His Peace stronger.

We are doing well and have both concern and trust. We are here in Ubon-Pakse and are not afraid of being infected by the Corona virus, but because tourism and trade are now falling in other parts of Thailand and Asia, people from Isaan and Laos are now losing their jobs and must return home, unemployed. It is obvious to us that people have less money to spend. And unfortunately, many teenagers are now forced to quit school and take bad jobs.

When Ove Anbäcken worked with us in Chiang Mai, he often refered to Learning Experiences. (= my Testimony). He really had an attitude of not only counting on knowledge and facts but also our Learning Experiences. And that attitude blessed us also. We have over the years received many testimonies of how God helped us. With God's help we have come-through-stronger.

We are Equipped to Equip. We follow Jesus so people can follow JESUS. Let us live in:

         Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, 

                            to which also you were called in one body; 

                            and be thankful.

  

One fact is that when life is tough – people are seeking the spiritual in a greater way. We have now therefore the opportunity to present JESUS ​​and testify of what He has done and are doing in us. No one can take away from me my Learning Experience. Worry is an active factor, but God's peace is stronger…. and His Peace can reign in our hearts also today.

Inspiration from a grandfather

My prayer is that I can, in a small and humble way, encourage and inspire you. When I was a teenager and also in my 20^th I was greatly blessed by many elderly believers and ministers that spoke their experience and blessings into my life. I have 4 points for you:     

Look to JESUS … in problems and in blessings. Yes ”He walks with you and talks with you….” He is Emmanuel with you always.

Go for Pioneer work … the whole life. Many places are still waiting for the Gospel. It is believed that even now more than 90% of Mission initiatives goes into “reached” areas. It is easier to go to “reached” areas, build institution and …. train others to go out.

Plant new Churches. The mandate of reaching out in Missions is from the local Church. Churches can plant Churches. Offices can establish offices. To plant new Churches here in Isaan is…. a hard work. We need to help each other from many Churches in different kinds of Fellowships and Networks, so many new Churches are planted in unreached area like here.

Don`t give up …. at 60. Use your “Learning Experiences” and capacities to bless many…. even the young people. The World today needs more Spiritual Parents than ever. 

Greetings from a grandfather Ingvar (Fred)

Hands

Yesterday we had a Pastors Prayer Meeting here in Ubon. After a time of worship Geang said: "Let`s have 2-3 people sharing some Thanksgiving reports".

My first thought was: But here are so many problems, so many Prayer requests. 

3 pictures came before me:

1. One hand ….. full of problems

 




2. One hand ….. full of Blessings 

3. They came together     

This spoke to me:

First view: We are coming with all the problems. JESUS HELP US.

But in midst of problem we choose to praise and choose to thank JESUS. Not as an escape from reallity, but becase this is the reallity.

He is the only one who can turn the mourning into blessings. 

Thank you Jesus: I am learning to trust in you. I am becoming stronger. I am Thanking you with my both hands. 

So I can put the problems and the blessings together and I will find that …. the blessing is stronger. Much STRONGER. 

Yes, that’s the truth today even here in Ubon-Pakse. Ingvar (Fred)

Pioneer cry

Now is time for Pioneer work. Places are crying;"…..Come over to Macedonia and help us." Acts 16;9  Come over to Ubon Pakse and help us.

Reach the Unreached with:

           1.     Prayer

           2.     Bring Awarness

           3.     Support a Missionary

           4.     Go

Anna and Lampuang left this morning … to work 2-3 days at the other side of the river.

Now it`s time for Pioneer work…. into new unreached areas. 

Be Blessed with many spiritual Babies. Fred

Smile, Smile ... and disappear.

There are many different kind of conflict solutions in the world today. Different cultures are practising different methods. Some are trying to solve problems by showing strength, threatening or even speaking on war. Others like here in Isaan and Laos many use the method: Smile, Smile and disappear.

To "Smile, Smile and disappear" looks first harmful, but it is really very destructive for everyone, especially for the children, for the weak. They will blame themselves and thinking that they are the root of the problems. And if you start to running, because of problems, you have to run the whole life. Because there are problems everywhere.

We are praising God for wonderful coworkers we have here in Ubon-Pakse.

1. They are really humble and invite the Helper, the Holy Spirit. And they forgive each other.

2. They are good example for others how to love one another and help with Grace.

By having a forgiving spirit, everyone is helped. And everyone can grow.

In new pioneer areas like here in Isaan and in Laos, the path of forgiveness needs to be more and more visible through us who have the Helper the Holy Spirit in us. We do not give up with each other or run, but solve the conflicts, with the help of God and people.

Then we get a living and strong testimony of God's mighty deeds .... in the middle of everyday life.

One Mission/Church matter: Here in Isaan and Laos, mission workers from different countries also Smile, Smile and Disappear ...... without passing on to othere their "learning experiences". To evaluate. To share the plus and the minus experiences to us who are left ..... all will be strengthened.

The venue is too small. New challenges

The 'The Community (Training) Center' here in Ubon has become too crowded. After several months of prayer and searching, the Church: Streams of Grace (13 months old) has now taken an exciting step to hire a shop-space. This is a better central place with possibility for development. Now during the coming 3 weeks it will be renovated and then we can begin to have the Church activities including the long-awaited Ubon Music Café.

                                                    

                                      
Many young people between the ages of 13 and 15 are living in the risk zone of being tempted to quit school, take drugs and lock themselves up in a room. Therefore, a safe place is needed where young people can study, have some cheap refreshment with a mature mentor and learn to play music instruments.

                                       

On Thursday, after signing the house contract, we went to a nearby Cafe and talked to the Cafe owners. We said that the Church: Streams of Grace will move to the neighborhood on February 1st.

Oh, one of the owners said, "I've been thinking of becoming a Christian." Then Rose and Jeet took the opportunity to tell her about the Christian life.

Exciting to have a city-pioneer congregation in the middle of society. Grateful if you can join in prayer and if you can come helping practically or provide financial start-up support. Very Welcome. Now the premises need to be furnished and equipped.

At the same time, Child Safe is now getting better room to develop themselves in The Community (Traning) Center. Here you can read the new Home page. It is not yet complete.

Yes 2020 will be a creative pioneer-church-planting-year. Have a blessed weekend.

2020 - a year of Mercy

I saw a New Year's greeting from Sebastian Stakset, that I said AMEN to:

Happy New Year! 

2020 is the year of Mercy. A year in which the Church stops looking inward and instead opens its doors and hearts and looks outward to the broken world that needs to meet God's love. 

Yes, 2020 is a year of Mercy for people here in Isaan and Laos. People that are struggling and need God's love. Mercy Ministry here is indeed a Pioneer work for people who have lost their value. And people that are broken needs time to be build up by God's and people`s Agape love.

2 songs that are singing in me:

No Longer slave to fear   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8TkUMJtK5k
Way Maker                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHoGEDQQ67o

Have a blessed Mercy Year 2020 together with people struggling.  God is a Way Maker also for them. 

Another good "way" song is:  
                                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsMAXhc0QTs

God, we thank you that this year of 2020 ...... we can, by your mercy, both inside and outside have a new song .... on our path of life. Also everyone broken.