And Can It Be?

The 'Farm' Project

2008-09-11T20:11:00.011+07:00

We were able to witness some of the work being done by our co-workers on our trip last month. One of the really neat projects we visited was a farm that is run by some of our colleagues and national believers. It is run as a training center to help equip the people of the country learn how to best utilize land and natural resources for personal consumption and to provide a livelihood. The local people are brought onto the farm for two-week training modules in how to raise crops, such as coffee, rubber trees, fruit, pepper, etc. In the lower left are coffee beans that are grown, roasted and ground on the farm. To the right are pictures of young high-quality rubber trees. Farmers are supplied with and taught how to grow high-quality, high-yield crops-much different than what they are accustomed to.

They are also trained in how to raise a certain breed of goats for maximum milk production and another breed for their meat.

Talapia, a fish that has become popular in U. S. restaurants, are also raised on the farm. This breed of fish reaches a good harvesting size in 4 to 5 months. The picture is of a talapia pond that is churning with hundreds of fish.

The people of this country have traditionally used the slash-and-burn method of farming. The 'farm' teaches farmers how to rotate crops and to use the SALT method: Sloping Agricultural Land Technique (we think that's right). But the really neat thing about the 'farm' is the opportunity that the workers take to share the Good News every evening with those who have come to be trained in agriculture.
The picture to the left is of the room that is used to share 20 stories from the Word with the trainees. Each picture on the wall corresponds to a story from the Word, beginning with creation and the first sin, leading up to the Sacrifice that was made for man's sin. Before the trainees leave the farm, they have heard the Good News several times.
We are so grateful to the Father that we can pr@y for these workers who are seizing the opportunity to share the Father's love with these farmers. Would you intercede for our co-workers and their national partners (like the family pictured below) who are doing a great work on the Father's 'Farm'? All glory to our great Savior.

ESL class & Worshiping with believers in another country

2008-09-05T20:14:00.003+07:00

On our first Sunday in a country where the majority religion is Islam, we visited a fellowship that meets in this building. It has been under construction for several years because they are committed to paying for the construction as they go along, rather than go into debt. When looking around the building I found one of the class rooms with this poster on the door. Hey, just like many of the fellowships back home!
Later that same day we met with a group of young people who had come to faith through a university work. They have an evening meeting where they sing praise songs, accompanied by guitar. They also study the Word together, working through a book at a time. Everyone who would like to contribute has the opportunity to do so. They even invited us to comment on the passage we were studying. Finally, they have a time of sharing and talking with the Father.

The man in the foreground comes from a family of believers. The other man, who is a very bright computer tech, came to faith from a Buddhist background.
All of these young adults have come to faith through this university work and they joyfully sing praises and diligently search the Word together during their weekly gatherings. These believers are a very tiny minority in their country, but they have a very strong and vibrant faith.
This young man is a classical guitarist--a very gifted musician. He has played before huge audiences, including government officials. He gave us a free 'mini' concert.

While David and Pam were visiting with us they had the opportunity to go with us to a university campus to help conduct an "English as a Second Language" (ESL) class. It was great fun to watch them interact with the students, as they told about themselves and their family in America. They also cheered the students on as the class played a game where they had to toss very small rings onto a short post. They discovered that it wasn't nearly as easy as it looked! Thank you Dave and Pam for making this a special experience for the students.

2008-07-25T16:29:00.000+07:00

We arrived in Bangkok just before midnight on Thursday, June 12, and less than a week later our team of three (Becky, Bonita-our team leader, and David) traveled to our huge company meeting called PRIME. For the next 9 days all of our meetings and meals were held on the same large campus. In fact, the campus was massive. Our group of over 1,500 only used a portion of the facilities! We were blessed to have two couples from our church in Circleville that came to the meeting to help with childcare and other logistics. Not only were they an immense help in serving our multitude of personnel, but they were a joy to get to spend time with. They worked really hard the entire time they were at the meeting, but they did make time for some other pursuits!
(David and Pam in the upper right photo; Heather and Bob in the lower left. Thai Therapy session in the middle right photo!)

We were especially blessed to have both of these couples visit with us in our home in Bangkok following the meetings. We had the opportunity to show them some of the sights in our area: a boat tour on the Chao Phraya River (the main river that runs through the country north and south), a trip to the most famous shrine in the city, and trips to the notorious JJ Market-the world's largest (reputedly) outdoor market with over 15,000 vendors. Bob and Heather got to experience China Town, and Dave and Pam helped us teach an English class at one of the universities.

What is especially exciting is that Dave and Pam are in the application process with the "company" and hope to return to our region of the world to serve for a two to three year stint. Would you remember them when you talk to our Father, that the process would go smoothly and according to His timetable? (Explanation: because of our new role with the "company" and due to increased concerns with security, we have to be careful to use 'code language' in our public writings and conversation. If you have trouble with deciphering "the code" you can contact either of these two couples for help with translation!)

Welcome to our Blog

2008-07-22T13:00:00.000+07:00

Welcome to our blog--whatever that is! People have told us how easy it is to set up a blog, but that hasn't been our experience-which probably says more about the one trying to set it up than the process itself. However, if you have any helpful advice about how to set up a blog (that doesn't require much techno-savvy), please feel free to leave your comments. It may be easier to keep it updated once we get it up and running, but please don't tell us that! Blogging is not one of Dave's inclinations, but Becky LOVES to read what others have posted on their blogs. (Picture of Cavanaugh family reuion, May 10, 2008, at Reynoldsburg Baptist Church-where Steve is pastor) So maybe there are some of you out there in blogland who will actually take the time to read and view what we have to share.
Cavanaugh Family Reunion summer(?) of 1954