Anond Phoothaptim
Tailand Missions
Email Address:
Anond Phoothaptim: a_nond@hotmail.com
Wayne Camp: RWcamp@chris.com
Bill Lee: bnjlee@dixie-net.com
Mailing Addresses:
Wayne Camp
2065 Tompkins Lane
Millington, Tn 38053
Bill Lee
P.O.Box 876
Grenada,MS 38902
Home Church:
Central Baptist Church
327 2nd St
Grenada, Ms. 38902
(662)226-2715 or (662)223-9335
Pastor:
Bill Lee
Thailand Mission News Update
November 2007
Dear Friends, Supporters, and those who pray for us,
November 25, 2007
Ephesians 3:20-21 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
I want to thank all of you for your prayers concerning the church in Plang Hok and for the pastor and people there. In the last report I told you of the efforts of Satan to use two young Pentecostal preachers to take over the church, church property, and to buy off the pastor in the deal. I also told you that his wife was involved out of sentimental reasons--"They are our children and we cannot invite them to preach." The church stood against it.
I also told you that they threatened to kill Bro. Anond so that the property could be seized. I have good news. The pastor's wife is now standing behind her husband, it appears, and he was back in school every day this week. It would appear that truth has triumphed again and this matter has been put to rest. His wife had always gone with the pastor to the special services at other churches but she had missed two or three since this matter came up. I am happy to report that she was with him Saturday at Hoe Som Suk for their Thanksgiving service and sang with their group in a couple of special songs. There seems to be an entirely different atmosphere in the group now than there was one week ago.
There are still some unsolved problems that are side effects of this matter. We are praying that they will be resolved by the church soon. I am including two pictures attached to the report. One is the Plang Hok group singing at the Thanksgiving service at Hoe Som Suk Saturday. I have put a small white square above the head of head of the pastor and one above the head of his wife. I was glad to see this since she had not been attending because of the trouble.
The other is a picture of the congregation at Pa Sak #2. I preached the gospel in this village two or three years ago and it was the first time the gospel had ever been preached there. Fifteen made professions of faith and 13 submitted to baptism. Two weeks later I preached there again and 8 more made professions of faith and were baptized. It was so good to see most of them in the service today. They have built a building on a piece of land given to the church by the man who invited us to come there and preach.
I will be preaching at the men's prison tomorrow--Monday here. Therefore, I want to get this sent out tonight.
November 26, 2007This morning we went to the Central Prison (Men's Prison) in Chiang Mai and I preached. There was a Nigerian man who is in prison there. He has been saved since being imprisoned and was really enthused with the message. Others were also but did not show it as he did. After I preached he wanted to talk to me and we had a very good conversation. He is in prison for two years because someone harassed him until he gave him a beating. If the other person was Thai the Nigerian would make two of him and since many Thai people are very prejudiced against blacks, including judges, he probably got a stiffer sentence than he would have otherwise. He has served one year of his time and is praying that he will get a release ahead of time.
We had a good group present as you can see from the photo attached above. The third attachment is a picture in front of the prison. I have also attached the sermon I preached this morning. It was well received and I really enjoyed preaching it. Bro. Anond said he did too.
November 28, 2007
I am sorry to announce that Bro. Anond is in the hospital. Yesterday at noon, when we dismissed for lunch, he said to me, "I do not know if I can translate this afternoon I am hurting so badly. He tried to eat some lunch and only ate a few bites. I told him we were going to dismiss classes for the afternoon and he could bring us back here to the Condo and if he wanted to he could come in and lie down and see if his pain eased any. He decided instead to drop us off and go to the hospital that is nearby?one of the best in Chiang Mai. When they ran tests they found he was having an appendicitis attack and at 8:00 PM last night he went into surgery and they removed his appendix. He woke up after the surgery at 11:00 PM and was going to go home but Bro. Lee, whom I had contacted and told about the situation, and I encouraged him to stay another night at the hospital to which he agreed. His health insurance will fully cover it anyway.
I have talked with him several times today and when I called him at 3:00 PM he was hurting from the surgery and his blood pressure was still high the last time they checked it. He has a problem with high blood pressure at times anyway but it has been high ever since he went to the hospital. We sent the students home for the rest of the week because I cannot teach without a translator and know of none that I would want to use. I would not know if they were translating correctly or putting their own spin on what I was teaching. Please pray for him.
He will not be able to check his e-mail for a few days. If you would like to send him a short note, feel free to send it to my address and I will print the letters out and take them to him. I am going up there at 5:00 PM but if he stays in the hospital tomorrow, I will take them to him. If not, the hospital is in sight of where we live and he will come by here before he goes home and I will give them to him then. One way or the other I will get them to him. I know he would be greatly encouraged if he received many notes from those who receive this. In the event you do not have my e-mail address it is below my name.
