Arun Community Church » The Olivers in Thailand

The Olivers in Thailand - March 2008

March 18th, 2008

Powerpack in Thailand

In January we were privileged to have a visit from Heather Thompson of Powerpack children’s ministry. During her stay Heather did training for Bible students in Mae Sae and a training day in Chiang Mai for 50 International and Thai children’s workers. Heather’s teaching included how to encourage children to be ‘God Chasers’ and ‘Nation Shakers’.

For more information, see here.

Staying On

January 31st was the deadline for re-enrolling the children at Grace International School for a further school year. The whole family were united in our decision to stay on in Thailand. We will probably stay on for a further 2 years as it would be difficult to return half way through GCSEs.

“Good News for Modern Wa”

The printing of the Wa Bible has been delayed in order to allow further checking of the text. Four Wa Pastors have convened in Mae Sai.

Their aim is:

To replace old Wa and Lahu words with newer Wa words as the language is developing.

To use central Wa dialect. (There are possibly as many as 900 Wa dialects.)

To simplify some text that is overly complex.

Literacy is very low among the Wa people and there is little Wa literature. The Wa Bible will be used to develop materials to increase literacy.

For more information, see here.

Progress at Hoay Maw

Pastor Joseph has handed over the running of the home to his son Paul and daughter-in-law Rattanaporn. The younger couple are doing a good job in managing the staff and children.

They are aiming to focus on children who have nowhere else to go.
They have no regular money for food and so in the new term, children who have somewhere to go will be asked to contribute to food and school expenses if they are to return. The piglets are growing and the smaller mother is pregnant again. A new crop of mushrooms is growing (thanks to ACC Christmas money) as well as bananas and other vegetables. We have begun looking into a fish pond project.

For more information, see here.

‘Transformers’

A good team has been established for the children’s work at the church here. Last Sunday we had a special mission academy for the children to learn how to lead others to Christ.
Three Thai children became Christians!