Obey God Always and Everywhere

James Gonzalez
Oct 22, 2020
4 min read

Updated: Oct 24, 2020

Gonzalez Family Going to Thailand, Vol.1, No.10

"Remember this, had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you are, divine love would have put you there."

-Charles Spurgeon

Waiting and Persistence

It has been awhile since our last update simply because not much has changed. As we settled into a new academic year our focus has turned toward finding a healthy and normal routine for our family as we eagerly await our next possible window for departure to Thailand. As I stated in my last update, we are looking toward December to try to make our move across the ocean. However, as that window draws near there is no more clarity as to whether we will be able to make our transition before the end of this year. Thailand is still technically in a declared State of Emergency and has not reopened their borders in a way that would enable us to get into the country. Thailand has claimed to have recorded fewer than 4,000 Covid cases and fewer than 80 deaths in a country of nearly 70 million people. While that sounds like a good thing, the negative effects of closing the country are not negligible. The Thai economy is suffering and hopes of reopening the country are constantly met with fear that outsiders will bring the virus with them. The future is very unclear and it seems Thailand has pinned its hopes to the efficacy of a coming vaccine.

Despite these circumstances, Sara and I continue to explore potential options for getting into the country to begin the work to which God has called us. Our original plan (before Covid) was to enter the country via language student visas for at least the first year. However, Thailand has indefinitely suspended the issuance of such visas. Additionally, the highly respected language school we were going to attend has had to suspend operations and as of now we are out our $700 deposit due to their inability to provide a refund. God recently brought to mind Luke 11:5-10. In these verses Jesus teaches us to be persistent in our faith. Accordingly, I have made it a habit to contact the Thai Embassy in Washington D.C. nearly a dozen times a week. Usually, after navigating the automated system of options, I find myself leaving a message that never gets answered. However, I have made contact with a consular official twice. We learned that I may get into the country if I am willing to take classes at a degree granting institution. Not coincidentally, there is a Missouri based college that has a campus in Bangkok that I can attend, which would enable me to get a Student Visa. Then, I would go to language school during the day and take a couple of graduate courses at the college at night. Sara and I both believe this is manageable and may have broader benefits for our ministry in Thailand. Even still, this path is far from certain. We cannot be sure I will be granted a visa and as of right now it seems like there is a less than a good chance that Sara and the kids will be granted the "dependent" visas that were normal in these circumstances before Covid. Nonetheless, Sara and I believe we must be willing to see God do unlikely things because as we well know He is more than capable of "parting the waters."

Serving at Wellspring

Just because we are not in Thailand yet does not mean God has not provided wonderful opportunities to embrace this new season of life where my primary vocation is ministry. It has been a wonderful blessing to join the staff of Wellspring Church as we seek to serve the Kingdom of God wherever He has us. As an Interim Associate Pastor at Wellspring I have had the opportunity to try to make as much of an impact as I can while on staff. I have worked on clarifying and documenting some of our procedures and polices. I was privileged to facilitate a team building workshop for our staff, using Patrick Lencioni's Five Dysfunctions of a Team book. I assumed teaching responsibility for Wellspring Students when our Youth Pastor left to continue his journey toward the mission field in Japan. We successfully launched our fall education program where we offered classes on theology, money management and Biblical parenting. I have even had the opportunity to preach on a few Sunday mornings, hopefully providing our Lead Pastor some flexibility as he shepherds our congregation. Additionally, Sara and I are both engaged in one-on-one discipleship relationships, which is very appropriate since we know this is one of the ways we will be seeking to impact the Kingdom and make disciples in Southeast Asia. Overall, we know God is at work even though our timeline is not going as we expected.

Specific Prayer Requests

That we would be granted visas to enter Thailand in December.

That we never miss an opportunity to be apart of what God is doing even while we wait to get where we believe He has called us.

We have an extended family member that has become pretty sick. We are praying for both his healing and for wisdom as we contemplate what that might mean for our departure plans.

"The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him."

Lamentations 3:25