Kumrod Family in Thailand Aug 2022

"And he will again STARTLE many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence. For they will see what they had not previously been told about; they will understand what they had not heard about." Isaiah 52:15

On July 16, I invited several neighbors and friends to our home for a meal to celebrate my birthday. We ten women had a great time of laughing, sharing, and eating together. As we ate pork BBQ on mats in front of our house, I shared with them how Jesus is the best gift I have ever received. I shared about how Jehovah is my God, the meaning of Elijah; God is my strength, the meaning of Ezekiel; God is my helper, the meaning of Ezra; and God is my Salvation, the meaning of Elisha. (Thankful for our sons' names!) I wanted to share more of the good news with Tew, Bu and Moo, Buddhist neighbors that I've known for almost four years now. Then Moo startled me with a birthday cake, full of sparkling candles. She said to me in Thai, "Say a prayer!" Before I blew out the candles I prayed that all my friends would know Jesus' love more in this coming year.

Recently, as I was reading Truth for Life by Alistair Begg I came across a scripture reading from Romans 15. Paul says his ambition is to preach the gospel where Christ was not yet known. Then Romans 15:21 seemed to jump out to me, "Rather, as it is written: Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand." This verse is originally from Isaiah 52:15, so I went there to explore the context a bit more. It is a prophecy about Jesus. In some translations "startle" is translated "sprinkle" or "cleanse." But where translated "startle" it also means "to leap or spring, especially with the connotation of surprise or joy."

These verses not only spur me on to long for the "awakening" and "startling" God wants to do in my own soul to propel me to share his good news more joyfully and boldly, but also to pray for the neighbors that I love to be "startled" by God's love and truth too, to see what they had previously not been told about! I pray that our friends would know Jesus' love, strength, hope, peace, help and joy in their daily lives in holistic ways. Jesus is waiting to be their Salvation. "The LORD will demonstrate his holy power before the eyes of all nations. The ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God." Isaiah 52:10

I don't understand how the Spirit moves (John 3:8). Yet, in faith I believe God is moving. I trust that God will make the seeds planted in faith grow and if we keep watering them, keep praying, there will be a harvest one day! (Gal 6:9, James 3:18)

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God had been making it grow." 1 Cor 3:6

We thank God for our new partnership with Multiply. For those who partner with us monthly through Friends of the Great Commission currently, we thank God for your faithful partnership and invite you to continue that support at FGC until God has provided enough new partners to transition all our support over to Multiply.

• We are trusting God to create a Missionary Advocacy Team (MAT). These are people who are in relationship with us and desire to see we are supported while serving in global mission in the areas of communications, prayer, family/education, and partnership development. I plan to meet with this team quarterly through a Zoom call. If your heart feels stirred to know more about MAT, please let me know! I look forward to the encouragement, accountability and prayer support this group can bring to our family!
• We are grateful that our whole family will receive international health insurance through Multiply and are trusting God for his provision for the increased budget that this requires. If you'd like to partner with us financially, you can click here to support us through Multiply. https://multiply.net/global-worker/wanchai-ozz-and-sara-fast-kumrod. Our project number at Multiply is C0830.
• Currently we have 26% of the support we need for the first phase of our budget with Multiply and we are trusting God for new monthly partners or one time gifts to bring us to 100% by the end of October or earlier! I am working on a powerpoint presentation which shares about our ministry in Thailand. I would be happy to make an appointment on Zoom to share with you about how you can partner with us in God's work in Thailand. Please let me know if you would like to connect!
  

• Tew, Bu and Moo (my neighbor friends and also moms with boys) and their families to learn more about Jesus and to believe. Invite the Spirit of God to flow through Manikheow Neighborhood of 5000 people and for many hearts to be touched with God's love.
• Ozz as he is teaching Missional Leadership Training (MLT) the next three weeks (Aug 23-Sept 9). About 15 Thai pastors, leaders, church planters, interns and missionaries gather on zoom to study the Bible together. Praise God for this time of studying God's word together and building unity as Thailand Mennonite Brethren Church Association (TMBCA).
• a team for sharing God's love with the children in Manikheow Neighborhood. I am inviting TLC members to join a team to bless the children on Sundays through teaching English, Thai, Bible stories, baking and doing Science experiments.
• Chonburi Pastors and Interns Retreat in October 2022. Please pray Pslam 133 unity for us.
• Chompoo, TLC Intern as she and Ozz preach through Ecclessiates in Aug-Oct.
• More women's gatherings like my birthday for fellowship, encouragement, prayer, Bible study and sharing God's love with each other

Together for the Harvest,

Ozz, Sara, Elijah, Ezekiel, Ezra and Elisha

Email: saraf@multiply.net
Location: Chonburi, Thailand
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sara.kumrod