Changes

It has been a season of change for our family.  God is growing a baby to join our family, we're moving to a different house (to better accomodate a baby), and the kids started school.  The Lord has given us clarity in sometimes uncertain circumstances and He has used other people to encourage us and share their wisdom.  Women are growing in the Lord through Bible study, and our group is growing!  Our church recently celebrated it's first birthday, and slowly, people are coming.  

Let me recap our summer (we homeschooled through most of it, but here's the fun stuff).

Even though we're in Asia, we still celebrate the 4th of July.  We played games

and attempted to make our favorite American foods.  Check out

the cake my friend made!

 
Check out Max's cross-handed feeding of these piglets.

For the month of July we met in homes for church.  I really loved this
time of fellowship over food in homes.  Simple and beautiful worship together.

He falls asleep for most naps looking at this Thai picture dictrionary.

Each week have a special day where we check to see how big the baby has grown.  The website
usually compares the size to a fruit or vegetable.  Sometimes they see the same produce at the store and smile.

No one wants to find a scorpion in the dark after Bible study while all the ladies are getting their shoes on outside!
But, my friend saved the day and killed it.  It was big, y'all!  Praise God no one was hurt.

Callie had a birthday and we planned a Spy Academy for her and her friends.

She's getting taller!  Fun story: I bougth this shirt on clearance when we were stateside and tucked it away because it was big.  Well, the day before her birthday party I came across it in her closet.  The theme of her party was a special fox being taken from Spy Academy and her detective friends needed to find and solve clues to find her.  This shirt has a fox and says something like "clever genius".  If you know me, you know I love themes, so have to have a shirt for such a party just made me feel loved by the Lord.  He gives even the simplest gifts that seem silly to others.

This is a typical snack at our Bible study.  The women bring fruits from their
gardens or the market and we all share.   I usually bake something, but they always
prefer fruit to sweets.  

This was a day of uniform shopping for school.  Could we find a khaki skort
anywhere in the city to fit Callie?  No, no we did not.  We ordered it from China.

And this little guy turned 5.  He still loves all things dinosaurs.

Halfway through grocery shopping we found this in our cart..assumed it was dead, until it moved.
It kept to its corner, so we just left it alone until check-out and showed the cashier.  She freaked out and
called a manager, who called a janitor, who killed it, but not before it scurried across the floor to attempt escape.

Ken teaching a group at church.  "I am the vine.."

This kid doesn't like too many pics taken or shared, but here is one with Oscar.  Remember a year ago when
we got him and he fit in Jack's hand?!  

Pregnant me.  Not the best picture, but oh well.  Baby seems healthy!

This is our church.  Ken is up there preaching.

First day of school.  I didn't cry (I spent part of my summer doing that). 
They are all doing well in school so far.  I'm thankful God has provided
a place to have other people speak into their lives and live out the Gospel in front of them.

Our birthdays!  They are a day apart, so we spent a few days eating cake.


PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Ladies Bible study: We started a 7 month study of the book of Genesis this week.
2. God has grown in us a desire to bring another person into our home, so pray that our family feels unity in this decision.  We are praying about a particular college student.
3. Support: With a baby coming, (and the above prayer request), a big increase in our healthcare, and an increase in rent, we need more financial supporters to join our team.  http://www.letsopenthewindow.com/donate.php
4. Men's Bible study: Pray for Ken as he asks God to bring Thai men to study the Word.
5. Unreached people:  Even though there is a Gospel presence here, the resistance is strong and prayer is needed!

Thank you, friends for praying.  Please write us and let us know how we can pray for you. 

BIG NEWS!

I am pregnant.  Maybe you're asking the same question our daughter did:
 "How is this possible....You're so old....I mean, obviously it's possible..."

Well, this was a wonderful surprise and true, I am not young, but God is the giver of life and we praise Him for this gift!  It is early and a few people have expressed their concern that we shared the news so soon(7 weeks along), but this is our son or daughter, and a part of our family.  We'll thank God for as long as He allows this child to grow and live.

