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A Change in Plans

Post #7—April 25, 2026

We couldn’t post this week due to the events last Saturday night, April 18, when an accident changed our plans and brought unexpected challenges.

Saturday night was the final night of the Khmer New Year celebrations, and one million people were in the main celebration area. Gary and I were boarding a boat for a trip on the Tonle Sap River. We were walking up the gangplank, and I was one step away from being on the boat.

Suddenly, the gangplank slipped from the boat and crashed to the ground. Gary and I both fell about six feet and landed on our knees on the rocky shore.

Miraculously, Gary didn’t have a scratch on him. He rushed over to me because I wasn’t as lucky. I knew my right leg was badly injured. Immediately, we were surrounded by people who were in the area.

Due to the large crowds, the ambulance couldn’t reach our location quickly. For the next 45 minutes, Gary stayed by my side, protecting my right knee from being moved or touched. Our friends who were with us helped with translation for those trying to assist and support me as I sat there on the bank. I concentrated on deep breathing for pain control.

Finally, the ambulance arrived, and I received a medical assessment from their team. They splinted my leg and transferred me to a stretcher. Then, it was time to begin the ascent up the steep bank to the waiting ambulance.

Faith and trust become all-consuming in a moment like that. I didn’t know the people picking me up, and whether they would drop the stretcher, stumble on the steps, or something else. I prayed the entire trek up those steps.

When we crested the bank, I was placed on a gurney and wheeled through the crowds to the ambulance and taken to a local hospital.

The emergency department was teeming with injured and ill patients. At least forty beds were crammed in the room, and there was only enough space to walk between the beds.

The X-rays revealed that a piece of the back of my tibia had been broken off and displaced.

Surgery was the only option. On Sunday afternoon, during a four-hour procedure, a plate and pins were used to reposition the bone fragment and stabilize the tibia.

On Tuesday, I was moved to another hospital. That transfer is a story in itself. I’ve begun physical therapy to learn to use a walker and to balance on one leg. I’ll be non-weight-bearing on my right leg for the next 12 weeks.

When we travel, we are always covered by travel insurance. The company we use has been fantastic at arranging my flight home. All of that is still in the works, but things are moving forward.

There is much more to this story, some of which I will post later. Some I will share in person.

Let me wrap this up with a few thoughts.

• Our God is in control of our lives. I trust Him implicitly, even when something like this happens. Before I had x-rays, I asked Gary to pray specifically for God to heal my leg in that moment, if it was His will. He has other plans for me, and I will watch and wait for Him to reveal them to me.

• I’m meeting people I would not have met if this hadn’t happened. We’ve had the opportunity to share that we are Christians and why we have made some decisions based on our beliefs, which others don’t understand.

• This trip is scheduled to end on May 19. After much prayer, we’ve decided that Gary will not return home with me. He will finish the Cambodia leg and then go to Papua for training. This was not an easy decision, but we believe time on this earth is short, and our GO workers need the annual training support.

• If you are traveling, don’t turn down travel insurance. It has made a huge difference for us.

Please add the following to your prayer list:

•Gary to finish strong during the next four weeks. In Papua, he faces some of the most arduous and dangerous travel of the entire trip.

•The boat owner whose boat we were boarding. This accident has brought him to the attention of local government authorities. I’ve met with him twice, and he’s told me that he is going to come to church. Pray that he will meet Jesus and that the church members will greet him with open arms.

• The local government authorities. We’ve met with them and shared some of our beliefs. They need Jesus, and I pray that our encounter planted seeds that the Holy Spirit can nurture.

• For my journey home, and as I begin the process of healing and rehab. For those of you who have known me for years, this is the same leg that a sheep head-butted, and I sustained a tib-fib fracture. This isn’t my first rodeo with this kind of injury. I know what lies ahead in terms of loss of independence for the next three months and the ongoing rehab.

Thank you for your prayers and support. In the coming days, I’ll be posting more about our trip and some of the special moments we’ve experienced.

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Each Step They Took Led Them Here


Post #4 April 4, 2026

After saying goodbye to our friends in the closed country we’d been in, it was time to head back to Thailand. We had more work to do there at Sunshine Orchard Learning Center (SOLC) and the Western Thailand Mission. 

