Hi!
I can't believe nearly nine months have passed since we came back to the States from Thailand. Our time in PA, NY and KS went by quickly that first month. Then July and August found us settling into a new house, school district, church, and community.
From September through December we had many fun get-togethers with Jen's and Scott's family, went to lots of Nathan's football games, got to know our church and neighbors better, took part in Kairos (Scott), began discipling Josie and Dorica/volunteered at OMF (Jen) and simply...rested.
Since January 1, the pace of our lives has certainly quickened. We've had several opportunities to share about our ministry to Thailand in small group settings at our church, as well as speak at Jen's parents' church in Colorado Springs. This week we will be traveling to one of our supporting churches, Voyagers Bible Church, in Irvine, California (Feb 23 - 27), and while there will have many opportunities to share with them both our ministry in Thailand, and how each person can participate in God's desire to reach the nations. (6ways2reach.org)
Since January, we have asked three people to meet with us on a monthly basis to be our Prayer, Planning, and Advisory team. It has been so good for us to feel their support, and listen to their suggestions as we head down the final runway to returning back to Thailand.
"To man belong the plans of the heart,
But from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue." Proverbs 16:1
As we look at the next four months, what plans are arising from our hearts by faith?
** Scott will continue taking the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course at our church, and will also be facilitating a Kairos course (a shortened version of Perspectives) at a local church with a fellow OMFer. These courses have renewed Scott's call to serve God overseas, prepared Scott to teach Kairos to Thai churches and given Scott an understanding of the courses out there so that he can recommend them to others.
** Jen will continue discipling Josie and Dorica, and try to establish them into some good Bible study groups before she leaves for Thailand.
** Scott's parents will visit at the beginning of May, and Joshua and Matthew will also fly in for a last visit - a full house!
** Scott, Jen, Nathan, and Alysha will fly to California on May 17 to spend a week with Jen's extended family in the San Francisco area. From there Scott, Nathan, and Alysha will fly to Thailand to renew Scott's visa, and begin to set up house in the Chiang Mai region of north Thailand. Jen will return to Colorado to remain until July 10 so as to obtain Colorado state residency in case any of our kids want to attend college in Colorado in the future.
But what is the reply of the LORD's tongue?
We finished our 2011 budget year with OMF at 75% support (about $2000/month short). Our support budget includes everything: health insurance, travel, taxes, social security, retirement, living expenses both here and abroad, our kids' education at Grace International School in Chiang Mai, and OMF related support costs.
Is it worth it? At times we ask ourselves this. It takes a lot of money to send a family overseas. But our conclusion at least until now is...yes, it is worth it. Jesus commanded us to disciple the nations. As we consider the ½ % Thai who consider themselves to be Christians, we realize that of this fraction, an even smaller fraction are really living out the Christian life in the power of the Spirit.
We feel there is still a lot we can contribute to the Thai church along the lines of encouraging them in prayer, exegetical preaching, having a vision for missions, husband and wife relationships, child rearing. After 8 years of church planting in Central Thailand, we sat around in a circle as the Thai believers farewelled us. The key comment that kept coming up was not about any of the teaching/training we had done, but was, "We watched your family and the way Scott treated Jennifer, the way you raise your children is so different from what we have experienced. We want our families to be like yours."
So, currently we are short about $2000/month. We've been in this position before. In April of 2002 when we were at 75% support, God brought First Christian Church of Pleasanton, KS, our way, and with their support we were able to return to Thailand for another four year term.
In April of 2008 when we were at 70% support God not only brought the Bethany Bible Fellowship, Community Bible Fellowship, Central Schwenkfelder, Christ United Methodist and Voyagers Bible churches to partner with us, but OMF supplied any shortfall so that we could be dorm parents. All throughout our dorm parenting years whenever we asked ourselves, "Why are we here?" we recalled the convincing way in which God opened the doors for us to return to Thailand and provided for all of our needs.
We sit in a similar boat today. We know He is able. We have bought our tickets, we have put money down to hold our kids' spots at Grace International School, we have passed our health exams. But we need God's final confirmation - is He calling us back to Thailand?
Please pray heartily for us. For God, money is no problem. We are trusting that through His financial provision over the next two months He will give the reply of His tongue.
The bottom line: Keep praying for Thailand! Whether we are there or not, God is at work.
We appreciate your partnership and prayers for us.
In Him,
Scott, Jennifer, Matthew, Joshua, Nathan, and Alysha
Tibbetts Travels in Thailand
OMF International missionaries working in Chiang Mai, Thailand from the United States of America.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Tibbetts' Travels BACK to Thailand
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Thursday, November 17, 2011
Dear Partners in Prayer,
Greetings from dry and cool Colorado. I emphasize "dry" and "cool" this morning, considering the tremendous floods Bangkok is experiencing in that hot and humid climate. Google "Bangkok" or "Thailand" and then "News" to get the latest info.
