I sensed the Lord calling me to missions when I was about seventeen, and proceeded to travel to exotic locations like South Dakota, Montana, Mexico, and an Native American Reservation in Wisconsin. Eventually, I went to Chiang Mai, Thailand to study at the missions training school, IGo After completing their inaugural nine-month program, I returned to Wisconsin--which I then called home--married the most beautiful woman in the world, and five months later, returned to Chiang Mai to work with a local Thai church.
We've lived in Thailand for going on four years, working with that Thai church in discipleship, teaching, and starting and leading a children's English ministry. I also helped out with IGo's ministries some, including mentoring, teaching, and helping to establish their English Centre.
We experienced so many blessings in our first three years of ministry! Our Thai church has been incredibly gracious and supportive. The English ministry to children continues to grow. Relationships with those around us are deepening, and we've had some special opportunities to share Christ. However, we feel that God is calling us to move in another direction.
Starting next year, I will begin studying in order to obtain a degree to teach in Thai schools. We anticipate this will take a little over two years to complete. Then, I will be free to find a teaching job here (and there are many opportunities) and we will settle down into a minimally reached Thai community. Our vision is to facilitate indigenous churches growing through evangelism, teaching, and discipleship. By getting a job teaching, I will be able to truly live among the people without the distance that "missionary status" forces between me and them. We will also be more self-supporting and (very importantly) be able to stay here, long-term, legally.
We're excited about the vision God is forming in our hearts, and know that it's only through His strength, wisdom, and the power of his Spirit in us that we can build His Church in Thailand. We know too, that He has provided the Body of Christ--in America and in Thailand--to guide and support us. Though far from our home church in Wisconsin, we are committed to allowing them, our leadership at IGo, and our other brothers and sisters around the world to counsel and direct us. We are accountable both to IGo and to our home church. The bulk of our support comes from two precious church families in Wisconsin, as well as support from individuals around the US.
IGo has provided a Church Planting Philosophy for us, and I'm really excited about their vision. If you'd like details of IGo's general vision, and by extension, my own, click here.
I was always interested in missions and never really envisioned myself to be a typical middle-class American mom. (Not that those of you who are aren't in the place God has for you!) However, I can not say I felt a specific call to missions so much as a specific call to marry Dru Lattin. This was a call I was not willing to accept for a while. Dru just wasn't the man of my dreams! But the Lord works in mysterious ways and one day I discovered that I was in love with this Dru guy. Eventually, he discovered he liked me too--but not until I was sufficiently at a loss to know why God was putting me into this uncomfortable situation. But God is faithful and brought us together like only He can.
Five months after we were married I moved to Thailand. We are nearing our fourth anniversary and I often stop and ask myself what I am doing in this strange land. How did I come to be a mom of two children already? How has time flown by so quickly? And, am I really old enough to be this old?
There are good times and bad times for a mother living in a strange country. Isolation hits hard at times. Yet, I can truly say that this seems like home to me. I am no superwoman. I have a God who likes to do interesting things with uninteresting people.
My vision for being in this country is mainly to stand beside my man and pray. I've learned that I connect best with people when I am with them enough to hear and see their hearts in spite of the language barrier. This often doesn't happen until you find yourself with people on a more informal, yet consistent basis. I'm looking forward to developing more of these kind of relationships in the future. I enjoy having my Thai friends in my home and hope we are able to invite our friends and neighbors in more than we've been able to in the past. I also hope to improve my language skills. I tell Dru that when I get big, I'm going to speak Thai as well as he does.
Lisl has a wonderful blog at lislsid.blogspot.com. Feel free to check it out and get a glimpse in her life.
Sometimes, his mom and dad take him to see his Favorite Person in the Whole World, Ya-Yai. (That's Thai for "Grandma-Grandma") He enjoys spending time with her, especially when his parents leave him there. Then he gets her undivided attention. They play, talk, ride his bicycle (which she gave him), and usually go to 7-11 to get all sorts of treats.
He also enjoys talking to his grandparents in America, but they look kinda funny on Skype. Sometimes, he's really shy on the webcam, and sometimes he likes to talk a lot. Usually, he's shy. That's okay, because his dad takes lots of pictures of him, and he loves to pose.
Most of the time, he likes to help his mom. He can help sweep the floor, put toys away, make food, and even peel his own hard-boiled eggs and oranges. He likes to play outside, especially on his bike and with the water hose. When his Other Favorite Person in the World--P' Dew, the neighbor girl--comes over, he gets really excited. But she's in school a lot, so he doesn't see enough of her.
Every time his dad prays, whether it's at a meal, family devotions, or tucking into bed, Jube insists on praying for P' Dew and Ya-Yai. Sometimes, he asks to pray for the tractor and elephant, too. He can say three and a half of the five verses in Psalm 100....with prompts. He speaks way more Thai than his mom and dad ever hear, simply because he know that they speak English. He will wai Thai folks when he's in a good mood, which is most of the time. He will also wai people when he's in a bad mood, it just takes a bit more....encouragement. He's a good guy, but far from a saint.
Havilah is incredibly cute, intelligent...basically a pint-sized prodigy. Okay, she can't do everything Big Brother Jube can, but she can scoot around, smile, and hold her head up--that's pretty good when you're not even half a year old! The typical sister, she either patiently endures her brother's antics, laughs at him, or strenuously objects to her mother. All the Thai people love her (and her brother, for that matter) and love to tell her that she's "เหมือนตุ๊กตาจังเลย", or "so much like a doll!"
We, their parents, have a lot to learn. We're very thankful for two happy, healthy children, and need prayer to train them well.
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