Be There Soon
As you are reading this newsletter, we are now in Seattle and sharing Christmas week with our oldest daughter and her family. On January 1st, we will begin our journey to Thailand and arrive there on the 2nd. During our three month stay there, we have much to accomplish. There are plans for a Bible seminar, Bible studies with our staff on a regular schedule, dedication of the new mission house, Wanchai’s graduation, and finding new playground equipment for Gethsemane Home. We will also make several visits to all of the villages where Under the Son Ministries has evangelists working.
As 2024 comes to a close, we want to thank everyone for your support of Under the Son Ministries in the last 13+ years. We ask for your prayers that our time in Thailand will be fruitful and God will be glorified.
A Special Young Man
In May of 2011, Wanchai, along with four brothers and sisters, arrived at Gethsemane Home. Their mother had died, and their aging grandmother felt she could no longer care for these children. Wanchai was four years old at the time. A month later we met Titus and Newa at Gethsemane, and our lives have been linked together with Wanchai’s ever since.
Wanchai is now 19 years old and will be graduating from high school in a few months. A few weeks ago we had a video chat with Wanchai and Titus where he shared with us his plans for the future. Following graduation Wanchai plans to attend Chiangmai Technical College for two years earning a degree in Construction Engineering. He will then transfer to Rajamangala University of Technology to finish his studies. We are so very proud of Wanchai and excited to see what the future holds for him!
Another Successful Youth Camp
Many of the schools in Thailand have a break during the month of October. This creates a great opportunity for the Antioch Church to host a youth camp. With the help of Under the Son Ministries and their staff, this year’s camp was held during October 18th through 20th. The theme for this year’s camp was New Life taken from 2 Corinthians 5:17.
The number of kids attending this year’s camp grew from around 50 last year to over 160 this year. Campers from some of the area’s children’s homes were able to go home each evening. There were many who came from a distance and stayed at the different facilities at Antioch, Gethsemane Home, and Moses’ house.
The highlight of the camp was the baptism of seven young people. Three of the seven were children at Gethsemane Home. We are excited to get to personally welcome each of them into God’s family.
Christmas at LaMu Nai
Zacchaeus was excited! It seems that the last big event held in the village of LaMu Nai was in 2019. That’s when the Under the Son Ministries staff held a youth camp at the church. This time it was a Christmas celebration. On December 7th and 8th, Christians from the villages of Na Khrai, Patang Muser, and LaMu Nai Karen came to LaMu Nai to share the Christmas story with the non-Christians in the area.
The festivities began on Saturday afternoon with games where prizes were given out. This was then followed by singing Christian songs and performing special dances by different groups. The children from Gethsemane were excited to perform a dance routine. That evening Titus shared a message about Jesus coming into the world and God’s love for all of us. After that more gifts were given out. During the worship service on Sunday, the message was on how all men have sinned and our need for Jesus. It was estimated that there were over 150 people in attendance for this Christmas celebration.
Christmas Homes Tour 2024
Our 8th Annual Christmas Homes Tour took place on Sunday, December 8th, in Maryville. God gave us a beautiful day with temperatures in the 50s. Ticket holders were able to tour four homes that day. A special thank you to Tom and Jessica Beattie, Matt and Tiffany Kendrick, Oak and Heidi Steffey, and Kent and Stephanie Yount for opening up their homes.
This fundraiser has been a great addition to our Under the Son Ministries Educational Fund. With two of our children in university and two in vocational school at this time, these fundraisers are truly a blessing. We are grateful for your support! Mark December 7, 2025, on your calendar for the 9th Annual Christmas Homes Tour. We are already lining up homes you won’t want to miss!
