CRUCIAL TIME

Shalom All,

Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

Jenny and I have been very busy recently traveling to Southern Thailand to share the Good News, as well as returning to Malaysia for a short visit. I will update of my reports from April 2011 to July 2011 on the next email.

Towards the early of July 2011, we sought the Lord to determine our next mission destination, as the tempo of our mission work in Bangkok moderates and our missionary zeal seems to propel us to seek another direction, possibly Northeastern Thailand or Southern Thailand, as a missionary pastor. This possibility has come about when we were recently told that Betong in Yala Province (Southern of Thailand) is looking for a pastor to start a new church there. So we traveled all the way from Bangkok to meet up with the elder of the church in Betong, a distance of about 1,300 km.

The three southern provinces (Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat) have been under military rule for the past 6 years, under an Emergence Decree, due to civil unrest and drug related problems. Bomb explosions in the city and the outskirts are frequently reported in the local media. During our trip south, we encountered many Thai Army checkpoints. Getting there from Bangkok can be stressful. It might be safer and quicker to travel there from the Malaysian side, from Grik or Baling and then to Betong City, Thailand.

Betong was well known as a former hide out for members of the Malayan Communists in the 50s ,before peace finally returned to this once troubled era. In Betong recently, we have had a great fellowship with the elder of the church. He told us that the city is presently without a Christian church but on the outskirts there are 3 Christian churches. He has advertised in the Thailand Christian News need for a servant of God (pastor) for about a year now, but without success. It is probably because of the unrest or uncertain situation in the three southern provinces. The majority townspeople living in Betong City are Thai Chinese, speaking Cantonese, Mandarin or Hakka. The elder spoke encouragingly to us to seriously consider coming to Betong as a pastor couple and to help serve the needs of its church.

As we drove back to Bangkok, we felt a strong desire to take up this challenge to serve the Lord in Betong and to build up the church there. We then phoned the elder about our decision and he was very happy for us and gave thanks to the Lord. I have also mentioned this decision to some close Christian brothers and friends. Some have expressed concern about the bombing situation there.

A couple of days later, we appeared to encounter many unexplained problems and these appear to continue even up to the time of writing this report!

The car we have had for about a year now, recently broke down many times after return from Betong. I have sent the car to three different workshops but none of them could find the cause or source of the problem! Also the electric generator in our apartment has been down quite often since our return, sleepless night and there are many more other little incidents.

When I look back to early 2007, I remember facing similar problems. Just prior to that period, I had worked in an IT company, earning the salary of an average salary man of my age. During early March 2007, God spoke to me almost every day, asking me to resign from my job. I told God that I couldn't resign because I needed a paying job to provide me a living. One day, my salary was cut 50%. My electricity was cut off even though I have paid my bills and my car broke down every month! I had to spend about RM 500 to RM 800 (USD 170 - USD 266) repairing the car but thank God my boss paid for my repair then.

One day, I made a bargain with God. You do the first part, telling my boss about my resignation and I will do the second part. Then the following day, I received a call from my boss, He asked me ,"Do you want to resign?" I said "no". Then tons of work were piled on top of me.

In early June 2007, driving my car up a hill slope (near MidValley, Kuala Lumpur) and facing a horrible traffic jam, my first and second manual gear was unable to move and a loud noise came out from the gearbox. I stepped out from my car to check out. In desperation and resignation, I then told God, "I surrender, You win!". Then I phoned my boss, I have decided to resign from my job to serve God instead. He was very surprised to hear this and seemed worried for me. Finally, he agreed to let me go.

It seems that the situation I now face is similar to the events in 2007 for me. It is also not unlike the Prophet Jonah, trying to run away from God's calling. I seem to face a dilemma. Is it possible that God does not want us to go to Betong to serve Him there? If so, then where? Does God want me to stick to original plan 2007, to go to the Middle East with Jenny before end of September 2011? But it is not easy at all for us to go to the Middle East because everything there is so expensive and we can't afford it at all, even the flight ticket alone would cost a hefty RM 3,500 per person/return (USD 1,165). Not an easy option at all this! Please pray with us as we seek His direction.

At the same time, a mission agency from Australia that focuses on the Middle East has sent me some email last month to say it might have an opening for me to help out in a Christian work there. I have replied to this 2 days ago when so many of these happenings were taking place. I am still awaiting for their email for the details of their offer.

It is never an easy decision to surrender every earthly consideration to submit to God's Will and to walk by faith. Not for the past 4 years for me and now even for the next walking by faith, not entirely alone by me, but now together with Jenny, my wife.

Please continue to uphold us in your prayers. God be with you, too, as always!

Blessings,

Rev. Steve Peter H S Kok