Umbanhowar-Doug-Geri-1978-Thailand.pdf

7/27/2019 Umbanhowar-Doug-Geri-1978-Thailand.pdf

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MISSIONARIESDoug and Ger i UmbanhowarBox 15AChiengmai , Thai land

THE

g/?ounO"V S.E. fcSlK

RWARDING AGENTSEugene and Lydi a J ohnsonRFD 1 Box 14 5Clarks H i l l , Ind i ana 47930are with t h e l o v e o f Christ,

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Dear Chr i s t i an Fr i ends ,After a very , very busy year o f fu

t ime draws c lose f o r ou r r e t u rn to Tha iTentat ive departure date i s August 9, ain Thailand on August lA . We an t i c ipa t eexcit ing new term of service of three yfo r our Lord in tha t beaut i fu l country.

Brief r e f l ec t ion on t h i s pas t yearveals how God has blessed our l iv es r ic hboth through His guidance and your contif a i th fu l support . This l e t t e r wi l l helpca tch up on ou r yea r .

June 10th found me graduat ing fromMichigan Sta t e Univers i ty with a Mastersnon-formal educat ion . By devoting f u l l -t ime to s tudy , I was able to complete threquirements fo r the degree in one yearThrough t h i s program of study we an t ic ipGod using th e in fo rm atio n gained to pronew i ns igh t s into reach ing people whereNon-formal educa t ion i s th e s tudy of an

educa t iona l method ou t s ide formal i n s t i t u t i o n a l schoo l ing , I was p a rc u la rl y i nt er es te d in i t s appl icat ion in using it to spread the Gospeareas where l e s s " t r ad i t i ona l " methods o f educa t ion a re used . By coming a program of t heo r e t i ca l educat ion with prac t i ca l approaches, onef i nds t h a t not on ly do s tuden t s l ea rn how to use th e mate r i a l more wibu t th e Gospel i s spread a t th e same t ime through d i r e c t teaching expi ence by the s tudent . Through the use of the Bible I n s t i t u t e a t Chiathose studying in classroom s i tua t ions , co up led w ith evange l i s t i c andt eaching campaigns wi l l f a c i l i t a t e grea te r r e su l t s .

It has been a p riv ileg e to study such a program, and we wil l besharing more about it as the years go on. Bat through i t s appl icat iohope to work with nat iv e Ch ri st ia n s in helping them help others to grservice to the Lord. Thank you fo r al lowing us the t ime to l ive andin Eas t Lansing t h i s l a s t yea r .


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PageAnother blessing canie in to our l ives on January 2, 1978, as most

you know. On t ha t day our lon g awaite d baby daughter was born. AnnaChr i s t ine made both Mother and Father r ea l happy and her th ree o ld erbrothers were jus t as excited. Anna i s doing jus t f ine and already hagiven us a l l much joy through he r v ivac ious s p i r i t ,

Charl ie completed th i rd grade th i s year a t Spar ta n V i ll ag e Schoothe elementary school loca ted in Michigan S ta t e ' s marr ied housing complex . And s ince MSU has a l a rge fore ign s tuden t popula t ion , the elemeary school re f lec ts the same t rend. We are pleased tha t Charl ie i s gring up with such exposure to i n t e rna t i ona l expe r i ences , b oth w hilea t tending school in Chiangmai as we ll as here in th e USA.

Eric spent h is year a t home helping Mother and Bradly manage thet ime. Now four years o ld , he has become qui te an ind iv idual with anindependent s p i r i t . We thank God fo r h is prec ious life and a l l t h a t hme a n s to us.

Bradly has grown so much s i nce we have been home in the USA. Helearned to walk, run and now learning to t a l k . It i s amazing how welone and a ha l f yea r o ld can communicate with o the r s .

Both Char l i e and Er i c a re anxious to r e tu rn to Tha i l and to be wiold fr iends and l ive in the same house we had when we l e f t Chiangmai.While we were home on furlough, the Paul Parr ish family l ived in thehous e we had r e n t e d and were ab l e t o ho ld it f o r u s . Fo r this we a r egra te fu l as it re l i eves much tension in f inding a house to l iv e in whwe g e t back to Tha i l and ,

And l a s t but not l e a s t , the g i r l who keeps the family oi led and itop running order i s Geri , Her wil l ing a t t i tude and Chri s t - l ike sp i rhave been a bless ing to me as I pursued my educa t i on , and to th e ch i ldas they mature under the influence of a Chris t ian mother who i s genuinconcerned about t h e i r proper development.

