These girls wanted new dresses for Christmas.  We were very late delivering them, but they seemed excited.

The boys looked handsome in their new shirts...except for one guy...

When the light is just enough to make everyone look like an alien...

Greetings from Thailand!

On the advice of a wise friend named Chris, I will take a break from my usual reflections and try to give you an update on all that is happening in our lives right now in Thailand.

There seems to be so much going on, it is hard to even keep track of it all.

Here goes:

Big Changes:

After 14 years in Thailand, our Founders and Directors at Faithful Heart, David and Shirley Callahan are returning full time to the US.

They will continue to support and be involved with the work of Faithful Heart, especially in trying to find new sponsors for our kids and in giving wise counsel and advice to those of us here.

What does that mean for us?

I (Matt) have been asked to stand in as the Director at Faithful Heart.

It is a big change for our whole family.  We have a lot of mixed emotions right now.  It has been an incredible season of life for us working alongside Dave and Shirley these past 4 years. I can't help feeling sad about that coming to a close.  We will certainly miss them.  We could not have asked for a better start to our work in Thailand.  They have been so patient and kind to us, always giving us room to learn and grow.  They are dear friends and it will not be the same without them here beside us.

Change always brings opportunity too.  It is an opportunity to try new things, to learn new ways, and to meet new challenges.  I am especially grateful for the excellent staff we are blessed to have here, including our newest addition Andy Parker.  This will grow and stretch all of us in good ways and I am excited to see that unfold.

Please pray for wisdom and patience in the midst of so much change.

So many good memories!

Families all brought gifts to show their appreciation and love

And lots of tears...

And hugs...

And prayers...

Always a family!

Big Change #2:

After over 3 years in Chiang Mai, my parents Dave and Sher Pound, have decided to return to the US as well.

We have so enjoyed having them here, especially for the births of both our children.  It will be hard on everyone, especially little Ezra, who loves his Papa and Nana so much (and they him!).  Audrey will feel this loss too.  My parents generally watch Ezra every Wednesday morning, and bring us dinner every Thursday night.  Both of those acts of service have given her much appreciated rest.

We really look at this time together as an unexpected delight.

We never imagined 4 years ago, when we said goodbye to our family and friends, that my parents would ever end up moving to Thailand.  They have enjoyed their time at the international church where they have served, but are ready to begin a new season of life as well.  Please pray for my parents as they begin to plan for this new season in their lives, and our family as we adjust to life without them here in Chiang Mai.

Farewells for wonderful people!

Family group at Thai Church had special guests! Lots of laughs too!

Big Change #3:

After 7 years as part of our family at Faithful Heart, one of our sweet girls is returning to stay with her biological mother.  This is a celebratory story---her mother is back on her feet, has a good job and a new husband and so this family can be reunited.  Both mother and daughter are excited.  But the parents at Faithful Heart who have raised her these past years love her dearly and there have been lots of tears.  Pray for Becky as she begins a new season of life with her mother and step-father.  We are happy for her reunion, but we will miss her gentle spirit too.

One special young lady!

Big Change #4:

Our college dorm is growing fast!  We are welcoming 4 new students this year: Solomon, Peter, Phillip, and Mew.  We love having the college students living at the office.  They bring a lot of energy and laughter (and yes, the occasional challenges too!).

Have you thought about sponsoring a college student at Faithful Heart?  (faithfulheartfoundation.org)

Maybe hosting a college student to come visit you in America?  (Just throwing that out there :-)

Peter

Phillip

Solomon

Mew

Fun Story:

I was asked by our Thai church to come to an outreach they were doing for Valentine's Day and talk about love and how our human love is part of Divine love.  I know many of these sweet friends from the time we spend together each week.  But a few were new to me.

One young lady was named Yuu-Mii.  Her brother was a member of the church and she had come many times, but had not made a decision yet to follow Jesus' way for her life.

It was fun to be able to see how much my Thai has improved and how much I could communicate without translation help.  I tried to speak from my own experience about how hard love can be, and what a difference it makes to know we are completely loved already, just as we are.  Choosing the way of love is costly and it hurts, but the joy is worth the cost.

 I finished by explaining why I chose to follow Jesus' way of love and how that had changed my life.  Joy thought we should ask if anyone else would like to make that choice.  When she did, this young woman said she wanted to make that decision today.

If you have never seen a Thai person make that decision, let me try to describe how it happened.  She quietly told everyone in the room (about 25 people) she was choosing this for herself.  This is unusual in a culture that can very shy in public situations.  The other ladies who knew her already, surrounded her and hugged her.  Then everyone stops, and lays hands on her and prays for her.  There are tears and laughter too (Thai people have a wonderful way of combining those two things).

I do not believe in coercing or manipulating anyone in the name of any faith or religion.  If there is anything true to our beliefs about God, then He is more than capable of helping people find their way toward Him and would never condone us using any kind of pressure or manipulation on each other.

But we all have stories to share. Our lives are each stories. And they are our own. Faith is a venture, not a blind leap or a fully rational argument.  It is a simple decision to try a new way from your current way, and see what happens.  You're invited too.

Valentine's Day is serious...

And a lot of fun!

And amazing...

Summer Travel:

We will be in Colorado this summer June 20-July 18!

Sorry Ohio friends and family, it was just too much with two very young children this time around.

We hope to see you next summer when we have more time, and travel will hopefully be a bit easier.  We are always excited to see our friends and family when we are back in America.

We would love to hike, chop wood, and eat with you while we are there!

The Land!

We are finally making some progress on the land and everyone here is excited! We hired a local man with a tractor to come in and clear the property.

He agreed, but asked "What about the pond?"

We answered we don't have a pond.

He looked at us and said, "Yes you do."

So that is exciting, hidden behind 7 foot grass and shrubs was a pond we didn't even know about.  (that is how thick vegetation gets in Thailand after 8 years).

We are planning to have some dirt brought in to level the site and fill in low places where water tends to pool.  Planting time is at the end of April in Chiang Mai and we hope to put several acres into pasture and plant a small orchard of fruit trees (probably Mango and Banana).

We will wait for all our paperwork to go through before we think about any building, but it is exciting to see some progress and reclaim this land.

Some of our boys learned how to build with adobe bricks! Something we hope to use in the future!

Any excuse to get my Tilly hat out.

We have way too much fun working.

These guys were ready.

Health:

The air here in Chiang Mai is already at dangerous levels from farmers nationwide burning their crops. As much as I love this city and living here, I have to admit, this time of year is hard.  You have headaches almost all day, you feel fatigued and just generally unwell.  The hospitals are full of people suffering health related illness.  There is something frustrating about suffering from an entirely human made problem and feeling helpless to do anything about.

(As I write this we have had some respite and it is wonderful)!

We will visit this home to see if we can help two boys who need care.

Grandma (Yai) and the neighborhood gang.

Too classic not to share...The Original Matt & Audrey (2007).

Hopefully that gives you some insight into our world right now!
Thank you so much for sharing your lives and words with us.
We feel supported and loved by so many of you.
You help us find strength to love the people in front of us here and by so doing, you share in that work with us!

So much love from God and from Thailand,

Matt, Audrey, Ezra, & Sienna

PS:  Lots of cute baby pictures below (for those of you who keep begging :-)  )

4 months of sweetness.

When Thai weddings get you pumped!

First real haircut with Dad!

"Don't worry, I got you"

Dad, we need to fix this!

We have so much fun together

...a lot of fun :-)

Squishy is such a good baby, she loves Pring!

We have lots of great Aunties!

Planning....