The torch has been passed.

In November 2022, Shannon and I inherited the team leader’s role for the Khon Kaen, Thailand project begun by Pastor Ricardo Palacios and continued by Kyle and Cindi Tumberg. Thanks to their organization and dedication, we have a music school, Peace Music Academy (PMA), that fosters friendships with people from all classes of Thai society.

I can now more deeply appreciate the pressure and responsibilities our predecessors must have felt. The team leader role is not one we have coveted, nor have we felt we had any exceptional gifts or strengths. We simply try to hold onto the same assurance and hope Paul spoke of when he said, “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5). Until God somehow makes it clear to us that it is time to move on or pass the leadership role to another, we will try to faithfully do what we can, by His grace, to support our growing team and the growing work as a whole.

Moving Peace Music Academy into the new building in March of 2022 expanded our capacity to bring in more excellent staff and teach additional classes to our community. We are grateful for our current music teachers at PMA. Sinegugu teaches voice and choir, while Heather gives instruction in piano and violin. Andrew also gives piano lessons but adds music composition to our class offerings. Kaitlyn teaches piano and bells, while Aorm teaches piano and ukulele. Other lessons on string instruments are provided by Celeste (violin), Enrique (guitar), and Nott (guitar and media). Even our wonderful PMA Director, Mr. Joon, teaches as needed, helping with piano, ukulele and cello lessons.

Beyond the PMA staff, we have short-term missionaries like Amanda, who supports our team as a homeschool teacher; Henrique, who helps with our ministry media; Uédila, a doctor preparing to do health ministry; and Giorgia, a nutritionist. Helping coach and support these teachers and missionaries is a big job but also a great privilege. We value each of them and have seen that they can make contacts and form deeper friendships with young Thai people who would otherwise be more challenging for us to reach due to our different ages and family status.

Thankfully, Shannon and I also have our dear trusted partners, the Aleman family, and our resident field directors, the Haywards, who help in many ways to support and counsel our younger missionaries. Henrique and Uédila are currently in the United States, training to become AFM career missionaries in preparation for starting new work in other parts of Thailand. We cannot wait to see how God continues to use them.

Each of these young missionaries arrives needing financial support, provided in part through what you, our friends and supporters, have so faithfully given to support our work here in Thailand. Thank you for your prayers and ongoing support as we expand the ministry with a growing team of workers that God has placed under our care!

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