vanuit SA.  Ons het alles gereël sonder dat sy pa geweet het sy seun kom kuier. Ons het bystand gegee vir die week wat sy seun hier was in Bangkok. Dit was die eerste keer in amper ses jaar dat pa en seun mekaar weer gesien het . . . en dit deur ‘n vuil venster en tralies waar hulle per telefoon met mekaar praat.  Die moment toe sy pa sien dit is sy seun . . . daardie oomblik kan nie beskryf word nie.  Vergifnis – versoening en liefde was al wat hulle twee omring het. 

Aan die einde van die week het die seun gesê hy verstaan en sien God se groter plan met sy pa se lewe, ek dit het vir hom as seun vrede gegee – en dit alleen was ongelooflik gewees.  Net God se genade en liefde het hulle twee gedra daardie week.  Niks anders nie.  Met die ander individue gaan dit goed.  Hul studies vorder mooi en God se kerk word al sterker en sterker daar in die tronk.  Prys die Here hiervoor.

Elke Vrydag oggend hou ek (Andre) Bybelstudie in ons plaaslike mark.  Aan die begin was ek skrikkerig maar na vier maande staan ons net in ongeloof.  Ons het begin met drie mense en nou is ons al agt wat elke week opdaag.  Die mark is mos oop en mense loop verby ons stalletjie, stop en loer wat ons doen. 

Sommiges staan vir solank as ‘n halfuur en luister.  Wat gelooflik is is die vrae wat hulle vra oor die onderwerp waarmee ons besig is.  Ons raak opgewonde oor die vrae want ons weet die Heilge Gees is aan die werk.  Huidiglik is ons drie Christene, twee Katolieke en vyf Buddhiste wat weekliks Bybelstudie doen.  Ons kan maar net die saad plant en kyk hoe God dit laat groei.

Vriende ons is op tuisbesoek in SA DV vanaf 27 Oktober 2017 tot die eerste week in Januarie 2018.  Ons weet dit is nog vroeg maar tyd vlieg so vining verby. 

Ons will julle vra om ons per epos of whatsapp te kontak sou julle behoeftes het dat ons “formele” besoeke moet aflê November maand.  Hierby verwys ons na klein groepe, dames groepe, kerkdienste ens.  Ons weet baie mense gaan met vakansie oor die Desember tydperk dus sal ons voorbereid wees om November maand hard te werk om afsprake na te kom.

 

Gebedsversoeke:

·         Bid saam met ons vir die voorsiening van ons vlugkaartjies terug Thailand toe begin Januarie 2018.  Vlugkaarjies is maar ‘n groot uitgawe en ons het julle hulp nodig vir gebed hiervoor. (R19500 vir beide van ons)

·         Bid saam vir verblyf en vervoer vir wanneer ons in SA is tydens ons tuisbesoek.

·         Bid saam vir finansiële bydraes tot ons bediening hier in Kanthararom wat meer en meer uitbrei. 

Onthou ook dat julle ons kan volg op Facebook onder - Frontida Outreach

Julle is ons ondersteuners en ankers in gebed.  Dankie dat julle ons in staat stel om met ons bediening, Frontida Outreach, die Evangelie te kan verkondig hier in Kanthararom, Thailand.  

Die Here van die oeste seën elkeen van julle ryklik.

Liefde

André & Marina Olivier

Activity at Ban Klaneam School 19 July 2017

We had fun with the kids engaging with songs, games and activities for the morning.  Obviously the kids enjoy it too.  This type of activity also helps the children to engage into activities with us with more easiness and comfort.  Thai children, especially in the Isaan, are very shy to speak to foreigners, especially if they must try to speak English.  It builds trust as well.  The kids can see and feel that we care for them.