A Farewell to Uncle Daeng

Picture taken at the funeral 2026

One of our relatives informed us that Uncle Daeng had passed away.

The news brought a mixture of sadness and reflection on my side. Uncle Daeng was not just a distant relative, he was someone who had been close to our family for many years. Because of his prolonged illness, Nittie and I had opportunities to bless him. 

As we gathered with the family, we participated in the local funeral customs. In Thai culture, one part of the ceremony involves pouring water over the hands of the deceased before the body is placed inside the coffin. Uncle Daeng's coffin was made of plywood, as cremation is the common practice here, and afterward the ashes are often scattered in the sea.

Favored Before the Assignment

Picture was taken at Songkhla Lake, Southern Thailand 2026

Before The Father gave humanity the assignment to have dominion over His creation, He first blessed them.

From the very beginning, His blessings came before their work.
His favor came before appointment. 
Humanity is loved before any performance found at him or her. 

When the Way Forward Seems Impossible

Picture was taken at Pakbara Satun, Thailand 2026

This is what I have been thinking about lately.

Maybe we are in a situation similar to what Moses experienced. Behind him was the Egyptian army, and in front of him was the Red Sea.

There was no turning back. Yet if he moved forward, all he could see was water.

The World Changes, but Our Father Never Changes

Picture taken at our local public market 2026

What I notice lately is that the situation in the Middle East seems to have calmed down compared to before. At least from what we can see on the outside, life appears to be going back to normal again. 

But honestly, it is becoming harder these days to know what is really happening in the world just by watching the news or reading articles online. Many media sources now lean strongly to one side, so sometimes it is difficult to know what is fully true and what is only part of the story.

From Crisis to Prayer

Every day, the situation in our village and in many parts of Thailand is becoming more difficult. Gasoline stations have been closed for several days at a time, and when they open even for just one day, the queues are extremely long.

I uploaded a video above showing the long line of vehicles waiting at the gasoline station. That morning, I had to be in the queue as early as 5:30AM just to have a chance to fill my truck. Even at that hour, many vehicles were already waiting. Each vehicle is limited to only 500 baht worth of fuel, which is often not enough to meet our daily transportation needs, especially for those who rely on their vehicles for ministry, farming, or businesses.