 It's also a chance for all of our friends to pray with us, thank God for this gift, and to know what we are walking through. It's a chance for our kids to learn that human life has value from the beginning.  So, please pray with us for a healthy baby.

 As our family grows, so do the need.  Please also pray and consider joining our team of supporters.
 Here's the link: http://www.letsopenthewindow.com/donate.php

The past few months have been full in great ways.  I continue to teach a ladies Bible study in our home.  This has stretched me and humbled me, asking God to teach me how to teach them.  I am understanding more of how culture seeps into every area of life, including our view of God. Studying the Word isn't common practice for believers here.  The thought is, "You are the teacher, so I'll believe what you say."  Culturally, they don't question a teacher.  I am instructing them to be like the Bereans of Acts 17:11,"... they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."
  My desire is for them to know the Word, to live it out, to know false teaching when it's spoken, and to know voice of the Holy Spririt.

A student at the kid's Thai school couldn't return because he couldn't afford the tuition.  But, through the monthly giving of our supporters, (we set aside money each month for ministry opportunities),
the bill has been paid!  Thank you everyone!  This child has the chance to hear the Word taught daily at school!



I'll let these pictures give you a glimpse into the last couple months....

This is my Thai neice.  She asked if I'd plan a birthday party for her.
She requested a cheesecake!  So, I made one....and hopefully never again.  It aint easy!
But, everyone had so much fun together.  

For Thai New Year's, people mix powder and water and smear on on each other.  This happened to Max
at a restaurant.  He was not amused...until they let him repay the deed and he was thrilled!

A Mangrove forest in Southern Thailand.

A view from above.  I've never seen anything like this place! 

This is above the forest.  Do you see how tall Jack is getting?!

We had a terrible storm (some called it a typhoon) come through!  Our trees in the front yard were bent to the ground, the power went out.  In some parts of town they had hail!!  The local said they had never seen anything like it.  Our friends trampoline was lifted out of their yard and landed 3 houses away!  Thankfully no one was hurt.

This is my buddy at church. He holds my hand when I teach kid's class and likes to follow me.
  I gave him a Pixie Stix from the USA.
I forgot to tell him not to eat the paper!  Ooops.

This was our drive to a remote village 5 hours from our home.
 A cliff on one side and no escape on the other!  The mountians were
beautiful, but our brakes were hot!

Here's the lovely bride!  Well worth the long drive. (She comes to Bible study sometimes).

Reception Dinner.  They prepared several pork meals with rice.

The view from the house...

At one point Max disappeared.  He never does this!  We found him under the house playing.

A celebration for Ken and his co-workers.  He works so hard, friends.  You'd be proud of him! 

First day back at Thai school.  While American kiddos are on break, ours are starting up again!





Thanks for following along with our lives here.  Thank you for praying.  We need you to keep praying!  There is a strong hold in our community, made clear by a recent string-tying ceremony that connects houses to the temple.  It's a visual reminder to lift the people of our village up.


Oh, how we miss you all! 
We plan to visit in the summer of 2019. 

Border Run!

I was able to take a trip to visit a group of refugees with a  friend, months ago.  They have escaped civil war and are living with next to nothing, relying on the gardens they have planted, the fish in the river, and the generousity of others.  They cannot work and they cannot go home.  (They are the same people group as in the movie "All Saints, starring John Corbett.")

We took food and snacks for the children and they lined up to receive their treat.  I wondered how we'd open the lid to the sealed metal container, but they pulled out a machete and the lid was no match!  I also wondered how we would distribute the food.  The kids held their shirt out as an adult grabbed a handful of crackers and dropped them in.  Aren't they precious?

The needs were overwhelming and my heart was stirred, so I started raising money to help buy rice.  Many of you joined in  by coming to a pop-up shop fundraiser in December while we were in Michigan.  You gave and hundreds of people are being fed this month!!!  Here's the link for the origianal fundraiser if you'd like to contibute.  We will be visiting the refugee camp next month!

