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Genesis & Verna Maraat

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Pioneering in a New TCM Country

Genesis & Verna arrived in Chiang Mai, Thailand on May 28, 2008 to begin the difficult task of acquiring the Thai language. Their children are enrolled in Grace International School while the parents study the language and culture at Cornerstone Language School. On December 8 they were joined in Chiang Mai by TCM missionaries Nathan & Jessica Killion.

Genesis is the Field Representative for TCM in Thailand. The Maraats and Killions will develop a strategy for sharing the love of Christ with the Thai people as they continue in learning the language. The location of their future ministry is currently a matter of prayer and surveying the possibilities.

Newsletter- June 2011

Dear Beloved Friends,

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ from Chiang Mai, Thailand. With all our heart, we sincerely thank you for faithfully standing with us. As usual during the month of December, there were many activities: neighborhood evangelism, Christmas caroling, special Christmas services, etc. in the Thai Church where we are volunteering. This was a good way of taking advantage of the season to tell the story of the coming of Jesus for the Thai Buddhists. We did not see an open response from the people who came, but we were sure that the gospel has been sown in the hearts of several Thai Buddhists.

January 9-February 15 was the busiest time for Verna and me because we took TESOL training for five weeks. TESOL means Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. The course was designed to help English teachers teach students who are speakers of other languages. The training was tough and there were nights that we slept only a few hours. Those who joined the training were: one Singaporean, one Indian, one Tibetan Chinese, one Thai, one Korean, five Filipinos and five Americans– 14 in all. By the grace of God, Verna and I made it through the training successfully and received our certificates from Cornerstone University in Michigan and Asian Center for TESOL. Verna and I were grateful also that both and Andrea and Josiah had understanding hearts while we were taking the training. Praise the Lord!

I had only two weeks to prepare after TESOL before departing for Kenya, February 28-March 19. I was to speak at the 10th Anniversary Celebration of Kisumu Grace Bible Church. The church was started by our family while we were in Kenya. I also spoke to the pastors and leaders in Embu, and visited co-missionaries Jim and Missy Tollar in Mombasa and Gardner and Ledith Improso in Eldoret. The last Sunday in Kenya, March 13 was spent at Eldoret Grace Bible Church.

What a fellowship, what a blessing, and what an encouragement to see our old friends and Kenyan Grace Pastors standing strong and continuing to serve our Master out of deep poverty. What a blessing to see a new Grace work producing fruit in the area of Mombasa, Kenya. Thank you very much to those individuals and churches who contributed towards my trip to Kenya. Please pray for Pastor Peter and Margaret Kagwi as they minister in Mombasa where the dominant religion is Islam.

Gardner Improsos and family came back to Asia with me to visit us here in Chiang Mai. They stayed 10 days, and then proceeded to the Philippines. Andrea and Josiah had a chance to spend time with Keren, Kezia and Kelly. The visit of the Improsos was time well-spent. We took them to some good places for sightseeing, and Gardner enjoyed so much the variety of spicy Thai food. My younger brother and family visited us also after the Improsos left. They are missionaries serving in Mongolia. We had not see them for seven years. The last time Andrea and Josiah saw their three cousins from Mongolia was in 2004.

Ben Anderson (TCM Director) and wife Joyce also visited us May 2-6. We were greatly encouraged by what they shared with us of what the Lord is doing in Southeast Asia. They prayed for us to remain faithful and strong in the Lord. They traveled to Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Cambodia. Thank you, Ben and Joyce, for that short but meaningful visit.

May 11-15 our whole family went to Bangkok for renewal of our visas. Chiang Mai to Bangkok is a 10 hour trip by bus, one hour and 15 minutes by air, but we went by bus both ways. We thank God for one-year extensions of our visas. While in Bangkok, God gave us opportunity to fellowship with Ken Potts from Berean Bible Church in Seattle.

Andrea is about to finish 8th grade at Grace International School. Josiah’s 6th grade basketball team became champions out of seven International Schools here in Chiang Mai. While watching the championship game, Verna got really scared because while Josiah was dribbling the ball, his shoe was stepped on by an opponent. Josiah fell and landed on his head on the floor. It took him a while to get up. Scary! We want to take this opportunity to say thank you to those who are helping for the education of Andrea and Josiah.

We ask you to pray fervently for the following items on our behalf:

1. For good results for Verna’s medical exams;
2. For God to open doors for us so we can reach out to Thai Buddhists for Christ;
3. For God to give us strength to persevere even if it will take us a long time to reap a harvest(Recently we heard of a missionary family who stayed in Thailand for 40 years and finally harvested six souls for Christ in their 40th year.);
4. For Elections in Thailand in July and Thailand and Cambodia’s border fight (Both countries are fighting for a Buddhist temple. Many soldiers have lost their lives already.);
5. For Andrea and Josiah’s educational provision.

Beloved, we do want you to know that we sincerely appreciate your prayers and giving so we can continue to serve our Lord Jesus here in the Buddhist land of Thailand. Thank you very, very much!

Your partners in the gospel,

Genesis, Verna, Andrea and Josiah Maraat (Acts 26:16-19)

 

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©2011 Things to Come Mission, Inc.