A letter from Carol Fujii in Thailand
October 2010
Dear Partners in Mission,
“O, Lord, please don’t let me be leave this conference the same as I came. Please fan the flame for mission in my heart again! I don’t want to forget what I’ve experienced here. Would You use me in a new way, Lord?” I prayed at the conclusion of a conference that focused on frontier mission to unreached people groups in Asia. Before attending, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was just open. God indeed surprised me and blessed the time with 300 other attendees, refreshing and challenging our vision for unreached peoples.
It was not even 24 hours after I prayed that prayer that God led us to two colleagues who were attending the same conference. Walking in the city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, one night, they were robbed. They were planning to travel to Thailand the following day and needed a place to stay. “God, I don’t know them at all,” I protested. But it seemed like God was leading us to invite these brothers into our home, giving us a special time to get to know “M” and “Ab,” who are pastoring a 1,700-member church in a large Asian city. We were so encouraged to hear that despite persecution, the number of believers is growing.
Welcoming international students to BIT.
Another way God is answering prayer is seeing a burden and vision grow in the hearts of students on Bangkok Institute of Theology (BIT)’s mission team as we have gathered weekly, praying for world missions. It is neat that God has recently brought 21 international students to study in Thailand who are from the city where two of our students did a mission’s exploration last year. When “Tee” and “See” went to this closed country last year, they began cultivating and building bridges of friendship. Recently the BIT mission team traveled out to greet and welcome these students who are studying for one year at a Thai government university outside of Bangkok. Bubbling over with excitement, these international students were laughing and smiling! “Wow, they look just like Thai students!” I thought as I observed their black-and-white college uniforms. They even had Thai names. Sholasa, whose Thai language is the strongest, led the group. All of these students are majoring in the Thai language and hope to use it in their future work. They are eager to practice speaking, having studied for the last two years in their home country. Moreover, they are open to friendship with Thai students.
Pim (right) interacting with Teacher Rainbow.
“How did you become a Christian, since you were a Buddhist before?” asked the teacher chaperone named “Rainbow.” She sat intently listening as “Pim,” one of our BIT students, shared how she became a Christian. Pim comes from a family heritage similar to that of these students. I was surprised and impressed as I observed teacher “Rainbow’s” openness and sincerity.
This past week the BIT students hosted these same international students at our school, also taking them to a local mall and the King’s Park for a picnic. I was delighted to hear one of BIT’s freshmen women say, “I’m so happy. I have a new friend. We exchanged emails and phone numbers. I want to share the love of Christ with her.”
As I prayed, “Oh, Lord, give me a new heart for mission” at that conference in Malaysia, it is encouraging to see how God is answering and working in our students being interested in mission to international students studying in Thailand.
Please join us in praying for:
- “See” as he accompanies these international students to the beach and to his church in Hua Hin on the weekend of October 22-24. That seeds of faith will be planted.
- That Leith and I will yield ourselves daily to the leading and empowering of God’s Spirit as we travel during the October break, visiting BIT students and alumni.
- Details and planning for our April 2011 home interpretation assignment. We would also like to rendezvous with Karin on our way home.
- Our son Mark, who recently graduated from university, as he job hunts, and for Joy and Karin’s safety as they serve overseas.
We are grateful for each of you who pray for Thailand!
Love,
Carol for the Fujii’s
The 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 126
