there are thai missionaries around the world, about ten of them from what i heard. went to a commisioning service of a couple who are going to taiwan; it was very inspiring, much more so than our own service last fall. maybe if we were only one of ten korean missionaries, instead of 10,000, around the world,…
i am not sure if this couple is going to target the taiwanese or the thai workers in taiwan; but they are going, and are going through the same process of raising support, reporting to churches, preparing for culture shock, loneliness, etc. i’m so glad that the thai church has a vision for global ministry, but i’m also aware of the many issues that sending churches have to deal with when they support a missionary. even the more experienced korean or american churches often betray cross-cultural ignorance and frustrate those on the field. americans are generally seen as more culturally narrowminded than others; i don’t think so, but people from the less wealthy countries do tend to be more humble and less eager to tell everybody how the american way or the “rational” way is the best or even biblical (so “you guys should change your 3,000-yr old tradition today,” etc.).
this couple’s annual budget is over USD 50,000, a staggering amount for an average thai family; i was surprised too, since it’s bigger than ours, but the pastor explained the higher cost of living in taiwan, and the need for an automobile (even a used one) that wasn’t even included in the general annual budget, etc. still, once out on the field, money is less important than one’s sense of peace of being in tune with God’s will, less important than the emotional support of friends and churches back home;
pray for the Khamsiangs.
