Heaven come down

We set out today to visit a small church in the network of churches in Ubon, to encourage the precious hardworking servants of God. We came to locked doors, and the neighbor said "they have gone to Korat". Another worshiper joined us and together we set out for another church. Believe it or not, that was closed as well. 

It was getting long into church service time. So we decided to stop at a cafe to have a drink and pray together there. We got our coffee/tea and started to approach Father God....and suddenly we are surrounded by His Presence in a very tangible way, our friend is in tears, she prays for the crowds of friends who are caught and bound by religion and the constrictions of society and culture. 

She sees them as birds in a cage unable to fly because they have been deemed unable to fly as they come from lesser academic standard. From simple laborers, or  'fishermen' less noble backgrounds. How can they fly if they have not studied how to?
I love how God so often seeks out the poor, calls the simple, even to the shame of the noble, He displays His power and His heart to the least and the lowest.

Now this bird is flying, soaring higher and higher. But she keeps on returning to this cage where her friends are still held, by believing that they are mere a chicken and not eagles. There she cries for their release and freedom to be who they truly are.

Wow! Our little cafe meeting turned into 'Heaven came down' - and we ended in laughter.
Let's not restrict Heaven.
Love Anna

Now a Mission team to Ubon.

We have now 32 Americans on a mission team to Ubon for 4 days. We have been with them 2 days to 3 new churches outside the city. Very good to see how God is working. 

Tonight was the first night of two Thai-American Worship Concerts in Ubon. It was a good start. Well done many people and .... most of all God did a good work in many. 

Interesting that I today could greet the person incharge of the Ministry of Culture and Religion. He looked happy and was very positive to us Christians. We pray for him and others in the Government. Ingvar

Not like a beautiful cactus, but....

When I think of the Church, Missions and Thailand I cant but see before me these numbers.

  

Statistics and numbers do not say everything, but for sure that:

1. God is now calling Thai to take many major new steps forward in spreading the gospel to the unreached in Thailand.

2. God is now calling us missionaries to take major new steps forward to come alongside the Thai in this work.

Yesterday we relaxed at Horizon Village outside of Chiang Mai. Beautifully. Although cactuses can be very beautiful, still I do not want to be like a cactus.

                                       

I want to be like a beautiful orchid ... with Anna and others. Psalm 1 is ringing in me.

Today morning we came back home to Ubon. Anna is right now teaching Set My People Free that was developed in Acts Chiang Mai for some years ago. 

                             

Now we pray that we can teach others that teach others that teach others that…. 2 Tim2:2. Ingvar  

5 days in Chiang Mai

Will go to Chiang Mai and be there 5 days. Will have SPM annual meeting and 2 days of rest.

Congratulations Mariam... and New Life

The big sister Tabitha was welcomed into our family in Dhaka, 22 April 1975.

                                   

Karin Mariam Smith was born today for 40 years ago in Chandraghona Bangladesh. Dr. Karin T. (Åhlèn) from Mjölby was a doctor at the British Baptist Mission Hospital at Karnafully River that flows from Kaptai Lake to Chittagong. Karin was a blessing for us during the delivery. Thanks Karin.

                                        

                                            

                                             

                                             

Ruth was born in the same hospital in February 1978 and Benjamin was welcomed into our family in Dhaka, Aug, 1981.

We are so thankful for our 4 children and 8 grandchildren plus many spiritual children and spiritual grandchildren.

Yes, life is exciting, with many different chapters. All equally valuable. One thing is certain:

New Life - may be a few hours old.

New Life - can be 40 years old.

New Life - can be 90 years old.

The question is not how many years, but who is the Lord of our lives.

We can have New Life the whole life ..... when Jesus is Lord.

Mariam Congratulations on your 40 birthday.

 Hug from

Open doors and challenges

We have had a very interesting week with many challenges. Last week ended with a lost sheep in orange colors, calling on the name of Jesus for help. She is a well  known face in this nation and now she wants us to meet and minister to her children in the orphanages she is running for kids with HIV and sexually abused ones. She is also planning to have outreaches at the boarder point villages (Laos and Cambodia,) to create awareness of human trafficking and Child Protection. particularly as Thailand opens the boarder under the ASEAN. She is challenging us to join with her.

Please pray with us to know Fathers heart. There are many open doors, just as God told us when we moved here to Isaan.

I am so grateful for good coworkers. But we need to be on constant prayer vigil as we sometimes feel he is breathing down our necks.
Our desires are to do what pleases the Lord who called us here. Walk in His footsteps as close as we can. But sometimes we are tempted to look down at the troubled sea, like Peter and fear arises.

This week our staff worked together with friends in the network of  church planters to teach in schools on child protection. Very positive to have local connections to Christians in the villages, even if they are very new believers.

We find ourselves working hand in hand with other ministries here in Isaan. And this is a tremendous strength as many has left Isaan disillusioned. We need each other. This is not a safe place for lone rangers.
Love
Anna

Looking for inside Peace.

Very quickly she pointed out that she was looking for peace inside her broken heart. She was searching in religions. So we asked her: "Have you found peace". Immidetly she replied: No.

We told her about Jesus, prayed with her and read God's Word together.

She left grateful and happy. Pray that God's peace will reign in there in her own life. And she will start walking with Jesus, the Prince of Peace himself. Have a blessed Sunday. Ingvar