Called to Fruitfulness, Not Projects

By Ianpassion

Cassava I harvested

I recently harvested the cassava I planted last year. It all began when an excavator passed by our house to dig a trench for the village water pipeline. After the work was finished, the soil was left soft and loose. I decided to plant cassava trunks in that ground, and after a year, we were able to harvest them. My wife shared some with one of the Agape members, who used it to make a Thai dessert, while I boiled the rest with coconut milk and a little salt.

As I reflected on this, I was reminded of the parable the Son told about the sower. He taught that seed planted in good soil will surely grow and produce a harvest, some thirty, sixty, or even a hundredfold. But seed that falls on rocky ground, among thorns, or on the path will not bear fruit.

Living Water Refreshes Our Tired Soul

By Ianpassion

Refreshing river stream in Manang, Satun, Thailand 

I went into the forest for a hike.

What refreshed me most was the stream of fresh, cold water where I washed my face after hours of hiking and sweating. With the Thai scarf on my head, I took it off to dry my face. 

The Greatest Gift a Father Can Give: His Presence

By Ianpassion
With Nana and Nemi

Fathers, our presence is more important than perfection (think about your own dad). Our children may or may not remember our mistakes, but what they will surely remember is that we were with them when they fell and when they celebrated their victories. 

Trusting The Father Almighty on the Journey

By Ianpassion 

 A narrow road at the border passes through the neighborhood

As we continued heading toward the Thai-Myanmar border, the road became narrower, and early in the morning, visibility was dangerously low due to thick fog. I had to slow down and carefully navigate some sharp curves.

But through it all, we thank the Father Almighty for His protection and for the opportunity to experience the culture and language at the northernmost border of Thailand. This has also been a meaningful experience for our children, allowing them to witness firsthand what it means to immerse themselves in local life and to be a resource when needed.

Trusting His Perfect Timing

Seasami Leaf

Thai people generally love to eat raw vegetables, but there's one particular leaf they usually don’t include in their cuisine: sesame leaves. I’ve been looking for this leaf for a long time because I enjoy eating it raw, especially with grilled meat, chili sauce, grilled garlic, and rice. 

I’ve lived in Thailand for many years, but I hadn’t found it until recently, when my wife took us to a food shop that included sesame leaves in their serving. Finally! A simple desire, almost like a small prayer, was granted in His time.