We cove t your prayers as we a l l cont inue to grow in God's grace teach of us might become g rea t e r wi tnes ses to His love to th e worldthrough Ch ris t J es us ,

Weekends found me t rave l ing to chu rche s speak ing on beha l f o f themiss ion. Many thousands of miles were covered t h i s l a s t year , a l l theway from Delaware to Nebraska. Also tim e was spent in DVBS's and Chr


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PagService camps sharing with young people the joys as well as f rustrat ioof being a missionary. The experiences are , as they always have beenextremely benef icia l in meeting others and seeing how they are servinthe Lord, We were able to speak in a l l our supporting churches excepone and see most of the individuals who have unself ishly given of these lves to send us overseas. Our family thanks you fo r your Chr is t ianconvictions and we pray tha t as we return to ant ic ipate even greateraccomplishments for the Lord that your l ives will be blessed as r ichlas ours.

We would also l ike to thank those who have helped in so many othways t h i s l a s t year as wel l . Those who provided household i tems fo ruse was deeply apprec ia ted , ^ty parents hold a spec ia l place in ourhearts fo r doing so much and fo r providing a home with them before anaf ter the school year at MSU and where we are staying presently.Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Johnson our forwarding agents who give so much oftheir time to manage our finances for us deserve more than just thankAppreciation goes to Mrs, Workman of Clarks Hi l l , and who has helpedour past newsle t t e rs . And a big thank you to Mrs, Lybarger, Mrs. Egand Mr. P ick ett in Tulsa , Oklahoma as they bring our newsle t t e rs now.And to a l l those who have helped us through a very t rying year by t hecounci l and i n s t ruc t i on , you wi l l long be remembered.

We are exci ted about re turn ing . We wish we could share with youeven more on a pe rsona l bas i s how God i s b les s ing th e work in S . E. AIn a l l tha t we say , in a l l t ha t we do, may we remember t ha t everythindone fo r God's glo ry and His e t e rna l purposes .

God bless each of you as we l abor to ge th er in the grea t t ask Hegiven each of u s .

We l ove each o f you in th e Lord .Your miss ionar ies to Tha i l and ,

Doug, Ger i , Char l i e , E r i c ,B rad and Anna Umbanhowa r


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PageCon t r i bu t o r s to th e work i n 1977 :

Marg ar et Angl in - Clarks Hi l l , Ind ianaBangor Church of Chr is t - Bangor, MichiganM/M Phi l ip Beavers - BluCfton, IndianaBethe l Church o f Chr i s t - Ada, OhioM/M Earl Bliss - Henderson, MichiganBridgebuilders Class , Bridgetown C. of C. - Cincinnat i , OhioM/M Glenn Caldwell - Cincinnat i , OhioChr i s t i an Church a t Sea fo rd - Sea ford , DelawareChr i s tv i ew Chr i s t i a n Church - Tu l s a , OklahomChurch o f Chr i s t a t Readstown - Readstown, Wiscons inClarks Hi l l Chr is t i an Church - Clarks Hi l l , IndianaClay Center Chr i s t i an Church - Clay Cen te r , NebraskaCountryside Chri s t i an Church - Cambridge, MarylandM/M Duane Dunn - East Lansing, MichiganM/M Bryan Eubankd - Columbus, OhioFel lowship Chr i s t i an Church - Cinc inna t i , OhioF i r s t Chr i s t i a n Church - Anna, I l l i n o i sF i r s t Chr i s t i a n Church - Coweta , OklahomaF i r s t Church o f Chr i s t - Blu f f t on , Ind ianaFru i t l and Chr i s t i an Church - Fru i t l a nd , MarylandM/M John Hansford - Broken Arrow, OklahomaM/M Oscar Hanson - Sc io t a , I l l i no i sM/M Robert Hargrave - Lansing, MichiganHenderson Church o f Chr i s t - Hender son , M ichi ganM/M Delmar Hicks - James tone , Ind ianaM/M Eugene Johnson - Clarks Hi l l , IndianaJ .O .Y. Cla s s - Cla rk s H i l l , I nd i an aKerapton Chr i s t i an Church - Kempton, Ind i anaM/M Joe Medler - Allegan, MichiganMichigan Chr is t i an Campus Minis t ry - Eas t Lans ing , MichiganMrs. Mildred Newnum - Bangor, MichiganNor th Chr i s t i a n Church - Advance , Ind i anaWomen's Fel lowsh ip , North Chr i s t i an Church - Advance, Ind i anaNort h Highl ands Church of Chr is t - For t Wayne, IndianaOcean V iew Church o f Chr i s t - Ocean View, DelawareM/M Frank Peterson - Ada, OhioMiss Teresa Ph i l l i p s - Lans ing , MichiganMrs. Mamie Ridgeway - Fa i r f i e ld , Nebraska


