It is hard to believe that we are a quarter of the way through the new year already. This month, the Lord has poured out His blessings on Evelyse and me. The first week in March, I was granted a two-year work permit. There is so much behind that little eight-word statement. My first work permit was granted on January 20, 2009, nine months after I arrived in Thailand. This current work permit is my 13th work permit since then and will allow me to continue to stay in the country until March of 2026. My next 90-day check-in to Immigration is later this week, and my next one-year work visa comes up for renewal in September of this year. It is hard for someone who has never had to depend on a visa or work permit to continue living where they are already living to understand what all it involves when they are asked to pray for a missionary’s visa situation. A friend and fellow missionary of mine recently did a podcast on this matter of how to pray for your missionaries concerning their immigration paperwork. Here is a link to it if you are interested:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/when-your-missionary-needs-a-visa/id1739749495?i=1000651523825
The second week of March, right out of the blue, the Lord dropped this new vehicle in my lap. It was such a surprise, but He orchestrated every single little detail, and now I have a 2022 Mazda BT50, 3.0L diesel engine, 4×4, 4-door cab, midnight-blue truck with all the bells and whistles and 8 cup holders. Honestly, when I started out on this missionary journey, I claimed Isaiah 54:5, and over the years, I’ve reminded the Lord that the car is the husband’s responsibility. I’ve always told Him I’d drive whatever He provided. Whether it was for on the field or for furlough, I’d lay out a list of wishes and leave the rest up to Him. He has always provided so well for me, but my Lord went above and beyond for me with this one. I have never wished for a truck before. When the opportunity came, I didn’t even know if I was a truck kind of a girl, but He knew. Two days in, and I was hooked.
The third week of March, our church plant in Nong Phlap finalized the purchase of land where they will build a church for God’s glory and for the furtherance of the Gospel for many years to come. It is two acres situated on a nice piece of land with road access, and it already has electricity and water on the property. It is only a few minutes away from their current location, where they regularly pack 120-plus people into two narrow bay buildings. These members, who make around $12 a day for a full-day’s work, gave sacrificially week after week, month after month, year after year; and the Lord multiplied their giving.
The fourth week of March, Evelyse and I attended Smile’s wedding. Smile is a Karen lady who attends our Nong Phlap church and used to be a student in my Single Ladies’ Karen Sunday School Class at our Hua Hin church. I had the privilege of leading her to Christ a number of years ago now. Evelyse was a flower girl, and I had the joy of walking in the processional of family and close friends who made their way through the property to bring her to the spot where she would get married. The man she married is a good man. He loves the Lord, and it was a blessing to see them pledge their lives to each other and to the Lord.
At the end of the fourth week, Jang graduated from high school. Jang is one of the two sisters the Lord used to impress upon my heart to start the Heavenly Treasures Orphan Project seven years ago. It wasn’t always easy, and it definitely wasn’t always pretty, but I’m so proud of Jang for sticking it out and finishing school. She did so well her last couple of years that she was offered a place to study Business English at the same university where her older sister Jip has just completed her third year. As I stood on that school lawn with her, just as pleased as I could be, Jang clung to my neck and wept, thanking me for making it possible and for not letting her quit. The thanks goes to each and every one of you who ever said a prayer for our Heavenly Treasures Project or gave a dollar that helped keep her and many other girls like her fed and in school. I know the Lord has big plans for Jang.
Serving the Master joyfully,
Shari House
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- Church in Nong Phlap
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- At Jang’s High School Graduation
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- At Smile’s wedding
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- God Gave Me a New Truck!
