November/December Update

Hello from the Thai 5! Here’s a bit of what we’ve been up to over the last couple months. Thanks for reading and Happy New Year!

SE States
Following the NW missionary conferences (see September/October Update) our family drove together to Denver where we had a great but too-short visit with some good friends. Then, I (Nathan) traveled by plane to Alabama while Jessica our kiddos continued on to my parents’ house in Nebraska. For the next couple weeks, I visited several churches in the Mobile Bay area and also in Palm Bay, Florida.

Nebraska and Idaho
On November 12, I returned to Nebraska. It was good to reunite with my family and plant myself in one place for a while. Over next several weeks we had opportunities to share about Thailand with a couple area churches and also get together with friends and family that support our ministry. In addition we caught up with homeschooling and kept busy with different tasks that had been neglected as we traveled during the first couple months of our home assignment. Thankfully, we also enjoyed spending time with family and simply resting. It was also a blessing to celebrate Christmas with most of my family, something we hadn’t been able to do for many years.

Making cookies with Grandma

Visiting Uncle Paul and Aunt Valli

Our kids saying hello at a Christian radio station

Our girls stock groceries at Torpin’s Rodeo Market

Chloe hugging her Great Grandma Killion

Our kids and Grandma Killion making a gingerbread house

It looks good enough to eat!

Grandma and Chloe with her gumdrop

“Hey, Grandma! That’s my gumdrop!”

Matthias enjoying the snow

Abigail shoveling snow

Chloe squinting in the snow

On the evening of December 26 and morning of December 27 we reluctantly said goodbye to different members of our family in Nebraska. Although we’re confident of God’s calling on our lives to serve Him in Thailand, it’s still painful to be apart from those we love. As another missionary recently told me, I wish there was a way to leave without going.

Abigail and Grandpa saying goodbye

Our kids with Grandpa and Grandma Killion

Leaving Nebraska, we began our two day trip to southern Idaho where we met Jessica’s family who had traveled from California and Washington. We’ve enjoyed this week with them and will leave on Friday to visit a church in northeastern Washington. From there, we’ll travel on to southern California where we’ll stay with Jessica’s sister’s family and visit some churches and friends in the area.

Chloe with her cousins and Papa Heath

Cousins opening gifts from Papa and Grammie Heath

Chloe, Abigail, and their cousins display their new fans

As we begin 2013, we are reminded of the truth that our opportunity to serve our Savior is short: “Knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near.” (Romans 13:11-12 NASB). So then, by God’s grace, let’s serve the Lord together as we have the opportunity.

September/October Update

Hello from the Thai 5! We’ve just finished the first two months of our first home assignment after leaving for the field nearly 4 years ago. The last several weeks have been filled with miles and miles of travel, some really long days, much reporting and sharing, and great amounts of fellowship and refreshment. Here are some details of what’s been happening. Thanks for reading!

On September 1 we arrived in New York and stayed for the next several days with some good friends from the Eastport Bible Church on Long Island. Our family had a wonderful time of rest as we recovered from jet lag and geared up to begin our journey across the US.

Lunch with our good friends the Curtos

We flew to Indianapolis on September 4 and stayed at TCM’s apartment for few days. During that time we met with different people in the office and began preparing presentations and materials that we would share with churches and ministry partners.

That Sunday we shared at Faith Bible Church in Olney, Illinois. Of course, this was a special reunion for us as we had ministered at FBC for several years before leaving for Thailand. It was good to catch up with old friends face-to-face and share with them about how God is at work in Thailand.

Riding horses at the Kermicle farm

From Illinois, we drove to Nebraska to visit my (Nathan’s) family, including four members (a niece/cousin, two nephews/cousins, and a brother-in-law/uncle) that, up until then, we had only met on Skype! It was great to help my dad work on my brother’s house, watch our kids and their cousins play together, and simply be with family. After a week in Nebraska, I flew out to Denver (more on that below), while Jessica and the kids stayed with parents for another five days. On the morning they left for Denver, they stopped by the hospital to visit my brother and sister-in-law and meet their newborn son who had just arrived in the middle of the night. What a blessing!

Cousins

In Denver I shared at The Point on Sunday morning and attended a workshop put on by Simply The Story from Saturday to Wednesday. In all I spent 60+ hours in practical sessions that gave us some very helpful tools for using biblical storytelling in our ministry.

