We have started to realize that some of our life overseas may end up looking differently than we had at one time expected. Because of Bret's physical/medical limitations with his back, we will most likely be directed, and rightly so, towards ministry in a larger city with good medical care and infrastructure.
Life and ministry under these circumstances will look very different than we had prepared for and expected previously. Even the jobs we were examining and praying over in Kathmandu were going to be different than we had at one time expected.
Many of you heard us talk about being out in villages starting new churches. The medical and environmental conditions appears as if they will limit us from taking those type of roles. Our hearts, and our leadership's hearts, are still firmly focused on starting new churches. New believers forming new churches is historically how the gospel spreads most effectively. We are now looking at training opportunities where nationals may come to us for church planting training in a large city - Or perhaps where we are working on church planting strategies within a large city itself. The differences in approach are obvious.
Part of what we are having the privilege of doing in Bangkok is experimenting with different ministries that are already occurring to see what is 'out there' for us. Just this past Sunday night we spent time with a multi-cultural group (Kenya, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, India) of believers to talk about our son's story and how God has, in the past, and continues to guide our family.
Please continue to pray for us, that we would have wisdom as to how to proceed and where to plug in in the international community of what God is doing here in Bangkok... and where God is guiding us to permanently plant ourselves for effective life and ministry.
T&A