Christmas Season in Roi Et

All together at Christmas at John Wesley's Chapel in London

Happy New Year from the Attaways! Blessings and Greetings to you from Thailand.  We hope you all were very blessed and felt the deep presence of our Lord and Savior this season.

Sidney and Hannah Grace

We were able to meet our whole family in England for a few days at Christmas so that was our biggest gift.  It was a treasure having all of the children with us and our time was full of joy and gratitude.  We are so thankful for this opportunity.  One highlight was being able to take communion together as a family at John Wesley's chapel.  This was the first time our children had ever used a common communion cup, so that in itself was quite a different and memorable experience!

Todd and Noah

Ministry Updates

For the past few months we have been able to continue to work in the lives of the students who come to our home as well as students and families we know and meet.  For the advent season the team focused on Luke 1:78-79 which is Zechariah's prophecy that Jesus is to give light to those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.  The teachings we focused on for Advent dealt with issues the student's selected as problems in Issan culture and how Jesus and the Word of God speaks to these areas.  Problems they listed were financial issues, (especially with the fall in the price of rice), debt, problems in their family, alcoholism,  corruption and not feeling loved and nurtured by family.  Each week we talked about one of these issues and went to what the Bible said and how to deal with these problems.  Our Thai teammate Patdy wrote an Issan drama that interweaved all of the issues with the hope found in the coming of Jesus.  It was a powerful testimony and we believe the Lord used it to speak to hearts.

Issan Christmas Drama

Ashley and Noah were able to come and spend some time with us in Roi Et during the holidays.  It was a joy having them participate in ministry and life with us.  Hannah Grace choreographed a dance for the Christmas program for eight 6-7 year old girls from Banon.  She worked with them weekly for six weeks and it was indeed a blessing to get to witness her use her gifts and talents with the Thai students.  It brought her great joy to teach these girls.

The Christmas Dancers with Ashley and Hannah Grace

Ashley and Hannah Grace with the Dancers at Banon

Christmas at Nong Phok

Since this past July The Lord had put on our hearts the need to visit a new community, Nong Phok, about one hour and 20 minutes from Roi Et. This is a poor community with a church that was started as an outreach from the Muang Thai Church years ago.   The church only has 5 members and has not been active or thriving for some time.  A Christian Thai couple felt the calling to go to this area and build a coffee shop outside the church. The coffee shop provides a place where people can come and have an opportunity to learn about Christ in a relaxed environment. The goal is to invite them to church to experience the power of the Holy Spirit and the Kingdom of God.  

Nong Phok Students

 Christmas at Nong Phok

We felt the Lord calling us to go to Nong Phok and start investing in student's lives there, so we began going to offer free English classes at the coffee shop.  From the beginning we have had 30-45 students almost every week.  It has been a tremendous blessing and the Lord even opened a door so that Kat, our Thai teammate, suggested we bring the Christmas drama to the church.  There were over 150 people there on December 18 to hear the good news in drama and by a Thai Pastor.  God is so faithful and we are excited to see what fruit this might bring to the people of Nong Phok.

Noah with students at Nong Phok

Pam, Ashley and Noah with older students at the Coffee shop

There have been an average of 10 students who are seniors in high school.  They are so appreciative of the opportunity to improve their English and it has been our joy loving and pouring into them.

Feeling "snow"

Hannah Grace making "snow"

We brought some artificial snow from America for the students to be able to experience what real snow feels like. Hannah Grace has enjoyed helping Todd with the younger students who are in 4th grade. Some days they have had up to 35 students attending the English class after school,  each of them appear to be eager to learn and extremely grateful of the opportunity.

The people of Thailand continue to mourn the loss of their King, most of the people here continue to wear black.  The Prince has assumed the position of the next King, but the ceremony won't take place for months.  Please continue to pray for Thailand during this time of transition and new leadership.


We want to again thank each of you for your continued prayer and support of God's work in Thailand.  We could not be here without you.  We hope you realize that you are part of bringing the name of love of Jesus to the unreached in Thailand.

Prayer Requests

Please continue to pray for our family, that we will continue to follow the Lord's will in bringing his love and hope to the people of Thailand.

Pray for Sidney, Ashley and Noah in the US.  Sidney in his work as a  youth director, Ashley as she transitions to life in Los Angeles and Noah as he enters his second semester at Anderson University.

Pray for our parents, for their health and well being.

Pray for open hearts among the Thai people and that the Spirit of God will move in this country to bring his Kingdom here.

For mobilization efforts we are involved with in conjunction with TMS and the Muang Thai Church.  We have some important meetings to introduce the Discovery Bible Study, which we have been using in Roi Et, as a discipleship tool as well as conversations about how to best mobilize the body of Christ across the world.

Love in Christ,
The Attaways