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Rock Lake Chris t ian Assembly - Vestaburg, MichiganSalisbury Church of Chris t - Sal isbury, MarylandM/M Lloyd Sandstrora - Blandinsvil le , I l l inoisS c io ta C h ris tia n Church - S c i o t a , I l l i n o i sRus s e l l Shoemaker - Fo r e s t H i l l , MarylandSter l ing Christ ian Church - Veedersburg, IndianaM/M Jack Stevens - Clarks Hi l l , IndianaR. L . To l l i v e r - Fa i r f i e l d , NebraskaM/M Robert Umbanhowar - Lansing, MichiganM/M S. S . Umbanhowar - Bangor, MichiganUniversi ty Christ ian Church - East Lansing, MichiganM/M Rex Van Allen - Clarks Hi l l , IndianaM/M B i l l Waddel l - Frankfor t , Ind ianaM/M Jack Waldridge - Lafaye t t e , IndianaM/M Lyle Welch - Weste rv i l l e , OhioWest Lansing Church of Chris t - Lansing, MichiganMrs. Rober t Wooldridge - Sc io t a , I l l i no i sYou and I Class - Cla rks Hi l l , Ind i anaM/M Robert Zante l lo ~ Lawrence, Michigan

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MISSIONARIESDoug and Ger i UmbanhowarBox 1 5 4Chiangmai, Thai land

GffOUNO ''"V S.E. AWK

FORWARDING AGENTSEugene and Lydia JohnsonRFD 1 Box 145Clarks Hi l l , I nd i ana 47930

Dear Chr i s t i an Fr iends ,

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TI4A

Doug, Geri , Char l i e , Er ic ,Brad ly and Anna Umbanhowar

Greet ings from Chiangmai. We pray you are f ine and enjoying Gb les s ings as much as we a re . It ce r t a in ly i s wonder fu l to be backNorthern Thailand a f t e r a year ' s furlough in the Sta tes . God has rprov ided fo r us s ince we decided to come to th e m iss ion f i e l d in 19We now are ant icipat ing an even greater time of growth and blessingthe next three years of se rv ice . Thank you fo r making it possib leus to be in Thailand serving Jesus Chr i s t in spec ia l ways.

We arrived on August 20th af te r a three day t r ip from Chicagospent two nights in Hong Kong a f te r the long f l igh t across the PacThe much needed re s t was appreciated a f te r a hect ic time of packingmake the t r ip , as well as overcoming the dreaded je t - lag . After oua rr iv al in Chiangmai, "se t t l i ng in" was made much eas ie r as we moveinto our house which we had previously rented. Paul and Elaine Pa


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Pagewho are now back in the States, held i t for us this past year. Alongwith immediately unpacking our barrels which we had stored this pastyear , and by already knowing the la nguage and being fami l i a r with thec i t y , the t r i p to Thai land was made much ea s i e r th i s t ime than in 19

Mrs. Lydia Johnson, our forwarding agent , journeyed with us, fowhich we were very pleased. Although she could only stay for ten dawe s incere ly enjoyed every minute of her v i s i t . She had always wantto v i s i t a mission f i e l d , and we' re glad she chose Thai land . Shere turned to her home in Clarks Hi l l , Ind iana on September 1 . Pleasefree to con ta ct h er i f you have any questio ns o r special needs fo r ymission program.

On July 23rd Ger i and I were overjoyed when Char l ie was immersein to Chri s t a t Bangor, Michigan. Charl ie made h is decis ion to accepChr is t as h is Saviour and fol lowed the Lord ' s commandment to be baptWords cannot express th e fee l ing in our hea r ts to see our son becomeCh r i s t i a n .

