The Great Unknown

The Virus

In Asia, as in the rest of the world. The Covid-19 pandemic has taken the normal out of daily life and ministry. Our building project was delayed because of the financial unknowns. I lost my teaching job in Laos because of the border restrictions. I missed the entirety of summer school and now am days away from losing my job for the new school year. 

Because of the worldwide travel restrictions, it is impossible anyway, to bring in students to train them as we had been planning.

Personally, we have been fortunate enough as a family to make it financially to this day. My wife still has her local teaching job and it helps with paying the bills. Joey, Rung and Mary all do tutoring at our base on the Saturdays. My Christian friends from America have sacrificially given us assistance, without which we could not have survived.

The next months are an unknown for us and for most people around the world. It is a time to trust God and be thankful for what we have. It is a time to help others if we can.

The Hub

For several years, the great train project to link China with it's neighbors has been going on. One of those major rail systems will cross the border where we live in Nong Khai, Thailand. This month we heard that the proposed area for the project will be announced. It consists of a new road and railroad which happen to pass through our village. Rung told me where it would go and I just did a guess and drew it up on google maps. When I zoomed in I found it going right between our house and school building! We have no idea if this is accurate. However, we must wait and see. There is no use doing any more work on our properties until we know. Typically, when the Thai government takes your property they pay you well. So, one of two things will happen... either the system will be built over our area, or next to it. In the first case we will need to move and purchase or build a new place. In the second, the value of our property will skyrocket. It is a win-win situation. We will find out in a few months and then may have a year to receive payment.

Our car is still not sold.

We very much appreciate you prayers related to this information. Thank you!