Thank you to all who have prayed for us and continue to pray for us, your prayers are very much appreciated. Over the last couple of months, we have had several notes, emails and contacts from our supporters letting us know that you are praying for us and it has been an encouragement to our spirits.
Our language studies are ramping up a little bit now as I try to cram as much into my cranium before I have to prepare for the government exam at the end of the year. Passing this exam has been the goal for my dedicated language studies, as such. I do not think I will ever quit learning Thai, but I do not plan to start a ministry until this point has been reached. Currently, I am studying one of the Bible modules, Maureen is studying the societal problems of Thailand and Jessica has started studying at the school twice a week. Jessica’s reading in English is quite good and she has been hoping for the opportunity to study Thai in Phonetics.
This month (May) the Thai school year will resume and we are preparing the Student Center for some activities to be organized there. There are several missionaries who have just come to Thailand this year, and are in language school who have agreed to help teaching English and on Friday nights, we plan to have the activities and Bible studies. This is a new type of ministry for me and as I am to arrange the Bible studies, I would appreciate your prayers for my lessons and messages to be understandable in the Thai language.
During the month of June, Bro. Frederick (missionary/pastor of the New Life Baptist Church here in Chiang Mai) will be taking a one month furlough, which will give me an opportunity to fill in for him in five different services. This will be a great opportunity for me to ‘practice’ and, hopefully, will be an edifying time for the Church members as well! :-)
I am sure many of you have seen something about the political unrest that has been occurring here in Thailand. There have been 27 people killed and over 1,000 wounded over the last 6 weeks. Although things may change, right now it looks like the various factions are hammering out a compromise of sorts that will avoid any further bloodshed. Please pray that the results of this unrest will further the spread of the Gospel in this ripening field.
Thank you again for your prayers and faithful financial support in these challenging times.
For His Glory,
Michael Sullivant Jr and Family
January / February 2010
Dear Supporters & Praying Friends,
Praise the Lord for His great provision for us during 2009! As 2010 is now in full-swing, we covet your prayers as we seek to finish our formal language studies and help in the ministries of the New Life Baptist Church.
Our Language studies continue to go well and steady forward progress is being made. Since we have been studying more these last few months our ability to speak and communicate with the people we meet is improving as well. I have been able to preach in Thai on several occasions and though this gives me a splitting headache it is a great encouragement to us since this is what we are here for; to teach and preach the Word of God. Maureen has also had the opportunity to speak to a group of ladies and by all accounts she was easily understood. She also ends the time with a headache as well. There is nothing like trying to think in one language and translate your thoughts into another language to help your brain exercise!
As we are able to carry on conversations with people we have greater opportunity to witness and are able to at least explain why we are in the country. Being able to speak Thai (even on my level) is almost always an open door to start a conversation with people and shopping can be a very talkative event. Many of the people we meet really have no idea what Church and Christianity is all about. We are currently putting together some pamphlets as invitations and to help them know what to expect when they come to Church.
Last year I asked for prayer for the salvation of one of the teachers at our language school, named Jenny. Jenny was raised Buddhist and though she has doubts about many of it's tenets, she is hesitant to change 'religions.' Jenny usually teaches Maureen on Tuesday afternoons and a few weeks ago Maureen was able to explain that Christ came to save us from ALL of our sin. The idea that our sins can be forgiven was obviously new to Jenny and she wanted to know more. She did not accept Christ as Saviour, but Maureen has an open door to continue witnessing to her. Please continue to pray for Jenny's salvation.
We have also been able to get involved with the music ministry at the New Life Baptist Church as well. This has led to some embarrassing moments when you are singing a song that you know by memory in English, but when you sing it in Thai the syllables do not always match up the way you think they should and I have found myself too many words at the end of some lines and not enough at the end of others! As Jessica learned in school this year, “Practice makes progress.” We practice and see some progress, Praise the Lord!
