Chiangmai, Thailand Here We Come!

We have been accepted to serve in The Missions Abroad Placement Service (MAPS) with Assemblies of God World Mission!!! Our placement will be for 11 months in Chiangmai, Thailand. We will be working with missionaries, Mark and Janie Durene (http://durene.exodusdesign.com/).

Our main goal while we are in Thailand is to bring Thai students into a relationship with Christ. The best way for us to do this is to build relationships through teaching English in a program with the TLC Student Center. Most Thais speak some level of English and are eager to improve. Our missionary supervisor in Chiangmai has seen this be a powerful way God has helped build relationships with Thai students and help them to build a relationship with Christ. We will also be available at the coffee shop at the TLC Student Center to work with students to help them improve their English skills as well as lead Bible studies.

Another opportunity we will have while in Chaingmai is to see a local church plant 3 hours north of Chaingmai. Due to language barriers we will have limited opportunities, but we are praying God will use us to support the church plant as He needs us to. We will also be experiencing what it will be like to host groups in Chiangmai for short term mission trips. Opportunities these groups have had in the past are fixing the building of a local orphanage, erecting buildings to be used for ministry, and ministering to the people in Chiangmai in schools and churches.

About Thailand

Thailand is colored by a distinct culture, with a rich and varied heritage. Buddhist teachings are at the root of the typical Thai villager's sincere consideration for others. This is embodied in the virtue known as namchai or "water of the heart", a concept encompassing spontaneous warmth and compassion for others.

Thailand Facts at a Glance

• Official Name: Kingdom of Thailand
• Area: 200,000 square miles (about the size of Texas)
• Population: 62 million (growth rate 1.4%)
• Capital City City: Bangkok (population 8 million)
• People: 75% Thai, 14% Chinese, 3.5% Malay also Hmong, Akha, Lahu, Yao and Karen minorities
• Language: Thai
• Government: Democratic Constitutional Monarchy
• Head of State: King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama9)
• Religion: Buddhism 94%, Muslim 4%. Christianity (Evangelical) 0.7%, Other 1.3%
• Assemblies of God: Founded 1969, Total Churches 95 (one church per 652,630 people)