November 29, 2007Ruth and I just returned from the hospital where we found a much improved Bro. Anond. We took him the letters we have received thus far after putting them in a folder. We had received 26 and I am sure more will be coming. I took two pictures of Bro. Anond reading the letters. He had his first food tonight--two pieces of papayua and some liquid that was like Jello but not jelled. I also got a picture of his eating that food.
He was very delighted with all the letters and I hope more will come in tomorrow so that I can give them to him when he comes by after he is dismissed. They have his blood pressure down to 120/70 now so the doctor is going to dismiss him sometime tomorrow.
Thanks to all who have responded to the e-mail with letters.
Brotherly in Christ,Wayne Camp
March 12, 2007
I am glad I talked with you last Friday night my time. I am sorry that I could not email you because of my headache. I am fine now. I would like to report that everything is doing good. Thank you for praying for Thailand Missions.
The Churches:
Right more of the churches are increasing. We have 2 more new churches, bringing the total to 25 churches. All the pastors are good to get studying by themselves. I have been visiting every church on the weekends. I spend time visiting, supplying medicine, teaching the Bible and preaching the Gospel.
Most of the churches are interested in the doctrine that we believe. The churches in Thailand are inviting you to come to preach and teach to them. They love you and would like to know your sermon. Some pastors ask me when you will come to visit us again. We miss you. Also 2 weeks ago, Pa-koe church( is Lisu ) member?s house was burnt by fire. Two families do not have a house, blankets, and no food. They have asked me to pray for them. One lady is a widow with two children. In Another family, the husband, at this time, will have nothing to do with them. Please pray for them.
On the last week of March, 2007 we will have a 3 day Bible Conference at the Bible School. We would like to invite you to come and preach. All the church would like to hear your sermon.
Children home:
All the children are fine, going to school every day Monday to Friday. Everyone is growing up and some need go to another school. Next month the school will be closed for about one month for the holiday. On April 2007 we will have Children?s camp.
Sarah, is doing fine and growing up now. She is happy every day. Right now she weighs 10 kilograms. I have some picture would like to send to you.
Bible school:
Right now I have teaching to Bible school have 25 students teaching 6 hours each day start 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Please pray for the budget. I have no budget for Bible school. I have get the job for Bible school. I am working at night time 4 hours( 7:00 pm-12:00 pm.) designing buildings. I am working to make money for Bible school. If not I don't have Bible School.
Students have been coming to learn Bible school. Tomorrow will have 5 more students with a total of 30 students right now. Please pray for the food and material for teaching copy some subjects and traveling fee. All the students would like to take the class 8 months each year. But I do not have enough teachers and budget for 8 months please pray for us.
Prison ministry:
I am teaching Bible and preaching gospel every month at 4 prisons on Mondays. Last month, Theong prison have 18 men and women is 15 women saved. I will go to preach this month and please pray for me and the prisoners who get out and are coming to the Bible school.
Medicine Project:
I have been taking care of the people when they get sick and I give medicine to the people, alot. The medicine is a big help to them.
May God be with you,
Anond Phoothaptim
Thailand Mission News Update
January 1, 2007
REPORT ON LEAVING
Dear Friends and Supporters,I awakened early this morning (December 31, 2006) with a very heavy heart. When my wife and I came over November 1, we had no idea that we would have to leave a month early. We have, in the past, been able to travel to the Burmese border, cross into Burma, then come back and get a new thirty day visa when we entered the country again. We could do this all the time we were here with no problems.
After we had been here about a month or more, I was at a grocery store and as I was leaving a man from Holland approached me and said, "Have you heard about the new immigration regulation that has just gone into effect?"
I answered in the negative and he told me that the new regime (as you know there was a coup here shortly before we came) had just instituted a new rule that you could only stay in the country for 90 days even by leaving the country and coming back in as in the past. We tried to find more information on this and most people who knew about it simply said, "They will change it back to the old way because many tourists are leaving the country and many English teachers from English speaking countries who are doing volunteer teaching in the schools are going to have to leave. It will change."
I began to pursue the matter further. We went to immigration and the immigration officer here in Chiang Mai told us we should be able to go to Laos this next week and get a new 90 day visa. It appeared our troubles were over.
Friday afternoon, December 29, 2006, I found out that that too had been stopped. In fact, they have closed all the doors to our staying until March 1, 2007. This ruling affects thousands more like us. There are several thousand English speaking people here doing volunteer teaching in the schools and prisons. My wife, Ruth, has even been teaching at the school where about 30 of the children from the Children?s home go to elementary school and she has some of them in every class (she teaches eight classes per week). In addition to helping out with slow English students at the Bible School.
