We had a great time with our Lawa Brothers and Sisters in Mae Sarieng, Thailand in December. We were honored to be representatives for our organization at their annual conference. A

2013 will bring huge changes: THE BIG MOVE A move to a new location, learning a new language and adjusting to a new culture will keep us busy. In January we will lay the groundwork for

our move to a village 12 hours away from

where we live now… in Northeast Thailand.

In many ways this big move is comparable to

our first move to Thailand: we don’t know

the local culture, we can’t understand the

people’s native language and we have no

friends there to speak of. Except this time

we have two huge advantages: 1. We already

learned a related

language and we know a

language that the people

can understand. With

God’s help we will see a

church planted.

[Date]

More inside!

A friend is someone around your age (within a year or two) who you see often and with whom you

have many shared experiences. Your

relationship is mutually beneficial in some way.

Our American definition may be a bit different.

New Years Greetings from Thailand

Ric and Sharon Bruce www.ntm.org/ric_bruce 517-490-1032

What is a friend?

2

Life in the village will look different than

it does here in the city. Our living

conditions, eating habits, leisure activities

and pace of life will have to change… again.

Life in the village will be slower than life

in the city but that doesn’t mean the

pressures and challenges will be any less

intense. We’ll likely face closer scrutiny,

more criticism and new things we can’t yet

predict. Often we’ll wonder when it will end

but this is why we came: to demonstrate

Christ to a group of lost people.

We are looking forward to wrapping up our

final sixty lessons in Thai study and getting

started making our new life and home in our

final destination! Please be praying with us

as we make this move. Currently, the options

for housing in the village appear very

limited. We need something that will meet

our needs and we’re very hesitant to build

something permanent at this point in our

lives and ministry. We’re praying God will

prepare the way for us to find a house that

we can rent and modify for a reasonable

price. Thank-you for your prayers!

The church that we attend on Sundays was planted by a Korean missionary about 8

years ago. This community of believers has been a rock of stability for us despite (like

any church) having its ups and downs. As the saying goes: if

you find a perfect church don’t go to it. You’ll just ruin it. But

seriously: we’re praying that we can find a good church to attend in Northeast Thailand. We may have to drive a ways to

get there and we may not personally participate in some of the church practices but we feel that going to church on

Sundays really helps us maintain our walk with God and a positive attitude toward the work we’re engaged in. A side

benefit will be that the services will probably be in Central Thai, the language

we’ve been learning for 2 years

Ultimately, the work Sharon and I are doing in Thailand is impossible without your financial support, your prayers and your encouragement. Thank-you for your ongoing partnership with us! We appreciate you more than words can express and pray God’s blessing on you and yours this New Year! May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, ever closer to His wondrous face. Yours truly,

Life in the village

Please keep asking the Lord of the harvest to bless His work in 2012