i

THE

MISSIONARIES

Doug & Geri Umbanhowar

Box 154

Chiangmai, Thailand

APRIL, 1981

Dear Friends:

Another year has passed and we look

back with gratitude and thanksgiving.

NO
S.E.

God

has accomplished much. We thank Him that our family is taking part i^ His plans in S.E. Asia. We want to share with you in

this letter some of the things that have happened with us this past year. 1980 was a year that found our family growing up, stretching out euid

flexing new muscles.

Geri and I have tried to meet the new challenges with

prayer and help from God. We've also been willing to leam from our experiences as well as from the experiences of others. As parents, we have enjoyed reading several books on Christian family growth and development. , Some of the books we have read this past year are: Preparing for Adolescence, Discipline with Love, Hide or Seek, stnd Straight Talk to Men and Their Wives
by Dobson. Also, Measure of a Family, Measure of a Woman and Measure of a

Man by Getz; Christian Child-Rearing and Personality Development by Meier; Help, I'm a Parent by Narramore; Her Name is Woman by Karssen; and How to be Happy though Married and The Art of Marriage by LaHaye. Through these pages
we have been strengthened and encouraged. We thank God for Christian writers who are concerned about Bible-centered growth and development in families.

We have included the names of these books in this letter to share with you and pray you will take the time to read and study them together with your family. Of course, no better help on family development is available than the Bible, God's word. Although no one ever studies it like one should,
including Geri and I, we continue to marvel at the wisdom it contains about

all aspects of life. And why shouldn't it, as it was written by the Author of life. In your reading, don't forget the foundation where all other studies
begin, God's Word. Geri and I continue to thank our Heavenly Father for the lives of our

four children. Eric had a small cyst surgically removed from the back of his knee this past year, but nothing serious and all is fine now. I was
sick for about three weeks with a minor case of hepatitis, but it was cured with no ill effects. October found us pampering 3 of the 4 children through

chicken pox.

Somehow Bradly escaped the ordeal.

And Charlie looks so

different wearing glasses but we're just so glad he can see clearly now.
As for family activities, there never seems to be a quiet moment. We

'

find challenge to the needed time together as a family without the needs

mission work taking

over. pressures
some-

times creep

and become a

/> h

"''

wedge between proper family development and outside

responsibilities. It a

you folk know well. We feel very fortunate to

S^. 1 ^

have an excellent primary

ff^^' ""9

VKjj^l^ljjjajjMM sq);^oo1 available for our children here in Chiangmai.

have an excellent teaching staff which serves through eighth grade. This year Charlie is in the sixth grade. He also graduated from Cub
Scouts to Boy Scouts and enjoys its activities. He is still an avid reader

1 ^OL ']d>~

Although

and if he starts reading a book, it is almost impossible to get him to do

anything else. Charlie's real love and talent seems to be in art. We are^ very excited to know a talented lady from New Zealand who instructs him
once a week.

Eric is in the first grade and enjoys it tremendously.

He is our ball

of fire, full of unlimited energy, always ready to go, go, go. He is doing very well in school, and we are proud of his enthusiasm, even though at times
it gets him into trouble. Bradly will be ready to start kindergarten this next year. He was our

only child born in Thailand.

I

With his ready smile and his big, brown eyes,

see him.

can't help but want to squeeze him every time I

Finally, our Anna. It*s been so much fun watching her learn and grow. With her play dishes and dolls, there is no doubt that God wanted us to experience the blessing of a little girl. And a little girl she is, through and through, despite the influence from three older brothers. In mid-August, we went to the Gulf of Thailand with the Bemo family for a wonderful ten day vacation of fresh air, sunshine, beach uid swimming. It was truly a time of relaxation. We all hope to go again this year. Our newest family project is beekeeping. Both Charlie and I have one

hive apiece.

We also had an observation hive made and it sits in our living

ry

room, so we can watch the activities of the bees. I t has

provided hours of fun and

fascinating learning.

^
year,

The high-light of the

was

were overjoyed

k.

>

' .^kAtj'' jlH^iBI^I younger sisters, tiorma and

Kathie, their one year old

visit of Geri's two

|-%rf'*'-^
i'" S
.:>..