After an overnight stay in Bangkok, we flew to Mae Sot, in western Thailand, along the Thai-Myanmar border. It’s graduation time at Sunshine Orchard Learning Center, and our arrival would be the night before the day of celebrations for the students who successfully completed their coursework and exams.

Graduation day dawned early. The church was filled with guests as the graduates lined up outside to march in. The ceremony began at 8:00 a.m and the anticipation and joy reverberated in the room. Fewer than half the visitors found seats in the church for the service. Many were lined up by the windows, looking in. 

The opening notes of “Pomp and Circumstance” heralded the arrival of the graduates. Two groups of students from SOLC were receiving recognition. Clad in cap and gown, the twelfth-grade students have completed their high school coursework. The tenth-grade students have passed the exams that allow them to continue on to the final two years of high school. 

It was a privilege for Gary to speak to the graduates about their future. He reminded them that each of them has physical, mental, and emotional strengths. Although they have endured terrible situations in their lives due to wartime activity in their home villages, they can draw on the strength God has given them to bring hope to others.   

Finally, it was the moment each graduate had been looking forward to. As their names were called, students came forward and received their diplomas. Smiles on many faces in the crowd confirmed the pride of those who supported these students through their educational journey. Many family members are still trapped in their Myanmar homes.

When the formal ceremony ended, everyone moved outside to enjoy celebrating together. The future for many of these students is still uncertain. Some would like to continue their education, but there are financial and official document hurdles to overcome. 

Because many of these students are considered stateless, they cannot travel to another country to study. Those who can obtain a Burmese passport and travel documents could go to the Philippines and attend the Adventist University of the Philippines. Although the tuition is moderate (around US$5,000 per year), these students don’t have the funds to attend. Many want to study education or nursing and return to Sunshine Orchard to serve future students. Please pray for these students. Right now, it seems insurmountable, but God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and He knows how these students can continue their studies. 

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When God Surprises Us


Post #3—March 17, 2026

You may have noticed that we haven’t posted much this week. We’ve been in a closed country, so we must use caution on social media while we are here. In the near future, watch for some inspirational stories (with details changed for safety reasons). The people here have captured our hearts, and I’m sure their stories will do the same for you.

I love how God surprises us when we least expect it. Often I imagine Him smiling at our delight when He brings the unexpected.

On Sabbath, we worshipped with a group of believers. We weren’t the only visitors, which is where God’s surprise comes in.

One of the visitors was someone we’d worked with in Thailand in 1981 and 1982. We had a great time reminiscing about our work with the Cambodian refugees along the Thai-Cambodian border during those years. Although that work was often difficult and heartbreaking, it was also a fulfilling ministry.

When we spoke with another of the visitors, we were delighted to learn that he is a pastor who is assigned to the same district we pastored in Western Massachusetts. God may have opened opportunities to work with him on some projects here in this country.

I don’t believe these were coincidental encounters. God orchestrated these meetings, and I can’t wait to see what He will bring from them.

Enjoy looking at some of the flowers I’ve seen on my walks this week.

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This Trip is His!

“We’re sorry, but almost everyone on this flight will miss their connection.”

That’s the sentence we overheard a flight attendant tell the person sitting behind us during our flight to Dallas. Then she added something unexpected: “There are two people who might have a chance.”

We looked at each other and wondered… could that possibly be us?

Our journey had begun earlier that day as we boarded our Chattanooga → Dallas–Fort Worth → Hong Kong → Bangkok flight. From the very beginning, it felt like God was reminding us that this trip was in His hands.

We followed the airline’s instructions and arrived at the airport three hours early. Check-in went smoothly, security was quick, and everything seemed perfectly on schedule. But when we arrived at our gate, we noticed something strange—dozens of people were already gathered there, far more than could fit on our flight. Soon, we learned why. The earlier 2:30 flight had mechanical issues and was stuck at the very gate we needed.

Our departure time came and went as we waited and quietly prayed that things would work out. Our connection time in Dallas was already tight, and every passing minute made it seem less likely that we would make it.

Finally, another gate opened, and our plane pushed back—an hour late.

That’s when we overheard the flight attendant explaining that most passengers would miss their connection. But perhaps two people might make it.

When we landed in Dallas, we hurried to the airport train that would take us to the international terminal. When we arrived at Gate D-14, relief washed over us—we had made it. Our flight to Hong Kong was still boarding, and from there we would catch our final connection to Bangkok.