As a family we are doing well. Jessica has been following the Thai school schedule at home, which ends this month, and as her subjects are completed she has a good cry since she enjoys her school very much indeed. Wayne seems to be all boy and is trying to accumulate the bumps, bruises, and scars to prove it! He has managed one scar due to an accident on his bike. He was very brave when the doctor stitched the wound closed and has since learned to avoid the storm drains that can suck the bikes out from underneath little boys. Wyatt is happy playing with his toy cars and being the life of the party with the folks at Church. He tries to greet the church members with a flourish and is generally in a good mood. Charity continues to grow like a weed and we enjoy watching her grow and develop.
Thank you again for your friendship and support, both financial and prayer, it means a lot to us here.
For His Glory,
Michael Sullivant Jr Family
November-December 2009
Dear Supporting Friends,
Happy New Year! As we have closed the books on 2009 and begin a new year serving the Lord, let me say thank you to all who have been so faithful to financially and prayerfully support us in this last year. We have seen the Lord working as a result of your prayers and He has used many of you to meet our financial needs as well.
Our family appreciated all of the cards, emails, e-cards and gifts that you sent to us over the Christmas Season. Your expressions of kindness and wishes of God’s blessings for 2010 are an encouragement and blessing as well.
There has been a lot happening over the last two months and though, in some respects it has meant moving outside our comfort zone we believe in the long run our ability to serve the Lord will be enhanced by these changes.
When we originally came to Thailand my goal was to study the language until I had completed the Language School’s curriculum and I was hopeful to do that within two years. This is normally how long others have told us it takes to complete the courses. Through a series of events I do not have room to explain here, I saw that I would not be able to reach that goal at my current pace, and I began to prayerfully consider making some changes. Earlier in 2009 I discussed with our language teacher the progress we were making with the language and asked her how much time she thought we would have until I had finished the courses she offered. Since I had not been able to take a full slate of classes it looks like I will need to study an additional six months, finishing in October of 2010. When Brother Horn returned to Thailand in November, we decided we would move our family into a housing development that is next to the Language School and I have gone from studying two sessions a week with the teacher to five sessions a week with the teacher. Maureen has also taken advantage of studying additional hours as well. We decided she would increase her course load as she feels able, since it has only been two months since Charity was born, and she is still regaining her strength.
Needless to say, our address has changed. Please note the new ‘Field’ address on the sidebar and you may use that address for any communication that you may want to send us here in Thailand. We are no longer using the previous “Field” or “Mailing” addresses that were listed for us here in Thailand.
For the time that we are finishing our language studies we have joined in fellowship at the New Life Baptist Church in the Hang Dong district of Chiang Mai. Missionary Mike Frederick is the pastor. His family and the folks of the Church have graciously welcomed us and given us the opportunity to get involved as we are able.
One area that I was able to participate in was the New Year’s Eve service. Brother Frederick asked if I would take my turn with a few of the other men of the Church and preach a short ten to fifteen minute challenge or testimony in Thai. I spent the better part of two days preparing for it and was able to work my way through with a little help from the congregation. What amazed me is how nervous I was. I knew I was going to be nervous but I had no idea it would be that bad! The previous teaching I have done here has always been with a translator and believe you me, this is NOT the same! The Church members mentioned that my tones were clear which makes me appreciate having a strict teacher who does not allow me to be lazy in how I pronounce the words with their tones. I praise the Lord for step forward in my usage of the language.
As we enter 2010 I have a few prayer requests to mention: · That our language studies would continue to go well · That we would have wisdom in starting a student outreach at a local university as a ministry of New Life Baptist Church · For safety and wisdom in a couple of short trips I will take in January – one to Bangkok and one to the Philippines - Brother Rick Horn’s continued recovery
For His Glory,
Michael Sullivant, Jr. & Family
September - October 2009
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your faithful prayers and support for us these last two months since our last prayer letter, and thank you especially for your prayers for Maureen and the baby through out her pregnancy. I am just busting buttons off of my shirt to inform you that Charity Faith was safely delivered into our family at 1:05PM on October 22nd, weighing 8lbs. 2oz. and 20½ inches long! Praise the Lord! Both Mommy and baby are doing great and Charity seems to be adjusting to the outside world fairly well.
