I want to spend my life
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mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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mending broken people
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Hello. I'm Shelly Quinn
and once again, we welcome
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you to the Mending
Broken People Network
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and especially to the
Today program. We're so
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glad that you're
joining us. We have an
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inspiring and
fascinating story to share with
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you today. Before we
begin, I want to thank
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you, of course, for
your prayers and your love
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and your financial
support of 3ABN because we
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couldn't do this
without you. We're all partners
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together in the Lord's
work. I'd like to share a
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scripture from Acts
16:9. It says, "A vision
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appeared to Paul
in the night. A man
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of Macedonia stood
and pleaded with him
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saying, 'Come over
to Macedonia and help
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us!'" There are
so many places in
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the world that have
been unreached for Christ,
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particularly in the
10x40 window which we'll
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discuss in just a
moment. But you know, Jesus
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said in Matthew 24:14
that the gospel had to go
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to all the world
before the end would come.
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So, we've still got
a work to do and the
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Lord is still
working with us and we've
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got a special,
precious couple with us here
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with us today. Let
me introduce you to our
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guest Kyle
Tumberg. Kyle, thank you
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so much for being
here. - Thank you for having
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us. - And thank
you for what you're
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doing for the Lord.
And his wife Cindy Tumberg.
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Cindy, we're going to
get to hear some of your
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story. Who is this gorgeous
baby girl? Ally, can you
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smile? Yes! Look
at that big smile! How
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old is Ally? - She's
2 years old. - 2 years
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old and talkin'
up a storm. This is a
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smart little girl. Well,
we're just really, really
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glad that you're here.
You're actually on furlough
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right now, Cindy. Is that
correct? - Yes. So, how have
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grandma and grandpa
enjoyed seeing Ally?
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- Oh, they've enjoyed
it a lot. - Yeah? - Had a
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lot of fun together.
- Absolutely. It was-
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she's a doll. Well,
before we get into their story,
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and it's such a beautiful
story, we would like to
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invite our own CA
Murray, Pastor Murray, who's
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such a wonderful Bible
expositor, but he is also
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a singer for the
glory of God and he will
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sing for us, "Is It Any Wonder?"
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When I think how Jesus loved me
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How He waited patiently
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Even when I turned
my back and walked away
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When He knew I wanted everything
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This world could offer me
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Well, I guess He knew
the price I'd have to pay
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So He watched
me stumble downward
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Saw each compromise I made
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Heard each lie I
whispered just to get my way
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Still He waited there to hear me
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When I cried to Him and prayed
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Then He saved my
soul and that is why I say
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Tell me is it any wonder
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That I love Him
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When You consider
all He's done for me
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And is it any wonder
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That I long to do His will
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And let His light
shine out for all to see
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And is it any wonder
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That I praise Him
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Each time I think of
how He's made me free
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And is it any wonder?
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That I've given Him my heart?
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When Jesus freely
gave His life for me
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When I think how Jesus loves me
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How He watches patiently
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How His arms are
stretched to meet me when I run
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When I'm feeling down and lonely
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How He's there to comfort me
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In the darkness He
becomes my morning sun
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When I think of
how He's healed me
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How He's touched me in my pain
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How His gentle hands
have wiped my tears away
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How He's taken every heartache
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And brought happiness again
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Oh, I want the world
to hear me when I say
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Tell me is it any wonder
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That I love Him
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When you consider
all He's done for me
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And is it any wonder
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That I long to do His will
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And let His light
shine out for all to see
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And is it any wonder
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That I praise Him
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Each time I think of
how He's made me free
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And is it any wonder
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That I've given Him my heart
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When Jesus freely
gave His life for me
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Oh, thank you my dear
friend CA. He is such a
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communicator of the
gospel of Jesus Christ. Well,
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once again, if you're
just joining us, our special
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guests today are
Kyle and Cindy Tumberg.
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We've allowed Ally
to go put some puzzles
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together so she has
left the set. You all
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are working in
Thailand for how many years
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now? - We've been
there for almost 6 years.
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- Okay. 6 years and
they're doing a great
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work, but before we
jump in and explain the work,
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how did the two
of you meet, Cindy?
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Well, we were both
involved a church plant
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project and in Arkadelphia.
Kyle was teaching at
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Ouachita Hills
Academy and College and I was
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working at a dental
office close by and we both
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got involved in the
church plant project that the...
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some of the college
students were involved with
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and that's really how
we got to know each other.
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So, it wasn't
necessarily that you met and it
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was like, this is it.
But there was a special
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attraction there and
you began dating. When did
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you feel this call to
go to mission, Kyle? - You
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know, the call to go
overseas really developed over
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several years. I
first heard someone give a
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sermon several years
ago about the needs of the
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unreached world. When I
heard that sermon, I was
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really struck by just
the sheer amount of people
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worldwide that have
never heard the name
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Jesus Christ. There
are today roughly about
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3 billion
people... - 3 b! B. Billion
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people! - Yes. 3
billion people that have never
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heard the gospel.
And I was shocked when I
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heard that. I
remember when I heard it the
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first time thinking,
"Maybe God is calling
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me to be an
overseas missionary." And for
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the probably next 5
years, I really wrestled with
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whether or not that
was so. But God and His
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providence and in the
providence of the Holy
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Spirit eventually led
me to make that decision
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to give me life to
His cause overseas.
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- Okay, so during
that time that you were
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attending college
and- what was your major
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in college? - I have a
bachelor's in religion.
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- Okay, alright.
Now, Cindy, when you all
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married, did you
have any idea that he was
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thinking about missionary
work? Had he discussed
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it with you? - At
that point, I was aware,
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but previously when
we were dating, I wasn't
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aware that that
had been something he
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had been interested in
in the past. - So, at ASI,
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something happened.
Tell us about that, Cindy.
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- So, we were
dating and we went to an
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ASI and before that time, I-
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- And let me explain
real quickly to our viewers.
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ASI is Adventist
Laymen & Services Industries
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and they have an annual
convention that there'll
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be just- several
hundred booths of Adventist
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ministries that are
reaching around the world. So,
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you were attending
there as a dating couple.
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- Yeah. So, shortly
before leaving, I had prayed a
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prayer that if God-
if there was anybody
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we needed to meet
or any circumstances
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that needed to happen
that God would bring that
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about to help
direct our future. At that
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time, we weren't even
really thinking seriously
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about marriage, so
it was kind of, looking
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back, an odd prayer.
But when we got there,
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there was one day
we were walking around
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all- the booth area
where all the ministries
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are there and Kyle
was reading a pamphlet
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that he had picked up
at a booth and I could
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see ahead the Adventist
Frontier Mission booth and
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I wasn't really interested
in foreign mission so I
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purposely was looking
at everything on the other
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side of the isle. At
one point, I realized
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Kyle wasn't
walking next to me anymore.
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I turned to see
him, his nose buried in a
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pamphlet, reading
as he walked up to the
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recruiter for Adventist
Frontier Missions, John
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Baxter. I expected
that when he saw, he was
00:12:45.39\00:12:49.83
going off course,
he would come back and
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join me but he didn't.
He started a conversation.
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I was somewhat
frustrated that he was showing
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interest because I wasn't
interested, but after that
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conversation, the
Lord brought the prayer
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back to my mind and
it kind of started me
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wondering and praying
and thinking about foreign
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missions. - So, actually,
John Baxter was the one
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whose sermon you had
heard and you'd really
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wanted to talk with
this... - Correct. When
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I heard John speak
initially several years
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ago, I wanted to
talk to him but I didn't
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have a chance before
he left the campus, so I
00:13:29.40\00:13:31.94
called him and he told
me to call him later in the
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week. He gave me
his office phone number
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and I did not call
back. So, when I saw him at
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the ASI
convention a year and a half
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later, I had a chance
then to ask him questions
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that I wanted to ask
him a year earlier. - Okay.
