HMONG MEN’S MEETING

One of the many  needs in this part of the world – in fact, one of the greatest needs–is teaching on the family, and especially the “next generation.” Over the next few months, I will be teaching three different groups (two Hmong, one Thai) in special meetings on the family. This past week was the first of the three meetings. I had the privilege to preach and teach for 10 men, primarily pastors and church leaders, on “God, the Family, the Church, and a Multi-Generational Vision.” We had a wonderful time and I believe a very beneficial time for all who were there. There were 5 pastors and church leaders from six different churches in attendance. Some of these good men came from as far as 13 hours away by motorbike or bus for a one-day meeting. Very humbling to say the least! THE PICTURE ABOVE WAS BLURRED FOR SECURITY REASONS!

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY GOD HAS OPENED UP FOR US TO INFLUENCE MANY CHURCH LEADERS IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD, WE ASK THAT YOU PRAY AS WE CONTINUE TO DO SO, AND SPECIFICALLY PRAY FOR THIS GROUP OF MEN!

OUR GETAWAY

Because of schedule conflicts, my wife and I were unable to get away for our 37th anniversary in December. Once the Spring Term for our English school and School of Ministry was finished, we took the opportunity to get away and head to Chiang Mai, Thailand. We had a fun time! I thank God for a wonderful wife and helpmeet who has literally followed me all over the world as we have served Christ and the cause of Christ together.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR MY WIFE AND ME AS WE SERVE TOGETHER IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD!

PREACHING FOR TWO CHURCHES

While in Chiang Mai, I was asked by two different churches if I would preach for their Sunday services. One of the churches (a fairly new church plant) was planted by our friends from the States, Jonathon, and Alisa Ballou, and the other one was planted and has been pastored for many years now by a Thai national, Pastor Srithone. I thank God for these two good churches in a country that is 85 percent Buddhist and less than one percent Evangelical Christian. What a special blessing it was to find out that an adult man trusted Christ after I preached for the Ballou’s!

DENISE AND I THANK GOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WAS OPENED TO US TO PREACH AT BOTH OF THESE CHURCHES AND WE ASK THAT YOU PRAY THAT THE SEEDS THAT WERE SOWN WILL BRING FORTH FRUIT!

MIDWEEK SERVICES

After returning from Chiang Mai, I preached for both of our Midweek services. One in the Capitol city and the other in one of our village ministries. In both locations, I started a mini-series on “Having a Vision/Burden Birthed from Above” from the Book of Nehemiah. I was especially excited by the crowd in the village. Great response to the message in both locations.

MY WIFE AND I ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE WITH THE MANY FOLKS, YOUNG AND OLD, IN OUR THREE DIFFERENT CONGREGATIONS AND WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PRAY THAT GOD WILL BLESS THESE WORKS!

PASTOR SRITHONE

A longtime friend of our team here in Laos, also named Srithone, dropped in on our midweek service on his way to plant a new work in the southern part of our country. For the past 19 years, he has been serving in the north among the Khmu people. The new work will be among the Bru tribe!

GOD HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO US THESE PAST SIX YEARS OR SO IN ALLOWING US TO MEET GOOD MEN LIKE PASTOR SRITHONE AND WE COVET YOUR PRAYERS FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY AS THEY EMBARK ON THIS NEW WORK IN A DIFFICULT PART OF THE COUNTRY!

PREACHING FOR FILIPINO CONGREGATION

Six years ago, when my wife and I first arrived in Asia, we lived and served here with our team in this country for seventeen months. During this time, I had the privilege to preach every Sunday for those seventeen months at the Filipino congregation in the Capitol city. On a few occasions, over the past few years, I have had the privilege to return and preach for them, this past Sunday was one of those occasions. Our dear friend, Pastor Aaron is in the States and asked me to preach. As always, it was a blessing. These are wonderful folks and they love preaching!

BOTH DENISE AND I ARE GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR THE FRIENDSHIPS FORGED OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS WITH THIS CHURCH FAMILY AND THEIR PASTOR AND WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PRAY FOR THEM, ESPECIALLY SISTER ICY, PASTOR AARON’S WIFE, WHO HAS BEEN VERY ILL FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS!

JOSH AND JASON

As many of you know, Dave Board (our Team Leader in Cambodia) and I served together for many years at Pacific Baptist church in Long Beach, CA under the leadership of my brother, Pastor Joe. I have known Brother Board long before his children were born. So, to have his two sons come and serve with us for a short time this summer is a great blessing. They arrived this past week. Josh (24 years old) will be with us for about seven weeks and Jason (18 years old) will be with us for three weeks. We are anticipating that they will be a tremendous blessing to our folks and our ministry and praying that our ministry will be a blessing to them.We even had a chance to sneak in a surprise birthday party for Joshua.

WE THANK GOD FOR JOSH AND JASON BOARD, AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE BOARD FAMILY, AND WE ASK THAT YOU PRAY FOR THEIR TIME HERE WITH US!

Both Denise and I would like to thank you for your prayers and financial support. The Lord knows that anything that has been accomplished in the past or will be accomplished in the near or distant future, is the result of God’s grace and your goodness!

Your Missionaries in Southeast Asia,

Johnny and Denise Esposito