After just arriving in Mae Sot, we’ve been told we’ll be doing three months of language training before we start too heavily into our role with volunteers. The leadership team has decided that we will learn Thai, since we are in Thailand and it will be most helpful in dealing with the government and police. But, due to our love for Karen and the Karen people–we’ve requested that we get one month to learn Karen. Yes, one month of intensive Karen lessons and study, in hopes that we can be able to communicate effectively in the missions projects and with all of our Karen friends! It has been granted to us, since Karen is the primary language used in ministry opportunities along the border.
Thus–we have until March 17 (when we leave for our Partners Staff Retreat in Chiang Mai) to learn Karen, then following the retreat we will learn Thai for two more months before we’re full time at the office and with teams.
So, this means we need your prayers! Please, please be praying–all of these 32 days–for us to learn Karen so quickly, so effectively, and so fluently! We really have fallen in love with these people, and although we can see the value in learning Thai ultimately, our passion rests with the Karen. We are excited for this opportunity and praying that by a miracle we will be amazingly improved on March 17 and able to use Karen to expand our ministry.
We would love to have you partnered with us to pray every day for the next 32 days. We’ll be taking 2 hours from a private tutor every day starting on Monday. We’ll also be studying on our own and practicing with other staff who speak Karen or are learning Karen themselves. But, we also are looking for a house, a motorbike, etc.
We can’t tell you how much we’d appreciate your prayers over these next 32 days. Please pray with us!