More than 24 hours after leaving Chattanooga, we finally stepped out into the warm Bangkok air—95 degrees. We loaded our luggage into a taxi, settled into the back seat, and enjoyed the 45-minute ride into the city.

We had left Chattanooga on Sunday evening. It was now Tuesday afternoon in Bangkok. At that moment, sleep was what we needed.

The next morning, we headed to the Southern Asia-Pacific Division leadership summit, where we had the opportunity to meet with church leaders from across the region. Over the next four days, we spent long hours in meetings, prayer, and planning. Once again, we saw God opening doors for new ministry opportunities throughout this part of the world.

In fact, God has already prepared four different opportunities for new work right here in Thailand, and we look forward to sharing more about those in an upcoming report.

Of course, being back in Thailand also meant enjoying some of the incredible local fruit and food. Yes—we did have durian… but I ate it before we managed to take a picture!

Thank you for praying for this trip. From delayed flights to new ministry opportunities, we continue to see that God is guiding every step.

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Just Healthy Appreciation

Post #27 2025—May 17

*Gary has been travelling in the interior of Papua and hasn’t had Internet access. Here’s something he wrote just before embarking on this leg of his trip.—Deena

I know we have people in the United States who are afraid of cemeteries. And I’m sure there are people in other parts of the world who are even more fearful. However, a scene outside my hotel room window in Indonesia gave me a sense of comfort.

I’ve heard stories here of homes that just will never sell because someone was killed in them or even just that someone died in them. One such place will never sell because an owner buried his wife in the backyard (legally).

Some of our missions seek suitable properties to build schools or churches on, which have had this kind of unwanted past. They can get them for half their normal value.

Outside my hotel room window, I look down on an old cemetery. Some plots are still scraped clean of anything around the stones. The spirits are worshipped there. Most are never touched. The spirits drive family and friends away. The grass and weeds grow wild around memorials of people who were once loved. 

A cemetery on the island of Bali
A Balinese cemetery
A grave on the island of Bali
This loved one hasn’t been forgotten.

I was most impressed by one tombstone where the memory was not forgotten. There was no worship displayed by excessive attention. Fear of spirits didn’t keep a loved one away. A simple, worn-down path cut through the vegetation, leading to the stone. Someone came regularly and just remembered. That made me feel cozy.

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From the Interior

Post 26 2025—May 11

This is a message I received from Gary. I thought I’d share it with you. The video was taken at one of the villages they stopped at.—Deena

Hi. I borrowed Elia’s hotspot to text you. Things were delayed at every step, but we made it through the first two days on a large river boat.

Arrived at 10:30 pm Friday night, the end of the second day. Won’t travel today( Sabbath). I think tomorrow we’ll get in long motorboats for two days of speeding to the destination village.

We are taking three more teachers with us. Four are already there, getting things ready. This is an interesting place.

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Papua New Project

Post #25 2025—May 10

This is a map of Papua Indonesia

As I was preparing to leave Cambodia to go to Papua, I received the following message.

“From Jayapura (Papua, Indonesia), we’ll board a small ship to Mamberamo Raya Regency. The journey to Mamberamo Raya Regency will take about a day. I’ll meet you there in Kasonaweja, and we’ll travel together to Tayai Village, where the teachers are currently serving, by a smaller boat. This leg of the journey will take around 1-2 days.

The place has a lot of malaria mosquitoes, but so far, we’re all doing fine. And during the journey by small boat, we’ll be exposed to the sun until evening, so it’s better to prepare long-sleeved shirts, hats, and maybe sunscreen if possible. And there are crocodiles in the river.

Our trail-blazing team just spent three weeks in the village of Tai Yai. The team worked together with residents to hack a landing strip out of the forest. Trees, vines, shrubs, grass, weeds, stones, and anything else that has been growing there since the last lightning fire. No one knows when that was.

The strip is 150 yards long and fifteen yards wide The villagers will be responsible to keep it clean of plant growth, wild and domestic animals and inquisitive children. We’re taking three new teachers with us. They will pioneer this school and prepare for more new schools in the future.”

By the time this post drops and you read it, I’ll be somewhere on this journey. Here, there are no schools, churches, or even governments. You know it’s primitive. This is another new stage of ministry for Gospel Outreach.

