Starting that Thailand-hopping thing again this year. This country is just so convenient to travel around SE Asia from, and there are people here who let me stay, and i know where many things that i want are located, and the SDA College is nearby, all things that make me keep coming back again and again.
My computer is on the fritz again!
What to eat for supper? It is already late, and the vegetable market is closed. I buy some cooked rice for 5baht (14cents), thinking i’ll just have that with maybe p-nuts for supper, when lo and behold, what is that registering on the back of my irises? Could it be, yes! it’s pickled plums that my Japanese friend brought me in January! I had forgotten about them, but they quickly form the main side dish for my supper tonite – yummy 🙂
Who should i meet on my 2nd day here, but one of the men i met in Singapore! We go with the pastor and two members to Kanchanaburi, where the Bridge over River Kwai is located. After some sightseeing, we go to the property where these two members have said they wish to use for God’s service. The Singaporean suggests that we make a “hardship camp”, providing a unique experience for many tourists, then i could have the extra-hot season off to give 1858gc studies to people who would come, like a seminar etc. The idea might be feasible, but it’s not for me, as i need to focus on spreading the 1858gc fully.
Emails from India regarding making the 1858gc into an animation make me excited, and one from my friend in Switzerland regarding a campmeeting being held there make me very concerned. It’s nice to have many people in your prayer list 🙂
The computer is really fixed – great! I celebrate by cooking beans….a bit too long, and they get black. Well, that’s OK. I pretend that is seasoning, and eat them with rice – not bad!
On Sabbath at the Chinese church, i meet a husband-wife couple. The man looks like a foreigner, and the woman looks Thai. Little would i know that this would be the start of a wonderful relationship with this family. We get into a deep talk very quickly, and it is very encouraging to see that there are Thai SDAs who ARE very interested in upholding the Spirit of Prophecy, and giving the straight testimony. They take me over to the Mission compound in the afternoon, where there is a small group studying ….. what is that? something about “perfection”?!?! I thot that word was verboten in SDA circles. It is very good to see around 9 people gathered to study that, with even the publishing director, a Filipino man, part of the group. With a publishing director like this, perhaps there IS hope for a future with the 1858gc in Thai? The Thai wife agrees to translate this book into Thai. Usually, when agreeing very quickly (the same day as they first see the book), most people who agree to translate it do not. But she seems different. I pray she will do what she says, and that the Lord will be with her in a special way as she translates these words from God into her native tongue.
The next day i meet this couple again, and we go to the publishing director’s house. When he hears that i have it in Vietnamese, he asks if he can give one to his friend. It takes 2 hours of riding in a hot bus back to the Chinese church where my suitcase is, and then back, but isn’t it worth it? Isn’t this what God would regard as something a “successful” follower of his son – Jesus Christ – would do? I believe so. I’m made very happy when finding out a couple of months later that this publishing director xeroxed 2 copies of this book, and gave all three Vietnamese 1858gcs to friends. May God work on those hearts, and lead those people to Christ.
Waking up about every hour during the nite to check and see if it is time to get up, makes for a not-tool-restful nite, but i do awake at 3:30, so have no problem catching the #4 bus at 4:30 to take me to Lumphini Park where the bus to Cambodia is parked. “200 Baht” Huh? It was 100 last time. She doesn’t understand my language, and i don’t understand hers, but hand over 200. She gives me a little blue ticket, and i make out enough English to get the idea that this can be used to get a free ride back – OK! Instead of 100 each way, it is 200, roundtrip from Bangkok. Very well. I hope to be using it next month coming back. Thank you Lord for leading me to dedicated Thai people, especially someone who will translate the 1858 Great Controversy into Thai. Please may she be protected by your angels, given wisdom by your Spirit, and be enfolded in your love as she does this great work.