Summer 2011 - Field Update From Northern Thailand

 SUMMER 2011 - FIELD UPDATE FROM NORTHERN THAILAND

As I put the final touches on this update, the Lord has gently reminded me of how vital each of you are to the ministry of NTIM. We truly are committed to taking the gospel of our Lord Jesus into some of the darkest and most needy places in the world. We are all about making disciples of all the nations!!! But we do not do this in isolation. We do this in partnership with each of you who loves and encourages us, with each of you who gives so that the Johnsons, the Espy's, Kara, and others can go and live among the people.THANK YOU FOR GIVING TO THE LORD and for supporting the work God has put in our hearts and in our hands. Here are some of the highlights from the Field this Summer of 2011. Your servant with gladness of heart, Pii Michael

HIV English Fun Day – June 21 – Thank you Team from Amory!

A team from Amory, Mississippi came in June to help our HIV ministry.  One of the things they did was lead an English Fun Day at a school in the village, Tung Young.  Many students, ages 11-12, came from 5 different schools around the area to participate.  About ninety students attended the fun day, and everyone had a great time!  The purpose of the English Fun Day was to teach English, teach sex education with a focus on HIV/AIDS, build relationships with the students and teachers, and to be a light for Jesus.  The team talked with the students about being teenagers.  They focused on puberty, HIV/AIDS, and Internet usage.  (Internet gaming addiction is a problem in Thailand, especially among university students.    On the road where our church is alone, there are 20 Internet Cafes).  HIV/AIDS is the #1 cause of death in Thailand!  The team did a great job of explaining the disease and how it is transmitted.  They also emphasized abstinence and what God says about sex.  At the end of the program, they gave rings to each student, symbolizing a choice to abstain from sex until marriage.  They encouraged each student to make it a promise that they would wait until marriage. 

Serving The Nations In And Around Northern Thailand for Jesus,

Kara Davis, for the Team

“American Teen Sports” English Camp – July 1-3, 2011

Another team from FBC Florence, Mississippi arrived at the end of June and stayed through the first week of July.  They came to help with our English Camp.  They are awesome partners. Our English school, Grace Language School, hosted a camp for our students and for students, ages 15-22, from the surrounding communities.   Almost forty students attended the overnight weekend camp.  Friday night was a time to get to know the students and start building relationships.  All day Saturday, students went to different rotations where the Mississippi team members taught the students about American football, baseball, and Frisbee golf.  Saturday afternoon, we had a sports tournament where the students competed against each other and against the staff team.  (The staff team won!)  Saturday evening, everyone competed in a cheer leading competition.  The students were so creative, and their cheers were awesome and hilarious!  (They put the staff to shame this time ha ha)  Sunday morning was the closing of camp and after, students were invited to stay for church.  The purpose of the camp was to teach English, build relationships with students, give students a positive and fun perspective of English, invite new students to attend our language school, and to be a light for Jesus. 

Serving The Nations In And Around Northern Thailand for Jesus,

Kara Davis, for the Team

NTIM SUMMER VOLUNTEERS – From Mississippi & Alabama

We were very blessed to have a team of four from Mississippi and Alabama who were here for 6 weeks as summer volunteer missionaries.  We at NTIM are so grateful for teams that come and share the love of Jesus with the people of Northern Thailand!  Teams make it possible for us to reach out to people in ways we cannot do on our own.  Short-term volunteers are so wonderful, but we are also really in need of long-term volunteers who can come serve for 2 years or longer.  If you are interested in learning more about NTIM, please visit www.gontim.org for more information on our ministry and what God is doing in Northern Thailand and feel free to send us an email at: michael@gontim.org 

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord...It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”  Colossians 3:23-24