LCMS World Mission Blog

“My Tuesday night class is a Level One conversation class with eight students. One of my students, Phud, is a young man whose sister has studied at our center and learned much about the Christian faith. Phud has also studied with me many times, beginning in my children’s class, Introduction class and now this Level One class. One of the questions I asked the class was, ‘How did the stars get into the sky?’ Coptor quickly said, ‘Big Bang.’ I told the class I didn’t believe in the Big Bang and so the conversation began about what I believe and ‘How did the stars get into the sky?’ Nune is a middle-aged man who is new to our center/class this term. He too asked more questions about this subject than the other students. At the end of our class, Phud stayed behind to talk to me. He looked at me, smiled and said, ‘Teacher, I believe in Jesus.’ I asked him what Jesus means to him. He told me what he believed and told me what he had learned from his sister and from he CGM center. He told me also that he and his sister have been going to a church where there are many young people learning about Jesus. I hugged him and told him I was so happy to hear this news.

“At that time, Nune came back into the classroom and asked me to explain what I had written on the white board (John 14:6-7-Jesus is the only way to heaven). So, I began to explain, but then Phud took over. I listened to Phud witness the Gospel to Nune. What an incredible joy and blessing to listen to this young man witness his Savior to this older man who is seeking his Savior. The next week, in my Wednesday night Level One class, with six students present, we were 15 minutes from the end of our class. I was waiting for three students to finish their written work, when Nune (who studies on Tuesdays and Wednesday) looked at the white board and asked me about what I had written (which was another Scripture verse). I began to explain this to him when a fellow student, Woot, joined in the conversation. He was speaking Thai to Nune, so I couldn’t understand most of what was said. I did pick up on a few Christian words that I hear every Sunday in church. I interrupted and asked, ‘Woot, are you a Christian?’ He smiled, said he was and went back to his Thai conversation with Nune, but not only Nune. Now, all of the students were finished with their work papers and listening intently to what Woot was saying.

“The last 15 minutes of class was Thai Christian conversation and it didn’t matter if I knew Thai or not-I knew the Holy Spirit was at work and I knew what was being said and learned in those 15 minutes. At the end of class, Nune looked at me and said, ‘I want to read about the things I hear about tonight and in my other class.’ I told him I would give him a Thai/English Bible. So, when class was over, I got a New Testament to give to him, led him to the book of John, and told him to begin his reading there. I told him to ask me, Joe, or Ar about any questions he had. His smile was big and he said, ‘I read tonight and every night to learn more about Jesus.’ I look forward to the days ahead to hear what he has learned about Jesus.

“This Friday night, in my Level Three Conversation class, I had only two of my students show up. We used conversation question cards during the first part of our class. My students love these cards. They like that they get to ask Teacher questions too. Anong’s question to me was, ‘What is your favorite book?’ My answer was the Bible. She looked at me with question. I asked her if she knew what the Bible is and she said no. So, I explained the Bible to her and explained that the Bible is about God’s love for us and that it gives us the answer how to get to heaven to be with God forever when we die. She said, ‘I haven’t ever read the Bible before or heard about God’s love. What is God’s plan?’ Chow, the other student in the class, joined in to our conversation. He told me he had gone to a Christian school when he was in elementary school. I said, so you know about the things I am talking about and he said yes. So, then the three of us talked about the Bible and God’s plan through Jesus to lead us to heaven.

“Please keep all of these dear students/friends in your prayers as the seeds of faith grow to life through the Holy Spirit.”

• Pray for Robin in Thailand
• Learn more about LCMS World Mission in Thailand
• Search for open service opportunities in Thailand