Bloom Where You Are Planted! 

What does a missionary do when you can no longer serve in the land of your heart? What happens when you must come back home and you face great physical challenges, disappointments, spiritual warfare, and great sorrow? Is God still in control?

Indeed, He is! If we are His servants, and we solely look to Him for guidance and provisions, then a CLOSED door is as much His direction as an OPEN door. I agree with Abraham’s servant who was charged with finding a wife for Isaac among Abraham’s people. He was able to complete the task charged him and he gave glory the God: “I, being in the way, the Lord led me.” (Genesis 24:27)

I also believe that if we are totally sold out to being used by our heavenly Father and we completely trust His sovereign will, then the path that He places before us is where we must begin walking by faith. By seeking His will through prayer, He will show us. Step by step by step! (Isaiah 30:21)

I began my missionary service as a young woman in my twenties, blessed with a growing family of four children while my husband and I worked to plant a church, and share the Gospel in the country of Thailand. Sadly, years later, we had a tragedy in my family that left me a single mom with four young children.

Upon my return to America in 1997, I made my home in Florida, and by His grace, raised my young family in the Lord. I taught elementary, then secondary school in a Christian school, became a Ladies’ Sunday School teacher, and taught and counseled children and youth on Wednesday nights for many years.

When my children, one by one completed college, and started their own lives and families, my heart led me back again to Thailand (2014), to serve with Compassionate Hope Foundation, (CHF), founded by Dr Al Henson from Antioch Tennessee.  This Foundation rescues children from human trafficking, and places children at risk in CHF Homes of Hope in Thailand, Laos, and the Philippines. CHF also ministers to the persecuted believers, and families of martyrs, builds Christian schools and plants churches in the Homes, and trains national leaders.

For several years I absolutely loved working with these beautiful Thai children in the Homes in Northern Thailand, mentoring leaders, and being an educational consultant. Then in February 2020, a visa problem took me back to America. Although I had obtained a new visa within a few short weeks, and was preparing to head back to the Mission Field, the door was closed to return to Thailand because of Covid! The Lord went ahead of me and had, unbeknown to me, led me to safety back in America.

Then I prayed, ” Lord, open doors to ministry where you have planted your servant back in America!” I spent much time in the Word of God, and in prayer, also writing Bible lessons for women, teens, and children (Psalm 119:133). I communicated with loved ones and brothers and sisters in Christ while on lockdown.

People were just beginning to travel again in 2021, and I let pastors from several states know that I was available to serve in their church, be it teaching Sunday School, Junior Church, Awana, Youth group, Christian School Chapels, speaking in any of the church services sharing missions, and soul-winning. One pastor even invited me to go into a community, knocking on doors, to give the Gospel, and to invite families to church at a time when not many were opening their doors to strangers! I knocked on 84 doors that time, and had the opportunity to share the Gospel on the doorstep of 64 homes! Only God!! I believe that this is my reasonable service (Romans 12:1). Several pastors invited me to come teach, and helped supply my travel needs. From Vacation Bible School, Children’s Camps, Ladies Retreats, Ladies’ Bible Studies, to visiting in hospitals and rehabs, there was always an open door to serve Jesus, present His Truth, and encourage my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ!

Whenever I wasn’t traveling, I would go out daily in my community and share the Gospel along the way. At the bank, in EVERY store, grocery shopping, at a restaurant, or out on an errand…wherever my day took me, THAT’S where I opened my mouth, and proclaimed Christ! Since I live in an area where there are 5 beaches closeby, I would hit the boardwalk and the sand, passing out Gospel tracts to the young people and striking up conversations about Jesus! So much fun!

THEN, sadly, I contracted Covid in Montana in May of 2021, and almost died there. The team of doctors told my family that I would most likely not make it, and that they needed to prepare for my death. My family prayed fervently for 10 days, and the Lord graciously answered their prayers! After being unconscious for many days, I woke up to a Christian nurse praying over me. When she left the room, I looked towards Heaven, praying, “Lord, am I dying?! I am ready to meet you, but I think that I have still a LOT of work left to do for you! There are many who do not know you and I want to be able to tell them! Please, let your servant live!” As I spent more days in the hospital recovering, I put dozens of Gospel tracts on my table and invited medical personnel that came and went to take one. I witnessed to my doctors, nurses, technicians, and aids. I left the hospital in a wheelchair, weak, but ALIVE! My family lovingly helped me to recover for several months. God’s clear message was that He was not done with me yet!