We have prayed for God to open the door for us to stay the full school term but the time has come now that we must make plans to leave Thailand before January 23, 2007. We have to arrange for changing our flights and many other things we had planned to do late in February. I will teach just as long as possible, then shut the school down for this term. As soon as I get back to the states and rest a week or so, I will begin to work toward getting visas for Ruth and me that will allow us to stay the full term next year.
I want to assure everyone that I am not giving up the work. God willing, and by his grace, we plan to be back here teaching next year for a full four months as I have been in the past four years.
I am writing this report but will wait a few more days to send it out because we are still exploring possible ways to stay legally. We could bribe an official and get an extension but when we went through passport clearance in Bangkok it would show up in their computers that we would have been here more than the legal 90 days. Moreover we have no plans and have given no consideration to doing one thing illegally to stay. That would be against the laws of God and man.
Though we are sick at heart about this, we worship the one who controls all things and works all things after the counsel of his own will.
I will tell you that I think this new regulation was put into effect by the Military Officer who took over as Prime Minister for selfish reasons. Here in Thailand there are rumors (only rumors) that the old Prime Minister is spending some time in China and other neighboring countries to the north, trying to raise enough of an army to come in and take back the Prime Ministership. There are many people in the rural areas that still support him.
I must close for now but will probably add more before sending this.
Since I wrote the above new developments have come to pass here in Thailand. There have been bombings in Bangkok causing the cancellation of all New Year's celebrations. Celebrations were also cancelled here in Chiang Mai since the deposed Prime Minister has a large following here in this city. I did not know that until it was reported early this morning, Sunday, January 1, 2007. I had heard of his support in the rural areas but was not aware of his wide spread support in Chiang Mai.
When I learned we were going to have to leave, naturally I began to ask the Lord, "Why?" The first Scripture that came to mind was Isaiah 57:1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
I know that in this instance God had determined to send judgment on Israel and was removing the righteous through death so that they did not have to endure the judgment that was coming. I found a similar Scripture concerning King Josiah. 2 Kings 22:20 Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.
This also involved the death of Josiah. I could be stretching a point but this regulation on our visas could be God?s way of getting us out of Thailand before things get worse. Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare for our departure.
As I write this Asia News Network is reporting that the current Prime Minister held and emergency meeting and issued a statement that they think the bomb blasts last night were the work of the anti-coup people. And, just this moment, 3:08 PM Sunday, 2:08 AM Sunday, Central time in the USA, a bomb has just a short time ago been exploded at a Muslim Mosque here in Chiang Mai.
We will put our trust in the Lord to get us out of here in an orderly shut down of the school and a timely and safe departure from Thailand. If we had been able to get our visas extended, we would stay in spite of the current situation. We will have to leave through Bangkok but will not get out of the airport if that can be helped.
I am going to send this now, earlier than I originally indicated I would, but will send reports as events change for better or worse. We are not afraid for we know that nothing can happen to us that is outside of God?s will. Job 23:14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. I just heard that US embassies are warning against travel inBangkok. I also want to send some more reports of our visits to churches until we leave.
The latter part of this has been written with one ear and eye on the TV news so if I have made errors please overlook them.
We do truly implore you to pray for us.
Our Love in Christ,Wayne and Ruth Camp
Thailand Mission News Update
September 17, 2006
Dear Bro. Paul,
Thank you for CD sermon , I got this week. I liked and need to get study it more. Thank you for your prays for us. Everything going well. Last week I went to preach at Chiang rai prison and there were 9 men saved. They would like to know more Jesus Christ.
I have been working and preparing for the Bible Conference we will have on November 6-8,2006 at Plang hok church. We have invited all 25 churches that are working together now.
I have been writing a book to help in the training of pastors.
The church at Om-kol has new people that would like to receive Jesus Christ and take out the spirit house. Right now they worship evil spirit. Have a lot people that are sick. They need the preaching of the gospel and medicine, too.
I know God wants me to go preaching the gospel every where. Please pray that I will have the energy to go where God will use me.
The churches in Thailand are praying for you. If possible please come back to teach us in Bible school and the churches. We liked you sermon last time.
If you have more sermon CDs and Tapes, please send them to me. I will study them and teach the church pastors.
Please tell church members, Hello, for me. Thank you for praying and supporting us, as it is a big help. I will report to you. May God be with you.
Love and miss you,Bro. Anond
July 5, 2006
Dear Every One,
I would like to report to you how the churches in Thailand are doing. Every thing is can going on. In Chiang mai we are having rain.
Last week we had a Bible Conference at Pa-sak # 2 church, where Chiang rai is the pastor. All the pastors preached there. Enjoyed very much most of the people liked to hear gospel.
