Thailand - January, 2006

FEBC Thailand's radio ministry consists of radio production and distribution to local stations throughout the country. The following letter translations are representative of inquiring listeners. Titles in green represent the program name.

This month we have included some translations of letters received to broadcasts in the northeastern Thai (Isaan) language, which found below.

This Life Still has an Answer:

My name is Oi and I am Burmese and listened to the program for more than a year now. This is my first telephone call to you. I haven’t had a suitable time previously. I want to tell you about my life before I came to know God. God helped me to know Him. I am in a family of 7 (I am the 5th one). My Mother died when I was 17 and I t know who is my Father. I fought with my siblings often because they didn’t like me so I decided to come to Thailand with a friend when I was 18 years old. We were both caught by the police as illegal immigrants after 10 years. While I was in the jail, a person came to evangelize – I don’t even remember the name! My friend was already a Christian. At that time I couldn’t smell or taste anything. The doctor said it was probably sinus trouble and he wouldn’t guarantee that I would be helped. He said it might be like this till I died! One day my friend told me that she knew God could help me. At that time, I didn’t listen and didn’t believe. Whatever she told me concerning God I wasn’t interested. If there really was God why did we have to be in the jail? Why didn’t God help us to get out? Another friend who was on charges of murder became a Christian in the jail. I said that if God really is – and if He healed me from my disease – I would believe as my friend told me. After that I tried to keep away from my friend and tried to go to a dark corner so I wouldn’t see anyone. But the more I tried to be in that corner, the more my friend came and told me the story of Jesus. One day my friend took me to the Church in the jail. They sang and prayed. When they opened up time for prayer, I wanted to pray too. I closed my eyes and didn’t know how to pray so I said – If there truly is Father God, the one who truly gave me life, Father should know that I have a problem with my nose and mouth. If Father heals me I will believe you. While I was praying, I sensed a man come and stand beside me and I shivered and was afraid. I opened my eyes and didn’t see anyone. Everyone had their eyes closed and were praying so I decided to close my eyes and pray again for sure. The same thing happened and the same man came beside me and took my arm with his other arm gently behind me. I shivered more than before and slowly opened my eyes. My nose immediately smelled the scent of the rice being cooked! My taste came back! That evening I believed and accepted Christ. I told others that I had received Jesus Christ into my life. I said to God that whatever happened in my life in any way if I had to go back to my country, my siblings would laugh and jeer at me and I would under no circumstance go away from Christ in life. 2 or 3 months after believing someone came and said I would be freed! I was introduced to work in a home in Bangkok and I work there till today as a maid for a family who own a business. They are kind to me and allow me to attend Church every week and next year it looks like I will have legal papers as an immigrant. I have great happiness in turning on the radio and hearing the FEBC program. I do the housework and listen along. I like the way the programmer speaks of the Word of God and the song Rest in the Lord which is my favourite. I can’t read and write Thai but I can understand the spoken language. I have Burmese Bible. God’s Word is always in my heart. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Ms. Oi Bangkok

Heart Friend program.

Hello dear programmer and all of the team!

My name is Wittiya. I have written prior to this and can’t remember how many times, but it was a very long time ago. I have finished my studies now and have work in Samut Sakon (near to Bangkok) . It’s a long way from home and I’ve only been here 3-4 months. I can’t find the program yet and am desperate to listen to you! Please let me know the stations and times. When I was at home I listened every day and was never lonely. The Word of God is food to feed us daily – it’s special. I thank the Lord he looks after me every day. And your program has had a part in helping me very much. Christ knocked at the door of my heart when I was 15 years old. I believe in Him for 8 months. I have happiness in walking with God daily. Lot’s of times I have the opportunity to do small things to God’s glory. Such as giving to the poor and giving them a blessing from the Lord. My heart is bright when I do this and such a small thing as this can be a blessing to them. It seems to me that God is stirring my heart again but this is different to the first knock. Each time I ask the Lord what does He desire in my life? I have heard God’s voice calling me to be an evangelist to others so that they can see and know Him. I am willing to follow Him everywhere and anywhere with joy. I hope that the Church will also see this calling in my life. May God bless all of us in serving Him.