00:13:45.52\00:13:48.26
Explain to us what
Adventist Frontier Missions is.
00:13:48.32\00:13:52.73
- So, Adventist Frontier
Missions is a ministry that
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supports the work of
the Seventh-Day Adventist
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church. They send
missionaries into the parts
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of the world where there
is little or no Christian
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presence and they
are working to establish
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church plants that
are locally led and
00:14:07.34\00:14:10.61
that will continue
to function after the
00:14:10.71\00:14:13.21
missionaries leave the
field. - Okay, and what
00:14:13.31\00:14:16.15
is the process- when the
Lord finally brought you to that
00:14:16.22\00:14:20.12
point that you're both
going... You're now married
00:14:20.19\00:14:22.99
several years and you
say, "All right. God is
00:14:23.09\00:14:26.80
calling us to the
missionary field."
00:14:26.90\00:14:30.57
When you sign up
with Adventist Frontier
00:14:30.67\00:14:33.57
Missions, what is
the process? What is the
00:14:33.64\00:14:36.77
training before you
actually go into the
00:14:36.84\00:14:39.34
field? - Well, with
AFM, they actually have
00:14:39.41\00:14:41.94
a very thorough
application process.
00:14:42.04\00:14:44.08
You do a number of
different tests where
00:14:44.18\00:14:47.22
they learn about
your family history, your
00:14:47.35\00:14:50.65
medical history, your
psychological well-being
00:14:50.72\00:14:53.62
and so forth. So,
they're very thorough.
00:14:53.69\00:14:56.06
It takes several
months to complete
00:14:57.49\00:14:59.19
all of those different
steps. Once you actually
00:14:59.23\00:15:02.36
finish the
application and take a call, you
00:15:02.46\00:15:05.37
have to do
fundraising to raise supporters
00:15:05.47\00:15:08.40
that will support you
while you're in the field.
00:15:08.50\00:15:11.17
So, from the time
that you take the call- er,
00:15:11.24\00:15:14.04
well, when you actually
begin the application to
00:15:14.11\00:15:16.28
when you launch,
it can take sometimes
00:15:16.34\00:15:18.91
between 2-4
years depending on how
00:15:18.98\00:15:21.55
things go. - So how
long did it take for you?
00:15:21.65\00:15:24.49
- Well, we actually
started and stopped the
00:15:24.55\00:15:28.52
application process
with AFM twice, and after our
00:15:28.59\00:15:32.16
second time, AFM, I think,
kind of wrote us off. But the
00:15:32.23\00:15:36.43
Lord continued to
speak to our hearts. When
00:15:36.53\00:15:41.37
we finally made that
decision to go through
00:15:41.44\00:15:45.24
with it, from that
day to when we actually
00:15:45.34\00:15:48.44
launched to
Thailand, it took us about a
00:15:48.54\00:15:53.52
year and a half. -
Okay. So, a little bit more
00:15:53.62\00:15:56.99
accelerated than
some. Now, do they say just
00:15:57.05\00:16:00.42
say, "Okay, you've
helped raise the funds.
00:16:00.49\00:16:02.89
Here you go!" or do
they take you through
00:16:02.96\00:16:05.59
some kind of a
cultural sensitivity
00:16:05.66\00:16:07.73
training? - AFM
has a very good program
00:16:07.80\00:16:12.17
where they train
people to go cross-cultural
00:16:12.27\00:16:14.67
work every summer.
They hold a 3-month
00:16:14.80\00:16:18.17
training program
where you learn about things
00:16:18.27\00:16:20.78
like culture
shock, how to adjust to
00:16:20.88\00:16:23.45
life in a new culture,
you learn about different
00:16:23.55\00:16:26.18
worldviews and
how to understand how
00:16:26.28\00:16:28.35
people think in
different parts of the world.
00:16:28.42\00:16:30.49
We also learn
about how to have healthy
00:16:30.55\00:16:34.22
and effective teams
in the mission field,
00:16:34.29\00:16:37.13
because oftentimes,
there can be conflict
00:16:37.23\00:16:39.39
in the mission
fields, so we want to be able
00:16:39.49\00:16:42.03
to deal with that in a healthy
way and in a way that will
00:16:42.10\00:16:44.77
preserve the relationships
and continue to allow the
00:16:44.87\00:16:48.60
work to go
forward. So they cover many
00:16:48.80\00:16:50.14
different things. Those are some
00:16:50.17\00:16:51.81
of the highlights.
They do a great job
00:16:51.87\00:16:53.61
of preparing you,
ask much as they can,
00:16:53.71\00:16:56.24
for the step of
going overseas and living
00:16:56.34\00:16:58.91
for several
years. - Well, it's a big
00:16:59.01\00:17:00.72
commitment. It sounds-
just to uproot yourself
00:17:00.82\00:17:04.92
and go off somewhere that
you don't know the culture,
00:17:04.99\00:17:09.29
it IS a big commitment.
So, it's wonderful that
00:17:09.39\00:17:13.03
they offer all of
this training. Let me ask
00:17:13.09\00:17:15.76
you-did you choose
Thailand or did God
00:17:15.86\00:17:18.40
choose Thailand for
you? - God definitely
00:17:18.50\00:17:20.84
chose Thailand. When
we made the choice to
00:17:20.94\00:17:24.74
do this, we were
willing to go wherever God
00:17:24.81\00:17:28.41
wanted us to go. We
had only been overseas
00:17:28.51\00:17:32.68
briefly in the
past; we didn't have a
00:17:32.78\00:17:35.48
lot of extensive experience from
00:17:35.58\00:17:37.72
cross-cultural
work and we didn't know
00:17:37.79\00:17:41.12
what to expect,
really. So, we said, "God,
00:17:41.22\00:17:42.76
wherever you want us to
go, we're willing to go."
00:17:42.82\00:17:45.09
We were kind of
thinking maybe India. Thailand
00:17:45.16\00:17:48.30
was not our radar at
all, but it was on God's
00:17:48.36\00:17:51.73
radar. When AFM
suggested Thailand as the place
00:17:51.80\00:17:57.41
they wanted to send us,
at first, we were kind of
00:17:57.51\00:18:00.38
surprised. But as
they explained the dynamics
00:18:00.48\00:18:03.08
of the country and
the project, we could see
00:18:03.14\00:18:05.61
God's hand really
leading in that direction.
00:18:05.71\00:18:07.72
- Amen. So, Cindy,
what was it like when
00:18:07.82\00:18:09.95
you got there?
Even though you've been
00:18:10.02\00:18:11.69
through the
training to help overcome the
00:18:11.75\00:18:15.92
cultural shock, what
was it like? - It was a good
00:18:16.02\00:18:21.83
experience. It was
exciting in many ways
00:18:21.93\00:18:24.33
just being able
to actually be there.
00:18:24.40\00:18:27.14
It's something we had
been praying about and
00:18:27.17\00:18:29.97
dreaming about for
over a year. So, in some
00:18:30.04\00:18:33.51
ways, it was nice
to have that kind of
00:18:33.61\00:18:35.08
completed. But it was
definitely a challenge.