Char l ie , now in the four th grade , i s enrol led once again inChiangmai Co-Educational Center . C. C. C. i s an in te rna t iona l schoolwhich i s owned by th e P re sb y te ri an Church but al lows a l l f or eig n s tuin grades K-8 to a t t end . Not only do missionary chi ldren at tend, bua ls o c hi ld re n whose p are nts are in Chiangmai on bus iness , o r employeby the Unite d Na tio ns o r var ious governments. Present ly there areseventy s tuden t s , w ith n ine in th e fou r th grade . We were dis t re ssedto f ind t ha t the one year tu i t ion cos t went from $700 to $1,200 t h i syear . But we still f e e l t ha t as long as the re i s a school of t h i sna tu re ava i l a b l e , it is e sse n t ia l t h a t ou r ch i l d r en a t t e nd . Othermiss iona r i e s such as th e de lo s San to s , Bemos, Headens , and Morses af e e l th e same, as they have t h e i r ch i ld ren enro l l ed as we. We are ht h a t we can pa r t i c i p a t e , bu t no t without s a c r i f i c e , as it does t akel a rge propor t ion of our s a l a ry .

Er ic , now four , i s still a t home and i s anxiously wait ing fo r hturn to go to school . Bradly jus t celebrated his second birthday onSeptember 15, and Anna i s busy learning how to cope with her three obrothers.

Please pray fo r our fam ily as we mature. Geri and I are concert ha t we bring our chi ldren up in love and guidance offered through C


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PagBeing on the mission f i e ld brings i t s own spec ia l problems to familgrowth and development. We seek your prayers on our beha l f t h a t wwould constant ly be aware of God's presence in our l i ves .

God b l e s s each o f you .

Gwaags" are t i ed to pieceso f suga r cane and so ld o rtraded.

Your mi s s i o n a r i e s t o Tha i l a nd

Doug, Geri , Char l ie , EricBr ad an d Anna Umbanhowa r

IT 'S "GWAAG" SEASON IN CHIANGM

"Gwaags", o r th e rh inoce ro sbee t l e , re ac h ma tu ri ty a t the endth e ra iny season . The bee t les a rapproximately two inches in l engThe ma l e s have t h e distinctive h oon t h e i r heads to f i gh t t h e i r eneThe Thai ch i ld ren ca tch these bet i e them to shor t sec t ions of sugc a n e a nd t h e n trade t h em like b a sba l l ca rd s . The men a l so ge t i n tth e s p i r i t o f the season by co l l eing and se l l i ng them fo r as muchf i f t y c en ts a piec e. P i t t i ng two"gwaags" aga ins t each o the r , sucha cock f i g h t , everyone places beth e gwaag o f t h e i r cho i ce . "Maybes t gwaag win!"

CHIANGMAI BIBLE INSTITUTEChiangmai Bible I n s t i t u t e , located in Chiangmai, Thai land was

es tab l i shed to t r a i n young men and women to become l eaders in th echurch. A s t rong emphasis i s placed on Bible knowledge which i s


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f I

Teacher Samyong, l eading h is c la ss inL i f e o f Ch r i s t .

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essent ia l to groundingn at iv e C h ris ti a ns i n GoWord to th e world todayBu t also o u r d e s i r e isbring th es e s tu de nts inth e unders tand ing t h a tl e ad e r s h i p means s e r v a nsh ip , To be a le a de r ft h e i r people does no t mto r e a ch a pos i t i on i nlife career to e x e r c i s ec o n t r o l o v e r others.Rather we are t ry ing tohe lp s t ud en t s see th e vo f se rv ing t h e i r ownpeople with humi l i ty ,unders tand ing , f a i t h , amost o f a l l through th el ove o f Ch r i s t ,

This term there are f i f teen students enrolled in the teaching prgram a t Chiangmai, as well as a dozen students l iving in t r ibal vil laThose in the vi l lages are le arn in g to work with p eo ple, share of themselves , and most of a l l , p ro cla im th e Gospel. Those in the Chiangmaiprogram are involved in a classroom experience.

P l ea s e pray f o r th esuccess o f the CBI program, Please pray fo r th et e a c h e r s t h a t we will bewi s e in t h e vital d e c i s i o n sthat mu s t b e mad e for thecon t i nu a t i on o f th e program, We s i nc e r e l y thanKyou t h a t you have placedyou r concern w ith S .E . A sia ,'May God b le s s you in t h a tdecis ion. He has us*

Chiangmai Bib le I n s t i t u t e

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