A newsletter from Good News for the Shan ministry in Northern Thailand.

As I write this, the cold season has begun to settle over Northern Thailand. It surprises many, but at this time of year the temperature can actually drop below 10 degrees in the early morning. Our children wrap themselves in blankets, and we can feel that winter has arrived. Even though it is short, it changes the atmosphere: the air becomes clearer, the days a bit calmer – even as we prepare for one of the busiest months of the year in the ministry.

Perhaps it is in this contrast between chilly mornings and warm afternoons that we recognize this past year: filled with both challenges and breakthroughs, waiting and answered prayers – and a strong sense of God’s faithfulness through it all.

Since our last newsletter, we have traveled a lot, prayed a lot, waited a lot – and experienced a lot. Two trips out of Thailand, people receiving Jesus, families we are following up who have faced difficult challenges, and new opportunities that have opened up.

Through all of this, we have seen the same truth: God goes before us.

With that, I would like to share a little update from these past months – about visas, ministry, and what lies ahead of us in December.

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Two trips to a neighboring country
and a great answer to prayer

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Two Difficult Situations – and God’s Faithfulness

The picture above shows two of our disciples

During one week at the end of September, we faced two difficult situations in two of the families we work with.

The first involved a married couple we are closely discipling. They were stopped by the police because the wife lacked the proper documents, and the husband’s papers had expired. Their employer had previously taken money from them to arrange the paperwork but never did it. The result was a fine of 30,000 baht (about 1,000 USD) – the equivalent of four to five months’ salary for them.

Naturally, they were devastated. We visited them, prayed with them, and encouraged them. Thankfully, their employer agreed to pay the fine to the police, and the couple is now repaying him monthly (even though he is the one who should have received the fine in the first place). In the midst of all this, an unexpected blessing came – someone offered to support them for ten months, which will cover half of the amount.

That same week, another couple in our church were involved in a motorcycle accident. They were taken to the hospital, and at first we feared the injuries might be serious. The husband was bleeding from his head, but it turned out to be only external wounds, and he needed just a few stitches above his eye. They had neither motorcycle registration nor a driver’s license, but the police chose to let the matter go. It truly felt like a small miracle.

Situations like these remind us how vulnerable the circumstances are for many immigrants from Myanmar, and how much they need support—both practical and spiritual. At the same time, they help us put our own challenges into perspective.

Another Visit From the DTS Team –
and an Entirely New Location

The first thing that really encouraged us in October was the visit from a DTS team from Canada. They truly carried God’s presence with them – it was contagious! The team did an amazing job with children’s programs, shared powerful testimonies, and were a great encouragement to us who serve here daily.

While they were here, we visited an entirely new location – an orange farm we had never been to before. One of the believers we are following up lives there, and through her we were able to connect with this community.

Around 30 children and 40 adults came – more than 70 people in total!

The DTS team led a program for the children and shared the Good News. Mawkkham also shared a message and asked how many had heard about Jesus and the gospel before – many raised their hands. Moments like that remind us again why we are here – among people groups who, to a large extent, have not yet heard the Good News of Jesus.

—–
The Shan Conference – Unity, Love, and Grace

We had three wonderful days at the annual Shan conference in Chiang Mai in the middle of October, where I also had the opportunity to share. I spoke about the importance of unity, forgiveness, and the truth that God’s love must always be the driving force behind everything we do. Without love, our ministry loses the power and the fruit that God desires to bring.

I received a very positive response from the participants, and several came to me afterward and shared how the message had touched them.


A Hunger for Jesus – and Opposition

In the ministry, we are seeing that more and more people are showing interest in hearing about Jesus, but we also see that we have an enemy who tries to steal the word when it is sown.

Right after the conference in Chiang Mai, a married couple received Jesus – through another couple we are discipling here in Fang. We were grateful to see how God is using them as well, and that it was they who had the opportunity to pray with this couple for salvation while we ourselves were still in Chiang Mai.

The following week we wanted to visit them, but they were living with the husband’s father, and the family did not like that they had received Jesus. Because of this, we were not welcome inside their home, but we were still able to talk with them briefly outside.

The wife told us that she had not changed her mind and wanted to continue believing. The last we heard is that they have moved to another place. It seems to be quite far away, and we do not know if we will be able to follow them up there. But please remember this young couple in your prayers.

Preparing for December – An Important Opportunity

December is often a month with many open doors to share the Good News, and we usually have several gatherings, celebrations, and events.

This year, we are planning a large celebration on December 20th, where we hope to gather our church, the children and their families, as well as others we are in contact with. Potentially more than 200 people may come. We will have a program for the children in the morning and a separate event for the adults in the evening.

We want to provide food for everyone and give out gifts—and of course share the message of Christmas. In addition, we are planning to visit two other locations to share the gospel during the Christmas season, including the orange farm I mentioned earlier in this letter.

Join Us and Stand With Us

We are grateful for everyone who stands with us in prayer and support. Our ministry spans a wide range – from Saturday school for children, to humanitarian aid for the poor and for refugees from a war-torn Myanmar, to support for migrant workers and the sharing of the Good News of Jesus.

All of this comes at a cost, and we depend on having others join us in standing together. If you would like to contribute, you can give a one-time gift or become a regular monthly supporter. Both make a big difference and help us reach even more people.

Thank you for considering standing with us – together we can bring hope, help, and the gospel to people who truly need it.

You Can Support/Donate in This Way 


By PayPal Use this link).   

           (or QR code under) 


Read more about how you can support here
(if you want to donate for us personally let us know)

By Bank
If you have a Norwegian account (or are from Scandinavia) you can use
Vipps 770203

I have both a bank account in Thailand and a project accounts in Norway. Please feel free to contact us if you need further details.

🕊️ PRAYER SUBJECTS

The couple who received Jesus
Pray that their faith is strengthened, that they find a safe fellowship, and that the circumstances…

Families facing difficult situations
– The couple who received a fine due to missing documents.
– Pray that they receive safety, proper help, and strength during this period.
– Give thanks for the unexpected support they have received, and pray that God continues to provide for them.

The couple who were in a motorcycle accident
Thank God that the injuries were not serious. Pray for full recovery and continued safety.

The couple who received Jesus
Pray that their faith will be strengthened, that they find a safe fellowship, and that their circumstances will not hinder further growth.

New places and open doors
Pray for the people we met at the orange farm and other new locations – that the word will bear fruit and that more will hear the gospel.

Preparations for December
Wisdom and strength for us as we lead the work.– Good preparations for the celebration on December 20th.– That many people will hear and receive the message of Christmas.

Protection, health, and strength for our family
Pray for health, strength, and rest in a busy season – for us and for the children.

Protection, health, and strength for our family
Pray for health, strength, and rest in a busy season – for us and for the children.

Spiritual breakthrough among those we serve
Pray for open hearts, freedom from fear, and that God’s love will touch people who have never heard the gospel before.

Finances and Christmas ministryThankfulness for the support we have already received, and pray that God will provide what is needed for the Christmas events and the work going forward.

Thank You for Standing With Us

In the midst of a year filled with travel, waiting, challenges, and unexpected obstacles, we have once again seen that God is faithful and that He carries us—both us and the people we walk alongside here. We truly feel that we are not doing this alone.

Thank you so much to those of you who pray, who send encouragement, who support us practically and financially, and who stand with us in both battles and breakthroughs. It means more than we can express.

We are now entering an important and busy December, and we look forward to sharing the Good News with many people—children, families, and new places that have not yet heard the gospel.

Please pray for wisdom, strength, health, and for open hearts wherever we go.

Thank you so much for standing with us in this work!

May God Bless You!
Good News for the Shan team


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