FIRST CONTACT

Well, we spoke with James Hla through Skype today and it was a very encouraging time. We were able to get some of our questions answered and recieve some more information that will be helpful for us in our preparations. Right now we are working on getting our visas and we also will be needing to get a few different shots before we leave. The people are very excited to have us coming over to Thailand and are already planning ways in which we can be most beneficial. Our hope is to encourage, serve and sacrifice for the exsiting Church in northen Thailand, through our work and love. James mentioned that the people there will be looking up to us as leaders and have high expectations, and thus I ask for further prayers that God would continue to prepare my heart and discipline me so that I may exceed those expectations and show the love of Christ in a beautiful way. James also said that commitment to the lord is lacking in some of the people there, and I pray that God will use the Hla family and the leaders of the Churches as well as us to help rekindle passion for God among the people. There is still much work to be done and funds to be raised, so please keep on lifting us up to the lord.

Here is the letter we composed to send out

Dear Church, Family and Friends

Greetings to you from Joshua and Serina, we hope this letter finds you well. “We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our; prayers constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ…” (1Thessalonians 1:2- 3) We are writing this letter to inform you of an open door God has given us, to minister to the people of Thailand. Let us shed some light on the situation in Thailand.

• Thailand is viewed as the sin capital of Asia
• 85.3% of the population in Thailand are Buddhist
• Less than 1.1% of the population are Christians, of that percentage 65% are first generation believers
• 96.2% of the population is an unreached people group
• Only 0.5% of the population are hearing the gospel regularly
• 99.2% of the country is undeveloped (Economically, Educationally and Medically)
• Thailand is declared a free country, and so causing refugees from neighboring countries to flee to Thailand causing political unrest
• 2 million people depend on the sex industry for a source of income (human trafficking, prostitution, and adult films).
• Because of this dependency on the sex industry and the poor education, aids is becoming an epidemic.
  • (For more information go to www.Joshuaprojects.net)

The existing Church in Thailand is in need of assistance. We will be partnering with James, Shawpaul and Jerrod Hla, who are native church planters in the area. They have successfully planted more than 150 Churches in the Chang Mai and Burma regions. In this partnership we will have the responsibility to oversee the training, equipping and building up of the leaders in the church plants. Along with this we have also been invited to teach English to Buddhist monks at a local university, which is a rare opportunity to reach out to these monks in ways not usually attainable. In addition to this we will also be teaching English at the Christian School in Chang Mai, which will give us ample opportunity to reach out and disciple those we come into contact with. Also we will host a VBS for the youth of Chang Mai. For the duration of the trip Joshua will be creating a documentary of the work being done in Thailand. Due to the amount of human trafficking in Thailand, Serina will have the chance to counsel victims of this horrible crime. Flexibility will be key in allowing for further opportunities to arise. In all of this our hope is to create and sustain disciples for Jesus and to preach the gospel in words and actions.

Our responsibilities will be exciting, challenging and life changing. We are ready for the hard, but fruitful work of Gods kingdom. We know that by going out and making disciples of all nations that we are fulfilling the great commission. Yet we cannot do this alone, and so we ask that you prayerfully consider partnering with us in this endeavor, and so you too can help fulfill the great commission. In the environment we will be tested in many ways that are unfamiliar to us and so first and foremost we plead with you that you would pray for us daily as we will pray for you. Secondly we cannot go through this open door without financial support. The cost of this 8 month trip is $4000 each. We hope that all who give give with a joyous heart in the realization that you are making an eternal investment and furthering the kingdom in Thailand.

If you would like to partner with us through your financial support, you can go to our blogs and donate electronically through paypal (Joshua: jwpug.blogspot.com, Serina: serinaflores.blogspot.com) or if you would like a tax deduction you can send your checks to: Kingman Christian Church, 2830 Gordon Drive, Kingman AZ 86401

Please make your checks payable to Kingman Christian Church, on the check memo write “Thailand Missions – Serina Flores or Joshua Pugsley”.

We received an email from Jared Hla containing information on some of the work we will be doing and so I relay the message to you :)

You will be in three different cultures, in three different locations, working with 4 languages, to people of several ethnic groups from different social and economic backgrounds.

WITHIN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS, both of you will be in 3 different locations together. 

In the first month both of you will be at a boarding school of about 500 children working in a Karen ethnic Christian community in the mountains.  Both of you are expected (1) to teach English (most likely to 10-12 graders) in an academic setting, (2) teach Sunday School, (3) probably to play a role in junior worship, (4) sing "special" songs, (5) teach songs, (6) share testimonies and (7) preach on several occasions (Josh) at the church. 

Information about teaching English at this community will be provided as soon as we have it.

In the second month both of you will be at the Thai-Burma border working with in a Burmese-speaking church.  These people are migrant labourers from Burma working on the Thai side.  The expectations are the same as above but you may or may not be teaching English.  It is highly likely that both of you'll be doing visitations during the week and give devotions. Besides Sunday sermons, Josh needs to have several sermons ready for various occasions like birthday sermons and thanksgiving sermons.  Although Josh is just visiting, he will share these responsibilities alongside you.

In the third month both of you will be in Chiang Mai.  This is a city of about half a million people.  You will be exposed to student ministry to 3 plus university campuses and the mother church of the daughter churches planted.  Here, Thai language is used.  The expectations are similar to the ones in the first month.

For the forth month and onward ask my father what he has in mind for you.

After reading this I felt a little sick to my stomach (just a little over dramatic)...why you may ask? Giving sermons is not one of my favorite activities and it turns out ill be doing that a lot. Once again, I need your prayer, this is going to be very challenging. I am trusting in God and I know that He will give me the strength to do things I never thought possible. 

"The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are as bold as a lion." Proverbs 28:1  

In other news, we have finished our letter for support and will be sending them out/handing them out. The cost is going to be $4000 rather than $3500. Good day to you all, much love to you.

First Blog EVA!!!

Well as you can tell from the title, this is officially the first blog I have ever written, Muhahaha! As of now i am in the process of creating letters to send out in order to raise support for my eight month adventure to Thailand. The cost is $3500 and that is very cheap considering the amount of time I will be there. I am very excited to see what kinds of things God is going to teach me while I'm in Thailand, and how God will use me to impact others for his kingdom. It is going to be a lot of hard work and I already know that God is going to mature me in so many ways. This is definitely going to be a challenge, but I'm up for it and always praying that God will break me down in order to build me back up as a better man for him. I'm going to need a lot of support, not only financially, but also in prayer...please pray for me. More to come soon, Love to you all!