So, how have you been doing? We'd love to hear from you!
We recently had a lovely time with Scott's mom and dad here in Litttleton, CO. We visited the Red Rocks, drove through the mountains to a cute mining town - Idaho Springs, walked through the historic Littleton downtown, cheered at Nathan's football game, watched Alysha's basketball practice, and had fun playing games and eating together. I'm really glad they could visit. We have missed being physically closer to them while in Colorado.
Nathan had a good football season with lots of opportunity to play. His team struggled, only winning 1 game all season, but as a result, Nathan, as a sophomore, was able to start as a wide receiver on the varsity team and he also played on the junior varsity team. A special experience as there is no American football played in Thailand! Nathan got a number of catches and enjoyed the camaraderie of being on the team.
Alysha has been learning how to play clarinet in her school's band. Quite a contrast from the tuba she lugged around last year! Alysha was also very excited when her 7th grade basketball team came together. At first only 1 other girl in 7th grade went out for the team so Alysha had to practice with the 8th graders. But now there are enough 7th grade girls for two teams and Alysha is on the "A" team! They lost their first game, but this past week, they played very well and won 18-11 with Alysha scoring 2 baskets! It has been a joy to see our kids settle in and thrive here in Colorado. I still pray for deeper friendships for them as they haven't really found friends to hang out with outside of school.
Matthew and Joshua will come home for Thanksgiving on Monday the 21st. It will be so nice to have all 6 of us together again! We are looking forward to traveling down to my parents' house (1 hour south) for a few days to celebrate Thanksgiving together. Matthew and Joshua both seem to be thriving at Honor Academy and growing in their relationships with the Lord. During our phone calls to them, we have delighted in hearing them rejoice in the Lord and challenge us in our walks with Him. Honor Academy is a neat program that I would highly recommend to any young person.
It has been nice to feel like we have settled into a schedule. Scott is almost finished attending Kairos, a course that gives the history of missions and a vision for the unreached people groups of the world. Kairos is a simplified version of Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. Starting in January, Scott is hoping to help facilitate another Kairos course in this area. We may also help at the Perspectives course being offered at our church. An exciting thing about Kairos is that it is being taught in Thailand and Scott will have the opportunity to help Thai churches grow in their understanding and vision for missions when we return.
I have been volunteering one day per week at the OMF Headquarters which is about 15 minutes from our home. OMF leadership asked me to call other missionaries who are on Home Assignment to encourage them, see how they are doing and facilitate communication with the leadership of OMF. This has been an interesting and challenging task. I enjoy hearing about what the other missionaries have done in various countries of Southeast Asia. It takes a fair bit of emotional energy to be on the phone for up to 5 1/2 hours in one day and to try to reflectively listen as well as pray.
I have appreciated getting to know some of our office staff as well. Their work is so fundamental to enabling us to be on the field, whether it be strategic (like thinking through vision and policies), administrative (like sending out our prayer letters), creative (like making videos) or processing the money that is sent to our support and making sure it gets to us. Each day, they stop work for half an hour in order to hear reports from the field and throughout OMF and then to pray for this work. I've enjoyed joining in this prayer time when I am at the office.
God has also opened the door for me to do weekly Bible studies with two women who have very little Bible knowledge. Josie is in her 60s. She is a sweet neighbor who has done a number of kind things for our family including donating excess food from big dinners she puts on at her church. Alysha loves to hang out at her house and help Josie care for her 2 dogs and 3 cats. Dorica is about my age. She is a single mom with 2 kids, ages 9 and 4. Originally from Zambia, Africa, Dorica recently divorced her husband in Pennsylvania and moved here to start a new life. I am trying to help Dorica get involved with a local church near her home (she lives 20 minutes from me).
From time to time, we have received a little news from our dorm and friends back in Thailand. The kids in our dorm seem to be doing well with their interim dorm parents, Mark and Rachel McKellar. We are praying that Australians Peter and Rachael Bosma will have raised enough support to leave for Thailand in February so they can do some culture and language study before taking over the dorm in August 2012 for the next few years. Meanwhile our hearts and prayers have been with the Thai as they battle the neverending floods and the damage it is costing to property and lives. Arunee, one of our dorm children who lived with us the past three years, recently sent us some very striking photos. See for yourself by clicking on the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/l/FAQEt3LHEAQEQqELDD229IR6d1YlQWITKSvNGI_lNZpo_GQ/www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/10/bangkok-underwater/100178/
Our Home Assignment is nearly half over. What is next? Lord willing, in mid May 2012, all of us will travel to California to visit Jen's grandma and relatives. Then Scott, Nathan, and Alysha will fly back to Thailand in time to renew our visa. They will look for a house while I return to Colorado until mid July so as to obtain Colorado residency in case any of our kids wish to attend a Colorado university - at least one parent has to be physically in Colorado for 12 months. (At this point, we don't have residency in any state and college tuition is expensive!)
