The pictures above are of our church family here in Northern Thailand before the COVID virus, the COVID restrictions, and the COVID lockdowns struck. Needless to say, the past 18 months have been as difficult, if not more difficult, for most here in Southeast Asia as it has been for most around the world. So, doing “church” is looking a bit different now that’s for sure.

Yet, God is still building His church here in Southeast Asia, and for this, we are grateful!

My wife and I have been back in Asia now for just over seven weeks and we are so very grateful. Thank you for praying for us to be able to get back “home.”  Of course, those seven weeks included our two-week Quarantine in Bangkok, Thailand. We have now been able to call Chiang Khong, Thailand “home” for over a month, and we are grateful. Such a beautiful city, such a great need, and so many potential opportunities for service in the future.

It has been a blessing to meet with Tom, Tzer-Chang, Jay, and Pastor Zone twice a week for a total of between five and six hours of Discipleship/Leadership Development. On Tuesdays, we are dealing with the topic of “The Importance of Walking with God: Prayer and the Bible.” On Thursdays, we are dealing with “Leadership Lessons from the Life and Letters of Paul.”

Unfortunately, as a result of my traveling over the past two weeks because of the necessary meetings for our one year visa, and a few of our guys being quarantined because of COVID, we have had to meet online the past two weeks, but it still has been a tremendous blessing and we are grateful.

Despite the present restrictions, Tzer-Chang still had the opportunity to share the gospel with the four men below. While they did not trust Christ, they were very open. Please do keep Brother Tom, Tzer-Chang, Jay, and Pastor Zone in your prayers! 

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR DISCIPLESHIP/LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS HERE IN CHIANG KHONG. PRAY THAT WE WILL ALL GROW IN OUR PASSION TO KNOW, LOVE, AND SERVE CHRIST HERE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA!

Regrettably, though the COVID numbers have improved vastly here in Thailand over the past few months, we are still unable to meet in person as a church family. Therefore, we are still doing on-line services (for over six months now), but we aren’t quite as tech-savvy as back in the States. We have a Sunday service and a Wednesday service; both are online, and of course, the services are in the Hmong language. While my wife and I don’t understand the Hmong language, we thoroughly enjoy gathering with God’s people – even if it’s online. It’s an absolute joy to see the smiles on their faces and have their testimonies interpreted for us!

PLEASE PRAY THAT OUR SERVICES AND THE SERVICES OF SO MANY OTHERS HERE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA WILL BE IN PERSON SOON!

My online discipleship sessions with four men in Cambodia, three men in Laos, one man in Central Thailand, and one man in China are going extremely well. So are my teaching sessions with our Bible students in both the city and in the village. I have sent the pictures of these men and their families in a previous update, but thought I would send them once again. 

Unfortunately, most of these dear folks are still in COVID lockdowns and it has been making life a bit interesting, and unfortunately, for many quite discouraging. And yet, God has been faithful and the Christians and churches are still going forward in their faith.

Please do keep Kosal, Vannak, Man, Tangsue (Cambodia), Soubin (Laos/Thailand), Kong, Jui, Cherchou (Laos), Richard (China), and their families in prayer.  

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE NINE MEN THAT I AM PRESENTLY DISCIPLING ONLINE, AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR SCHOOL OF MINISTRY STUDENTS!

With the many needs in the countries of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam we are grateful for all of you that are praying and have given towards “Operation Samaritan Compassion.” While I am no longer in the States and unable to present the ministry to our supporting churches, the needs are still great, in fact, in some places, greater than ever before.   We are praying, and ask that you pray with us, that God will continue to touch many hearts of folks back in the States to continue to give for this worthy and needy cause.  

In recent days, I received two very encouraging messages from an email from Vietnam and one text message from the country of Laos, concerning Operation Samaritan’s Compassion. Please read and rejoice:

“For those of you that have generously contributed to this program, for those of you that have prayed for us during the lockdowns in Vietnam. Thank you!”  

According to his email, over the past four months they have helped 1,030 people with food packages and 32 of them have trusted Christ.

“In the past year, we have helped more than seventy families (multiple times) in two different villages, and as a result 23 people have trusted Christ.”  

There are so many other reports I could share with you but we simply don’t have the time or the space. THANK YOU FOR PRAYING AND GIVING!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE GREAT PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS HERE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA!

While in Chiang Mai, Thailand (part of our visa journey), Denise and I had the chance to meet up with Soubin. He is from Laos and was a part of our ministry there. He is presently residing in Thailand and attending school. I have been discipling Soubin now for two years, he is like a spiritual son to me. My wife and I love him, his wife, and his two daughters, and the son that is on the way. Over the past almost 19 months, our discipleship has all been online due to my being in the States and/or us being separated by miles. It was a joy to sit down face-to-face and enjoy some good Thai food and great fellowship.

PLEASE PRAY FOR SOUBIN AND HIS FAMILY!  

I have a special prayer request for those of you that are praying for us. Jui (pictured above interpreting for me) is a fine young man. Jui has been saved about six years, I have been discipling him for about four years, he was my assistant for two years in Laos, he is a graduate of our School of Ministry, and he now has the blessed opportunity to go and serve the Chinese and Ukranian people in the country of Ukraine), as well as continue to be trained by another missionary (Derek Thomas).

But as you know, it is going to cost money to send him and keep him there. We are looking for Christians who are willing to pray and to start supporting him monthly. WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO HELP? If so, just shoot me a text or an email!

My wife and I would like to thank you all for your friendship, your love, your prayers, and your giving, which is enabling us to be where God wants us to be and do what God wants us to do.
 
Your missionaries in Southeast Asia,
Johnny and Denise Esposito