Uninvited Attention

 (Note to Reader: This is another in our series of“River Crossings” blogs, written while we were in Thailand (2009-2011). Enjoy!)  I   think I’m flattered. A few weeks ago, I mentioned that if you wanted to know more about this kidnap drama we’ve been chronicling, you could Google this certain name and see what the bad guys were saying about our friend’s parents. Well, to my surprise, several hours later, a friend in Australia messaged us to say that OUR blog was in the number two place on Google's list of 8 pages.That means (I think) that our blog had been deluged with hits,  placing it in the number  one slot of interest. Normally, I would say that was a good thing, but since that particular blog was mostly our opinions about those “other guys” who were out to kidnap our friend,  I began to think that  maybe it was time to back off awhile. As my mother used to say to my dad when they needed to talk privately, “There are too many ears in the cornfield here”.After looking at our options, I decided to just turn off the internet and, in the words of Elmer Fudd, “Be veeewy quiet” for awhile. I think things are calming down now, especially since the children have been removed to a place where even WE don’t know.

(Update on the situation:Now, 12 years later, I can report that the children were taken out of Thailand and to another country very far away. Their parents are still unaccounted for, but older brother Tommy is taking care of things, assisted by a group who specialises in these things. Pr@ise the L0rd!) Barring a miracle, we believe the parents are probably gone, but if you’ve read “HeavenlyMan” you know  miracles can and do happen. Stay tuned and pr@y for a  world that hasn’t changed much in centuries.And of course the other ‘drama’ is Bangkok. TheAmerican Embassy said last night that they were allowing their families of personnel to leave. That’s never a good sign. Our mission office is just two blocks from the worst of the fighting, but consider themselves safe for the time being.They did decide to cancel worship services today, as did every other church close to the barricades, but home groups will continue. Our little intrepid Japanese group decided to go ahead with worship.  I have to admit, I’m grateful that it just so happens that we’ve been asked to go  and serve for six weeks as interim pastor at a Japanese church in Changmai.

We chose to ride the train, and the normal 14-hour trip took over 18, five of those without air conditioning. It was fun, especially since we’d gone through two different mission people who were supposed to pick us up. After several attempts at making a plan, we were finally told,  “Just go out the front and the white SUV will have the keys under the mat!” Tony loves this cloak and dagger stuff. We’ll be here for five Sundays, and are very excited. This morning we had a wonderful time meeting the congregation. They were so enthusiastic and are a truly remarkable bunch... one guy, from the Kachin race of people from Burma, speaks seven languages and met Christ and his wife in   Japan... we look forward to getting to know them better in the next few weeks.

Thanks for your pr*yers, I hope your week is peaceful and safe as we trust ours to be.

Marsha and Tony

 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and He delivers them.(Psalms 34:7) 

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