Summer Break
We’ve been spending time with our kids and grandkids from Seattle. It’s two weeks we look forward to each summer! (We miss you, Bobbi and Colin.) We’ve had swim lessons, movies, puzzles, a magic show, a visit to inspireU, and a girls’ day in Kansas City. They’ll be leaving on the 4th, and we will begin packing for our return to Thailand on July 10th. We’re excited to have someone housesit for us this trip.
We’ll be gone July and August with a focus on completing the mission house. Hopefully we’ll soon be able to accommodate guests coming to visit the ministry in Thailand. We have also been told there is a lot of painting to do at Gethsemane Home. We are in a maintenance phase on several of our structures. This will also be a time to prepare for a few upcoming events when we return to Thailand in January 2026.
We’re asking for your prayers as we return.
Playground Equipment
Gethsemane Home has always been near and dear to my heart. There have been so many children who have been blessed by Titus and Newa opening up their home to them. We’ve made lifelong connections with so many of them.
One thing I have always hoped for at the home was a place for the children to play. Since we are quite a distance from Chiang Mai, parks and playgrounds are not available. We’ve searched for many years for a local company that could build a playground at Gethsemane. Earlier this year, we finally found that place!
We made a trip to the company and were shown several possibilities. The playground and surface underneath can be completed for $9,000. We’ve raised $2,800 of the cost and hope to be able to complete it soon. If you would like to help with this project, please contact us by email or phone. Help us make this a reality for the Gethsemane children. Thank you for your support! – Donella
[email protected] OR 660-254-5775
Another Fencing Project
Some of you may recall that last year a fence was built to secure the property at the LaMu Nai Church. This year a similar need arose concerning the Na Khrai Church property, but this time there was an added issue. The new church at Na Khrai is located lower than the road. The fear is that during the rainy season water will come off the road and go into the church. With this concern, it was decided to build a wall next to the road to divert the water away from the church. We are hoping this will alleviate any water damage in the future.
New Ceilings at Gethsemane
After we arrived in Thailand in January, we had a chance to look at several needed projects. One of those projects was to replace many of the ceilings at Gethsemane Home. In the beginning, the focus was to replace the drop-down ceilings with gypsum board (sheetrock) in the bedrooms of the girls and Titus and Newa. With the funds the ministry raised, we were also able to fix other ceilings that had water damage.
Work began in early May while the children were out of school. Beginning in the girl’s room, the crew quickly replaced their ceiling and the one in Titus and Newa’s bedroom. After that they moved on to the dining room, kitchen, and much of the outside area. The project was finished in a couple of weeks. Titus told us they are now ready for paint. We want to thank everyone who helped with this project.
Preparing Kingdom Workers
Santisuk Bible Training Center is located in the hills of Northern Thailand. It was designed to teach the Bible in the Lahu language but closed several years ago for different reasons, one of them being financial. With renewed interest in Bible teaching among the Lahu people, plans were made to reopen the school this year. Spiritual leaders are needed in this area. We were asked if Under the Son Ministries would help with the estimated $5,000 – $6,000 that would be needed to pay teachers, feed students, purchase supplies, and repair facilities. At this time, we are working to raise the funds needed.
Titus was able to go to the school and repair some of the electrical issues. We used some of the funds Under the Son Ministries had raised to have Titus make two whiteboards on stands to use in the class rooms and purchase some teaching supplies. On May 17th several people went to Santisuk to pray for the opening of classes. The classes began on May 19th with 12 students. We will visit the facilities when we return in July to see how Under the Son Ministries can be a part of this endeavor.
Upcoming Fundraising Events
We want to thank everyone who purchased geraniums the first of May. All 400 were sold within a few days after delivery! This was the eleventh year for this fundraiser, and our customer base continues to grow. What a blessing! Soon we will be taking pre-orders for our mums fundraiser. We will have orange, yellow, red, and purple colors available again this year. They will be delivered this year on September 11th.
We are in the process of selecting new inventory for the Fall and Christmas seasons. We will hold a Pop-up Shop in our home during mums delivery after we return from Thailand. The Christmas Craft Fair at the Maryville Community Center will also be on our calendar in November. You can follow our Wonderfully Made Facebook page to be informed of these events and future pop-up dates. We may also be doing some online events.
Plans have also begun for the 9th Annual Christmas Homes Tour to be held on Sunday, December 7th. This is always a fun day for everyone who attends! There is also a Christmas Homes Tour Facebook page you can follow as we begin to share information about this year’s tour.
Proceeds from all of these fundraisers are applied to our educational fund. This money is used to pay tuition for children at Gethsemane Home that choose to attend university or a technical school, high school tuition, and so much more. We hope to see you at one of these events and appreciate your continued support!