Paul.

children

was the

nephew,
time when

mas have ever really a

i j ^ ' " ' d i f f i cfrom uthe l ones t to be so far away you love. They
stayed four weeks, and I think

I they enjoyed it as much as we

did. We visited meiny places

and tried to show them as much of Chiangmai as we could, even to a two night visit to a Lahu village. Even after four weeks sharing together and catch
ing up on years of lost time it was very difficult to say good-tye. Their visit is a time we will never forget. January 8th our brother-in-law, Phil Beavers arrived to teach at C.B.l\ for two weeks. Phil is married to my sister and is youth minister with the First Church of Christ in Bluffon, Indiana. He traveled to South East Asia te'aching not only in Chiangmai, but also for two weeks in Rangoon, Burma.
We can't express the joy at being able to share with family members in our
home in Thailand.

I have been very busy with the mission work this year. At times i t is discouraging to see how much work there is to do. Sometimes, it seems, I am doing nothing but running in circles doing little menial tasks. But I must stop and remind myself that I am working on a team and each person is doing his part to make the total work go and grow. Since coming to Chiangmai, I have been the mission treasurer. I must make sure that each physical need of the mission is met and many times am called upon to make spur-of-themoment decisions. I have asked myself hundreds of times if this is the kind of work a "missionary" should be doing. But then again, I am reminded of iry task on the team, and in so doing, this responsibility frees others to do other jobs. I have found myself being turned from helping people with their agricultural needs like I originally had planned to do, to being an accountant and treasurer. I have never lost the desire to help others agriculturally, just that God has needed me elsewhere at this time.

-4-

Institute and with those who we have contact. I have taught classes, gone
to several villages, worked in refugee camps and counseled with dozens of people about their commitment to the Lord. We have seen several hundred ,

.We remain committed to teaching the Bible at the Chiangmai Bible

people baptized into Christ this year, not through our direct efforts, but through those we have taught. This, to me is the most satisfying part of our work as we fulfill our goal found in II Tim. 2:2. We have rejoiced
together as a team to see the first draft of the NgoChang New Testament
finished by Peter Sutjaibun and his fellow workers. We continue to thank God for the printing and radio ministry in which we share. For the

hundreds of teachers, evangelists and preachers in Burma, N.E. India, Communist China and Thailand, we praise God. And for the growth and maturity of C.B.I, and her student body, we are continually grateful.
Yes, we do get discouraged at times, because the work is difficult and

demanding. We have been extremely short-handed this last year with some of the team on furlough. But through it all, we look back and see how much God*s kingdom has grown. To Him be praise. Because of the added responsibilities, the problem of not enough workers on the field and the difficulty of arranging schedules when those who are to come back to Thailand from furlough, our family has decided to stay on the field for an additional year. Our plans at first were to come back the summer of this year, but we feel we can hardly leave the field at this time. We have asked the Lord's leading and are confident He will
continue to care for our needs while we are here.

We want you to know we haven't forgotten you who are concerned about the
work in Asia. We have been blessed to have such close Christian friends who

have supported us since we first came to Thailand in 1974. But we ask that you please consider a request. With God's help, would it be possible for you to increase your giving for the mission work in 1981? With a 20% inflation rate, we need at least that much more just to stay even. But to help with the increasing needs of the total work of evangelization, C.B.I, and various projects could you pledge even a greater amount? We pray you can. Listed at the end of this letter are specific needs. Could you share in helping us in getting the job done? As we stay on an extra year, help us to do even more with the additional time #e have. Most of all, we need prayer support and undergirding to give us wisdom and protection. Satan and his angels are working hard to destroy the work and to send times of discouragement. But with the prayers of the saints, all things are possible.

May God continue to be with you and guide you in this new year. thank you for your ministry in helping take the Gospel to Asia.
Your missionaries to Thailand,

We

Doug, Geri, Charlie, Eric,

Brad and Anna Umbanhowar

ADDITIONAL FUNDS 6. PROJECTS

:
:
:

a $100 increase in our monthly living-link fund from the present

$750 to $850/month.

Charlie's and Eric's schooling expense of $1200 apiece.

Used clothing for hill tribe and refugees, boxed cind sent surface mail with it clearly labeled "USED CLOTHING; NO COMMERCIAL VALUE". Send to
Box 154, Chiangmai, Thailand.