Maureen had never gone into labor on her own before and has always been induced. This time however, Maureen came into labor on her own and, since this was new to her, we almost waited to long before we went to the hospital. The hospital is about an hour from where we live and 20 minutes after we arrived there, Charity Faith was born. We decided that, should the Lord bless us with any more children, we might go to the hospital a bit sooner than we did this time.
Maureen's parents were able to come to Thailand a few days before Charity's birth and will be staying until the 2nd of November. Having them here has been a huge help and blessing as they were able to take care of Jessica, Wayne and Wyatt for the two days that Maureen was in the hospital and the time that Maureen has been at home since Charity's birth.
With the birth of Charity, we have taken a bit of a break from our language studies. I will start going into the Language School again next week. Before Charity was born Maureen finished her fifth module of eight that comprise the core curriculum and I finished my sixth. The module I am in now covers much of the common language that you would use in your everyday life. We have been mostly learning what would be considered text-book Thai and some of the terminology for deity and royalty. Now that we have a bit of a foundation we begin to increase our knowledge of how the Thai people would actually say things. It seems redundant at times to learn a more formal language than what most people speak, but this is the language that you would be expected to use when first meeting someone else, so, since we are doing a lot of that our first term, it has been very useful for us J. Please continue to pray for us as we try to learn the Thai language and then communicate the message of Christ to the Thai people.
The K-12 school term finished at the beginning of October and most of the children from the Home went back to visit their families in their Hill Tribe villages. This also means that the Bible school semester is finished as well and the students have a break until the last week of November.
Thank you for all you prayers for us and your faithful support, especially your prayers for Maureen and Charity. Charity's pregnancy and delivery was the best one yet for Maureen and we thank you for all of your help before the Throne of Grace on their behalf.
Please continue to pray for Maureen to recover her strength quickly and that we would have wisdom in the decisions that we make.
For His Glory,
Michael & Maureen Sullivant, Jessica, Wayne, Wyatt & Charity
July-August, 2009
Dear Partners in Missions,
We praise the Lord for His provision and faithfulness to our family. I want to thank you for your faithfulness in praying and helping us financially as the Lord has directed you. The Lord has known what we needed, when we needed it and has worked in the hearts of His people to supply the needs of our family.
Language studies continue to go well. I can now read Thai quickly enough to be able to sing many of the hymns in Thai out of the hymnal. I can also follow along in the Thai Bible. My vocabulary is still not large enough to understand everything I am singing or reading, so I’m going to keep studying J I have almost finished the 6th module, and have four modules left to go. Maureen is also continuing to study part-time. Please pray that our new baby would be an easy baby so Maureen will be able to get back to studying as quickly as she can.
At this time, we are nearing the end of the first Thai school semester of the year. And of course, that means the students at the Children's Home are preparing for their exams and the Bible School students are getting ready to for their exams as well. As one of the teachers for the Bible School, I taught a basic Bible Doctrines class that covered the Bible, the Trinity and the Church. I call it basic because we could spend much more time on each of these Doctrines. One of my favorite parts of the class time is when we open it up for questions. You never know what you will hear and it can be helpful in gauging where the students are at with the truth that has been taught.
The month of August began with a revival meeting with Dr. Wayne Sehmish preaching. Dr. Sehmish was a pastor in Australia for a number of years before he felt the Lord leading him to come to Thailand. I began picking up some people who are from the Hill Tribes of Thailand but have come out of the mountains to work at large pig farm about 17 kilometers away. The Sunday following the revival two of the young girls we picked up for Church were born again! Please pray that they and their families would grow in the Lord.
Thank you for your prayers for Maureen and the pregnancy. Maureen says this is the best pregnancy she has had, and the doctor says that everything is normal with the baby as well. Lord willing, our next Prayer Letter should include a birth announcement! The due date is October 11th, so please keep Maureen and the little one in your prayers over the next 4-6 weeks if you would.