On our return to Thailand, we will begin to relate once again to the Thai church. In particular Scott has been asked by one of the Thai leaders to visit his pastors who often work in isolated areas. He will seek to encourage these pastors, challenge them with church planting opportunities and pray with them. As opportunities arise, we would like to share more with the Thai along the lines of missionary vision, marriage and finances, raising children.
This is DISCIPLESHIP! Even though there are some Thai believers in Thailand, the Thai church is still relatively young - about 60 years old and they have not yet been fully trained in many of the Christian basics of daily living. The Great Commission said to go and make disciples.
We appreciate your partnering with us to make this happen!
Well, it is Thanksgiving time. Hope you can find some time to reflect on how awesome our God is, how much He loves us, and the splendor of Heaven that He is preparing for us in the future.
Many Thanks to Him for His faithfulness to us and for your Partnership through Prayer - -
Scott, Jennifer, Alysha, Nathan, Joshua, and Matthew
Friday, November 11, 2011
Shop for your groceries and Support an OMF Missionary at the Same Time!
Hello from Chilly Colorado where we've already had two snowstorms this fall!
Over the past 3 months, we have been using a Grocery Card that contributes 5% of all the money we spend at our local grocery store to Alysha's middle school. Jennifer recently researched this program and discovered that all non-profit organizations, including OMF International, can sign up for this program as well. Our family is now trying this out for OMF as "guinea pigs". If it works out well, other OMFers may sign up to use this program too.
You have the opportunity to support us as OMF missionaries through your regular grocery shopping with no additional cost to you. For every $100 you spend on groceries, $5 will go to our support. If your family eats like our family, that could easily be more than $30 per month!
Do you shop for groceries or buy fuel at any of these stores - Kroger, King Soopers, Foods Co., Turkey Hill Minit Markets, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Fry's, Dillons, Kwik Shop, Loaf 'N Jug, Quik Stop, Tom Thumb, Smith's Food & Drug, City Market, QFC, Food 4 Less, Owen's, Hilander, Pay Less, Gerbes, Scott's, Baker's or JayC? The program is easy! And your grocery money can further God's Kingdom! For more information, please contact us at 267-772-1705 or sjtibbetts@gmail.com
Your Missionaries to Thailand,
Scott, Jennifer, Matthew, Joshua, Nathan & Alysha Tibbetts --
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
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tibbetts-in-thailand+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/tibbetts-in-thailand?hl=en
Over the past 3 months, we have been using a Grocery Card that contributes 5% of all the money we spend at our local grocery store to Alysha's middle school. Jennifer recently researched this program and discovered that all non-profit organizations, including OMF International, can sign up for this program as well. Our family is now trying this out for OMF as "guinea pigs". If it works out well, other OMFers may sign up to use this program too.
You have the opportunity to support us as OMF missionaries through your regular grocery shopping with no additional cost to you. For every $100 you spend on groceries, $5 will go to our support. If your family eats like our family, that could easily be more than $30 per month!
Do you shop for groceries or buy fuel at any of these stores - Kroger, King Soopers, Foods Co., Turkey Hill Minit Markets, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Fry's, Dillons, Kwik Shop, Loaf 'N Jug, Quik Stop, Tom Thumb, Smith's Food & Drug, City Market, QFC, Food 4 Less, Owen's, Hilander, Pay Less, Gerbes, Scott's, Baker's or JayC? The program is easy! And your grocery money can further God's Kingdom! For more information, please contact us at 267-772-1705 or sjtibbetts@gmail.com
Your Missionaries to Thailand,
Scott, Jennifer, Matthew, Joshua, Nathan & Alysha Tibbetts --
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "Tibbetts in Thailand" group.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
tibbetts-in-thailand+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/tibbetts-in-thailand?hl=en
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
videos and pictures of the terrible Thailand flooding
Dear Friends,
Please be praying for Thailand in this time of tremendous floods, destruction and death. Hundreds of factories are closed - many are out of work. 366 people dead. Many dead in Cambodia, Burma, Laos and Vietnam as well.
and pictures:
and news:
and a fun cartoon with English subtitles explaining the flood problem:
From a recent newsletter from missionaries in Thailand: "Some pastors who are known for their gift of vision through dreams have all shared the same basic dream of God punching holes in the flood barriers. The pastors interpreted these dreams as God telling them that He is cleansing Thailand in preparation for a great blessing."
Take care,
Jen
Jen
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "Tibbetts in Thailand" group.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
tibbetts-in-thailand+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
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Tuesday, October 11, 2011
News from Joshua Tibbetts at Honor Academy
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Saturday, October 08, 2011
Colorado, Thailand and More...
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