00:18:35.18\00:18:38.41
I remember, especially
for me, just feeling like
00:18:38.51\00:18:41.58
trying to find my
way around. I remember
00:18:41.68\00:18:45.62
feeling like I
didn't know how to cook
00:18:45.69\00:18:47.82
again, having a hard
time finding ingredients
00:18:47.89\00:18:51.19
I was used to,
or... Yeah, just really
00:18:51.26\00:18:55.80
struggling at
times. I was sick within
00:18:55.90\00:18:57.60
the first week of
being there and that was just
00:18:57.87\00:19:00.24
a low point for me,
often wanting to just
00:19:00.34\00:19:03.41
go back home. - And
this was something you
00:19:03.47\00:19:06.07
actually didn't
realize that you had had it
00:19:06.21\00:19:08.64
when you left, so
it wasn't that you got
00:19:08.74\00:19:11.21
a local illness but
you were sick. You know
00:19:11.28\00:19:14.18
what? I don't
care how old you are
00:19:14.28\00:19:16.02
when you get sick. You
think, "Momma!" [laughter]
00:19:16.08\00:19:19.52
So I can understand
that you wanted to go
00:19:19.55\00:19:21.42
back home. - Yeah.
- So, you got there.
00:19:21.52\00:19:25.13
Was there- were
you being merged into a
00:19:25.23\00:19:28.56
team that was
already there or how did that
00:19:28.66\00:19:32.07
work? - Yeah, so when
we launched, we joined
00:19:32.13\00:19:36.20
another family that
had launched the year prior
00:19:36.27\00:19:38.84
to us arriving. We
were going to be starting
00:19:38.94\00:19:41.78
a new project-our two
families-in the city of
00:19:41.84\00:19:45.31
Khon Kaen which is
in the northeastern part
00:19:45.38\00:19:48.18
of Thailand-about 6
hours north of Bangkok.
00:19:48.28\00:19:51.09
- Did you have
any language studies
00:19:51.19\00:19:53.56
for this? - Yes. AFM
allows their missionaries
00:19:53.59\00:19:58.59
to do up to 2 years
of full-time language
00:19:58.69\00:20:01.46
learning if that is
needed, so we spent almost
00:20:01.56\00:20:05.90
our first two years
doing full-time Thai
00:20:06.00\00:20:09.00
language learning
both in Bangkok and Chiang
00:20:09.10\00:20:11.84
Mai. - Okay. So
now, afterwards of your
00:20:11.94\00:20:14.44
being joined into
a team, you have some
00:20:14.54\00:20:17.98
basic understanding
of the language. Spell
00:20:18.05\00:20:22.22
the name of the city for
us. - Spell it? - Uh-huh!
00:20:22.32\00:20:25.45
- Well, in English,
it would be Khon Kaen.
00:20:25.52\00:20:33.06
- Khon Kaen.
Okay, and in Khon Kaen,
00:20:33.09\00:20:35.70
what is the city
like? - Khon Kaen is a
00:20:35.76\00:20:39.10
growing city, I
think the population
00:20:39.13\00:20:40.67
of about 120,000
people. There is a major
00:20:40.74\00:20:44.01
university. I think
maybe the fourth largest
00:20:44.11\00:20:48.04
university in
Thailand is in Khon Kaen, Khon
00:20:48.11\00:20:50.95
Kaen University. There
are a lot of businesses;
00:20:51.01\00:20:55.22
it's a growing
city. It's an important
00:20:55.32\00:20:57.82
city, but in many
ways, living there, you
00:20:57.89\00:21:02.92
kind of get a taste
of two worlds because
00:21:03.02\00:21:06.06
you have the city
life- there's shopping
00:21:06.16\00:21:09.03
malls and stores and
so forth, but you also,
00:21:09.10\00:21:11.80
in some of the
smaller neighborhoods and
00:21:11.90\00:21:14.14
villages, you can
still see some of the
00:21:14.20\00:21:16.44
traditional
aspects of Thai culture and
00:21:16.50\00:21:19.11
Thai life. - Ok, so
explain Thai culture
00:21:19.17\00:21:21.24
to us. - Well, Thai
culture is multi-faceted.
00:21:21.31\00:21:26.61
Where we are in Khon
Kaen, it's becoming more
00:21:27.78\00:21:29.82
modernized, but
Thai people are very
00:21:29.88\00:21:34.19
friendly, they're very
family-oriented, they're
00:21:34.29\00:21:38.86
Buddhist... The
saying goes that to be Thai
00:21:38.93\00:21:42.30
is to be Buddhist,
so they put a lot of
00:21:42.40\00:21:45.30
pride into their
religion and being Buddhist.
00:21:45.37\00:21:51.07
Thai people-they work
hard, they're respectful,
00:21:51.24\00:21:57.38
and they're
very family-oriented.
00:21:57.48\00:22:01.72
- Okay. First, I'm
going to ask you about the
00:22:01.78\00:22:05.62
Buddhists, but I
understand they're
00:22:05.69\00:22:07.02
also animist. I'll
ask you about that.
00:22:07.06\00:22:09.09
What are the tenants
of the Buddhist religion?
00:22:09.16\00:22:12.73
- So, the goal of
Buddhism is to reach
00:22:12.79\00:22:17.27
the state of nirvana-
the state of nothingness
00:22:17.33\00:22:21.14
where you feel a
sense of peace with who
00:22:21.24\00:22:24.47
you are and just with
life in general. Buddhism
00:22:24.57\00:22:29.58
teaches that suffering
exists and that the root
00:22:29.64\00:22:34.88
of our suffering
is our desires, and so
00:22:34.98\00:22:38.92
in order to get
rid of suffering, we
00:22:39.02\00:22:41.69
have to get rid of our
desires. And to do that,
00:22:41.76\00:22:44.56
they propose walking this
00:22:44.63\00:22:49.30
eight-fold path with
right thinking, right doing, and
00:22:49.36\00:22:52.20
so on and so forth.
If you adhere to that
00:22:52.30\00:22:55.54
path, it will help
you to reach the state
00:22:55.60\00:22:58.21
of nirvana. -
Through reincarnation, and, I
00:22:58.31\00:23:03.55
mean- multiple lives,
usually. - Yeah, yeah.
00:23:03.61\00:23:06.01
But for most Thai
people, they're not
00:23:06.08\00:23:09.85
really aiming to reach
nirvana, I don't think.
00:23:09.95\00:23:12.09
They're just
trying to get through this
00:23:12.15\00:23:13.82
current life and
they're hoping that maybe in
00:23:13.92\00:23:16.02
their next life they
can be a better person
00:23:16.12\00:23:19.03
and have a
better chance. So, Thai
00:23:19.13\00:23:22.40
people are very interested
in using religion to help
00:23:22.46\00:23:27.07
them with their
everyday problems and so forth.
00:23:27.17\00:23:30.14
- Okay. But there's
also a blend before Thailand
00:23:30.24\00:23:35.71
became Buddhist.
They were animists. Why
00:23:35.81\00:23:38.65
don't you explain a
little of that, Cindy?
00:23:38.71\00:23:41.18
- Right. So, they were,
like as you mentioned, animists
00:23:41.25\00:23:44.19
before Buddhism
came, and much of that has
00:23:44.29\00:23:47.22
just been
intertwined into the Buddhist
00:23:47.29\00:23:49.16
religion. - I
guess we ought to explain
00:23:49.26\00:23:51.56
what animist is. -
It's a worship of spirits
00:23:51.66\00:23:56.97
where spirits control
many things in life and
00:23:57.07\00:24:00.74
many animists feel
like they either have to
00:24:00.84\00:24:03.94
control these
spirits or appease them
00:24:04.04\00:24:05.64
to have a better
state in life. In Thailand,
00:24:05.74\00:24:13.31
one practical way
you see that is that
00:24:13.42\00:24:16.95
there are spirit
shrines everywhere.
00:24:17.02\00:24:18.82
So in our city,
there's a spirit shrine that's
00:24:18.92\00:24:21.36
where the spirit
that's in control of the whole
00:24:21.46\00:24:25.99
city resides. Our
neighborhood has one.