What I ask from you is prayer. There are only twelve more days to my trip. I may see you around. Please stop me and say hello. And maybe you would like to hear the rest of some of these stories in your church, along with the ones I couldn’t tell online. Check with your pastor and let me know.

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He’s Still a Commando

Post #24 2025—May 10, 2025

As was alluded to in the former post, in 1975, Pol Pot’s forces “liberated” the country and emptied all the cities. Everyone was carefully scrutinized. If it was suspected that they could read or write, they were unceremoniously executed. Also, anyone who wore glasses or had dental work, or was reported to have been friends with foreigners. There was no place for education in the new Cambodia. Nor was there tolerance for religious people. For this reason, when we evacuated the country, I took the time to burn every piece of paper in the school that had names of our students on them. I knew these papers would become a list for executions.

Chanta “joined” the hard labor crew. He studied the country way of life and mannerisms carefully so he could imitate them. He knew he was being watched. He couldn’t afford to slip up once and betray his former military activities.

Chanta is telling his story of fighting against the Khmer Rouge.

Imagine having such a life that you look forward to being in a refugee prison camp in another country and considering it to be better than the way you were living. That was life in Cambodia in 1975-1979.

Some people were able through those hard years to flee to Thailand, looking for safety. Once there, some went to one of the many refugee camps. Others were escorted to refugee villages to be sure they wouldn’t become part of the Thai population. There, life was on hold, but it was still life. Chanta was able to escape to Thailand in the early 1980s. 

I was the director of Seventh-day Adventist World Service (SAWS) at the time. The organization was renamed in 1983 and became the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). We operated hospitals, surgeries, and clinics in camps and villages. 

Chantha was first in a camp named Site 2. Here, he found he still had to be careful. There were members of both armies in this camp. They were generally kept separate, but care was still needed. In 1984, he learned of a camp where a church had been started by Judy Aitken. The camp was called Rittisen. He was able to plot his way there. It was still difficult. 

By this time, his hometown of Kampot was known to be a stronghold of the Khmer Rouge. When the men in Rittisen learned he was from there, they suspected him of being a spy. They believed he was there to report on the activities of the camp. Chantha insisted he was there to find the Christian church and learn more about Jesus. He was severely beaten several times. He continued to attend the church and to study Christianity. In 1985 he was baptized. He learned quickly and began telling others at the camp about Jesus.

What had begun with the ministry of a seemingly reckless battle-front preacher to a kid-commando turned into the lifetime ministry of a pioneer Christian pastor. Unt Chantha was among the very first group of native Seventh-day Adventist pastors among the Cambodian people in the early 1910’s. They were assembled from the new refugee converts through programs directed by the late Judy Aitken in numerous camps, and by Lem Someth in the village of Ban Nong Someth. Someth was my student in my first Bible class in Cambodia in 1973.

A picture of Khmer pastors
A group of Cambodian pastors

Today, Chantha continues his ministry as a retired pastor. He’s still a commando, but just against “but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12

Currently, Chantha is raising money to build bathrooms and a kitchen in the new church he is building near his former bunker.

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He Prepared to Die

Post #23 2025—May 9, 2025

By age 16, Chantha was already a battle-hardened, twice wounded commando fighting for the Cambodian military. The enemy was the Cambodian Communists, the infamous Khmer Rouge (KR) under Pol Pot. The KR were no halfway army. They were the perpetrators of the  dreaded Killing Fields in Cambodia in the late 1970’s.

In 1974, while I was in Cambodia, Chantha huddled in his bunker on the edge of the Mekong River in Kampot. Directly across the river, the KR were in their own bunker. A firefight ensued. Not much happened until he noticed a man went down after one of his shots. Then, something exploded near his hole in the ground and he was hit in the neck by shrapnel. A helicopter from his side peppered the far shore with 50 caliber machine gun fire. 

Map of the country of Cambodia

When Chantha stood up to see what was happening, he was hit in the arm by small arms fire. Chantha learned later that the man he shot and killed was his own uncle, fighting for the other side. I’ve learned by interviewing several former KR soldiers that most of them didn’t join that army’s ranks because they wanted to. They joined it because the option was to die on the spot by saying no.

Chantha had seen a lot of people die. He assumed he would be killed, too. He wasn’t afraid of dying. What bothered him was that so many people he watched die were in such contorted positions. He says, “None of them were ready to die so they looked terrible the way they died. He determined he would be ready.