Mr. Wittiya Samut Sakon

There’s still the Dawn program

I am very excited to ring into this program. I am Chinese and not Isaan but I can understand this language. I can’t write very well so tried for several days to write the telephone number down. I accidentally moved along the dial and found this program about 1 month ago. I have listened every day since. Even though I am a Buddhist I love this program and can’t explain to you why I love it! I even feel that it is too short a time on air as well. I have a friend who is a Christian but I haven’t seen her for a while now. If I see her I’ll ask her to take me to Church. I have some relatives who have prayed and God has answered their prayers. I have prayed that God would help my child be kind to me and after my prayer my child returned and was reconciled with me. So I want to search for God. Before I go to bed can I fold my hands and pray in a Buddhist way? I want to know what stations and times you have programs. The reception is very clear. I want to have a book to read please and I want to study the Bible Correspondence Course. I am 50 years old.

Mrs. Wippha Suphanburi Province

Responses below are to broadcasts in the Northeast Thai (Isaan) language:

There is still the Dawn:

I haven’t listened for very long to this program as I am often not in time. I am writing for my first time now though. I heard the story of the Living God. I am very much strengthened in my faith. I would like to have a CD about God’s story so that I can watch it and know how great He is. I want to take it for my friends to see too. I am determined to listen to your program every time.

Ms. Ai Nong Bua Lamphu

There’s Still the Dawn:

Hello to all of the radio Team: I am a new listener and after listening I have learned a lot from this program. Some times I have to miss the program as I have business to attend outside the house. I love the songs which give honor to Jesus Christ – both the Thai and the Isaan ones. Before I started listening to this program, it was very difficult for me to sleep. But after listening and receiving some of the literature about Jesus Christ – the book of John’s Gospel, I haven’t yet been to a Church, but I read the 10 commandments 40 years ago! Also the story of Jesus crucified on the cross, but I didn’t believe that Jesus could rise from the dead. However after reading John’s Gospel, I have Jesus in my heart and now I am not at all surprised at how the disciples did everything they could to share this good news and teaching of Jesus. And they didn’t go outside of the teachings in the Bible. I am so sorry for all the years that have gone by when I was just a worldly person who didn’t know God or Jesus Christ, the God of love, grace and mercy.

Mrs. Warin Bangkok

(This lady is a house help in a home directly across the street from an active Church. However she is not given any time off to attend the Church.)

There’s Still the Dawn:

Thanks for the letter I received – I did understand it. I thank the Lord that we have come to know each other. I have been able to settle my heart some now. I am grateful for the letter response to me and for the program. When I work I get weary in my body; I can take that, but I get very weak if I have a sad heart. Sometimes when I listen to this program I have tears fall as you share. And now I have peace in my heart again. I am able to let what others say just pass by. Even though my home has problems right now – my Mother is a quadriplegic in another province – but I can’t let this get me down and have to be patient. Finally, I thank the Lord that He has brought me to know this program and the team who work to make the program.

Ms. Taew Bangkok

More Precious Than Gold:

Thank you for sending the booklet to me. I am not so well at this time. I can thank the Lord that He is looking after me all the time. When I am at school I am not at all tired and that is amazing. I am very sure that Jesus is with me all the time, even if I am the black sheep of the family because I believe in Him. It is so good to have Jesus as the counselor in my spiritual life and answer the questions I have – such as which Church should I go to? I go all the time and haven’t missed yet. I am trusting to receive baptism one day and show everyone that I am a true Christian. Who can go against that? I am always asking the Lord to show me the way through my problems. I have taken a friend to Church now. I love to listen to Auntie Uan and the sorry you are serializing now for us to listen to. It is great and worth following. If you have a copy of that book – I would like to request one.

Mr. Surasak Nong Khai

More Precious Than Gold

I am delighted to listen to this program every evening and to the story of Jesus Christ. It makes me inquisitive to know more than this. I would like to have the CD that is for people who have had trauma in their lives. I have been to a Church for 3 years but I am the same as before and nothing seems to have changed. I would like to change that and study and know more. And I would like to pray for you dear programmer too! Every time I am sad or depressed, I will listen to this program with stories of Jesus and it gives me great peace. Therefore I want to find the real Truth and happiness in my life by beginning a study and taking more interest in prayer. Please keep this program on air for a long time.

Ms Fon Sakhon Nakhon

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