00:24:26.09\00:24:28.93
Just- everywhere, you
see that influence still.
00:24:29.03\00:24:33.84
- Do you see
demonic possession there
00:24:33.94\00:24:37.27
at all? - We have seen
it. I remember actually,
00:24:37.37\00:24:41.74
a few years back,
our team was praying
00:24:41.84\00:24:45.18
for a lady that
had a son who was being
00:24:45.25\00:24:50.35
very difficult. He
was an older man but he
00:24:50.45\00:24:53.15
had a mental
problem and he was causing
00:24:53.25\00:24:56.62
her some trouble.
She was a Christian lady
00:24:56.69\00:24:59.06
but she wanted us to
pray for her son, and
00:24:59.16\00:25:02.20
while we went to go
and pray for this lady's
00:25:02.30\00:25:04.93
son during our time
of prayer, we actually
00:25:05.00\00:25:07.90
heard a demonic
voice speaking through this
00:25:07.97\00:25:11.77
Christian lady. And
so we ended up going back
00:25:11.87\00:25:16.01
to pray with her
every day for about a week
00:25:16.08\00:25:18.48
and a half till the
demonic activity was
00:25:18.55\00:25:22.55
clearly no longer
an issue. So we have
00:25:22.65\00:25:25.52
encountered that. -
Ok. So, you are in this
00:25:25.62\00:25:30.19
culture, the people
are friendly... Tell us how
00:25:30.26\00:25:34.96
God has led there
in Cancun. - Kohn Kaen.
00:25:35.03\00:25:39.40
- Kohn Kaen. -
Where you are. [laughter]
00:25:39.47\00:25:42.74
- So, this has
totally been God's project.
00:25:42.84\00:25:46.01
Anything that has
been accomplished has been
00:25:46.11\00:25:48.64
by his grace, not because of us.
00:25:48.74\00:25:50.65
Mission work is very
humbling. It shows you
00:25:50.75\00:25:53.21
how much you need His
power and His grace to
00:25:53.28\00:25:56.82
work. So, we claim no
credit for anything that He
00:25:56.95\00:26:00.02
has done. We've only
been tools in his hands
00:26:00.16\00:26:03.06
and we've been a
part of a great team. We
00:26:03.12\00:26:05.86
joined, as we
mentioned earlier, Palacio's
00:26:05.93\00:26:09.06
family, Ricardo
and Alesha Palacio
00:26:09.13\00:26:10.60
later on, a lady
named Danielle Akoning
00:26:10.70\00:26:13.13
joined us, and then
eventually, our team
00:26:13.20\00:26:15.87
merged with
another team in Thailand,
00:26:15.97\00:26:18.17
Chris and Shannon
Sorenson, and Robby
00:26:18.24\00:26:20.84
and Kelly Doss.
So, we've had great
00:26:20.94\00:26:23.45
missionaries to
work with-great student
00:26:23.55\00:26:25.21
missionaries to
work with-and through it,
00:26:25.28\00:26:27.35
God has been able to
work. The first thing
00:26:27.42\00:26:30.65
that our team did to
try to reach out to the city
00:26:30.72\00:26:34.32
of Khon Kaen was to
start a music school.
00:26:34.39\00:26:36.99
That was kind of
unconventional, but our
00:26:37.09\00:26:39.33
partners at the
time, Ricardo and Alesha
00:26:39.43\00:26:43.23
? saw that music
was really a way to open
00:26:43.30\00:26:46.43
doors. - To all classes.
- Yeah, to all classes of
00:26:46.53\00:26:49.87
people. Specifically,
children performing
00:26:49.94\00:26:53.58
music was a way to
get in, you know, to
00:26:53.64\00:26:56.41
different places in
the community. For example,
00:26:56.48\00:26:58.65
in Bangkok, the
violin ensemble at the
00:26:58.71\00:27:04.09
Thailand?
Adventist Church was able to
00:27:04.15\00:27:07.36
go and perform at
the Thai government
00:27:07.46\00:27:10.63
several years ago.
So, it really opens up
00:27:10.73\00:27:14.00
doors. Ricardo had
the idea to begin a
00:27:14.06\00:27:17.33
music school as a way
to offer a needed service
00:27:17.40\00:27:21.17
and as a way to
make relationships in a
00:27:21.24\00:27:24.07
very non-threatening
environment. - So, the
00:27:24.14\00:27:26.91
music school
isn't overtly Christian,
00:27:26.98\00:27:29.48
but all of your teachers
are Adventist Christians.
00:27:29.54\00:27:32.41
- Yes, that's correct.
- So then, once you've-
00:27:32.48\00:27:35.95
how many students
do you have now at
00:27:36.05\00:27:38.25
the music school? -
Well, currently, we have over
00:27:38.35\00:27:40.86
60 students that,
primarily, all of them
00:27:40.92\00:27:44.59
come from
Buddhist families. - Okay.
00:27:44.69\00:27:47.40
And you have how much
interaction with their
00:27:47.46\00:27:50.23
parents? How do you
interact with the parents?
00:27:50.33\00:27:52.30
- So, the way that
our school works is
00:27:52.40\00:27:54.60
the students come
in, usually once a week,
00:27:54.70\00:27:56.91
for either a half-an-hour
lesson or an hour lesson.
00:27:57.01\00:27:59.81
They go and study with
the teacher one-on-one,
00:27:59.87\00:28:03.01
but we have a waiting
room in our school where
00:28:03.08\00:28:08.08
the parents can just
sit on the couch, they
00:28:08.18\00:28:10.19
can read, they
can interact with the
00:28:10.29\00:28:12.39
secretary or with
other people sitting in that
00:28:12.49\00:28:15.92
room, so we can go in
there and we can talk with the
00:28:16.02\00:28:18.23
parents. That's one
way. Our school also
00:28:18.33\00:28:21.30
does recitals once a
quarter so the students
00:28:21.40\00:28:24.27
are able to go and
perform music they've
00:28:24.37\00:28:27.30
been working on
for the last couple of
00:28:27.37\00:28:29.07
months, and we
also try to hold special
00:28:29.14\00:28:33.01
events during times of
the year like Christmas
00:28:33.07\00:28:36.44
or Easter or the
Thai Mother's Day, and
00:28:36.51\00:28:39.51
we'll perform concerts
and we'll do like a meal
00:28:39.58\00:28:44.35
afterwards and we do
a lot of socializing,
00:28:44.45\00:28:47.56
so it really gives
us a chance to build
00:28:47.72\00:28:50.29
community and get
to know people in those
00:28:50.39\00:28:53.33
kind of settings. -
So, how do you bridge?
00:28:53.43\00:28:58.07
I know that
there's so much in foreign
00:28:58.13\00:29:01.00
missionary work where
it's all about building
00:29:01.10\00:29:03.30
relationships, and we
need to learn that even
00:29:03.37\00:29:06.24
here in the States
is that the best way,
00:29:06.27\00:29:09.14
you know Christ's way
was to go out and meet
00:29:09.21\00:29:11.98
the needs of the people
and build those relationships
00:29:12.05\00:29:14.75
before you really
started preaching.
00:29:14.85\00:29:16.95
How do you bridge
from, okay, we've got a
00:29:17.02\00:29:21.72
well-respected
school, we're getting in front
00:29:21.79\00:29:25.33
of the parents,
we're getting to special
00:29:25.43\00:29:27.66
places... How do
you bridge that to the
00:29:27.73\00:29:31.53
gospel? - You know,
it's only by God's grace,
00:29:31.63\00:29:34.10
by His spirit that draws people.