One day while Chantha was in his bunker, a brave Christian walked to him and gave him a pamphlet. In it he read Isaiah 41:10. It says, “Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Chantha couldn’t get those thoughts out of his mind. It began to direct what he did through the day and night. He wanted to be ready to die, no matter when it might happen. He decided to prepare for his death which he believed could come at any moment.For now, his preparation had little to do with God.

Part of his preparation to die was to bathe every night, put on clean night clothes, lay down on his back in bed with his hands neatly folded in front of him, and go to sleep. If he died during the night, he was ready. During the day he began to claim the promise that God would be with him. He had nothing to fear. He made it through the war with no more wounds, but had some cases of malaria.

After the war was lost in 1975, Chanta marched with the rest of the people of Cambodia at gunpoint into the country. They became slaves or prisoners of war, working terrible hours in miserable conditions, and with very little food. They weren’t allowed to eat any of the food they grew. It was all shipped to China to repay a debt to the Chinese government, which paid for the “liberation” of Cambodia from its leaders. Repaying the debt resulted in the death of half the Country’s population. Many of our friends, students, and church members were among those who died.

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From Soldier to Warrior

Post #22 2025—May 3, 2025

By age 16, Chantha was already a battle-hardened, twice-wounded commando fighting for the Cambodian military. The enemy was the Cambodian Communists, the infamous Khmer Rouge (KR) under Pol Pot. The KR were no halfway army. They were the perpetrators of the famous Killing Fields in Cambodia in the late 1970s.

In 1974, while I was in Cambodia, Chantha huddled in his bunker on the edge of the Mekong River in Kampong Cham. Directly across the river, the KR were in their own bunker. A firefight ensued. Not much happened until he noticed a man went down after one of his shots. Then, something exploded near his hole in the ground, and he was hit in the neck by shrapnel. A helicopter from his side peppered the far shore with 50-caliber machine gun fire. 

When Chantha stood up to see what was happening, he was hit in the arm by small arms fire. Chatha learned later that the man he shot was his own uncle, fighting for the other side. I’ve learned by interviewing several former KR soldiers that most of them didn’t join the KR army’s ranks because they wanted to. They joined it because the option was to die on the spot by saying no.

More to come in Part Two.

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Generations of Hurt

Post #21 2025—April 28

Tragedy seems to harbor in the lives of so many people in these seemingly forgotten villages. Yes, it lurks everywhere. A tourist can easily overlook it as they drive past a country village in a car or bus. You can even stop to buy a native-made keepsake beside the road and still not be aware of it. Somehow, it seems normal for things to look this way. Generally, not a word is spoken about the pain hidden behind obvious poverty. 

But if you get to know the people, you may per chance see glimpses of the pain. And if you care to ask, you may hear part of the story.

A Cambodian woman named Dourk Sarin
Dourk Sarin

We met Dourk Sarin, age 62. Sarin is her given name. She has four children by her husband, and one great-grandson. Her husband died some years ago. Two of the children live close enough to bring their six active young ones over daily while they do their ten-hour shifts to make ends meet. Grandma watches (after a fashion) over the grandchildren, as well as the six grandchildren by Sarin’s other two children, who moved to Thailand to find work. That makes twelve active bodies getting into everything. Take my word for it.

One daughter in Thailand sends money home to feed her kids. She can come home for a few days a year to see how things are going and arrange to have someone add a few more bricks and braces to the home she is building little by little, so that when she gets old, she will have a nice place to live. It stands tall beside Sarin’s shack.

Sarin and at least two of her grandchildren have serious health issues. She has tried to go to the doctor, but it is just too expensive. The country has a special program to help the poor get medical treatment. The village chief must give them an affidavit that the person in need is financially challenged. Sarin’s chief won’t do it “because she lives next to a nice, big house” that may be finished in twenty years.  But Sarin can’t wait that long.

Sarin’s mother died of uterine cancer. She’s afraid the constant pain she feels is her own case. She was told that she may also have serious bowel infections. 

One of the grandchildren, ten-year-old Lon Makara, has a serious case of scoliosis. He needs to see a doctor.

Lon Makara is a Cambodian boy who suffers from scoliosis.
Lon Makara

Five-year-old Jon Lili has a high white blood count and black eyes. She, too, needs to see a doctor. 