For His Glory,
Michael Sullivant Jr. and Family
May-June, 2009
Dear Partners,
The last two months have seemed to fly by at break-neck speed! It has been a good time and a time of learning in many aspects.
We praise the Lord for the arrival of the John & Romans and New Testaments. We are also praising the Lord the shipment arrived duty and tax free. This was a saving of several thousand dollars. The container arrived at the beginning of May. We are excited to have this tool for reaching the lost here now in Thailand. It was raining before the container arrived, and started to rain again just as we were finishing unloading it, but for the 2 ½ hours we were unloading there was no rain. We thank the Lord that He kept it all dry. There were about 12 men from the moving company that came for unloading. Each of them gratefully received a Scripture portion. Thanks for praying for this shipment. God heard your prayers and answered them. A special thanks to Dr. Wayne Holder from FirstBible International for coordinating this shipment. Also, a special thanks goes to Bible Baptist Church of Beckley, West Virginia and Franklin Road Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee along with several other churches who assisted in the printing process.
In May, Mrs. Horn was able to return from the USA as Bro. Rick Horn had recovered to the point that he could take care of himself on his own. Please continue to pray for Bro. Horn's health. As you may know or can perhaps imagine, a major surgery dealing with cancer takes time to heal.
Since Mrs. Horn is here, I have been teaching a basic Bible Doctrines class in the Bible College and preaching through the Book of Philippians in the Sunday afternoon service. Many new Christians in Thailand, and people around the world, struggle with problems and yet God's Word gives us the answer to any problem we face. The Book of Philippians explains that in the midst of these problems we can and should experience the Joy of the Lord.
Sunday evening after the service I also teach an English class to anyone from the Church and to the teenagers from the Children’s Home. I am used to asking what our English words mean in Thai, not the other way around! I must confess that English and grammar were not my strong points in high school and college. Although I passed the courses, I never thought I would be teaching it to others!
Our Thai Language studies are going well, I have almost (currently on the last lesson) completed the fifth module and can now read Thai and sort-of-write in Thai. I say sort-of -write because the Thai language has 44 consonants and 32 vowels. Some of the consonants have very similar pronunciation; for instance, the English sound “T” has 6 consonants in Thai if the letter is at the beginning of a word and there are an additional 6 consonants that have a “t” or “dt” sound if they are at the end of a word. Sometimes this foreigner gets confused about which letter goes where when there could be several that would fit. When reading, my comprehension is coming and my speed is improving. Some of the little kids at the Children’s Home still put me to shame, so I think I will keep practicing.
Please pray for Jaeo, she is a 23 year old lady whom our language teacher is training to teach Thai. She has been sitting in on my classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Most of the teachers who work for Nita (our teacher) are professing Christians so I thought I would check about Jaeo and found out she is Buddhist. Please pray for her salvation and witnessing opportunities.
When I am teaching Mrs. Horn translates for me into the Thai language. This is becoming a language class for me as I am able to learn many of the Bible terms that I have not yet studied. On-the-job training is taking on a whole new meaning to me.
Maureen and the children are doing well. This pregnancy has been Maureen's easiest one so far, for which we praise the Lord! Thank you for your prayers for Maureen and baby and please continue to uphold them in prayer.
Wyatt wants to say thank you to all of you who thought of him on his Birthday this last month. He thoroughly enjoyed himself as he opened the cards and presents from the different Churches and individuals. His Birthday fell on Father's Day Sunday so we bought ice cream for the Church and Children’s Home. Things were going well until Monday, as we finished up some left-over cake. Wyatt asked Maureen, “When is my birthday going to be over?” As long as there was cake to eat Wyatt thought it was his party.
This last Sunday we had the privilege of going up to one of the Hill tribe churches. I was privileged to be able to baptize six folks who had trusted Christ as their Savior and were ready to make a public profession. It was pouring rain, so everyone was wet even before they got baptized J It was an encouragement to see folks moving forward for the Lord. Please pray for Brother Cee as he continues to serve in this village.
Thank you again for your prayers and support. May God bless you for your faithfulness.
