Gene and Mary Long: It seems like it was only yesterday that we said our goodbyes and came to Thailand for the first time. Actually, the world has turned over many times since November 30, 1978 – the day we first landed in Bangkok, thirty years ago. Wow! Thirty years! It almost calls for a celebration, but there is too much work left to do for that. . . .
Thirty years ago. We're talking about last century, last millennium, pre- 9/11. Not that it was an ideal world back then: In America, Elvis Presley had just died, but Jimmy Carter was still president. In Thailand, no American fast food was available anywhere, kind of the sine qua non of a "real" mission field in those days. Nowadays, we measure that by access to the world wide web, a standard that pretty much keeps us on a "real" mission field here, but one by which my father-in-law in rural Iowa is also on one!
We arrived in Bangkok with two-year-old Allen in tow. Jared was seven months along in his gestation, and (you will not believe this) we still didn't know if he was going to be "Jared" or "Diana." Crystal came along later, in 1983, filling our quiver. And keeping our bank account empty!
We studied the Thai language in Bangkok for nine months, learning such useful phrases as "An elephant is bigger than a dog." Next, we moved north and learned the dialect of the Thai language spoken in this part of the country. Eventually, we found the Yellow Leaf people and began to work on winning their trust, learning their language and understanding their way of thinking. Telling them that an elephant is bigger than a dog didn't do much to impress them, but you have to start somewhere. So, we started.
There are lots of details between then and now, of course, but the rest of the story is that the story isn't finished yet. Progress has been slow, but the pace has been furious. It's like a marathon being run as a full sprint. We couldn't have made it this far alone! The Lord has sustained us through the prayers, gifts, love, encouragement and friendship of His people. We've found solace and motivation in His Word, even in the darkest times.
Lord willing, and by His grace, we're going to keep running "with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12.1-2). It's going to be interesting to see what the next thirty years is going to bring!
Love and prayers,
Gene and Mary Long
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