Jessica and the kids arrived in Denver on September 26 and we all left for Oregon the next morning to begin the Northwest missions conferences. For the next 4 weeks we, along with several other missionaries, traveled throughout Oregon, Idaho, and Washington to present and report on our ministries and encourage churches in mission. By the end of October, our family had visited 8 churches in these three states, stayed with 6 different families, eaten a number of delicious meals, and received numerous blessings.

Uncle Alex and Matthias praying before the service

Needless to say, the last couple months have been busy, but we’re so thankful for the opportunity to be in the States and share how God is working in Thailand. In truth, it feels like we left part of our hearts in the Land of Smiles when we left and are eager to return and resume our ministry there. Until then, we’re trusting the Lord and walking with Him through this adventure.

Pike Place Market

Jessica sharing with a Pioneer club

Chloe enjoying snow

Glory Moments

As a father, I am convinced that there are glory moments in the lives of my children. These are times in which the beauty, brilliance, and wonder of God are visibly seen in my children’s lives. They are instances that shine brightly with the splendor and dignity God intended for His creation to have. Such moments are glimpses into the image of God being restored and what Paul describes as a transformation from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Yesterday, I experienced such a moment. For the past six months, our daughter Abigail has been taking dance lessons with several other girls her age and yesterday was her first recital. It was a long day for little Abby; she was up at 7:00 a.m., left the house a little after 8:00, rehearsed in the morning, performed once in the afternoon and then again in the evening.

Jessica had taken Abigail to the theater that morning and then returned home to pick up the rest of us. When our family arrived at the theater to take Abby to lunch, she and her group were partway through their final dress rehearsal. Now, before that morning, I had watched her dance at her weekly practice (although, that had been a while ago) and of course at home, as well. But this was different. There she was: on the stage, dressed in her outfit, under the lights and shining! As I watched her glide with little-girl grace, my heart began to burst as my eyes filled with tears. In those few moments, I saw Abigail joyfully worship her Heavenly Father with talents He has given her. She moved through her well-rehearsed routine with an attractive and unassuming confidence. She looked to her instructor for direction and performed to the best of her ability. At one point, she even caught me gazing at her, flashed me a quick smile and, with a wink, melted what was left of my heart.

Of course, I realize that Abigail is at a beginner’s level and has just begun to hone the skills she has. And it’s certainly possible that my perspective is a bit biased. (Which father’s isn’t?) But, I really do mean it when I say that when she danced, Abigail displayed the glory of God. Her fluid, radiant movements weren’t arrogantly showing off her ability. They were humbly showing off her God. She was displaying the gifts God has given her and, in doing so, giving the rest of us a picture of His majesty. What an example of God’s mysterious goodness! He uses us, even young children, as followers of Christ and members of His body, to show the watching world His beauty. How gracious He is to unfold His glory through the lives of His children!

June 2011 Report

Hello from the Thai 5! June has come to an end and God has been faithful to see us through another month. Moving, the start up of a new phase of our ministry, and a trip to Malaysia are just a few things we’re excited to share with you. Thanks for reading!

We Moved…Again!
Not long ago, a friend asked us, “You’re moving again? Didn’t you just move recently?” Well, it was only about 1 1/2 years since our last move, but yes, we moved again. We’re thankful for the many friends (and their vehicles!) who helped us throughout the process. After about a month of living in the new place we’re feeling settled in and enjoying the area.

Teaching at North
The purpose of this move was to be closer to North Chiang Mai University (NCU) where Nathan began teaching an English class in mid-June. This class meets twice a week and gives us an excellent opportunity to meet students and faculty at the school and build friendships with them. Please pray for the students at NCU. Also, please pray for us to have God’s wisdom as we endeavor to reach out to them with the love of Christ.

Jessica surprises her parents in KL

To Malaysia with Love
The same day Nathan began teaching at NCU, Jessica left for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Her parents had arrived in KL just 12 hours before to begin their work there. It was a sweet reunion as Jessica surprised her parents and spent about 11 days helping them settle in to their new home. What a blessing to have family on the same continent!

Serving with Friends at Care Corner
In early June the LaVier family, some friends from the US, came to visit Thailand. Mark and Cindy (the daughter of TCM missionaries Joe and Pauline Watkins) and their daughters Hannah and Grace stayed with our co-missionaries the Maraats and prepared a special jump-rope presentation to share with the children at Care Corner Orphanage near our home. Following the presentation and training time, Nathan shared the gospel with The Loop of Life, an object lesson using a rope. It was fun for our entire family to serve the Lord together!