My friend Bprang and I walk and talk sometimes when our kids are sleeping and I shared my desire to start a ladies Bible study for Thai women.  She had a look of surprise when she explained that she too had the desire for women to gather, but didn't feel she was equipped to take it on.  Here's what has happened: we have been meeting at our house for a month and have 7 to 8 women that come and listen as we study the book of I John, pray for each other and share food together.

The kids finished their first year of Thai school.  Many will ask us if they are fluent now, and the answer is no, but they understand more.  It's a complicated, tonal language but we press on!

Ken's role (volunteer worker) at GIS has kept him very busy this year as he stepped in to fill a need in the running of operations.  He puts in long days, but there is joy in knowing the Lord has given him the education and ability to serve in this way.  He's also on the preaching rotation at the Thai bilingual church plant we attend.  Last month he took Callie to a daddy-daughter event.








The winter Olympics are not very celebrated here in Thailand, but the Mungle home was an exception.  We invited a couple families to come and eat "icecream torches" and play minute-to-win-it games.  We even had fake medals to give away. It was such a fun night and the kids are still talking about it.

See their torches?

PRAYER REQUESTS:
Praise God for the ladies Bible study.  Please pray that the women continue to come and hunger for the Word.

Praise God for our community that is being established!  It's been 3 years and we are grateful for what the Lord is growing here.  Pray that we are faithful to follow Him and don't replace "ministry" for fellowship with Him.

Praise God for making us aware of the Burmese refugees and for the money he has provided for them.  Please pray for help and guidance in this situation, as well as ways for the people to work towards a way of providing for themselves and for peace in their country.  (There are many orphans).
   UPDATE:  2,000 more people are in need of food and basic supplies.  It feels so overwhelming.  Please pray and consider giving.

We praise God for our supporters!  Thank you for praying for us, for giving so that we can be here.  The exchange rate continues to change, which is great for the Thai economy, but we lose about $300 per month.  Please pray that more people will join our team of senders and supporters.

Expect the Unexpected

Here's a blitz of pictures from the past 6 weeks, with a quick update!

We successfully moved into a different house.  Many unexpected circumstances along the way made it challenging: no water, bees building a nest, the shower tried to electrocute Ken, the refridgerator died, major flooding in our community and many more in-between things.  Thankfully, we are functioning and well again!

If you have to find one of these: the most dangerous centipede in Thailand, in your yard,
at least you found it dead!   Hoping to never see another one!



 I took the kids to get groceries 10 minutes from home and an hour later many roads were closed due to flooding.  After and hour and a half of taking side roads and turning around many times, the police officer let me turn through and we made it home!  We were sad to see the damage, but were able to help a family with some of the damage. 

This weekend closes out the mourning period.  It was insightful to hear from our 

Thai friends, both believer and non-believers, about their affection for the King.  

He was looked at like a father to the nation.   Many tears were shed in Thailand.

I joke that we live in perpetual Fall because things are always growing and dying,
but we managed to find some pretty "autumn colors" on a ride through our mubaan.

The banana lady lives close to our house, so we visit her weekly.  

We are helping launch a Thai/English (bilingual) church service.  Ken and I taught 

a lesson to the kids on the Tower of Babel.  The kids cut and drew a picture to use as a way to help tell the story.  One day, there will no longer be a language barrier and every tribe, tongue, and nation will be gathered around the throne of God! 

I can't share pictures of the kids I work with, but I can show you what 

I taught them.  This sweet girl is learning how to knit!  They love craft time, especially stickers, and old magazines.  We have a new child in the program who doesn't know the Lord...yet.  Praise God that the other kids are walking with Christ and will share their hope!

Celebrating the birthday of a friend.

Thanks for following along with us, praying for us, and supporting us to be here.  We plan to be home next year to touch base and would love to share more with you, your church, or small group, face to face.  Please message us!!