00:29:34.24\00:29:36.27
What we have
seen- and I can share a
00:29:36.34\00:29:38.77
story to illustrate
this-is that people,
00:29:38.87\00:29:44.31
when they experience
Christian community or
00:29:44.38\00:29:48.45
when they see
Christianity lived out in very
00:29:48.52\00:29:50.89
practical ways, it
creates a thirst for something
00:29:50.99\00:29:55.12
more. And this is
illustrated in a story
00:29:55.22\00:29:57.43
by a man named Jun.
Jun actually heard about
00:29:57.53\00:30:02.46
our school about 4
years ago. He heard an ad
00:30:02.56\00:30:05.37
on the radio
station that was advertising
00:30:05.47\00:30:07.24
our school. He had
never heard about Peace
00:30:07.27\00:30:09.77
Music Academy,
our school before, but
00:30:09.84\00:30:11.97
he was interested so
he drove to the school
00:30:12.07\00:30:14.18
and he enrolled
his two daughters. They
00:30:14.24\00:30:16.71
eventually began taking
music lessons, and after
00:30:16.81\00:30:19.81
a couple of
weeks or couple months,
00:30:19.88\00:30:21.55
Jun himself enrolled
to take music lessons.
00:30:21.65\00:30:24.82
Later on, his
wife enrolled. So his
00:30:24.89\00:30:27.19
whole family was
taking lessons at our school.
00:30:27.26\00:30:30.09
- Let me ask this
real quick question;
00:30:30.16\00:30:33.19
pause. The Thai people
are taught some English
00:30:33.26\00:30:38.60
in school, but
they're being taught by
00:30:38.67\00:30:41.30
Thai-speaking
people. - For the most part.
00:30:41.37\00:30:44.64
- So, your school are
English-speaking people
00:30:44.71\00:30:47.74
and you're
actually- your teachers kind
00:30:47.84\00:30:50.05
of end up teaching
English a little more so
00:30:50.15\00:30:54.32
that's an appeal. - It
is. It is an appeal. We've
00:30:54.35\00:30:57.32
had several
faithful student missionaries
00:30:57.39\00:31:00.16
that have come and
they've devoted at least a
00:31:00.22\00:31:01.99
year to teaching in
our school. They speak
00:31:02.06\00:31:04.33
English, so the students
get English during their
00:31:04.43\00:31:06.90
music lesson which is
a draw-an appeal to the
00:31:07.00\00:31:09.26
parents. But Jun,
yeah. Jun came and he was
00:31:09.33\00:31:14.00
studying. After
probably 3 or 4 months
00:31:14.07\00:31:17.11
of studying, after one
of the classes-actually
00:31:17.21\00:31:20.64
a class named
Morality through Music-that
00:31:20.74\00:31:22.91
our school had offered
as a way to teach Biblical
00:31:22.98\00:31:26.75
principles but
using music and so forth.
00:31:26.85\00:31:29.58
After one of those
classes, Jun was talking
00:31:29.68\00:31:32.85
with one of our
teachers and he said, "You know,
00:31:32.99\00:31:35.09
I've noticed that all
of the teachers in this
00:31:35.19\00:31:37.76
school are nice. Is
there a religion behind this
00:31:37.79\00:31:40.90
place?" And so the teacher
00:31:40.96\00:31:42.93
said, "Of course.
We are Christians. In
00:31:43.03\00:31:45.33
fact, we go to
church every Saturday right
00:31:45.40\00:31:48.44
here in this building."
So, a few weeks later,
00:31:48.54\00:31:52.47
Jun came to church for
the first time. He actually
00:31:52.54\00:31:56.48
was able to help
play music with our
00:31:56.54\00:32:00.15
praise team during
the worship service.
00:32:00.22\00:32:02.95
After his second
or third visit, he
00:32:03.05\00:32:05.49
told us that he was
going to start coming
00:32:05.55\00:32:07.06
to church every
single week. And so every
00:32:07.09\00:32:10.49
Saturday, he was coming
to church; he would play
00:32:10.56\00:32:12.69
with our praise team,
he was showing interest
00:32:12.79\00:32:16.90
in drawing closer
to Jesus and becoming a
00:32:16.97\00:32:21.54
Christian. This
past December, P Jun was
00:32:21.60\00:32:28.11
baptized into the
Seventh-Day Adventist
00:32:28.24\00:32:30.78
church and we actually
have a picture of that-
00:32:30.88\00:32:33.62
of his baptism. -
Okay. We'd like to see that!
00:32:33.72\00:32:37.05
- But he was- right
there. That's P Jun.
00:32:37.15\00:32:41.26
He was baptized this
past December and he is now
00:32:41.32\00:32:44.73
a member of our
church, our local
00:32:44.79\00:32:47.86
church. - He's doing
something- your local
00:32:47.96\00:32:51.07
church has... What
is the attendance of the
00:32:51.17\00:32:55.10
local church
plant? - So, on a given
00:32:55.17\00:32:57.71
Sabbath, we have
between 40 and 60 people
00:32:57.77\00:33:01.44
that come to
church. - Praise God. - That
00:33:01.54\00:33:03.55
includes
missionaries, all of our team,
00:33:03.61\00:33:06.05
it includes the
Thai people, but also
00:33:06.15\00:33:08.88
includes a large
international group.
00:33:08.98\00:33:11.69
We have, if you can believe it,
00:33:11.75\00:33:14.82
between probably 20
and 30 Filipinos that
00:33:14.92\00:33:18.83
come to church.
Many of them work locally
00:33:18.89\00:33:21.76
as teachers in
different Thai schools and a lot
00:33:21.83\00:33:25.63
of them are
Adventists. So, they come to our
00:33:25.73\00:33:28.47
church and we've been
trying to integrate these
00:33:28.57\00:33:32.74
Filipinos into the
mission in Khon Kaen. Many
00:33:32.77\00:33:36.78
of them have been
missionaries in the
00:33:36.85\00:33:38.65
past as students,
they have a real desire
00:33:38.71\00:33:42.62
to serve God,
they've grown up going to
00:33:42.68\00:33:45.32
AY programs and
going to church...
00:33:45.42\00:33:48.02
- AY, Adventist
Youth. - Exactly, yup.
00:33:48.09\00:33:50.09
They want to serve
but they don't know
00:33:50.19\00:33:52.23
the Thai language.
So, we've been trying to
00:33:52.33\00:33:55.40
figure out, "How
can we get these people
00:33:55.50\00:33:58.23
involved in the
mission?" Well, earlier this
00:33:58.30\00:34:02.67
past year, during one
of our church services, I
00:34:02.80\00:34:06.41
challenged our internationals
to begin learning Thai.
00:34:06.47\00:34:12.61
I challenged our
Thai members to teach our
00:34:12.71\00:34:18.49
internationals
Thai. You know what? P Jun
00:34:18.59\00:34:21.76
took that challenge to
heart. The next Sabbath,
00:34:21.82\00:34:25.03
he came prepared
to teach a class,
00:34:25.13\00:34:28.06
a Thai class, to
our internationals.
00:34:28.16\00:34:31.23
We had 20
international people attend that
00:34:31.33\00:34:34.00
class, and P Jun
was teaching the Thai
00:34:34.07\00:34:36.57
language, he enlisted
other Thai helpers to help
00:34:36.67\00:34:40.41
as tutors. For the
past several months,
00:34:40.51\00:34:43.65
these
international members have been
00:34:43.75\00:34:46.21
learning Thai so
that they can begin making
00:34:46.31\00:34:48.75
friendships with
Thai people and can
00:34:48.85\00:34:50.69
be more effective in
their missionary outreach.
