Rice, rice, rice. It is about all one talks about right now. Are you cutting or drying or beating or collecting or selling your rice? This is normal for this time of year and even with the odd rain patterns that we have had much rice needs to be dealt with. We have been helping church members and neighbors with their farming in spite of the cold snap we are having. The fields are ripe for harvest and we are seeing God's bounty in many ways.

We use English teaching as one of our outreach methods here. It would be hard not to as people are constantly coming by and asking for help. Teachers want help with their lessons, students want help with their homework and others want to learn to talk so they can get better jobs or work overseas. Volunteers help with this a lot especially in the schools. Mainly we need to control it so it doesn't take over other areas of ministry.

A Growing Interest in Christ

A few weeks ago Umpai came and started asking us about the Gospel. We had to think a bit but she had come and studied English with us over a year ago. She was having some trouble at work and a Christian co-worker suggested that God could help with her problem. She remembered a Christian calendar that Jan had given her in English class and decided to come and ask about it. She has now come several times to ask questions about what she reads in the Bible and both Jan and Noi are teaching her. One of her questions: "Why did Jesus have to die four times?" delighted us as it means she has already read the four Gospels. For someone from a Buddhist background being born four times isn't abnormal but to die such a horrible death four times was worth a query. Her husband, Nian, has also come and Larry often teaches their two children while Jan and Noi work with the parents.

They come from a village about four miles away from ours and some of their first questions were about rejection from families and neighbors. Umpai's mother has already indicated some displeasure with her daughter's new interest. From our other member's lives we had stories of rejection and reconciliation to encourage them with and hope that the love of God will see them through any problems.

The band is practicing, people are memorizing songs and the youth are practicing plays. Our Christmas show is always a big event in the year. This year we will do the big outreach program on the night of December 22. It looks like it will be a cold winter with maybe temperatures below freezing. We pray that the light of the Christ child will keep you warm throughout this season of Hope.

Prayer Points
-Please pray for Umpai, Nian and their childrem, Pim and Bank—that they will come to know Jesus in a personal way and as a family.
-Please pray for Som, Naa and family. Naa hasn't been able to come to church, since the baby was born, three months ago, but is continuing in her faith. Som has yet to really understand the Gospel and Ot (17) is being a terrible teenager.
-Please pray that people will see God's care for them as we and Tom and Noi help in the fields.