An increase of $400 for our service-link funds. These additional funds would be used to help supply needed Bible Teaching materials and supplies for Christians in Burma and Thailand. Also they would help the work expand and grow to keep up with the ever increasing demand to spread
the Gospel.

A very special project to drill for water on two pieces of land totalling
100 acres owned by the mission for future expansion. Total needed for

both wells and water systems for year round use:

VILLAGE TRIP A SUCCESS

$20,000.

Recently, a trip was made by six of the South East Asia Christian Service personnel to a Lahu refugee village near the Laoticin border. The people living in this village have received permission to live outside of the regular camp. This action was granted by the Thai government because the residents of the village did not want to move to "third countries".

Therefore, they have settled about ten miles from the main refugee camp.
But because this action by the government has not been widely publicized, and they are no longer under the control of the United Nations Refugee Work to receive financial assistance, they are very, very poor.
Praseng, one of the Chiangmai Bible Institute students, heard of this village last year. He, being
Lahu, felt the earnest desire

UL Imwe I
i. J

people who are controlled by

preach the Gospel to these

spent several weeks in this

Satan through spirit worship.

flr
^

village last April and May

^

jjrir

^ \

during the school holiday. Through his dedicated efforts,

about forty people responded

to the Lord and became
stians.

He then was able

K ^ * * ^ 6 to challenge a Lahu evangelist

so and labor there full

Irene Agemy, Jongrak, Anang, Praseng, Luke and Doug Umbanhowar before leaving for refugee village.

time. Presently, there are thirty-five families or about sixty people who are bom-

again Christians.

This represents approximately one-third of the total

'Ar^

liii,
On the road to a tribal village
because they left everything

These'gifts"wer 'turned'over
to the Church leaders who
supervised the distribution.

These poor folk barely have enough clothing and with the cold season (some

times as low as 40 at night) these blankets were a much needed item.

And

instead^ using banana leaves

family two plates

from'the Lord. We carefully Christian brothers

for them the

|
Uli

money needed to buy them the Helping needy Christian refugees with gifts. gifts from American churches. Irene Ageny, a retired nurse from the States who was here in Thailand for a few months, also had the opportunity to use some of her skills in diagnosing ailments and distributing medicines. This medicine was purchased through IDES. We had heard that the Christians in the village were trying to raise three small infants, all still breastfeeding. One youngster's mother had died while

giving birth, and the other two mothers were lacking proper nutrition and riot producing enough milk. So we were able to send several cans of baby
formula and bottles. The babies are now doing fine. It*s because Christians

in the U.S.A. cared enough to give!

These babies may have died, otherwise.

What was surprising to us and a real blessing is how these people

shared with us during their festivities. At a special Church service, these new Christians, less than eight months old, brought and filled the front of their bamboo Church building with rice and vegetables. The evangelist who

S'

poor".

No one is

... Lahu refugee Christians with their offerings. offerings.

any poorer, materially, than

these Lahu Christians, yet they shared with thankful

hearts, and I'm confident they

will receive blessings from the Lord one hundred fold. They insisted that we take their gifts back to Chiangmai. I felt terrible taking their needed food, but at the same time, it was a wonderful lesson learned. They shared
in God's blessing, and I witnessed people giving with pure hearts and true conviction. Rejoice with us at this break-through. I pray they will be a

vital witness to other "older" Christians in Thailand, showing that sharing

will open the flood gates of blessings from Heaven. Praise God that more people are being added to the Kingdom, and that it continues to grow among
the Lahu tribes of Northern Thailand.

CHIANGMAI

BIBLE INSTITUTE NEWS

We praise God for the continuing teaching program at the Bible Institute

in Chiangmai. With twenty-seven students, her impact on the total longrange Christian growth in Asia is continuing to be felt and indeed becoming stronger. We have seven students who are finished with their four-year program of studies this term. It certainly is a time of rejoicing to see

-8-

these young people graduate and to go out into fields of service.

seen them mature and grow into capable Christian leaders.

We have

diligent in her studies. She is well known for her pleasant personality and beautiful smile. She has plans to help in the continuing Lisu Bible revision
project being undertaken by Jessie Yangmi, missionary with the Church of

(1) Mary Fish, who is Lisu, has been an outstanding student, always

Christ.

