At first, "A Visit From My Parents" seems so commonplace. Two weeks ago, my parents flew down from Virignia and they left yesterday. The children are quieter today and looking for something to do! However, "commonplace" is truly an understatement. My Dad owns a funeral home and it has been 13 years since he was able to visit Mexico! The last time he was here, was when my family came for a visit right before Randy and I were engaged!!! There was so much to share with him. He was amazed to see all the buildings Randy and his Dad, Lanny, had built on the ranch. The pond on the ranch is bigger than it was back then and there was actually a building NOT there that was there the last time he visited! There was a flood of memories to share with him due to all the changes since then. Which, of course, led to a flood of feelings for us knowing he and my Mom will probably never visit here again with our upcoming move to Thailand. I am so thankful to God for allowing them both to visit one more time before we leave Mexico. It would have been harder to leave had my Dad not had the opportunity one more time to come and visit and see all the things that the Lord allowed to happen through our ministry. As we have said, God doesn't bless things or places. He blesses people and ministries. I think we are safe to say that since we have followed God's will to the best of our ability, God truly blessed La Fe Ministries.
While my parents were here, my Daddy helped Randy change out a toilet in our rental house. We visited the ranch and ate watermelon while the kids swam in the pond. My Mom helped me do some school work with Lee, Cynthia and Andrew. Of course, they all had to take turns sleeping in their sleeping bags on the floor in my parents' room! Caleb loved taking walks with my Daddy. We went to Parral one day to be with some missionaries there, Jason & Ellen Thomas, to kick off their Vacation Bible School. We had a cookout one afternoon. And, we spent the last night in Chihuahua City as their flight out Monday was 8:30 in the morning! We had a great time while they were here. It was wonderful for my Daddy to not be carrying around his cell phone and seeming not to be thinking about work. I believe he and my Mom really needed this trip to get away and have fun! It was a great blessing for us to have them here and share what God has laid on our hearts for our future in Thailand.
The upcoming weeks are going to be filled with many emotions - another soon-to-be born Ashcraft baby and packing to move. Jimenez has come a long way since the Ashcraft family moved here back in the '80's. The town has grown in size. It has been commercialed. There are paved roads and American-style stores. Most importantly, Christianity has boomed. Jimenez has a mature, independent-Baptist church with a Pastor who is extremely blessed -blessed with a wonderful family who are a great example. They know what it means to live by faith. Bro. Jose Luis Ayala and his wife, Mari, have become dear friends of ours over the years. They can relate to the members of the church in many ways that we never could and never would be able. Having a Mexican pastor is the best thing for La Fe Baptist Church. The Holy Spirit is felt like never before. We are dreading our last service, but looking forward to how God will bless them through having a pastor of their own nationality. That is the job of a true missionary - move in, plan an exit, and work toward that goal. Then, a national from that area can take over as the Pastor. I believe that is the hardest part of being a missionary - knowing when you have come to the point that someone is trained enough to take the ministry. As in most cultures, these trained people won't have spent four years in a seminary and probably know as much about the Bible as a Christian in the States who has spent about one year in church. However, that is the blessing we receive -keeping in touch and then watching how the Holy Spirit leads and guides them. I get the feeling sometimes that we as Americans think the Holy Spirit can only work through us. I believe I have seen the Holy Spirit work at a much deeper level in the lives of these people here. These people have no choice but to live by faith - free of the American dollar, credit cards and handouts. They truly depend on God to provide their next meal many times. I have learned much as being the wife of a missionary but I believe the last two years have been the greatest learning years of my Christianity. Missionaries shouldn't be pastors, otherwise, they would just stay and steal a blessing from everyone. We are ready to move out and begin in a new place in which we are really needed. Thailand is most definitely in need of missionaries. There are hundreds of thousands of people have never heard of Christ or His saving faith. They have never seen a Bible. Their religion dates back to before Christ. The interesting thing is that Buddha told them that one day a prophet would come and tell them things they didn't understand. We have the opportunity and great privilege of going and telling the Thai people who that Great Prophet is. It was from the idea of this that I got the heading for this blog - Ashcraft "Thai"dings. We, the Ashcraft family, being led of God, are going to the Thai people to spread the Tidings of Great Joy that Jesus came to earth, died for them, and rose again so that they can spend eternity in Heaven. Then, we can report home of great tidings from a far and distant land that you may only have heard of. The Thai people need these great Tidings of eternal life. Hence, I changed Tidings to "Thai"dings. God has great things in store for us and this people we have come to love as much as the Mexicans. Please pray for us over the coming weeks as we prepare to leave and embark on a new endeavor for Christ.