00:34:50.79\00:34:53.25
- You know what's
so exciting about that
00:34:53.32\00:34:54.66
when someone- P Jun, just newly
00:34:54.76\00:34:58.19
baptized, but when
you get them involved
00:34:58.29\00:35:01.33
in work that's going
to help support God's
00:35:01.43\00:35:04.83
work, that really
cements their bonds
00:35:04.93\00:35:09.27
and relationship
with people. Now, do you
00:35:09.37\00:35:13.38
do at these concerts...
So that's- we see that
00:35:13.48\00:35:18.05
there is a bridge,
by God's grace, but
00:35:18.15\00:35:20.78
are you ever intentional?
Like at your Christmas concert.
00:35:20.85\00:35:24.09
You've got all of
these Buddhists come-do you
00:35:24.15\00:35:27.56
bring up Christ?
- You know, when we
00:35:27.62\00:35:32.03
do concerts, let's
say for Christmas or for
00:35:32.09\00:35:34.86
Easter, it's very
easy to bring up Christ
00:35:34.96\00:35:37.07
because we're
celebrating a Christian holiday.
00:35:37.13\00:35:39.40
And so at these-
you know, for example,
00:35:39.43\00:35:43.14
at the Christmas concerts at the
00:35:43.24\00:35:45.04
Easter confer-
sorry, Easter concerts, we
00:35:45.17\00:35:48.18
will have our local Thai
pastor give a short, little
00:35:48.28\00:35:53.28
sermonette explaining
the meaning of Christmas
00:35:53.35\00:35:55.92
or Easter that gives
people an understanding
00:35:56.02\00:36:01.52
of why we're celebrating!
- What it's all about.
00:36:01.62\00:36:04.79
- Exactly.
Exactly, yes. - Now, because
00:36:04.86\00:36:07.36
the Thai people
are interested-they're
00:36:07.43\00:36:10.33
very pragmatic
and they're interested
00:36:10.40\00:36:11.90
in practical
benefits from Buddhism- I
00:36:11.97\00:36:17.84
mean, whatever
those things are-they are
00:36:17.91\00:36:21.24
very much watching
you. The apostle Paul
00:36:21.34\00:36:29.88
said that we are
epistles written-
00:36:29.98\00:36:34.16
we're a letter from
Christ to other people. They're
00:36:34.29\00:36:37.73
watching us. We're
written on the heart,
00:36:37.79\00:36:41.96
not on paper. People
are watching you very
00:36:42.06\00:36:47.04
much, aren't they? -
Mhm. - How does that, though,
00:36:47.17\00:36:51.37
when you recognize
that you're- I don't want to
00:36:51.44\00:36:55.38
say in a fishbowl,
but because they're
00:36:55.48\00:37:00.12
studious of your
lifestyle, how has
00:37:00.22\00:37:04.79
that affected you
practically? - Practically
00:37:04.89\00:37:08.02
speaking, what I've
come to realize very
00:37:08.12\00:37:11.66
clearly is that
in order to influence
00:37:11.76\00:37:14.63
Thai people, you have
to build a relationship
00:37:14.73\00:37:19.03
with them, that you have
to demonstrate Christianity
00:37:19.13\00:37:23.20
to them. I've realized
that if I'm not walking
00:37:23.30\00:37:26.51
with God daily, if I'm
not allowing Him to change
00:37:26.57\00:37:29.91
my heart, if I'm not
allowing Him to bring
00:37:29.98\00:37:32.51
deeper healing in my
life so that I can reflect
00:37:32.61\00:37:35.22
His love more
fully, I have nothing to
00:37:35.28\00:37:37.42
other these people.
And so I've been challenged
00:37:37.49\00:37:39.75
to really pursue a
deeper level of wholeness in my
00:37:39.82\00:37:46.09
spiritual life and
in my physical life and
00:37:46.19\00:37:50.47
in my mental life.
I've really been challenged
00:37:50.60\00:37:55.60
to allow God to have
full control of my heart.
00:37:55.67\00:37:59.41
- Can you tell
the difference in him,
00:37:59.51\00:38:01.44
Cindy? - Yes, yeah. -
So, it is impacting you
00:38:01.48\00:38:05.88
personally-your
own relationship, then.
00:38:05.98\00:38:08.48
That's good. And
it's interesting to me
00:38:08.58\00:38:11.72
that we all have- you said the
00:38:11.79\00:38:15.02
Thai people
enjoy this. I believe
00:38:15.12\00:38:16.93
anywhere we go, it is
all about relationship
00:38:17.03\00:38:20.50
and it is that we are
a letter written on the
00:38:20.60\00:38:23.97
heart. People don't
care so much what you
00:38:24.03\00:38:26.40
say; they're
watching what you do and if
00:38:26.50\00:38:29.50
you're living it
out. So, is it easy to say
00:38:29.60\00:38:33.88
that God is blessing you
personally-you're growing
00:38:33.94\00:38:39.88
through this time
in the mission field?
00:38:40.02\00:38:42.68
- No question. I
know for me personally,
00:38:42.75\00:38:45.75
because of some
past experiences in
00:38:45.85\00:38:49.22
my life, I've been
afraid of relationships in many
00:38:49.29\00:38:52.39
ways and I've
oftentimes hid behind work and
00:38:52.53\00:38:56.40
even ministry as
a way to not get too
00:38:56.53\00:39:00.37
close to people. -
To protect yourself from
00:39:00.47\00:39:03.61
being hurt. -
Exactly. In Thailand, I realize
00:39:03.71\00:39:07.64
that if I don't have a
relationship with people
00:39:07.74\00:39:10.51
that is meaningful,
I can't influence them.
00:39:10.58\00:39:12.68
So, it forced me-
it forced us-to really
00:39:12.75\00:39:17.05
seek God for
deeper healing. And when
00:39:17.19\00:39:20.49
you go overseas,
you're confronted with a lot
00:39:20.56\00:39:22.59
of new realities,
you're having to operate
00:39:22.72\00:39:25.33
in a second
language and figure out a new
00:39:25.39\00:39:27.83
culture...
Oftentimes, you don't feel very
00:39:27.93\00:39:29.50
useful. In my case,
or our case specifically,
00:39:29.70\00:39:32.73
we're not musicians
but we're working at a
00:39:32.80\00:39:35.00
music school. And
so, in that environment
00:39:35.07\00:39:38.64
where our product
is focused on music,
00:39:38.71\00:39:40.91
and we're not musicians
and we're learning Thai
00:39:41.01\00:39:43.51
and figuring out a
new culture, I often
00:39:43.58\00:39:44.95
felt like I
wasn't that useful. When
00:39:45.01\00:39:47.82
you add that on top
of other insecurities,
00:39:47.92\00:39:51.92
it can create a lot
of inner turmoil. It
00:39:51.99\00:39:55.02
can create tension
in the marriage and so
00:39:55.09\00:39:57.63
forth. So, the Lord,
I believe, used those
00:39:57.69\00:40:02.76
circumstances to
show me that he wanted to
00:40:02.83\00:40:06.80
go deeper in my life
to bring a deeper sense
00:40:06.87\00:40:09.77
of healing. You
know, we were actually at
00:40:09.84\00:40:13.58
the point of leaving
the mission field completely
00:40:13.64\00:40:16.08
about 3 times over
the past couple of years.
