It is hard to believe that we are seven weeks into the new term and this is our only newsletter since school started! So, this will be a quick update.

The first of June Pat and I went with the students on their annual retreat to welcome the first year students. This year to save money the University required that the retreat be held at a camp that they manage. It is a place with a gorgeous view. But to get there one has to hike 4 kilometers up into the mountain. Fortunately, there were motorcyclists who would take baggage up the mountain for a modest fee. Had we been lugging our suitcases I am not sure we would have seen that spectacular view. Even walking unburdened we were red-faced, huffing and puffing by the time we reached the camp site. I must say however, there we actually beat some of the students to the camp J

At the camp we worshipped and prayed and played with the students. I shared two Bible studies on preparing for service. This was the theme the students had chosen for their camp.

We returned to our campus on Sunday and began classes the next day. This term I am teaching three courses: Church History I, The Book of Acts, and How to Use the Old Testament in Preaching and Worship. I have never taught this Old Testament course before, so it is quite a challenge, especially using the Thai language. Pat is teaching three courses of English. One of them is also a new course for her.

Another responsibility that I have this term (and Pat will share with me) is to be the advisor for four students as they do their "field work" in their assigned churches. Each weekend, all of Christian Studies students go to a church field to minister. The four students that we will work with this year are: Nitchagan, Daraporn, Niranporn, and Sirenthip. They are all female students; one senior, two juniors and a sophomore. I hope to be able to share their stories in the months to come. (The girls in the attached picture are Daraporn and Niranporn -- both third year students.)

I was thinking about how bland this newsletter sounds – no great victories, no desperate situations. However, I was reminded as I sit here that life is largely what we do between the desperate times and the mountain-top experiences. It is also a time when we face a particular temptation, I.e., to ignore God's Presence as we participate in the normal, everyday activities of life. Pray for us and for our students that we will all be faithful to God's call in our lives for service and praise.

Thank you for your continued support of Pat and me and for International Ministries.

Yours in Christ,

LaMon and Pat

p.s. We are grateful to Lynne Stauffer for sending this letter to you all. If you want to contact us directly you can email us at lamonandpatb@yahoo.com.