Sawatdee “Greetings” from Thailand
"Hello" from Thailand! We made it! Thank you for your prayers and support. We could not have made it without you. We do miss each of you and love you deeply. Some days are harder than others but we are convinced that we are in the center of God’s will. Leaving Nashville was the toughest yet most rewarding experiences that we have ever had. Selling all material possessions and leaving everyone we love and placing our future completely His hands has been such an emotionally, mentally and spiritually stretching time for the entire family. Yet, His providence, grace, and your prayers alone have been our driving force and strength.
As we are settling in here and trying to prioritize our most essential household needs. We have a few more things we need but waiting on them to fit in the budget. We are find the cost of living here in Chiang Mai higher than expected and still need to raise our support level another $1000.
Imagine moving to a place where nothing is familiar, life styles are totally different, everyone acts and reacts in a posture of respect and honor (even if they are right or being wronged), you cannot communicate well, most foods are different, smells are sometimes tough to bear, and you are the minority everywhere. Yet this is forcing us to learn the language, learn a new culture and way of living, and adopting this as our new home and culture and way of living. It seems hard to imagine and difficult to bear yet God’s grace and the skill-sets and talents that he predestined us to possess is causing our adjustments to be as smooth as possible. However, none of our adventure has been without opposition from the enemy and only He knows what tomorrow will bring into our lives.
As we have many new experiences, adventures and obstacles current and ahead we are daily reminded of the dark lost world in which we are surrounded. Their animistic superstitions that we are daily confronted with are hard to avoid and remind us of the ultimate purpose and goal for our being in Chiang Mai and on to our final destination.
News from the front lines...
After our team provided bibles and ministry training for the Christian leaders from K. village they went back to their village with a zeal and led others to Christ. A total of nine families were converted and it all took place in spite of the forbiddance of area officials to convert to Christianity.
At approximately 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, 2009, the village chief, volunteer security force, village elders, and some villagers of K. village in T. district of S. province, broke into pig pens of new believers in that village and confiscated a pig from each of the nine families (53 members) after they returned home their place of worship.
Later, those who took the pigs slaughtered them and divided the pork among themselves. The officials stated that the seizure of the pigs was a form of punishment imposed on the nine families who had ignored the officials’ order forbidding them from believing in the Christian faith. By choosing to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed freedom to believe in God and practice their newly found faith, each of the nine families must suffer an economic loss of a pig, which is an equivalence of one and a half months salary for one working person in this area.
The incident of seizing and slaughtering the pigs appeared to be a follow-up response to the previous warning made by the officials. Almost 10 months ago, on September 12, 2008, the K. village chief, security force, and other local officials broke into an animal pen of a Christian believer, and took possession of his water buffalo (equiv. value of approximately US$ 350). This was done while he and his family were in their house watching helplessly as their personal belongings were taken from them. The authorities told Mr. B. that if he and his family recant of their Christian faith, their buffalo would be spared. The village authorities claimed that they acted in accordance with the order of the T. district governing authorities. After Mr. B., however, refused to renounce his faith, the village authorities took possession of his buffalo. On the following day (September 13, 2008), the authorities slaughtered his buffalo in the village square and distributed the meat to all the non Christian families in the village. The village authorities additionally warned that they would continue to take possession of animals of believers who refuse to renounce their faith until none of the animals are left standing. Keep the persecuted in your prayers daily….
After Arriving in Country…….
Since we have been here it has been mostly work and adjustments. All the kids have met friends here in the neighborhood and really doing quite amazing. Dawson seems to be picking up the language faster than the rest of us. We will ask him if he wants something and he replies in Thai, even though we cant understand him. It is so cute. His blonde hair and ability to understand some Thai gives us an immediate inroad with a lot of local Thai's. We can not wait until we can communicate more so we can explain why we are here in Chiang Mai and share the love of Jesus with them.
Our language classes are going well. We just finished Thai Phonetics and will start conversational Thai this week. This means a lot more memorizing and more field practicum's. Every morning we review the prior days lesson with the kids so they will learn what we are learning. It is an enjoyable and often funny time as a family. A bunch of southern, North American, English speaking people trying to speak Thai. We should record it for you to hear, but we're "not gonna do it"!
Added to all the normal adjustments and stress to life in a new place, Lacy went to meet her new doctor, visit the hospital, see the labor and delivery room and the recovery room. Needless to say she was not overly excited. It is definitely not Centennial Medical Center. However, what they lack here in "state of the art equipment” they more than make up for in the way they care and serve. So, Lacy is resting in Christ and has become confident that THE GREAT PHYSICIAN is fully able to care for her and the children.
After being here only a few weeks we faced one of our biggest challenges. Dawson had to be hospitalized. He was running an uncontrollable high fever for several days, dehydrated, would not eat and extremely lethargic. The Doctors believed that his body was fighting microorganisms that Asian immune systems are already used to. These are the same microorganisms that cause E.coli, Dysentery and Salmonella that were attacking and controlling his little body. We just took this as the Lord allowing this to strengthen and acclimate him for our future here. This has been our posture because any other would be disbelief in that His will be done.
On Dawson's last day in the hospital I (Daniel) had to leave for a very important meeting in Bangkok to continue and hopefully expedite our permanent visa process. Unfortunately, the EFT agency said the process would take 3-4 months. We only had 9 days remaining on our temporary visas and could only get two 15 day extensions if we traveled to a neighboring border every two weeks . Knowing that this was not a viable option because Lacy would not be able to travel much longer and language school just started. I called Lacy and told them once they leave the hospital go to the airport and meet me in Bangkok so we could fly to the mission station and cross the border to apply for our 1 year student visa. As we went into the neighboring country the spiritual warfare and bondage was evident and overwhelming. You could tell that there was an internal struggle within the officials at the Consulate toward us our and our visas. Nevertheless, God worked in them to say yes after much persuasion and uncertainty. We returned to the mission station (where we will be moving to next year) and so enjoyed being with our extended family there for a few days. It was hard to leave to go back to Chiang Mai but we are now even more determined to be diligent students in our language training so we can be useful servants at the mission station when we move there next summer.
Have you ever felt that you where in a movie? Say like Star Wars and the power of the force was so strong with you that you felt invincible. Well that is what we have felt like many times these last few weeks. Our Father is so guiding our paths that it is like He is doing all the work. No really! We are so blessed and touched that He loves us so much to always provide the way. We are back in Chiang Mai and back to work it is. Lacy has had a few bouts of preterm labor but God is even working in us through this time to strengthen out faith and trust in HIM alone.
You want to help? This is how you can get involved with us...
Ways to help:
* Help us Network & make connections with other individuals, churches and
organizations
*Join our Immediate Support team
* Help us plan support trips
* Help us build contacts
* Advisory/Prayer team
*Pray for us
*Give financially (initial &/or monthly)
Prayer Needs:
*Emotional strength, Loneliness in Chiang Mai where we don't have a community of people or support is difficult
*Continue to find new Financial & Prayer supporters
*Children's transition and schooling
*Lacy & new baby’s health
Financial Needs::
We are still short on monthly support by about $1,000 ($2,750 in monthly support while on the field )
One time Set up needs still $ 2000
Visa and travel cost this month $1800
Unexpected/ Expected Upcoming Medical Expenses $2500
Any and all financial contributions and gifts needs to be made out to Mekong Evangelical Mission with a separate note stating for the “Tolar Family”.
Send gifts/support to:
Compassionate Hop Foundation
Tolar Family Support
111 Gloryland Lane
Antioch, TN 37013
615-941-1392
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