00:40:16.14\00:40:19.15
But, by God's
grace, He's been able to
00:40:19.21\00:40:23.35
help us to seek
healing, to work with some very
00:40:23.42\00:40:27.42
committed Christian
counselors that have
00:40:27.49\00:40:29.96
been able to help us
process some of those
00:40:30.03\00:40:32.26
heart issues. I
praise God because He's used
00:40:32.33\00:40:36.00
this experience to
grow us individually,
00:40:36.06\00:40:39.03
as a couple, and to
help us be more whole
00:40:39.10\00:40:42.34
so that we can better
reflect the love and the
00:40:42.40\00:40:46.44
character that God
wants us to reflect
00:40:46.54\00:40:48.44
to these people. - You
know, I submit to everyone
00:40:48.48\00:40:53.08
that's listening to
my voice that any time
00:40:53.15\00:40:55.15
God calls you
somewhere to work for Him to be
00:40:55.22\00:40:58.62
a blessing to others,
I think He always doubly
00:40:58.69\00:41:02.02
blesses you. - Amen.
Amen. - You know, because
00:41:02.12\00:41:05.29
you have to
learn; you mentioned the
00:41:05.39\00:41:07.90
humility. That's-to
me- total dependence
00:41:07.96\00:41:11.97
on God, and until we
get to that point, we
00:41:12.03\00:41:15.54
really can't enjoy
the full benefits of our
00:41:15.64\00:41:19.01
Christian lives.
That's what He does, isn't it?
00:41:19.07\00:41:22.21
- For sure. - So,
what are the plans for the
00:41:22.28\00:41:24.58
future? You're in a
rented building now.
00:41:24.71\00:41:28.32
What are you planning
on doing for the future
00:41:28.38\00:41:29.95
there? - Well, the
ultimate goal is not
00:41:30.09\00:41:33.12
just to have a nice
music school, but we
00:41:33.22\00:41:35.32
want to have a church
that is strong, that is
00:41:35.39\00:41:38.83
locally lead, and that
is capable of functioning
00:41:38.93\00:41:41.23
and continuing the work
even after the missionaries
00:41:41.30\00:41:44.30
leave the project. The
school is just the first
00:41:44.37\00:41:48.40
step. It's the
platform that we're working from
00:41:48.50\00:41:51.87
right now to make connections
to build relationships,
00:41:51.97\00:41:54.08
but we want to
offer other ministries to
00:41:54.18\00:41:57.58
meet practical felt
needs. We want to help
00:41:57.65\00:42:01.75
people with their
health. We want to help people
00:42:01.85\00:42:04.15
have stronger
marriages, wanna help people be
00:42:04.25\00:42:07.36
better parents, and to
ultimately come to know
00:42:07.46\00:42:11.39
the God that has
shown us how we can live a
00:42:11.46\00:42:14.10
truly productive,
satisfying, fruitful
00:42:14.16\00:42:17.90
life in this world.
Yeah, we want to have a
00:42:17.97\00:42:23.91
holistic evangelistic
approach that is capable
00:42:23.94\00:42:27.18
of reaching the
city of Khon Kaen.
00:42:27.21\00:42:29.51
Our current facility
right now is starting
00:42:29.58\00:42:33.28
to feel kind of
cramped. In fact, we're-
00:42:33.35\00:42:36.79
- Praise God. -
Praise God. We're actually
00:42:36.85\00:42:39.02
having to turn
away students because of
00:42:39.09\00:42:40.86
lack of space in the
school. And on Sabbath,
00:42:40.89\00:42:44.23
when we meet
together, when we have combined
00:42:44.33\00:42:46.80
services, it's
often very tight in our
00:42:46.90\00:42:50.60
little space. So, we're
currently working with a-
00:42:50.70\00:42:54.20
- You actually do two
services-one in English
00:42:54.27\00:42:56.60
and one in Thai. -
Yes. On a given Sabbath, we
00:42:56.71\00:42:58.77
have a Thai service
at 10 a.m. and we have an
00:42:58.84\00:43:01.44
English service at 11
a.m. But once a month, we
00:43:01.51\00:43:04.05
will do a combined
service where we all
00:43:04.15\00:43:05.98
worship together
with a translated sermon.
00:43:06.05\00:43:08.18
We're in the
process right now of working
00:43:08.25\00:43:12.52
with a local
Adventist Thai architect who's
00:43:12.65\00:43:17.06
helping us to design
a new facility. Maybe
00:43:17.16\00:43:21.06
you can see a
picture on the screen. We
00:43:21.16\00:43:23.03
have a- the idea is
that we will have both
00:43:23.16\00:43:29.30
a church and a school
and a shared auditorium
00:43:29.44\00:43:32.14
that we can have
recitals and concerts
00:43:32.21\00:43:36.21
and seminars. We
will have space in the
00:43:36.34\00:43:40.98
building where we can
do cooking demonstrations
00:43:41.08\00:43:42.85
and health seminars. We also-
00:43:42.95\00:43:45.89
- And you already have
the land for this. - We
00:43:45.95\00:43:48.59
do, yes. Actually,
land was purchased not long
00:43:48.69\00:43:51.33
ago to build a
permanent structure.
00:43:51.43\00:43:56.16
So, we want to do
holistic evangelism.
00:43:56.26\00:43:59.40
Our local Thai
pastor has a burden to
00:43:59.47\00:44:02.57
provide
leadership training for Thai
00:44:02.64\00:44:05.81
Adventist youth
all across the country
00:44:05.87\00:44:08.28
during semester
breaks so we want to hold
00:44:08.34\00:44:11.11
maybe two or three
week or month training
00:44:11.21\00:44:14.48
programs for these
young people so that
00:44:14.58\00:44:17.62
they can then become
leaders in the church
00:44:17.69\00:44:20.12
in the future.
So, that's where we're
00:44:20.22\00:44:23.89
at right now and
that's what we're planning
00:44:23.99\00:44:25.46
for in the future.
- Okay. You brought
00:44:25.53\00:44:28.10
a video that's
just kind of a little
00:44:28.16\00:44:30.30
summary that- I
want to make sure we get
00:44:30.37\00:44:33.34
to watch this
video, so this is basically
00:44:33.44\00:44:36.00
summarizing the mission
work there, right? Okay.
00:44:36.10\00:44:39.57
We'll roll that now, then.
00:44:39.67\00:44:41.01
Certainly a major
element of the Thai people's
00:45:01.16\00:45:04.20
sense of loss and
mourning for the past
00:45:04.30\00:45:06.97
king was based on
the fact that he was
00:45:07.04\00:45:09.20
such a caring,
benevolent, loving ruler.
00:45:09.30\00:45:12.67
They're looking
for peace, hope, and
00:45:17.78\00:45:20.22
assurance because
Buddhism doesn't really offer
00:45:20.32\00:45:24.59
any certainty for the future.
00:45:24.69\00:45:27.26
Christian mission
in Thailand has been
00:45:31.09\00:45:33.70
here for close to
100 years but with very
00:45:33.73\00:45:37.77
little impact, you
can't just move into a
00:45:37.83\00:45:40.94
community and start
handing out food; that's not
00:45:40.97\00:45:43.00
what's needed.
Nor can you move into
00:45:43.10\00:45:46.11
a community and
start preaching on the
00:45:46.17\00:45:47.88
street corners. No
one would listen. You have
00:45:47.94\00:45:51.45
to be willing to
invest the time and the effort
00:45:51.51\00:45:54.92
in caring and meeting
people's everyday needs
00:45:54.98\00:45:59.42
for friendship, for
love, for personal interaction,
00:45:59.49\00:46:04.63
and only once you've
done that will people
00:46:04.69\00:46:08.90
begin to trust you.
00:46:08.93\00:46:10.53
Welcome to
Thailand. Thailand is a great
00:46:17.27\00:46:19.61
country. The people
here are friendly and nice.
00:46:19.64\00:46:22.08
The culture is
beautiful. But apart from these
00:46:22.11\00:46:24.51
great things,
Thailand has a big problem.
