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| A mother is always ready to give up everything for her children, because a mother’s love puts her children’s well-being before her own. |
Thai Mother’s Day.
For some children, however, Mother’s Day is not a day they
choose to celebrate because their mothers are absent from their lives. Some
grow up with their grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other relatives. I can only
imagine the pain they experience as they grow into adulthood without a mother
in their lives.
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| Messi cried after Argentina was defeated by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. |
Watching Argentina lose 1–0 to Spain made me stop and think.
Four years ago, the world watched Lionel Messi lift the World Cup trophy. The stadium was filled with cheers, celebration, and unforgettable moments. People admired him, sang his name, and celebrated his victory.
Thais in our village usually wake up at 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. to begin tapping rubber trees. Long before most of us are awake, they are already walking through the dark plantations with only a headlamp to guide them. By sunrise, around 6:00 a.m., they begin collecting the latex before preparing for another day's work.
It is difficult to fully appreciate this way of life unless you have experienced it yourself.
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| Picture taken at the funeral 2026 |
One of our relatives informed us that Uncle Daeng had passed away.
The news brought a mixture of sadness and reflection on my side. Uncle Daeng was not just a distant relative, he was someone who had been close to our family for many years. Because of his prolonged illness, Nittie and I had opportunities to bless him.
As we gathered with the family, we participated in the local funeral customs. In Thai culture, one part of the ceremony involves pouring water over the hands of the deceased before the body is placed inside the coffin. Uncle Daeng's coffin was made of plywood, as cremation is the common practice here, and afterward the ashes are often scattered in the sea.
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| Picture was taken at Songkhla Lake, Southern Thailand 2026 |
Before The Father gave humanity the assignment to have dominion
over His creation, He first blessed them.
From the very beginning, His blessings came before their work.
His favor came before appointment.
Humanity is loved before any performance found at him or her.
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| Picture was taken at Pakbara Satun, Thailand 2026 |
This is what I have been thinking about lately.
Maybe we are in a situation similar to what Moses experienced. Behind him was the Egyptian army, and in front of him was the Red Sea.
There was no turning back. Yet if he moved forward, all he could see was water.
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| Picture taken at our local public market 2026 |
What I notice lately is that the situation in the Middle East seems to have calmed down compared to before. At least from what we can see on the outside, life appears to be going back to normal again.
But honestly, it is becoming harder these days to know what is really happening in the world just by watching the news or reading articles online. Many media sources now lean strongly to one side, so sometimes it is difficult to know what is fully true and what is only part of the story.
Every day, the situation in our village and in many parts of Thailand is becoming more difficult. Gasoline stations have been closed for several days at a time, and when they open even for just one day, the queues are extremely long.
I uploaded a video above showing the long line of vehicles waiting at the gasoline station. That morning, I had to be in the queue as early as 5:30AM just to have a chance to fill my truck. Even at that hour, many vehicles were already waiting. Each vehicle is limited to only 500 baht worth of fuel, which is often not enough to meet our daily transportation needs, especially for those who rely on their vehicles for ministry, farming, or businesses.
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| This picture was taken in our village in 2026, a gas station that has run out of fuel |
What I am thinking...
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| Petroleum crisis in our community March 2026 |
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| Picture was taken at the sandabar, Pakbara, Satun 2026 |
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By Ianpasison Picture taken during the flood 2025 in Satun, Thailand |
As I step into the New Year, I carry with me a deep sense of gratitude for how the Father Almighty has led us through the past season. Serving my family, people, studying, and writing research reminded me that ministry is often lived out in ordinary faithfulness: showing up, listening well, and trusting the Father Almighty even when our strength or resources are limited. Along the way, I have learned to slow down, realizing more and more that:
Ministry is not only about only what we do, but about becoming more like the Son: to love, serve, and care as He does. It is not easy, but I try.
By Ianpassion Flooding in Manang, Satun, Thailand 2025
It was around four in the morning when our dog would not stop barking. His bark was loud, urgent, and relentless.
At first, I thought there must be a big snake nearby. Living in southern Thailand, that would not have been unusual. What made it more confusing was that there had been no heavy rain that night. Still half asleep and slightly annoyed, I got up to check on him, unaware that his warning was about something far more serious.
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By Ianpassion Cooking on the firewood |
The student sat down quietly and said, “Teacher, I’ve decided not to join the others for worship anymore. I can pray to the Father by myself. I don’t need to gather with them.”
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By Ianpassion Nemi's Drawing 2025 |
What I’ve noticed lately is how different my son is from the group and from what is usually done. He likes to stand out, not just for the sake of being different, but because he follows his own way rather than the traditional crowd.
I can even see it in the small things, like the way he places his water bottle on the table after drinking at the taekwondo gym, completely unlike the other athletes. His uniqueness also shines through in his drawings.
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By Ianpassion Cassava I harvested |
I recently harvested the cassava I planted last year. It all began when an excavator passed by our house to dig a trench for the village water pipeline. After the work was finished, the soil was left soft and loose. I decided to plant cassava trunks in that ground, and after a year, we were able to harvest them. My wife shared some with one of the Agape members, who used it to make a Thai dessert, while I boiled the rest with coconut milk and a little salt.
As I reflected on this, I was reminded of the parable the Son told about the sower. He taught that seed planted in good soil will surely grow and produce a harvest, some thirty, sixty, or even a hundredfold. But seed that falls on rocky ground, among thorns, or on the path will not bear fruit.
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By Ianpassion Refreshing river stream in Manang, Satun, Thailand |
I went into the forest for a hike.
What refreshed me most was the stream of fresh, cold water where I washed my face after hours of hiking and sweating. With the Thai scarf on my head, I took it off to dry my face.
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| By Ianpassion With Nana and Nemi |
Fathers, our presence is more important than perfection
(think about your own dad). Our children may or may not remember our mistakes,
but what they will surely remember is that we were with them when they fell and
when they celebrated their victories.
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By Ianpassion A narrow road at the border passes through the neighborhood |
As we continued heading toward the Thai-Myanmar border, the road became narrower, and early in the morning, visibility was dangerously low due to thick fog. I had to slow down and carefully navigate some sharp curves.
But through it all, we thank the Father Almighty for His protection and for the opportunity to experience the culture and language at the northernmost border of Thailand. This has also been a meaningful experience for our children, allowing them to witness firsthand what it means to immerse themselves in local life and to be a resource when needed.
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| Seasami Leaf |
I’ve lived in Thailand for many years, but I hadn’t found it until recently, when my wife took us to a food shop that included sesame leaves in their serving. Finally! A simple desire, almost like a small prayer, was granted in His time.