Abigail’s 7th Birthday
On the 29th of June, Abby turned 7 years old. We’re so thankful that God has blessed our family with Abigail and for the many ways He has caused her to grow, even since arriving here in Thailand. The Lord has given her a servant’s heart and joyful spirit.

Our family celebrates Abby's birthday

May 2011 Report

Sawatdee from the Kingdom of Thailand! The month of May has come and gone and much has happened in the meantime. Aside from the unseasonable amount of rain we’ve had (was that a boat?), we’ve been blessed with visitors, have kept busy packing, and have seen another school year come to an end. More about these things and other stuff below. Thanks for reading!

Friends from Afar
During the first week of May, our new friend Allen came to visit. Allen is a member of The Point, a church in the USA that supports our sending agency, Thing to Come Mission (TCM). For the past couple months, Allen has been traveling and doing ministry throughout Asia and praying about becoming a full-time missionary. Prior to his time in Thailand, Allen spent some time doing ministry with a team in other parts of Asia. Then, during his time here, he was able to see some of the tourist sights in and around Chiang Mai and get a view of our lives and ministry. Following his week here, he continued on to Cambodia to visit TCM missionaries Ariel and Faith Mahilum and Myra Omictin. Please be praying for this brother in the Lord as he trusts God’s leading for the future.

Kelly and our family at Buatong Waterfall

In mid-May, our good friend Kelly arrived for a two week stay. Kelly is a member of Faith Bible Church (FBC), the church we pastored in Olney, Illinois before moving to Thailand. Aside from bringing news of FBC and Olney, Kelly also helped us pack and move some during her time here. We’re grateful for the few days she spent helping us load and unload boxes, hang curtain rods and curtains, and put away other items. Also, we’re also thankful for the evening she offered to watch our kids so that we could enjoy a night out! Aside from putting her to work, we also spent time visiting some local sights, going shopping, and having fun.

Packing & Moving
Our official move date is June 4 and we have some friends planning to help us that day. However, we’ve been doing as much as possible ahead of time to make that day less hectic. In the process, we’ve made several trips from the house in World Club to the house in Ponprom. We’re already excited about getting settled in and beginning to teach at North Chiang Mai University. Please continue to be in prayer as we step into this new phase.

Matthias with his Home Country report

School Days
During May Matthias and Abigail had presentations at Grace International School (GIS). We enjoyed watching Abigail take part in a class play and poetry reading. It was also great to see Matthias give a report on his home country after putting so much work into his project. We also had fun on the last day of school (which was actually June 1) as each grade had a special presentation and students received awards for the year. As Matthias and Abigail finish 3rd and 1st grade respectively and Chloe prepares to enter Kindergarten, we’re trusting the Lord for the transition we’ll be making for next year as we begin homeschooling. We’re very thankful for GIS and also excited about this change for our family. At the same time, we’re aware that it will come with several adjustments. Please be in prayer for us as we prepare to start homeschooling in August.

Abigail the mouse with her rabbit story

Teaching English
May 30 saw the end of English classes at Nakhonping Church (NKPC), the Thai church our family has been a part of over the past year. Nathan and co-missionary Genesis Maraat began teaching two classes at NKPC in September 2011. Following a break in January and February for TESOL, Nathan resumed teaching the children’s class. Altogether the classes ran twice a week for about 6 months. Last Monday evening, it was a joy to have a special meal and celebration for the regular students that have been a part of the children’s class. Please pray for Nakhonping Church as well as the children who attended the class and has an opportunity to hear the Gospel.

Early Birthday Party
Abigail will turn 7 toward the end of June. However, some of her classmates, including her best friend, won’t be around Chiang Mai at that time. So we decided to have an early birthday party for her this year. Actually, this was Abigail’s first official birthday party with friends. Abby, her 6 girl classmates, and Chloe enjoyed playing at an indoor playground and then watching a princess movie and having pizza at a neighborhood restaurant. We’re so thankful to the Lord for Abigail and it’s such a joy to see the little lady she’s becoming.

