Faithfully Remaining Steadfast

Though the mountains be shaken, and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. - Isaiah 54:10

This verse became truer to us as the ground shook on the 28 March. We stumbled and swayed from side to side as we tried to run to take cover under our dining table. It was an immediate reminder for us that although the ground was shaking beneath us, we must remain steadfast in faith. We somehow lifted our voices in prayer, thinking of those at the epicentre (even before we knew where the epicentre was).

Suffering is a part of life, but so is God's sustaining grace, which enables us to remain steadfast and unshaken. Jesus never promised a life without pain, He assures us that we will never walk through it alone, giving us the strength to endure and trust Him more deeply.

Even though Chiang Mai is in the north of Thailand, which is closer to Myanmar, the soil in Chiang Mai is firmer, and there are fewer high-rise buildings, so there was minimal damage. Bangkok, although further away, has softer soil, so many high-rise buildings severely swayed, and unfortunately, it caused a building under construction to collapse.

In Bangkok, there have been over 100 deaths. At the epicentre in Sagaing, Myanmar, the death toll is over 5,000.

Please keep Myanmar in your prayers - for those that have lost loved ones, especially as ongoing conflict and airstrikes hamper the response to provide humanitarian assistance of food, clean water, hygiene support, emergency shelter and other critical aid. Also, pray for those in Bangkok who have experienced the loss of loved ones.

The month of May has been a hive of activity and busyness for us as we prepare to leave for our home assignment. At the beginning of May, after a brief delay due to missing paperwork, our visa was approved for another year. We thank God.

We spent most of April and May preparing over 40 lesson plans. We have a Siloam alumni student called Ajarn Waraporn will be teaching our lessons whilst we are in the UK.

Sarah also unfortunately became unwell, following 2 asthma attacks, she became susceptible to a chest infection. The doctor was concerned about Sarah flying, so she decided to administer IV antibiotics and nebuliser treatment. Sarah was also given the nebuliser to use at home for almost 1 week. Thank God, Sarah was well enough to travel and is now feeling better. Please keep her health in your prayers. Thank God we arrived safely in the UK on the 19 May.

The Thailand Karen Baptist Convention (TKBC) remembered God's steadfast faithfulness of 144 years since 'The Gospel came to TKBC'. In April, TKBC celebrated 70 years of the annual assembly, which was held in the mountains in a Karen village in the South of Thailand and attended by over 3,000 people. There were global visitors from the US, Canada, India, Europe, which included Ireland, the UK and Sweden. It was a great opportunity and a blessing to make new friends and meet many from within the wider international Karen community.

At Siloam, the first-year Pre-class students arrived on the 19 May and all other students on the 20 May. In the first week, the seasoned students welcomed the first-year students with a variety of activities, which included honouring them by washing their feet. The new teaching term started on the 26 May.

Sarah ran a mini bakery workshop at her home, teaching bakery skills to a lady from another organisation. This lady serves at a children's home called House of Love, which has ties to TKBC. She wanted to learn bakery and cake decorating, to use these skills to serve the children and build relationships with them in a fun way, creating a safe environment. Since running this workshop, Sarah has begun to receive requests from other organisations. God seems to be opening a door of opportunity; it will be exciting to see what God's plans are for this.

God willing, Sarah has plans to run further bakery training within the TKBC women's ministry in September 2025.

Thank God:

- We arrived in the UK safely.

Please pray:

- For all the SBI students as they begin the new term, pray specifically for the first-year students, as they adjust and settle into their first year of studying.

- For the ongoing relief in Myanmar and Thailand following the earthquake.

- For our time in the UK, visiting churches, that we will stay in good health and have good quality time with family and friends.

We look forward to seeing and visiting some of you during our time in the UK.

May you be encouraged, while we may be rocked by life's uncertainties. We can find security and peace in trusting God's unchanging nature. Stay rooted in the Lord, remain resilient, keep growing in faith, for it is through these things that we remain truly unshaken.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. – Psalm 16:8

Love & Blessings

Paul & Sarah