Learning Thai: Visiting Pon & Lan

Earlier this month Silas and I spent most of a week in a small village outside of Savanakhet, Laos - the home of Pon and Lan. Thanks so much to those of you who prayed for that trip - we had a safe, fun time and it was a real encouragement to spend time with our brothers. It was also good to meet their families and to see the context that they come from. Lan has moved back while he recuperates from tuberculosis. He's still having some health problems, but overall is feeling better.

There are no other believers in the village and Lan shared that while he has been discouraged at times, as he's read the Bible and prayed he has been reminded of God's presence and power. He and Pon are optimistic that God will work in the lives of their friends and families and they are patiently waiting for signs of openness. I tried to encourage them to watch for God's work and we were all encouraged by reading the parable of the growing seed in Mark 4.

Silas loved the country life - playing with animals, eating new food. He especially liked getting to know Lan's daughter. They really hit it off and Silas came home with lots of stories about his time with Non and her dog, Pepsi. The one thing that he wasn't a fan of was the cold bucket showers (the weather was actually cool!)

Here are a few more pictures...

Lan & his daughter.