After we preached to every one, we had one big family came to service have saved very good. He is an old man, who is 116 years old. He interested in the gospel. He needs to know the way to go heaven. We shared the gospel with him and he came to the Children home. Now he wants to be a friend with us more.
When we have conference there it was raining and not comfortable to baptize. We had another villager come to the service and he invited me to go visit his village as he wants to hear more of the gospel. (he is Red Lahu ) Let me go to spent night and preach the gospel. That village is a big village, too. This village is on the way to Long hkoad church. I will go spend the night tomorrow night.
All the pastors enjoyed conference. I have some pictures I will send you.
When I will be back home I will go to report to you.
Please tell every one hello for me.
May God be with you.Anond
June 21, 2006
Dear Bro. Paul,
How are you? I am fine. Thank you for praying for me and Thailand Mission. Every thing is going good. I do miss you. I hope you are ok. All the churches are talking about when you will be back to visit us. We loved your sermons and all the pastors are talking about you. I would like to report to you.
Children home:
All the children have gone back to school every Monday to Friday. Everyone has grown up now. Thank you for praying for us and we are praying for you and family and the church. I would like to tell you good news. I have a baby girl now as of last Sunday. No name yet. If possible, please give her a name. How did I get this baby? Last Saturday another village called me. The mother was too young and was not ready to have a bady yet. She tried to kill the baby but someone saw her and did not let her finish. After that grandmother called me. She asked me if I would like to have a baby. And the gandmother gave me the baby to be my child by adoption. I asked her who was baby? She told me she was her grandbaby and that the father was in the prison right now. She was born May 25 ,2006 and is 30 days old. She has been easy to care for as she seems happy and doesn't cry any. I have to take her back for a checkup with the Doctor at the hospital. I would like to ask you if you want. Please let me know. I will talk to my friend who is a lawyer. Her Mother's a red Lahu and the Father is a black Lahu. I brought the milk to her.
My brother, Daniel, is coming back to work with me next month, July 8, 2005. I do miss you and your family and your church members.
The churches:
All the churches are going good and we have Bible Conferences every month at a different church for 3 days and 3 nights. We have more members as many have been saved after we preached the gospel. Last month we baptized one lady. After that she invited us to have services in her house every Sunday. Her family likes this and are happy to hear gospel too. She is Thai. Her husband got out the Chiang mai mens prison too.
This month we will have a Bible Conference At Pa-sak # 2 church. We will be start next week. All the pastors will go to preach there and we will be preaching the gospel for unsaved people too. This year we have Bible Conference on October 2006. If you have time would it be possible to come and preach. All the churches liked your sermons and messages very much. Shuthipchai asked me when you will be coming back to visit us and share messages.
We are having Increase in the new, young church. The people are very interested in the gospel. I need to get more study scriptures. If you have some study material, please send it to me . I will study it and teach it to the pastors first and then we will carry gospel to everywhere. Most of all, I need to teach Sunday School Bible Study to the pastors.
Prison Ministry:
This ministry is doing very good. I preach every week in the prisons. I am visiting 7 prisons right now. I have to spend more time studying to teach in the prisons. The Thai gorverment invited me to preach the gospel to the prisoners, who are happy with no problem. This past Monday I went to Theong Prison. The prisoners are interested in the gospel and 16-20 women have received Jesus Christ. They invited me to come back. Though they do have troubles, after hearing the gospel they feel good about trusting God more and not thinking as much about their troubles. Please pray for us as we do not have enough for Bibles to give to them. And the people would also like to have Bible Study material. Next Monday I will be going to preach to the men and women at Chiang mai prison. I would also like to teach Bible to the people close to getting out of prison every week. I will start next month. Please pray that I will have wisdom and the energy to share gospel everywhere. Please teach me how to prepare a message for the prisoners in prison. Please let me know. In Thailand, the prisons are not against us teaching the gospel to the people. The Thai gorverment is happy we are sharing the gospel.
Bible School:
I have been teaching Bible to the young men every week on Thursday through Saturday. We have 25 young men. Most of the young men are interested in learning the Bible and sharing gospel with other poeple.
Medicine Project:
I have been taking the medicine to the churches when I preach and visit the churches. Most of the people have been sick. Some have hurt their backs and some have Malaria. We also take medical care to the churches in Laos and Burma. Most of the churches in Burma and Laos are very needy and I meet with the pastors every 3 months. Today the church from Burma called and said they need more medicine. I will visit the churches there and stay about 3 days and also preach the gospel too.
I belive you had the last report from me a few weeks ago. Please tell the church members, Hello, for me. I would like to come back to visit and report to you. Thank you very much for praying for me and Thailand Missions. Everything is going good. May God be with and bless you every one.
Love and miss you,Anond