For His Glory,
The Sullivant Family
March-April, 2009
Dear Friends in the Faith,
Praise the Lord! This week marked our first anniversary living in Thailand. This last year has been full of surprises and blessings and we look forward to what the Lord has in store for us in this next year in His field.
We discovered this last reporting period that we will have a new missionary joining us here in Thailand! Maureen is expecting a baby for the middle of October! So far, mommy and baby are doing well, though the heat takes a little more out of Maureen now than it used to. Jessica is sure the baby will be a girl; Wayne says it is a boy and Wyatt took one look at the ultrasound pictures and announced, “He looks like me!” With the baby at 16 weeks, I think it is more vanity on Wyatt's part than fact!J Whether the baby is a boy or a girl we are all praising the Lord for entrusting another member of His Heritage to our care.
Maureen's sister Amy came to visit for two weeks at the end of April, which was a real blessing for us. Our children enjoyed having 'Auntie Amy' at their every whim and Maureen appreciated the opportunity to fellowship with her sister (and all the help with the meals and housework). Amy lives in Edmonton, Alberta. Let us just say that the weather here is slightly different then what she is used to!
I know have mentioned this before, but we have container of John & Romans and New Testaments that are now en route to us from Beckley, WV. Dr. Wayne Holder who works as the Shipping Coordinator for First Bible International coordinated this shipment. The 10,000 New Testaments were provided by Dr. Charles Keen and First Bible International, and the 250,000 John & Romans were provided by First Bible, Bible Baptist Church in Beckley, WV and other cooperating Baptist Churches. Please pray that they will arrive in country safely and that the Lord would work in the hearts of the custom officials to use their discretionary power to waive any duties. In the past, duties have been waived when other mission agencies were importing 'religious' materials.
Please continue to pray for Brother Rick Horn's health to improve. He is currently in Tennessee and is recovering from his surgery well. Brother Horn had planned to do some furlough ministry but has had to postpone a number of meetings because of his surgery. I know he would appreciate your prayers for his recovery and strength for Mrs. Horn as well.
We continue to plug away at the language studies and while it can be frustrating when there are words we do not know, we can look back at where we were a year ago and see that we have made much progress. At times, I am able to sing along in Thai with the congregation at Church. Thank you for your continuing prayers for our language study, it means so much to us as we desire to be able to witness for Christ to the people around us in their language.
For His Glory,
The Sullivant Family
January-February, 2009
Dear Friends,
Let me begin by praising the Lord for His goodness to us throughout 2008. I know there were many occasions when the prayers of God's people on our behalf were evident. And we praise the Lord that when exchange rates changed, meaning our money bought less Thai product, the Lord always supplied the need. Thank you to each of you who have been sensitive to the Lord regarding our needs in prayer, and the giving of your finances. “God is good all the time” is more than just a cliché, it is the truth!
Revival: We began 2009 with preparations for the annual Revival held on the Children's Home property. This is the highlight of the year for the NongLoam Baptist Church and for those who make the trek out of the Hill Tribe villages to attend.
Jacob Giesbrecht is an evangelist from our Sending Church in Canada, he was able to come a week early and, since he is a carpenter by trade, he built thirteen pulpits for use in the Hill Tribe Churches, the Nongloam Baptist Church and Bible College. Besides the work that was accomplished on the pulpits, I enjoyed being able to fellowship with Brother Jacob again and hear how the Lord has been working in his ministry as well.
On January 5, the conference began with people arriving from the outlying communities and finding a place to camp out for the revival. Several of the local preachers and Dr. Horn preached Monday through Wednesday. On January 7th my parents arrived with a group of seven other people from Pembina Valley Baptist Church in Winkler, MB at about 1:30 AM. Brother Kurt Copeland and Brother Ken Anderson from Franklin Road Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, TN also arrived on the same flight. The next morning Brother John Stancil arrived to finish out the group of 'Farang' visitors (pronounced 'phalung' and means foreigner). Since we knew everyone already this turned into a reunion.