Mary's father is one of the translators for the work. We highly

recommend her for the Lord's service wherever she goes. (2) Brother R. Jungson has been one of our top students since his arrival in Thailand. We are excited about his leadership capabilities.
Brother Jungson is from the Rawang tribe of Burma. He has been involved in

the radio broadcast work of the mission for several years making sermons,
songs and most recently, is responsible for the total coordination of the

radio work.

He is married to a former student, GaruNang. They have a daugh

ter, aged 2 and a son, three months old. They plan to return to their home soon- and will be greatly missed in Chiangmai. Whatever the Lord leads him to do, whether teaching, preaching or writing, we know he will be used mightily for the Lord's service. It has been our pleasure to have worked in partnership with Jungson.

(3 & 4) K. James and Khono, both 1981 graduates of C.B.I., are excited about their future together. They are both from the Rawang tribe of Burma.
Both have been very capable students who have special talents in the field of

Christian music.

James has played the guitar and sung and Khono has used her
Both are excellent scholars as

musical abilities to help in the radio work.

well. Now they have chosen to spend their lives together in marriage! with us as we celebrate their graduation stnd their upcoming marriage.

Join

(5) Maeram, daughter of one of the strongest Rawang Church leaders in

Northern Burma, has been one of our most outstanding girl students since first coming to Thailand. We especially appreciate her vocal abilities and her knowledge of Bible subjects. She has been the lead singer for the

radio programs and has made several tapes of Christian music.

Bible when she returns to Burma.

Her ability

with the English language is very good and she hopes to teach English and

(6) Brother Seinsar, a Rawang from an area of Northern Burma very close
to the communist China Border, plans to take the Gospel back to his own people. Seinsar is a man ready to lend a helping hand wherever there is a

need, and he has proved himself a willing Christian leader in teaching and
preaching to the Akha and Lahu people of Thailand. We thank God for his

dedication and Christian character and pray God will continue to guide him
as he prepares himself to leave Chiangmai and return home.

(7) Finally, brother Sheyman Pong.

Sheyman or Khammiii as he is known

in Thailand, has indeed been the best student academically here in Chiangmai.
His specific abilities as a teacher, preacher stnd Bible scholar will be used greatly by the Lord as he serves the people of Asia. Able to speak

seven languages, Sheyman is by far a most capable leader for the Lord's

-9-

work in Asia.

We ask that God find a special area of service for Sheyman.

Our newest members of the C.B.I, family are Chirat and Danai, two fine

young men from the Hmong tribe. Chantra and Saiarun, two Chinese young ladies were recommended to us through Allen Bemo, Church of Christ mission
ary to the Chinese. Also, Awu, a young Lisu man who is a brother of another

C.B.I, student, recently joined us.

Asian Church of tomorrow.

Pray with us that these five young

people will be challenged to dedicate their lives for His service for the During this last Christmas break, the C.B.I, students were found throughout Northern Thailand preaching and teaching. This year there were three Christmas conventions planned by the Akhas, Lisus and Lahus. Several C.B.I, students attended each and participated in the various programs. Following is a list of the subjects that were taught during the last three terms: Basis Theology, New Testament Leadership, Cults, (Mormonism, Seventh Day Adventism and Jehovah's Witness), Church History, Anthropological Perspectives, Principles of Teaching, I and II Samuel, Biology, New
Testament Survey, Psalms, Hebrews, Revelation, Parables of Jesus, Holy Spirit, Job, Linguistics, Christian Doctrine and English. Guest lecturers during that time have included brothers Seth Wilson of

Ozark Bible College, Allen Bemo and Robert Morse, Sr., missionaries to Thailand, Sherwood and Mary Smith of the Cincinnati Bible Seminary and Russell Hall, Mike Flinchum, Mike Hargrave, Phil Beavers and Delmar Debault, ministers serving in the U.S. We want to thank these people for taking time from their busy schedules to share with us. The students have bene fited greatly from the wisdom of each person who has visited us.

0CT29 Ti
>aSSIONARIES

Doug & Geri Umbanhowar

Box 154

Chiangmai, Thailand
SEPTEMBER, 1981
Dear Christian Friends;

'G'

Once again we pray our letter to you finds you well. We have been especially praying for you and your labors for the Lord. With thanksgiving and praise, we thank God for your concern and gifts for

s.z.

the continued work here in Chiangmai.