Thai Wedding
In mid-May we attended the wedding of two friends who go to Nakhonping Church. It was an honor to have Matthias and Abigail be asked to take part in the wedding, filling the roles of Certificate Bearer and Flower Girl. Also, we’re thankful for this young couple who love Jesus Christ and desire to serve Him. We believe that in the enemy’s attack against the church, Satan often targets the family. With an extraordinarily high infidelity rate, Thailand is certainly no exception to this awful reality. Please pray for Yu and Joy as they begin their married life together in Christ.

Matthias, Abigail and Chloe at the wedding of our Thai friends

Our Anniversary
Speaking of marriages, Jessica and I celebrated our anniversary this month. It’s hard to believe that it was 12 years ago that we were standing at the altar! Much has changed since that time, but by God’s grace, we’ve grown from a family of two to five and God has faithfully led us each step of the way. In that time, God has taken us from Grace Bible College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Faith Bible Church in Olney, Illinois, and now to serving Him with Things to Come Mission in Chiang Mai, Thailand. God is so good and we can’t wait to see what He’ll do next!

Goodbye Kitty and the Reality of Death & Hell

Monday was a sad day at the Killion household as Gabby, one of our two 5-month old kittens, died after being attacked by some neighborhood dogs. Since we’re going to move in just over a month, we decided to bury Gabby in the yard at the new house. As we did so, we took the opportunity to talk to our kids and pray about the unpredictable nature of death and how very precious life is. It was a tender moment together as a family.

All of this has caused me to think about the awfulness of death and, more specifically, of people dying. As special as Gabby was to our family and as much as we’ll miss her, the terrible reality is that people are dying all around us everyday and entering into a Christ-less eternity. How saddened am I over this? Does my heart break that people are dying without knowing Jesus Christ? What am I doing to share Christ so that others will have the opportunity to trust Him and spend forever in Heaven rather than going to the Lake of Fire? These questions challenge me.

As I reflected on these things, several verses came to mind that reveal God’s heart about the death of unbelievers and what He has done. Here’s a few of them.

• “Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?” ~ Ezekiel 18:23
• “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.” ~ Ezekiel 18:32
• “Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?'” ~ Ezekiel 33:11

• “You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.” ~ Jonah 4:2, after God has spared the people of Nineveh)
• “Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?” ~ Jonah 4:11

• “I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh…my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.” ~ Romans 9:1-3, 10:1

• “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.” ~ Philippians 3:18-19, emphasis added

• “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” ~ 2 Peter 3:9

• “For while we were still helpless, a the right time Christ died for the ungodly…God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” ~ Romans 5:6, 8

These verses speak loudly and clearly of God’s love for the world, including those without Christ. This is a truth that I desire will impact me more and more each day and cause me to weep for the lost. Lord, please give me Your love for people dying all around me.

2nd Opinion on Abigail

Yesterday (Friday) evening, we saw a pediatric neurologist to get a second opinion on Abigail’s condition. This doctor lectures at a large university, works for a major hospital, and was highly recommended by a family who has dealt with childhood epilepsy. After looking over the readout from the EEG and performing some basic tests, this doctor’s opinion was that Abby was misdiagnosed by the first doctor and that she does not have epilepsy. Because she is a specialist in this area, we’re confident about her conclusion. At the same time, the doctor was unable to explain what caused Abigail to pass out last week. Whatever the cause, however, we’re thankful that she hasn’t had any more problems since then and that we could get more definite answers about her overall condition.

We know many of you have been praying and several of you sent messages of encouragement. Others of you gave some helpful advice and insights into our situation. So, we truly thank you! You’ve been a blessing to us and we’re thankful to the Lord for your friendship and love.

By the way, I’m not sure what the price would be in the US for an hour visit to a pediatric neurologist at a major hospital, but here it only cost us a whopping $23. Praise God!

Update on Abigail

8 missionary kids - Improsos, Maraats and Killions

Hello friends! First of all, thank you for the overwhelming response of love so many of you have shown us since we shared the news about Abigail earlier this week. All of your comments, messages, and phone calls have been very encouraging to us over the last few days.

We’re thankful that since having what we believe was a minor petit mal or absence seizure last Friday, Abigail hasn’t had any more problems. We’re also grateful for several friends who have called or written us with their insights, having had similar experiences with their own children. One such friend advised us to see a pediatric neurologist here in Chiang Mai who was recommended to them by a hospital in Bangkok. What’s more, this doctor works at a hospital that has top of the line EEG testing equipment. How good and gracious God is to provide such a doctor and facility! So, we’ve set up an appointment for this Friday during which we’ll be able to discuss having more tests done. At this point, although the EEG last week indicated epilepsy, we would still like further testing to determine the cause of the seizure. We trust that by this weekend we’ll know more and be able to share it with you.

