mi

CHIANGMAI

T)lte Memo 3 Soj.ourning,3 in Tjhailand

"By faith they sojourned in the land....

looking forward to a city which has foundations,

whose builder and maker is God."
HEB. 11:8-10

Forwarding Agent:
Alan and Janet Bemo

Rt. 3, Box 94
Joplin, MO 64801

Linda Goerke

R.R. 1.

King City. Missouri 64463

Tel: (417) 782-7426

Dear Friends:

These past few months have seen us clinging to the promises of God. "If you love my word Iwill prosper
everything you do," (Ps. 1) "If you seek Me first I will add to you everything you need"(Matt. 6) "If you are
diligent you will be made rich" (Prov. 10) "In all toil there is profit" (Prov. 14) "Don't be anxious but pray
and God's peace will keep your hearts" (Phil. 4) Each promise has an "If" or a condition. We've been striv

ing to keep the conditions and trust that God will keep His promise. He has! Surely faith in God never
goes unrewarded. The bills have been paid on time, there is food in the kitchen and there has always been
a fire in the fireplace.

We had the official opening of our business on April 11th. Many people from the church and several

neighbors came over. Some came because of advertisements in the newspaper. Business was good that
day so it was a good start. We had one of our green houses (16 by 100 feet) full of vegetable and flower
plants and a store-room full of furniture and things we imported from Thailand. I have done the work in

side them. Because we have had a mild winter and spring I have been able to do some landscaping jobs
right along. Right now I have three jobs lined upso we are keeping busy. Beth and Jon help me when they
get out of school every afternoon. Becky has a good after-school job at Chic-Fila.
We have still not iinished the addition on our

- -

com ^

We have been able to forward money on to the work in Thailand. In 1986 about $500 went to a selfsupported preacher and his wife who are working in Burma. Ying Jung was a man we led to Christ and
trained. We performed his and A Lang's wedding ceremony. He is a mountain-doctor and she is a

seamstress. They are ministering to a little country church and we need to continue to encourage them.
So far $4,500 has been forwarded from money that supporters have continued to give. This amount has alt
gone to the church in Chiangmai for a building project. Tom and Kathy Love have moved to Chiangmai to
work with the church there. He has written and told us that the church is greatly encouraged by this
money. They have now located a piece of property and have hired an architect to draw up building plans.
Tom and I have felt for years that the Chinese Church in Chiangmai desperately needs a building of their
own. The little apartment they can afford now is too small and besides meetings they need space to use
for a hostel and a Chinese Christian Bookstore. Chiangmai is a centrally located big city which services
all of Chiangmai province.

We have been speaking to churches In Oklahoma,

Kansas and Missouri. We will be making a trip to
iiiinois in May. We are giad to give a report to
churches who have supported us in the past and
are stiii interested in supporting the work. We
have also spoken In Faith-Promise programs to
encourage churches for missions in general, if we
can be of any help to your church let us know.

3F:

With the winding up of another school year Beth

is finishing her first year of college. She is still
struggling with problems, but growing through
them. Becky is finishing senior year and making
decisions about college work. Jon is a Junior, and
a big help in the landscaping business. Nathan is
finishing 7th grade and enjoying sports in the U.S.
Sarah is a busy 4th grader; raising chickens and
enjoying Girl Scouts. Rachel, our 3 year old, con
tinues to be a ray of sunshine in ail our lives. She
just saw the Easter play at Ozark Christian Col
lege and Is still profoundly affected by the "mean
people" who hurt Jesus and that Jesus had to die
for her so she could go to Heaven. She's so
grateful! Oh, to have the tender and loving heart
of a little child. I think all the children have ad

justed well but need continued prayer and en

couragement.

I am sorry 1have not written more often. We think

of ail of you often. We constantly think of our
brethren in Thailand and make plans to return

after a sojourn here of another two years. Let's

follow-up with one another and encourage one
another in our sojournlngs to THAT land. We

always love to hear from you and those In

Thailand.

Your fellow So-journers

The Alan Bemo Family

CO

Formosa Christian Mission

Non-Profit Organization

c/o Mrs. Linda Goerke

U.S. POSTAGE

R.R. I, Box 115

King City, MO 64463

PAID

King City, MO 64463

PERMiT NO. 4

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

S8I0H SfcRViCfc-S flSSH. M

HI Sis

BOX 24;air

KNQXVILLE IH
t ItiiliiisiililtiilliMiiliiliili

CHIANGMAI

T)lte Memo^d Soj.ourning.3 in Tjhailand

"By faith they sojourned in the land....
looking forward to a city which has foundations,
whose builder and maker is God."
HEB. 11:8-10

Forwarding Agent:
Alan and Janet Bemo

Rt. 3, Box 94
Joplin, MO 64801

Linda Goerke
R.R. 1,

King City, Missouri 64463

Tel: (417) 782-7426

^ay-October, 1987
Dear Co-workers,

We have so much to share with you. Let me start with some things that are going on In our personal lives.
I guess the most exciting thing for us is that our eldest daughter, Beth, has become engaged! The young man Is a Thai who was adopted by
an American family when he was sixteen. He came to know Christ through some extraordinary circumstances and is on fire for our Lord. We
first met Moo in Thailand a year and a half ago. He and Beth have had a growing relationship ever since. Wedding plans are for next June.