We wanted to share with you the news of our buying a new truck. Through the concentrated efforts of Christview Christian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma and.

many other friends in the Midwest, a total of $7,470.01 was raised in just
two months time. We are now the owners of a new Toyota pick-up truck. We have been needing a "four-wheeled" vehicle for some time as our family has
outgrown our motorcycle. Also
H

the evangelistic work has been

in the need of reliable trans-

portation because the Mazda

no^ longer

Institute building fund.

We are

happy to tell you that a total of $400.00 was left and has

already been used toward finishing the Institute's

The new Toyota truck recently purchased in Chiangmai

multi-purpose building. We thank you for sharing in this special project, Chiangmai has been getting quite alot of rain lately. We are in the midst of the rainy season. Travel to the various villages is more difficult

-2-

if not impossible at these times.

But despite the rain, we keep hearing

encouraging news from the different village preaching points. The Akha tribe continues to respond to the Gospel. We are now assisting six fulltime preachers to live in different Akha villages. The reports from them are indeed reason to praise the Lord as over 30 individuals have responded
to Christ in the last three months. Several churches in the Eastern United

States have taken a special interest in the Akha work and are supporting it regularly. Many boxes of used clothing have been sent hy them to assist the
needy.

The Lahu evangelistic work is progressing very well too.

Under the

leadership of both Praseng and Jimmy Tachinam and through the help of three Lahu preachers much has been accomplished to take New Testament Christianity
to those who were in spiritual darkness. Just this week we received news

that in one of the Lahu refugee villages there was ejctensive damage caused from flooding. We are responding to the need with funds given through
International Disaster Emergency Service (I.D.E.S.) which we have on hand.

Be especially praying for three families in the village who lost everything
and for the rapid reconstruction of the church building which was
destroyed. Last month we were able to complete a two-hour video tape with Lahu

teaching and send to the States to help encourage Lahu refugees who are now living there. There is so much that could, be done to expand the evangelistic outreach among all the various tribes here in Northern Thailand, but funds for the work have been slow in coming. We are doing all
we can to S-T-R-E-A-C-H what we have. We have the workers. We have the

means of transportation.

We just need additional funds to enable us to get

out there with the message.

Last term at the Bible Institute we were pleased to welcome Timothy Teng Vang to help out with the teaching load. Timothy is a former Hmong refugee from Laos who is now living in the USA and studying at the Cincinnati Bible Seminary. He came to Thailand to assist I.D.E.S, in helping
the thousands of Hmong refugees who are still living in camps here in

Thailand. I was able to accompany him on a trip to one camp when we took Bible lessons, Hmong teaching cassette tapes and money to buy clothes.
While here in Thailand, he also taught a class on the "Life of Christ" at

the Institute.
as missionaries.

We are hoping that he, as well as other Hmong students at

Cincinnati after finishing their studies, will be able to come to Thailand

In the last newsletter, I told you of ray newest hobby. I have always been fascinated with honeybees and had always wanted to try my hand at

raising them. Well, I got the chance, and it may very well be something that will turn into an important project for the Bible Institute. I am currently
learning together with a C.B.I, student the fine art of apiary science. We are hoping to have at least twenty hives by the end of this year when the

honey season starts in Thailand.

With care it is possible-to make a good

profit from each hive as honey sells for $5.00/lb.

One interesting fact is

that the Thai and Chinese people do not eat honey with bread as Americans, but instead they usually take it as a tonic for various ailments and as a stimulant. We are hoping that if we are successful this first year, this may be one way that extra funds for different evangelistic projects can be

raised in the years to come. Also, there is growing interest by other individuals who would like to have a means of supplementing their income. There is a need to provide extra money this first year to help get us started. We have already used $500.00 in this project. Would you or your' Bible school class be able to provide a special one time gift?
We are happy to welcome Jerry and Pam Headen back from

n- .

;J

furlough. And we seek God's

letter, he will have arrived.

Jerry Headen recording Gospel music and sermons at the C.B.I, recording
studio.

May God grant you grace and peace.

Looking forward to hearing from

Your missionaries to Thailand,

The Umbanhowars