Kumrod Family Transitions Feb 2023

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Do you ever have those moments when you know the Spirit of God is working in so many ways that you can't completely take in? He does promise to do more than we can ask or imagine! Praise Jesus! I had one of those moments when the Tabor College "For His Glory" Worship Band blessed our neighborhood with an evening of worship on Jan 28. Students were serving in a cross-cultural setting with open, flexible, worshipful hearts; neighbors were eating noodles and talking together; testimonies were being shared that glorified God; brothers and sisters in the family of God were meeting each other and chatting away; children were playing, running and laughing together on the playground. The sweet presence and peace of Jesus was dwelling in our neighborhood park through the praises of his people in English and Thai languages. Followers of Jesus along with those who worship spirits or follow traditions of folk Buddhism were gathered together as we listened to music and chatted together. It was a beautiful evening and I am still thanking God for providing this team for this time of transition for our family and our church. In faith, we are believing that many seeds were planted, watered and are growing in the Kingdom of God. Matt 17:20; 1 Cor 3:6

Thailand MB Church Association was officially established by Thai leaders and Thai pastors on 25 June 2020 as an organization of MB churches in Thailand under the Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand (EFT). At the Internship Conference in Chiang Mai in Oct 2022 (picture above) the second set of leaders (7 people) for TMBCA was elected. Ozz was elected to serve as President for a 4 year term. During the last couple months it has been discerned within the TMBCA board, with the affirmation of Multiply leaders, that God is calling our family to the Northern region of Thailand to assist in the oversight of churches and to train new leaders.

Our family and another TMBCA board member, Joon, who currently serves at the Hope Center in Chachoengsao, are trusting God as we plan to move to the Chiang Mai area in April 2023. Our vision and prayer is to build a team of Thai leaders who can serve together for evangelism, building disciples, training leaders and planting churches. We look forward to encouraging the global workers and national leaders, and also sharing the Gospel with those who still don't know Jesus. We thank God for the opportunity to serve along with TMBCA to strengthen relationships among the Thai MB churches both in the North and nationwide as TMBCA continues to prepare to become a part of ICOMB (International Community of Mennonite Brethren).

Transition and saying goodbye to our church family, neighbors and friends is hard. We have lived in Chonburi for eight years total, four of those years in Manikheow and we all have good friends in this neighborhood. Please pray for creative, fun ways to find closure here and for our boys to anticipate meeting new friends and going to a new school in the Chiang Mai area.

I have felt encouraged through John 3:30, "He must increase, but I must decrease." As we transition away from this neighborhood we pray that God will provide others to shepherd the people here. We also pray that while we are still here, our friends can see Jesus through our lives and we would be bolder than ever to proclaim who Jesus is. Putting the focus on Jesus is freeing for my heart as we entrust our church family and our neighbor friends that we love into Jesus' care. We continue to pray for our neighbors to believe in Jesus and to trust in Him. "In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessaary for the Son of Man to be lifted up-and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life." John 3:14-15, Message. Thank you for praying with us for many to believe in Manikheow neighborhood and to have a community of faith where they can keep growing and serving together.

• Our family as we prepare to transition, say goodbye to our TLC church family, neighbors and friends and move to Chiang Mai area in April 2023.
• TLC church board as they pray and discern next steps for TLC. We thank God for their understanding and prayers as we prepare to transition.
• God to prepare a home to rent and a school for our boys in the Chiang Mai area.
• visit from Vic Wiens, representative of ICOMB (International Community of MB) on Feb 17-19.
• the development of a team in the Northern Region of Thailand for making disciples, training leaders and planting churches together
• Continued partnership development & progress in Thai language study for Sara

• Praise God for all the churches and individuals who are part of our team that has allowed us to reach 61% of our Phase Three budget goal with Multiply. 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.
  

Ozz, Sara, Elijah, Ezekiel, Ezra and Elisha

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