“Let’s get out of here,” I told Duang’s nephew, Amnart, who lives with us. “This is definitely more nature than we bargained for.” The two of us were on a Sabbath afternoon hike exploring a beach on Phangan Island. While we were rounding a boulder, our eyes were accosted by two couples in their birthday suits, getting a tan where the sun is not supposed to shine. Thinking that this lack of clothing was probably an isolated experience, we quickly walked past, hoping they would be gone when we returned. However, when we turned the corner at the cove’s end, we were confronted by a nudist colony of foreign tourists on the adjacent beach. It was then I motioned for us to retreat.

Phangan Island, part of our province and a target in our goal to explore every district at least once, beckoned us. Aiming to blend exploration with mentorship, we invited Uncle Somneuk for Thursday evening at our home, followed by Friday and Sabbath on the island. Our biweekly branch Sabbath school with him thus became a weekend of fruitful discipling on the island.

We conduct three online Bible studies each week as part of our ministry. After returning from our Sabbath afternoon hike, we sat with Uncle Somneuk as we studied Genesis 12 via Zoom using the hotel wifi. The following verses were especially relevant after our experience with the nudist colony. “And the Canaanite was then in the land. . . And [Abraham] builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD” (Genesis 12:6–7).

This raises a critical question: How do we live amidst wickedness while still growing in our walk with God? It is through private devotions and morning and evening worship in the family. This is what Abraham did and what we are trying to do. And this is how naked beach people became an illustration for our Bible study.

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