Greetings from Hua Hin, Thailand! When we moved to Thailand at the end of December, we never would have imagined that our first few months on the field would involve a worldwide pandemic. While we are still getting adjusted to living in Thailand, our schedule has once again changed like many of your schedules have had to change as well. During this time, we are leaning on Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD . . . .” We are so grateful to know that God is in control. I would like to encourage all of us to let God direct our paths in these unusual times.
Before Thailand went into quarantine, we enjoyed celebrating our fourth wedding anniversary on March 11. I am blessed to have an amazing wife in Brittany. Thank you to all of you who sent cards or an email with your encouragement. A few days later, our shipping cube with all our belongings arrived right to our doorstep. Again, thank you to all those who gave so we could ship all our belongings. It felt like Christmas in March!
About mid-March, Thailand issued a nationwide state of emergency. All schools were closed, which meant that our English school was also required to close. My wife was having a great time teaching around 25 students from 5-10 years of age. Her class is the beginner class, so she gets to teach them the very basics of English. Many of the students in our school do not attend church, and we desire that, through the ministry of the school, they will accept Christ. We also had to stop our Thai language lessons in person, but we are able to continue learning online with our teacher. Because of the government’s banning of gatherings, we also had to move our church services to online only. While we are grateful for the use of technology, we greatly desire to meet with our church family in person again. The quarantine here has been extended until June, but we are trusting in the Lord’s timing and plan for His work. We have been praying that those of you who have had to do online services will be able to reunite in person soon as well.
Because most Thai people live week to week financially and because many have lost their jobs, our church wanted to be a blessing to those in need. We were able to deliver groceries to the congregation once and several times to the orphans and widows of the church. Our people miss the fellowship of believers and were greatly encouraged to see us, however briefly.
Please pray for the father of Nong Kwan, one of our newer teens. Her dad has been sick due to kidney failure, and he has also been out of his normal work due to the curfew in Thailand, as well as having the family motorbike broken down. We were able to cover the remaining repair cost for the motorbike and give some extra food to the family. We have only been able to have brief conversations with him and give him tracts and a John and Romans, but please pray that the Lord will soften his heart for salvation.
Thank you all for your prayer and support while we serve the Lord. If we can help in any way, please let us know.
In His service,
Jonathan and Brittany Beil
