A letter from Esther Wakeman in Thailand
May 2013
Dear friends,
In February, a few days before I left for the U.S.A., I met with Philip, a student of McGilvary College of Divinity at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where I live and work. Philip is the newly elected president of Payap’s 6,500-member student body. After winning the election, Philip told me he wanted to help me with our new dorms—to make residential life better for our 1,400 students required to live there during their first year. I was eager to meet and hear his ideas because we need all the help we can get! I’ve known Philip’s parents for several years and appreciate their interest in helping people receive emotional healing through prayer—a passion we share. Over lunch I got to know Philip better. He’s bright and passed the entrance exam that gave him a spot in a more prestigious government school, but he felt called to study theology at Payap so he can use his gifts in serving the church; he also hoped to help spark and see significant spiritual renewal among his fellow students at Payap.
Philip sharing his dreams with me over lunch.
When Philip was running for student government he told his opponent that if Philip’s party won, they would invite his opponent’s party to work with them. This is the first time in Payap student government history that such a thing has ever been imagined, much less implemented. After he won, Philip immediately invited the opposition on board—surprising them greatly. They agreed to join together; Philip asked for prayer because some of his own team were against this arrangement after the election. The opposition had used some mean tactics during the campaigning that caused anger and distrust. Would you pray for Philip and his student government that there will be reconciliation, and that these young leaders will make history at Payap by being the first political opponents to work together? If they pull this off, they will be modeling leadership by reconciliation and cooperation not only for Payap’s leaders but for their national political leaders too. The new school year begins in June, and Philip has a huge job to build a team from the two groups.
Philip also dreams of having a Christian student representative to student government from each of our 13 “faculties” or colleges. For the past 10 years we’ve been developing Christian student fellowship groups in these faculties and most of the faculties have them now. This request from the student body president is exciting. Please pray that my staff will have wisdom in working with Philip and his student leaders to create the best means for bringing more of God’s love and shalom into student life and activities. Also pray that Philip and his team will work creatively with our residential life staff and student leaders to bring lots more joy into the lives of our first-year dorm students.
After meeting with Philip I traveled to the U.S.A. with my father, bringing him back to his home in Pandora, Ohio, which became my home base for two months of meeting with Presbyterians in their homes, churches, and presbyteries to invite them to become part of or increase their participation in my mission support team. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting new friends in a number of churches—including many close to my father’s home in northwest Ohio; I look forward to strengthening these relationships through more frequent letters and visits in the next few years. I’m encouraged with the response as I have explained the huge shift in funding of world mission; 30 years ago when I started as a mission co-worker, we were forbidden to ask for money for our ministries. Now we have the responsibility, which I view as an opportunity, to invite people into our ministry by asking for financial support. Within the next five years Presbyterian World Mission has set a goal that all mission co-workers have designated financial support for their work (on average $83,000 per year to send and support—for me about $60,000 of that is hard costs like housing, health insurance, salary, and travel expenses, and the rest pays for my support from the staff in Louisville who make our ministry more connectional and effective). Many new friends have signed up to be on my mailing list, and many asked how to donate.
I’ve also enjoyed great visits with family and friends during these months including all three children and two grandkids who live in the U.S., all three of my siblings and their families, and dear friends who’ve supported me in prayer and friendship since before I began my mission journey.
I’m returning to the U.S. in July and August for training and to meet more Presbyterians at the New Wilmington Mission Conference in Pennsylvania and at the World Mission Partner Conference at Big Tent 2013 (August 1-3, Louisville, Kentucky—register; 800-728-7228, x2417). Please consider attending these events too, to learn about and celebrate more that God is doing all over the world.
Thank you for being a part of my mission support team. Please prayerfully consider increasing your involvement. Your gifts of prayer and finances make it possible for me to work with and encourage student leaders like Philip—the future hope of Thailand.
May our Lord Jesus continue to strengthen you with joy and wisdom for your vocation.
Esther
The 2013 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 195
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