A Season of Blessings

A Letter from Sharon Bryant, serving in Thailand

September 2017

Dear Friends,

At the end of my last letter, I was saying farewell to Mr. Worapod Sereerattanakul, the assistant coordinator of Christian Volunteers in Thailand (CVT), and wondering whom God would send to help me with this work. God has blessed me and this program with the return of Ms. Wararat Chaisuk, who worked with me from 2013-2015 in the Ecumenical Relations Office. Just when I was posting the position, she called to catch up with me and shared that she was looking for a new position. How delighted and blessed I am that she has chosen to come here and work with me!

We have not wasted any time. Before the end of her first week in the job, she was driving our old 10-passenger, manual-shift Toyota van. When I first suggested it, she said that she would practice on her own time and learn how to drive it by the end of a year. I handed her the keys and said, “There’s no time like the present,” and by the end of the day, she was confident enough to drive out into city traffic! She said that it marked the very first time she had ever set a goal and accomplished it in the same day. I can’t wait to see what she will do next!

In the meantime, Mr. Worapod Sereerattanakul is discovering that there are mountains much higher than the ones he calls home here in Thailand. He has been sending photos and posting on Facebook almost every day – sharing his new experiences at the Ecumenical Institute at Chateau de Bossey outside of Geneva, Switzerland. As of the date of this letter, he has completed several weeks of intensive English study to bring his skills up to where they need to be as he begins work on his Master’s in Ecumenical Relations. I am so proud of this young man and all he has already done in his young life. I am looking forward to seeing what he will do for the Church when his studies are complete.

Christian Volunteers in Thailand (CVT) continues to support the work of the Church here, mostly through the private Christian schools of our partner church, the Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT). One of the things that we try to do during every quarterly retreat is to go into one of the schools to offer a one-day ASEAN English Camp free of charge for the students there. For the volunteers, it’s a service opportunity they enjoy, as one of their colleagues works at the school. For the schools, this one-day camp is a wonderful change of pace for the students and teachers who participate. Throughout the day, the volunteers share the love and grace of God through activities and Christian songs that the children learn. Teachers get a break to observe and bring back to their classrooms some of the energizers and motivational messages that are shared. New friendships are formed and schools report that the children are more motivated to learn in the weeks following the camp.

Back at their placement sites, the Christian Volunteers in Thailand work daily to improve the English skills of the Thai children and to witness to the love and grace of God. Kao Lee Xiong from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Kevin Grow from Spokane, Washington, serve as Christian teachers at Prince Royal’s College, a Christian school in Chiang Mai, Thailand, founded in 1887 by American Presbyterian missionaries. Having completed one year of service with Christian Volunteers in Thailand, they shared their thoughts about their experiences and their ministries with their colleagues at a recent retreat. Kevin shared, “I love teaching. It’s difficult, it’s surprising, it’s chaotic and there’s troubles, but ultimately, it’s insanely rewarding.” Please click here to hear Kevin explain how his philosophy of service has evolved as a result of his ministry with CVT.

Kao Lee added, “How important it is for me to build this environment and this safe space … and for them [her students] to grow up knowing every year that there is a safe space available for them, and for them to be comfortable with who they are and how they can express themselves as they grow up.” Please click here to listen to Kao Lee describe her goal of “allow(ing) a fresh start for each person every single day.”

It would not be possible for me to continue this ministry with the Thai Church without your prayers and your generous support. Thank you for supporting these volunteers and this ministry that reaches into the lives of so many Thai children. Please pray for all the Christian Volunteers in Thailand, including the new ones who will arrive this month. And please continue to pray for the Thai people, as the funeral for HM King Bhumipol Adulyadej draws near and a new king is crowned. Thank you, again, for all that you do for me. I am humbled by your prayers, your cards, your emails, and your support.

In Him,

Sharon Bryant

Please read this important message from Jose Luis Casal, Director, Presbyterian World Mission

Dear Friend of Presbyterian Mission,

What a joy to send this letter! As Presbyterian World Mission’s new director, I thank God for your faithful support of our mission co-workers. The enclosed newsletter celebrates the work you made possible by your prayers, engagement, and generous financial gifts. We can’t thank you enough.

After I began in April, I met with mission co-workers and global partners and was blessed to see firsthand the mighty ways God is working through them! Our global partners are asking us to help them move forward with life-changing ministries. Because of your support, we can say “yes” to these creative and exciting initiatives.

I write to invite you to make an even deeper commitment to this work. First, would you make a year-end gift for the sending and support of our mission co-workers? We need your gifts to end the year strong. With your help, we filled two new mission co-worker positions and plan to recruit for others. The needs in the world are great, and World Mission is poised to answer the call to serve.

Second, would you ask your session to add our mission co-workers to your congregation’s mission budget for 2018 and beyond? Our mission co-workers serve three-year or four-year terms. Your multi-year commitment will encourage them greatly.

Our mission co-workers are funded entirely from the special gifts of individuals and congregations like yours. Now more than ever, we need your financial support.

In faith, our mission co-workers accepted a call to mission service. In faith, World Mission sent them to work with our global partners. In faith, will you also commit to support this work with your prayers and financial gifts?

With gratitude,

Jose Luis Casal
Director

P.S. Your gift will help meet critical needs of our global partners. Thank you!