In the meantime, we continue to rest in the Lord and are encouraged by His people. Just last night, we ate dinner with our teammates, the Maraats, along with fellow TCM missionaries to Kenya, Gardner and Ledith Improso. During the evening we had a time of prayer for each family and then Genesis led in a special time of prayer for Abigail. We are very blessed!

 

Please Pray for Abigail

Hello friends! We’ve had a full couple days here and want to let you know what’s been happening. Thanks for reading!

On Friday morning as Jessica was putting Abigail’s hair up in braids, Abby suddenly went limp and, had Jessica not been holding on to her arm, would have dropped to the floor. We picked her up and set her on the bathroom counter and noticed she had a glazed look in her eyes as if she wasn’t really awake. Then, only a few seconds later, she was fine. All of this probably lasted only about 15 or 20 seconds.

About mid-morning, we took her to the hospital to run some tests. A routine check-up, a blood test, an x-ray of her chest, and an EKG all returned normal results (and only cost around $55). We asked the doctor if what she experienced could have been a seizure. He said that it was possible and recommended we have an EEG done ($40) as this would test for epilepsy. We went to another medical facility for the EEG and the technician monitoring the readout said that the preliminary results indicated that Abigail’s brainwaves seemed abnormal. We made an appointment at the hospital for Sunday afternoon when we would be told more official results.

Throughout most of Friday, Abby was a bit lethargic, especially after the EEG during which she was asleep. However, that evening she was her normal self. She was even joking around while she and Chloe were playing–“Don’t chase me Chloe, I might faint again!”

On Sunday afternoon, we returned to the hospital and met again with the doctor we saw on Friday. He told us that according to the results of the EEG, it is the opinion of the neurologist that Abigail does have epilepsy. The pediatrician went on to tell us us about a medication she could take, but also said that many experts suggest waiting on medication until a second seizure occurs. He also advised talking with other neurologists and people we know who have epilepsy in order to get more information. Overall, the doctor was very helpful and even humble in his recommendations.

At this point, we’re planning to wait on medication, talk with others we know who have epilepsy, and look into the possibility of having some more tests done.

Of course, all of this has been a bit unnerving. However, we are thankful to the Lord for many things and for the ways He’s been at work in the midst of what has happened. Look at this list of praises!

• First of all, Abigail had her seizure while Jess was right there with her and holding her arm so she didn’t fall to the ground and hit her head.
• Secondly, the hospital we went to (we’d only been there once or twice before) had a coordinator on staff who spoke English fluently and the pediatrician was also quite capable in English. This was a huge praise as we would not have been able to understand so many specialized medical terms in Thai.
• Another praise is that the costs of the tests were very affordable. It was under $100 for a hospital visit and all those tests!
• Yet another reason to rejoice is that Abigail handled everything so wonderfully during the tests—she didn’t cry while her blood was being drawn or get scared during the different tests. She even said that some of them were fun!
• Also, we’re so thankful for Abigail’s response after seeing the doctor on Sunday. As we were leaving, Abby asked about whether she had to have more tests done today. Jessica explained that we were just getting results from the test on Friday. Then, Abby asked, “Can you tell me about it, because I wasn’t really paying attention.” So, Jess talked with her about what epilepsy is and what seizures are. She also told Abby that she is still a normal little girl, but that we’ll have to be careful about certain things, such as how she plays. We told her it would be best not to go on the swings at school or play on things that are really high. Through all of this, Abby was so sweet. She even helped by giving other suggestions about how she could be careful!
• Finally, we are thankful for God’s peace in all this. Yes, it’s a bit scary to think about what could happen since we don’t know when another seizure could take place or how this might affect Abigail’s life in the future (playing sports, driving, etc.). But, despite these unknowns, we are confident that God is protecting her and find comfort in knowing that He knew about this before Abigail was even born! He is good and we have faith that our sweet Abby is in our Heavenly Father’s very tender and capable hands!

Of course we are also thankful for you! We know many of you faithfully pray for our family and ministry and trust that you will now lift up Abigail in prayer as well. We’ll keep you updated.

New Prayer Card

Thanks for praying for the people of Thailand and our ministry here!