News Archive

Beth's Packing up for Home Assignment
December 20, 2009

Dear Friends,

I want to share with you my joys in the last eight years that I was not able to return to the Philippines for a regular furlough. I now have completed the mandate of the Board to lead NBS at what was a crucial time.

1. The joy of experiencing God's faithfulness.

2. The joy of seeing a renovation project come to completion, and God’s miraculous financial provisions. The buildings in the campus have aged and dilapidated. The classrooms, offices, library, kitchen and dining hall, dormitory rooms, faculty and staff houses, water pipes and sewage pipes were all renovated. In the center of the campus is a former gymnasium, now named Heckendorf Hall, in honor of former missionaries, George and Edna Heckendorf, well known and respected even by non-Christians in Khon Kaen. The Heckendorf Hall is a fully air-conditioned conference center which provides a place for Christians to hold conferences, seminars, camps, etc.

3. The joy of seeing increased number of students come to study at NBS every year. Our students come from different regions and varied ethnic groups in Thailand and Laos namely Hmong, Khamu, and Vietnamese origin.

4. The joy of turning the key of directorship to a Thai leader. This is a dream-come-true reality. In principle, missionary work must have an exit strategy. It has taken a longer journey, but the walk was worth it. Like Jesus when at the end of his three year term of ministry left his task to the apostles to carry on, I am leaving the work at NBS with full satisfaction and confidence that my Thai colleague continues to accomplish the calling we have begun to do.

5. The joy of having friends and partners who believe in the work that we are doing at NBS. The trust and confidence that you have given expressed through financial support you have shared towards scholarships, renovations and administration use. I am amazed at how God has allowed our paths to meet, and in just a short time you have offered us your support. I feel indebted to you, in that I will remain faithful to God’s call before I was born (Jer.1:4,5).

6. The joy of seeing fruit of our ministry. I have been involved at NBS for more than 15 years. Quite a long time. I found that Thailand is considered a dark area, and although mission work has been here for over a hundred years, but it remains a dark place still. The soil is harder to grow the Gospel. However, in the last three years, Janice and I are privileged to see a second generation of Christians whose parents were our former students, and now have sent their children to be trained and equipped for ministry at NBS.

The joy of seeing Alumni take initiative by sending and supporting their young to be trained and equipped at NBS. They came to NBS without promised support from anyone, but relied on scholarships from the seminary. And, now they have turned the table, it’s their turn to provide for their own students. PTL!

It's time to pack up now. I plan to leave on November 2^nd , Lord willing.

Thank you for your prayers and giving.

Blessings,

Beth C. Limare
Director, Northeastern Bible Seminary
Celfone no. +66899435149