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SABBATICAL AHEAD
We are also preparing for a 7 month Sabbatical in the US beginning in early November – 2 months connecting with family, friends and supporters, and 5 months of immersion in a scripture training program designed specifically for YWAM workers like ourselves.
Last October, during a YWAM Bangkok Ministry Leaders meeting Iven found himself sitting at a prayer station connected to “pace of life” and sustainability in ministry. Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the reality of trying to live as a family with small children in ministry, in the midst of many transitions he was asking Jesus for help. He then heard the Lord speak the words into his heart, “Bible School for the Nations” and the Scripture reference “Joshua 3:16”. Both the reference and the phrase didn’t remind him of anything specific, so while still in the meeting he googled Bible School For the Nations and was delighted to find that it not only actually existed, but was a YWAM school, held in several locations around the world. Later, when we looked into it together we realized that this school seemed to be designed especially for someone like Iven, and we began praying about when/where/how to do it.
It has been a very full 11 months since hearing those words from Jesus. Our family has added another child and moved (about 15 feet south), Rak Teh has added 2 more longer-term teammates, started renting a building and is developing into a neighborhood church; our pace of life has anything but slowed!
So with the support and confirmation of our Rak Teh team, our family will be headed to the States for a time of Sabbatical (intentional extended rest and reflection + study and growth away from one's usual work) in early November for two months with family, friends and supporters, (it’s been two years since we were all there together!), and then driving over the mountains to Cascade, Idaho in early January for a 4 ½ month season of intensive Scripture study (for Iven) and family rest (for all of us).
In short the Bible School for the Nations is a Genesis-to-Revelation chronological study of Scripture taught largely through Holy Spirit led group discussion and with a lens towards cross-cultural missions engagement (thinking about how to let God use the tool of His Word to raise up leaders and transform communities in unreached contexts).
Kashmira will be primarily with the children, while learning and preparing to transition into homeschooling Izayla for 1st grade upon our return to Bangkok (Elian will be continuing and Kyin will be entering Thai preschool upon our return). All of us anticipate this being a special season of rest and reflection for our family. We are especially excited about wearing fewer hats and having less complex roles for a season - and it hard to imagine a context more unlike our home here in Bangkok – from stifling hot flat city life to a tiny rural mountain town in winter. God is pretty funny, and we trust in His goodness.
The Joshua 3:16 passage that Iven heard initially tells the story of the people of Israel crossing into the promised land and those carrying the ark of God (representing his presence) stepped into the flooding river, the water stopped flowing far upstream, allowing the people to safely cross into the Promised Land – then the waters returned to flow again. We receive this verse both as an indication that we will indeed return to Bangkok after 7 months away, and also as a promise that God will indeed care for and provide for our neighborhood, team and our family while we are away.
We look forward to seeing many of you this winter during our time in California and the Pacific Northwest (schedule details are still pending) and we covet your prayers during our Sabbatical time of rest, refreshment, and preparation before returning to Bangkok in early June of 2016.
During this Sabbatical time we will continue to depend on God and the generosity of His people for our financial support – including the tuition fees for Iven’s scripture training program as well as the reality that we anticipate the cost of living during this season in the US to be a bit higher than our normal cost of living in Bangkok.
Thank you so much for journeying with our family these past 8½ years. We are so grateful to be witnessing the work of God on our streets, in our lives, and through His people - even as we are excited for what He will continue to do as we are away from Bangkok. We pray that you would experience His joy and rest even as you participate along side of us in this holy work through your prayers, encouragement and support!
All grace and peace,
Iven, Kashmira, Izayla, Elian, Kyin & Rinnan
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