That fall of 2021, I went to go visit my 82 year-old aunt’s farm in Arkansas and helped her with farm chores, at the same time that I was helping my evangelist brother teach and build up a local country church there. I spoke in some area churches, and went street- preaching with my brother in Little Rock. He walked up and down the main street with his Bible, boldly sharing verses and preaching the way of salvation, while I passed out Gospel tracts to the people I met who were interested in his message. Several people came to believe and receive Christ! (Mark 16:15) We ministered to and fed the homeless, and had great fellowship together! Once, after several weeks of prayer, he preached the Gospel and we witnessed outside of a witch and warlock conference for 5 hours! There was great spiritual warfare, and our lives were threatened three times, but the Lord intervened and rescued us! (Ephesians 6:12)

Unfortunately, I suffered two injuries on the farm that would take the rest of 2021, and half of 2022 to recover! I got a wound in the right heel of my foot and it got seriously infected. That led to the emergency room, a wound care doctor, and then wound care several times a week back in Florida for many months! The second wound is that I injured my left shoulder, which led to much suffering, until I had to have physical therapy for seven months. Throughout both those ordeals, I had the opportunity to share my love for Christ with many therapists and technicians! The next physical challenge was that I had to take care of some varicose veins. I had ongoing treatments in both legs, which gave me some pain, swelling, and inflammation. Yet, at least 10 people in that doctor’s office have heard that Jesus loves them! The Lord continues to teach me through adversity (Psalm 119:71).

Tragedy struck on my birthday, on June 24th. My Thai “adopted” 40-year-old daughter passed into eternity! I had closely mentored her as a Christian leader for the last eight years, first while I was in Thailand, and then every day on the phone since I have been in America. She contracted a rare, deadly disease and was in the arms of Jesus within a few days! Though I continue to mourn and grieve this precious daughter, she left a huge impact for Christ in the lives of many!

All throughout the time that I have been back in the States, I have mentored 20 young people on a daily/weekly basis in four countries (Thailand, Laos, the Philippines, & America).  We communicate via social media and I mentor, encourage, share Bible truths, help solve conflict, give instruction, pray with, and counsel. So every morning and every evening, sometimes into wee morning hours (due to the time difference) I am busy about my Father’s work in mentoring the younger generations in serving the Lord! What a blessing to me! Even though I so long to return to Thailand, the Lord has enabled me to continue part of my ministry through social media! The three typical topics that I mentor are: (1) How to overcome evil with good, (2) How to apply Biblical truth to our daily lives and ministry, (as culture can make it quite challenging!) and (3) How to listen and obey the Holy Spirit.

In July, I had the amazing opportunity of going to spend 10 days at Bancroft Bible Camp in Tennessee and had an incredible time teaching the children twice a day about Biblical Heroes of the Faith. Four children accepted Christ!

Last Sunday, I taught a children’s class at church on Ephesians 6:10-17, where the Christian is instructed to put on the Armor of Christ so that we can fight against the fiery darts of the wicked one! In my lesson, we placed each piece of the armor on a child to demonstrate how we can boldly stand for Jesus!

This month, August, I am visiting my three grandchildren in Tennessee, and their mother, my oldest daughter, will travel with me to Montana as my youngest daughter will be having her first baby! I have 100 Gospel tracts already packed in my purse to give to those we meet along the way. I believe that the Lord’s servants should be ready to give an answer for the reason of the hope within! (I Peter 3:15) Our hope is in Christ and the world needs this message!

Lord willing, I hope to obtain a Retirement Visa back to Thailand in November. Please pray for His open doors! Upon my return to Thailand with CHF, I will continue to mentor female leaders, teach the Word of God in Thai, love the children, be an educational consultant for Thai teachers in the Homes, and encourage brothers and sisters in the ministry! In the future, I will be visiting many of our 60+ Homes of Hope, encouraging leaders and children alike, and serving in every way I can.

Being here in America for close to three years has only been a “pitstop” intending to strengthen my faith through trials, challenges, and loss, all to conform me into the image of His dear son, Jesus Christ. Truly, each of us CAN bloom where God plants us! We must have an attitude of gratitude, (Philippians 4:11-12), faith that overcomes doubt and fear, (Philippians 4:6-7), and a desire to be desperately used of God! (Psalm 119:2). EVEN IF I would be unable to return to serve in my beloved Thailand, I know that my Lord still has plans for me! (Philippians 1:6; 2:13)

So I have learned that no matter where I am in my walk of faith, or what country I am in, to keep my eyes glued to my Savior, my heart in tune with the Holy Spirit, and my mouth ready to boldly proclaim the mystery of the Gospel (Ephesians 6:19). In this way, I seek to use EVERY opportunity HE sends me. As Abraham’s servant said, we also can say, “I, being in the way, the Lord led me!”

From R.K.’s Corner

The two last years of Covid shutdowns have caused massive unforeseen changes in the world we used to know and live in.  One sad consequence are the many Western missionaries, many of whom have lived and served the nations well with the Gospel for decades, were forced to leave the field and return to their homelands. For many it was unexpected, they were therefore unprepared to start a new life back home. My heart goes out to those who with their families are struggling to find their place in the present secular culture so different from the one in which they grew up.

One missionary who did not miss a beat, is Kathy Omer returning home from Thailand. We introduced her to you in the July 2018 Bridge Report. https://www.bridgeinternational.org/2018/07/

Kathy has the gifts of an evangelist and mentor.  She found an open mission field in the United States, and she jumped right in. To be an encouragement to others, I have given her this issue to share her heart.