00:46:24.58\00:46:27.38
Even after 100 years
of Christian missionary
00:46:27.45\00:46:30.99
effort, still today
at 1% of the population
00:46:31.05\00:46:34.29
observe the Christian religion.
00:46:34.39\00:46:36.76
We're in the city
of Khon Kaen. Khon Kaen
00:46:58.25\00:47:00.75
is a growing city
in the northeastern
00:47:00.78\00:47:02.78
region of
Thailand. Over 120,000 people
00:47:02.88\00:47:06.79
live in this city.
00:47:06.86\00:47:08.32
There's never been a
Seventh-Day Adventist
00:47:13.19\00:47:15.70
church planted in Khon
Kaen, and that, my friends,
00:47:15.80\00:47:19.90
is why we are here today.
00:47:20.04\00:47:22.84
Amen. Just remember
this-there's 3 billion
00:47:24.87\00:47:27.14
people in the
world who've never heard
00:47:27.24\00:47:29.74
about Jesus Christ,
and that's a beautiful
00:47:29.88\00:47:31.58
thing about Adventist
Frontier Missions is that
00:47:31.91\00:47:35.12
you're getting
the training to know
00:47:35.22\00:47:37.52
how to go in and
to break through the
00:47:37.59\00:47:41.16
barriers-bring down
the walls. Now, the student
00:47:41.22\00:47:44.33
missionaries that
come to work with you,
00:47:44.43\00:47:47.03
are these mostly
being sent by Adventist
00:47:47.13\00:47:50.73
Frontier Missions? -
Most of them are, yes.
00:47:50.83\00:47:52.73
- What do they do?
Just agree to come for
00:47:52.80\00:47:55.80
a year? Or... -
That's the initial commitment
00:47:55.90\00:47:58.14
is one year, and
we've had a few that have
00:47:58.21\00:48:01.04
stayed longer than
a year. - Alright. You
00:48:01.14\00:48:03.14
know, it occurs to
me; I love the fact that
00:48:03.24\00:48:06.31
you are really
doing discipleship-making
00:48:06.41\00:48:09.75
training. Like
with your newly baptized
00:48:09.85\00:48:13.05
member who's
teaching others. Because we've
00:48:13.15\00:48:15.66
got to not just bring
people into the church;
00:48:15.76\00:48:20.90
we've got to get
them active and working
00:48:20.96\00:48:23.43
in the harvest
field because otherwise,
00:48:23.50\00:48:28.84
it will not grow
exponentially and you
00:48:28.94\00:48:31.11
can just see it
seems like an overwhelming
00:48:31.17\00:48:33.14
work. - For
sure. - So, what would
00:48:33.17\00:48:35.28
you say to people
that might be thinking,
00:48:35.31\00:48:39.01
"Wow, God might be
calling me into the mission
00:48:39.11\00:48:42.38
work." - The first
thing I would say is, God
00:48:42.45\00:48:45.19
IS calling you into
the mission work in some
00:48:45.25\00:48:47.02
capacity. Maybe
you're not called to go
00:48:47.12\00:48:49.19
overseas, but you're
called to support missions
00:48:49.32\00:48:52.76
by prayer or by
giving of your means. But
00:48:52.86\00:48:57.40
I believe that God
is calling more people
00:48:57.50\00:49:00.14
overseas than are
responding to that
00:49:00.24\00:49:03.14
call. If you sense
that maybe God is calling
00:49:03.20\00:49:06.94
you in that direction,
I would really encourage
00:49:07.01\00:49:08.98
you to spend some
time praying and to ask God
00:49:09.08\00:49:12.35
to make you willing
to go wherever it is
00:49:12.45\00:49:16.38
He is calling you to go.
You may feel overwhelmed,
00:49:16.48\00:49:20.46
you may feel it's
just a radical idea-and in
00:49:20.56\00:49:25.86
a lot of ways, it
is-but as you respond to that
00:49:25.96\00:49:28.83
call, God will give
you an experience that
00:49:28.86\00:49:32.17
is out of this
world. You will grow in your
00:49:32.23\00:49:36.30
spiritual life, you will
develop as an individual,
00:49:36.37\00:49:39.57
and He will use you
in ways that you never
00:49:39.67\00:49:42.41
would've imagined
possible. God is able to open
00:49:42.48\00:49:46.11
the doors and make
it possible for you to
00:49:46.21\00:49:48.72
serve. I'm convinced
that if you feel genuinely
00:49:48.82\00:49:53.96
called by God to go
overseas, the funding is not
00:49:54.02\00:49:57.79
an issue. God can
provide the means.
00:49:57.89\00:50:00.10
He can provide the
ways. He can open the doors
00:50:00.20\00:50:02.10
if you're
willing to say yes and go
00:50:02.16\00:50:04.47
wherever it is He leads. - Amen.
00:50:04.50\00:50:06.63
Cindy, do you
have any regrets that
00:50:06.70\00:50:08.14
you've spent the last
six years in Thailand?
00:50:08.24\00:50:12.01
- No, I don't.
None. - You do get to come
00:50:12.14\00:50:17.08
home every now and
then, right? The furloughs?
00:50:17.15\00:50:19.31
Explain that. - So we've
had two furloughs in our time so
00:50:19.41\00:50:23.69
far. Every two or
three years, we'll
00:50:23.79\00:50:25.75
come back home and
spend several months
00:50:25.85\00:50:27.26
updating churches,
visiting with donors, as
00:50:27.36\00:50:31.09
well as time to
spend with family. - Amen.
00:50:31.16\00:50:33.80
Well, you know, I
just believe that God is
00:50:33.86\00:50:38.70
calling, as you
said, more people than are
00:50:38.80\00:50:40.60
responding. And if
you would, if you feel any
00:50:40.67\00:50:44.64
tug in your heart
that, maybe this is what the
00:50:44.71\00:50:48.18
Lord wants me to
do, then we want you to
00:50:48.24\00:50:51.71
be able to get in
touch with Adventist
00:50:51.81\00:50:53.75
Frontier Missions. They
have an incredible training
00:50:53.85\00:50:56.08
program. Really,
everybody that I've met that's
00:50:56.22\00:51:00.32
with an AFM
ministry seems to have been
00:51:00.42\00:51:04.06
really well
grounded before they were put
00:51:04.16\00:51:06.93
into the field, which
is important because the
00:51:07.03\00:51:09.63
field has its
challenges but it develops you
00:51:09.70\00:51:13.00
personally and it
develops your dependence upon
00:51:13.10\00:51:15.70
God, so you know that
your Christian life is
00:51:15.80\00:51:18.91
going to go straight
up. But we want to give
00:51:19.01\00:51:23.45
you the opportunity
and here is how you can
00:51:23.55\00:51:26.11
get in touch with them.
00:51:26.21\00:51:28.08
If you would like to
support AFM missionaries,
00:51:30.09\00:51:32.82
please visit their
website AFMOnline.org.
00:51:32.85\00:51:36.76
There, you can
experience their mission work
00:51:36.86\00:51:39.46
through videos, read
their amazing stories,
00:51:39.49\00:51:42.40
and find out how you
can help support this
00:51:42.46\00:51:44.63
important work.
That website, again, is
00:51:44.73\00:51:47.54
AFMOnline.org.
You may also call them
00:51:47.60\00:51:52.07
toll-free at (800)
937-4236 or write to Adventist
00:51:52.17\00:51:58.51
Frontier Missions
Post Office Box 286
00:51:58.61\00:52:02.38
Berrien Springs,
Michigan 49103. Kyle and Cindy
00:52:02.45\00:52:07.52
would love to hear
from you. Just email them at
00:52:07.62\00:52:10.33
KyleTumberg@gmail.com.
00:52:10.46\00:52:15.00