“Are you sure that going to Thailand is the best thing for your children?” We were asked this question more than once as we prepared to be AFM missionaries. After all, Gabriel was nearly a teenager, and Daniel wasn’t far behind. However, once we had peace that God was calling us to this mission, we could answer in confidence, “God will provide for all their needs.” We didn’t even know what all those needs would be, let alone how God would provide for them, but we knew that the best place for our family was in the center of God’s will.

A big part of God’s provision has been the student missionaries with which He has blessed us. Rachel Perry arrived during our first year, saving my sanity as I juggled home, language study and home school. She recognized a need for good reading material and organized her church to send boxes of excellent literature that are a continuing blessing to the boys. This year, Jessica Richter joined us, bringing gifts that just matched the needs of the boys for this time. As a musician, she has also helped to get our music school going.

It has been a privilege to work alongside these young women who are dedicated to serving God with all their hearts. It has been inspiring to watch them face challenges and grow. Homeschooling is not a glamorous job. Rachel and Jessica both exemplify the commitment of those in “an army of youth rightly trained.” They both rejected the temptation to view their work as “not real mission service” and embraced the importance of their job. We have seen God use them in powerful ways to plant seeds and promote His kingdom here in Khon Kaen. The student-missionary experience is a powerful tool for preparing passionate disciples for Jesus who will use their gifts to make Him known.

• Twitter