Greetings from Phuket! We trust that our friends in the western
world are enjoying sunshine, BBQ's, and long summer nights...
amongst other August pleasures!
As we are enjoying the sunny days & cooler temperatures of rainy
season, we thought it time to update you regarding a few of the
things we've mentioned in previous emails...
Ouellette Kids School News
Well, the biggest event of our family life in Thailand is going
on right now. Three weeks ago, all 4 of our kids started going
to Kajongiat Suksa, a local Thai bilingual school (pictures
above). It has been a very significant time of transition so
far, and the process is far from complete, but we are praising
the Lord! The kids have some great teachers, are getting to know
their classmates, are getting their homework done, but above
all, God is going before them and beside them and helping them
to adjust to this new stage of life here in Thailand. We are
amazed and encouraged by the way the kids have adjusted so far.
It has not been easy. There have been many anxious moments,
nervous tummies, and tears (yes, mommy too), but we have bathed
the whole situation is countless prayers, and we thank the many
of you who have been doing the same. Please continue to pray
for them! God is faithful.
Prison Update
We are excited to report that God has opened up the doors for us
to be a part of an English class and a Bible class in the local
women's prison. We have gone in several times already and plan
to keep this up every Friday morning for about a four month
period. Then we will look at starting up again after a short
break. We are responsible for the English lesson, a few
Thai/English songs, and then we join the Bible class that is
taught by a local Christian woman. Thanks for praying for these
dear young women that we have the chance to get to know.
Changes at the Fruit Stand
Our friends Booncherng and Raywadee have moved away from the
fruit stand where they worked for the past number of months.
Challenged by poor health and financial issues, they were forced
to try something different. It was challenging for us too as we
walked along side them in this. We sought God together with them
that He would lead them into something better. An opportunity
opened up for them in a neighboring district, Katu, to start a
restaurant with a family member, and it seems to be going well.
Raywadee makes amazing food! We are taking regular trips to
their new restaurant to encourage them in this. We are not sure
what the next step is with regard to the small Bible study that
we used to do with them on Monday nights at the fruit stand.
Please pray with us about this. Perhaps God is leading us to do
it in Katu? Or maybe hosted by someone else at the fruit stand?
What's New?
As our kids become more settled into school life, we are asking
God to lead us into new opportunities - both in language and in
ministry.
In language - We are longing for some thoroughly Thai
language contexts. We have language teachers, but are craving
regular, big chunks of time where we can listen to others speak
with each other (joining in here and there!) so our
conversational abilities will grow.
In ministry - we continue to walk through and pray for
our neighborhood, asking that God would show us what He has
for us here. We also just finished hosting a month long
MBMSI ACTION short-team from Ontario that came to help us run a
kids English club as well as explore a number of potential
future ministries (see them in the middle picture above). Some
of the things they explored may well be future ministries for
our team!
Thanks for continuing to journey with us. And Happy Mother's
Day to all of our mother friends out there! (August 12 was the
Queen's birthday as well as Mother's Day here in Thailand - and
a national holiday!)
In His grip,
Greg and Becky
Caleb, Emma, Luke, and Silas
Serving with MBMSI in Phuket, Thailand
(ps. Yes, Caleb got a haircut!)