God has blessed us through a donor to ensure that they will see a doctor to diagnose each of them. All three cases are serious. After the diagnosis, we will know better if treatment is possible and search for a way to provide it. I know most of you can’t do much, so I ask that you pray for these people who are so precious in God’s sight. Thank you.

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What is Normal?

Post #20 2025—April 26

Normal is such a strange concept. We may use the word to describe our own likes vs. dislikes, or its relationship to the situation we grew up in. That should be our first clue to the near impossibility of determining what “normal’ really is.

No, I’m not saying you aren’t normal…or that you are, for that matter. 

Sitting in a street-side makeshift restaurant, I looked around and felt very much at home. I’m sure many of you would have never stopped at a place like this to eat. I hunted for a mile to find just this kind of place. It reminds me so much of what “normal” was fifty years ago. No, the tables aren’t very clean. The ceiling leaks in places as it rains outside the tent. And the grandma cooks single-handedly back in a corner to provide for the whims of each hungry customer.

When I first came here a few days ago, I tried to merge strange hand signals with my never-very-good Thai and tell her what I wanted for lunch. She couldn’t understand at all. So much for the validity of those friends who said, “Oh, you speak just like a local!” She finally looked around at the faces of customers who were already eating her fare. She found one who spoke reasonable English, and the three of us worked at getting the message across about what I wanted to eat.

She hurriedly returned to her wok, and I sat down at a table with only a couple of irregular drips from the patched ceiling. It didn’t take long before the food was ready and set on the table. It was authentic, delicious, and spicy Thai food—comfort food for millions of home folks, including me. This is what I call normal. How about you?

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Prepare to Be The Glue

Post #19 2025–April 23

I’m sitting here in Phnom Penh waiting for the Mission President to share his closing remarks for our three-day training. Back in 2020, we had seven church planters to be trained. Now we have 44. Times have changed.

While I’m sitting here, I received a message from our leader in another undisclosed country. “We have just been informed by the government that we are no longer permitted to hold public meetings.” It was less than a week ago they were told the police would come to their homes and schools to be sure they weren’t talking about Jesus.

I can’t help but remember within the past few weeks the earthquake in Myanmar/Thailand, and the drone bombing and the jet bombing just a matter of yards across the river from our Thailand location. On the same day, schools and hospitals were being attacked and burned by rebels near our schools in the Papua, Indonesia mountains.  One person at our headquarters commented, “Everything you touch blows up.”

What can I say, but “Thanks for the front row seats.” But truthfully, these things are happening all over the world. Maybe they aren’t close enough to most of us to recognize them. Maybe we’re not paying attention. Maybe we don’t want to know. 

After our closing prayer, I appealed to the circle of workers and friends that if things begin to be closed down in their country and people aren’t permitted to worship God, they will be the ones who God will call on to gather the people together and keep them looking to Him. They will be the glue to help people focus on the main thing—being ready for Jesus to return. Maybe you are one of those people, too. What are you doing to be prepared?

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There’s Never Nothing to Do

Post #18 2025–April 20

I’m still not back on schedule, but the work keeps popping up. And it’s clear that God is leading. Let me tell you how He works.

We have been looking for an example of a multi-purpose building to look at while we design one that is badly needed at the school at Sunshine Orchard on the Thai side of the Moei River.  We need something that all the students and maybe their parents can sit in for whole-school programs like graduation and others. We also need it for the students to play soccer during the rainy season. And, because it is common for large numbers of families to flee to our side of the border river to flee from the regular attacks of the Burmese military, which attacks their villages on a regular basis. We needed a place where they could rest and sleep in a protected environment on the Thai side of the river. 

Monday, I needed to walk on the opposite side of the road I usually follow to make my way to a place to buy fresh, delicious, ripe-from-the-tree, juicy mangos. Are you feeling sorry for me yet? I climbed the high steps of the pedestrian overpass to get to the other side of the busy road. On the other side, just as I prepared to descend the steps, I saw, just in front of me, the perfect example of the Quonset-type building we were considering. I had been within twenty yards of it many times on my morning runs, but never saw it before. It had protection from the weather, a soccer field in the middle, and a stage for speakers during public forums. It couldn’t have been better. Now, I hope to walk past a pile of abandoned money to pay for it.