Our landscaping business is really starting to pick up, Praise God. Things were very slow In August, being so hot, but September and Oc
tober have been so busy I've even had to turn work away. I have a good right hand man who has just become a new Christian and Is a joy to us
all.

Janet Is taking six hours at Ozark Christian College so Is keeping more than busy along with keeping the books, the store, the house and
the kids. Becky Is taking a Secondary English Education Major at the University of Missouri In Columbia and being Inspired by the Bible Train
ing In the Christian Campus House where she lives. Beth continues to live nearby us at Janet's mother's house and In her second year at
Missouri Southern College majoring as a Secondary Math Teacher. The Lord has blessed her with much personal healing this year and she
has been able to help many others now through her experiences. For some reason, though, her mind wanders to a certain other person a lot of
the time. Jon Is In his Senior year and still feeling out plans for his future. I know he'd appreciate your prayers. Nathan and Sarah are back in
the routine of school and soccer and band and wrestling and choir. Very special and talented kids If I do say so myself. Rachel just turned

four and Is enjoying Pre-school three days a week and being mother's helper the rest of (he time.
Next, I would like to talk about some Immediate plans. Our main supporting church, Overlake Christian Church In Seattle, Is sending me
over to Thailand for a month to visit and encourage the Chinese churches we have worked with and search out opportunities for the future.

They offered to pay for both Janet and My way, but Janet doesn't fee! she can leave the home for so long. After calling our co-worker in

Thailand, Tom Love, Iam planning on leaving sometlme'ln the middle of November and returning mid-December. Besides having Seminars for
the leaders In the old areas, Tom and I want to look at some new areas which need to be evangallzed. ^

In recent letters and tapes from the Chinese brethren we have learned that the BIng-Luang church continuesHo-grow/They have now pur

chased a F^ce of property next door and are talking about building a bigger meeting hall. They have well over a hundredaTSunda)/ services
and peppfe have to now stand even outside doors and windows to listen. They continue to be In a controlled area so that Tom can~hot~\dsit
theoT,'but, Praise God, they continue strong In the Lord. They have been able to do their part In supporting their church workers. They
however, very concerned about their Christian brethren, many of them their relatives, who are just across the border In Burma. The Burmese

pvernment Is making It nearly Impossible for people to sun/lve there and no monies are allowed to be sent In. We need to be fervently ii
}rayer for the people In Burma and allow God to let us see how we can help them with His resources.

The Church at Mipo continues to be an encouragement. They have improved their littie Church building but because they are so poor, they
have not been able to contribute any monetary support to their church worker, YinFa Jwo. There are enough trained "lay" workers in this con
gregation, though, that Brother Yin wlil probably not need to stay there much longer. There have been additions to that Church too.
The only sad news comes from the Church in Chlangmal. They have been meeting in a small run-down rental hall for years and both Tom
and myself thought that a building of their own would be a real asset. We both, along with mom Dittemore have directed funds there for that
purpose. However, this seems to be having an adverse affect on the Church and particularly the leading Eider, it seems they are forgetting
their first love, Jesus Christ, and becoming very materialistic and carrying out church affairs in a worldly fashion. Therefore, Tom and 1have
decided not to continue supporting their building fund any more until some drastic changes have been made. We need much prayer to back
us up as we try to discern what God would want done In this situation. A strong church and a hostel for mountain villagers Is much needed In

Chlangmal. We need real direction from the Lord and input from all of you who have been supporting this work. I hope my visit can have some
positive results in this area too, as Tom and I have a chance to discuss it with other Chinese leaders there. Meanwhile, your support to this
can either be kept till a decision Is made or can be returned to you so you can send it on elsewhere. Please let Linda know.
We have been so blessed and encouraged at Mission Fairs and activities that you have allowed us to be a part of all around this area. We
wish we could leave again tomorrow to continue in world outreach. But the world is dying right around our doorsteps too, isn't it? There Is so
much to do. We look forward to returning to Thailand, Lord willing. In a year and a half but meanwhile let's encourage one another in the work
at hand, ministering to those where we make a living, caring for our family needs and doing all to the Glory of God. We appreciate your con
tinued prayers. God is always there for us so we know He is always there for our Chinese Brethren overseas too. But what of those who
haven't heard?

Love, in Jesus,

Alan Bemo

Formosa Christian Mission

c/o Mrs. Linda Goerke

R.R. 1, Box 115

King City, MO 64463

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

IK