Through the preaching of the Gospel by Dr. Horn, Pastor Ceetone, Brother Pramud (who was also ordained to the Gospel ministry that week), Dr. Mike Sullivant Sr (my Dad), Dr. John Stancil, Brother Kurt Copeland, Brother Ken Anderson, Brother Brian Booth, and Brother Jacob Giesbrecht, in the Revival and in the Hill Tribe villages the following week, there were 59 souls who made a profession of faith in Christ, 10 believers baptized and 8 surrendered to full time service for the Lord. The Lord also worked in the hearts of the saved as many came forward to make decisions during the invitations.
Bible College: On February 7, Dr. Fred Schindler (with First Bible International) came and taught modular sessions in the Bible College regarding the work of the Holy Spirit and the charismatic movement. Many of the people here in Thailand know about the Charismatic movement or Catholicism but do not know Christ and true Biblical Christianity. Many of these folks from the Hill Tribes have charismatic churches around them and constantly have to deal with their heresies.
Family: My parents were able to stay with us until January 25th following the Revival. This was enjoyed by all us, especially the Grandparents who seem to have forgotten the long-term effects on parents when the grandkids get spoiled. J We had a late Christmas celebration with them and the kids were completely spoiled and loved every minute of it.
This is the time of year when the mango trees, and various other fruit trees blossom. Something we did not know is Maureen is allergic to the pollen from the mango trees. She commented one day that as she walked past the mango trees by the driveway how nice they smelled. The next morning she had a migraine headache and battled headaches and migraines for the next three weeks. She then discovered that she was having an allergic reaction to the pollen from the trees. Since then she has been taking some antihistamines and that has at least kept the migraines at bay.
In the middle of April Maureen's sister Amy is going to come for a couple of weeks and visit. The kids are all excited about this and have begun to count down the days until her arrival.
Language: Language studies were put on hold for most of January with all that was going on, but now we are back at it and Maureen and I both feel like we are in K5 again as we learn a new alphabet and begin to try sounding the words out for the Thai language. Each week we are taking a brick out of the wall that is between us and the Thai people and we are looking forward to the day when we can read, write, speak and understand fluently enough to take the Bible and teach them the many things that God has taught us and wants them to know as well.
Jessica has begun studying Thai with Khruu Nita, our language teacher, and she is picking it up well. Jessica has also begun teaching what she learns to her younger brothers and they are now trying to say things in Thai as well. When it was just dad and mom speaking Thai the kids could not care less to learn it, but now that one of them is learning the sibling competition has begun!
New Church: Several of the families in the Church here are from the Isaan (Northeast paart of Thailand), and still have family that live there. At New Years they went to visit their family members and primarily wanted to have an opportunity to witness to them. Twelve people trusted Christ as Saviour that first trip and several dozen more have been saved since then. The opportunity is there to start a Church in the province of Yasathon with one couple already donating land for a building. Please pray that this group would continue to grow spiritually in the days ahead as it is a twelve hour drive one way and they do not have a pastor at this time.
Special Request: Please be in prayer for Dr. Rick Horn's health. Dr. Horn has had ulcerated colitis for many years but late last year he and Mrs. Horn went for their physicals and the doctor wanted to do a colonoscopy on Dr. Horn. At first they thought the tumors in his colon were cancerous, then they said they were not but that he would need an operation to remove the tumors in his colon which would mean a major surgery and resection of his colon.
At this point please pray that the doctors involved would accurately diagnose the problem and that Brother & Mrs. Horn would have wisdom in the decisions that they must make in the days ahead, and that God would get the glory throughout this time.
Thankyou again to each one who has joined in prayer for us over the past couple of months. And thank you to those who have chosen us as your “Deputy” to Thailand through your financial support. As we finish up our financial tally for 2008, we were blessed to have had faithful supporters throughout the year. As many are feeling the economic pinch right now, let me say thank you to those who have been faithful in your giving to missions.
For His Glory,
Michael & Maureen Sullivant Jessica, Wayne & Wyatt