Another example is when I figured out that I have to go back up to North Thailand to discuss our new work there, I got frustrated with booking a seat on a bus to make the trip. All the buses were full due to a local holiday (Songkran). I decided to let a travel agent do it for me. As she did her magic, she found a better bus line that had just one seat open, just for me. 

There are other ways God leads. I’ll write more later.

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Pray for My Special Prayer

Post #17 2025—April 13

The changes in my plans due to the earthquake in Myanmar still affect my work daily.  I’m continually adjusting schedules and activities to meet the new challenges.

Among these is the need to begin training and deploying Bible workers across Myanmar. As I suspected, the President of the Myanmar Union Mission has been flooded with emergency demands. I would have been in the way if I had made it to Yangon. The multitude of victims from the quake had to be his first priority. We have now made an appointment to meet online to discuss our future plans.

My experience in 1970s Cambodia showed me that natural and manmade disasters give people a desire to find better answers to the pain in their hearts. Their prayers need to be directed to a living God who loves them and can address their pain.

I know there are needs I can’t resolve, but I know Who can. God wants the people of Myanmar to know He loves them. He wants them to find the Way to inner peace. Your prayers will always be needed. I can’t tell you what to pray for. To do so might keep me from being able to work in certain countries. But I have a special prayer. Would you be willing to “pray for Gary’s special prayer?” And if you see me, you can ask me what it is we are praying for. Thank you. 

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Is It Safe?

Post #16 2025—March 30

I would like to fill in some missing information for you who are following my ministry trip.

All through this trip, and frankly, every trip like this, I am continually amazed at the way God takes care of difficulties and problems. This has always been the case, from Korea (1972-73) and Cambodia (1973-74) and with Deena, through our mission lives together in Thailand, the Marshall Islands, Chuuk, and the Congo. God has been always present.

I have been evacuated from three different countries – once even by the US Marines (Congo 1993). People would ask, “Aren’t you afraid?” My response is, God showed me early on, especially in Pol Pot’s Cambodia, that He was always there with me. What’s there to be afraid of? When I start feeling fear it’s because I have strayed from Him. Not that He has left me. So I can tell when I begin to step away from His side. Fear starts to creep in. He always pulls me back. He is so good!

Today, going into former cannibal territory in rebel-filled Papua, Indonesia or anti-Christian military territory of Myanmar, I know that the reason I am there is because He sent me. He made it possible. He is there with me. What’s there to be afraid of? I was raised in Kansas, but I “grew up” in Cambodia amid the bombing and continual threats of enemy fire. 

Now, going to places like Myanmar – whether through the immigration lines at the airport or by crossing the river border to visit our schools, I can put myself in His hands.

On Friday, the 28th of March, I was supposed to fly to Yangon from Bangkok. I went to the airport, but there was a problem with my visa. That was God’s protecting hand. I couldn’t go. I found a hotel that I had used before in Bangkok and got a room there to sit with my computer and calculate the next step to take. It was about fifteen minutes, no more than thirty, that everything started to shake. 

People in Bangkok, Thailand sitting on the street waiting for aftershocks to end following the March 28, 2025 earthquake.
People line the streets in Bangkok, Thailand waiting for aftershocks to end following the March 28, 2025 earthquake.

I had been in one earthquake before. In Honduras (1999), a year after we had been in this little village to build a church, we returned to dedicate the finished building. As I was preaching in the church and streaming the service back to our home church in Massachusetts, everything started to move. I looked at the camera and said to the home crowd, “We seem to be having a little earthquake,’ and carried on with the sermon. 

This earthquake in Thailand was different. I felt the building move back and forth. I looked out the window and saw the power lines jumping up and down and around. Then, off to my left, it sounded like part of the building fell off. I grabbed my computer, my passport, and my shoes, and rushed down the stairs to the street. A crowd of us were all standing, looking up at all the other skyscrapers reaching into the air on all sides of us. I knew they were all thinking the same thing I was. “We’re no safer here than we were in the building.” 

But wherever you are with God, you’re OK. By God’s grace, I’ll be able to continue doing this ministry for years to come—until Jesus comes. That will be a frightening time. And a wonderful time. I want to be ready, to walk in Jerusalem, just like John. How about you? Jesus can wipe your fear away. Forever.