Metropolitan Missionaries

Dear Praying Friends, July 21, 2008

In 1978 Paula and I had a wonderful honeymoon in Shangri la…now 30 years later we
found ourselves celebrating our wedding anniversary in another paradise - Honolulu! (Did
I mention that Shangri la was a small resort near Afton, Oklahoma?) We spent one week in
the guest room of a retired minister’s wife on the north shore of Oauhu (Tim and Lydia
had honeymooned in the same guest room in August 2007…also the price was right –
only $95!).

When we arrived at the north shore we had some time to kill and decided to get a snack.
We stopped at a nondescript bakery and I went inside to order sandwiches. Meanwhile,
Paula went to find a table outside. As I emerged from the bakery I found Paula sitting with
four high school girls in bikinis…I thought “Oh boy, I get to sit with five hot babes.”
(notice I said five babes). What followed was a wonderful opportunity to share our
testimonies and gospel with these young ladies. As we talked, Paula asked about local
foods and added, “Our neighbor in Pasadena is from this area and told us to make sure
and eat at a “hole in the wall” restaurant called Ted’s which may not look like much, but is
a favorite with the natives and has great burgers. One of the girls interrupted, “Lady, that
is the place you are eating at RIGHT NOW.” Up to then I thought we were doing well
relating to the younger generation…from that point they must have wondered how these
geriatrics ever made it to the north shore.

As I climbed to the top of Diamond Head I overheard what I thought was a family
speaking Thai (turned out to be Lao). They turned out to be a older Lao grandpa and
grandma with their daughter and grandkids. They had left from Laos in 1979 and had
moved to Hawaii with their 7 kids. The grandpa said that it was the first time he had ever
climbed Diamond Head and that a few years ago he had moved to the mainland. “Where?”
I asked. He said, “Coweta, Oklahoma.” I was amazed that anyone would leave Oaohu for
Coweta. The other thing that amazed me was that he wasn’t Buddhist…he was Jehovah
Witness. It reminded me how important it is to reach newly arrived immigrants with the
gospel. If we don’t act quickly then the cults will snatch them up. Pray that Mr. En and his
family can hear the true gospel while there is still time.

Titus informed us that his eardrum (that was burst) is healing nicely. Amber is finishing
up her time working in Colorado and asks prayer as she begins to teach 3rd grade this fall.
Lydia has been diagnosed with mono and gallstones (may need an operation for the
stones). Since she is off work she has started a wonderful website…be sure to check it out
http://ladylydia.wordpress.com/ Tim and Lydia are busy with Jr. High ministry and leading
our home church. Andy is working 40 hour weeks and is trying to finish up the last
requirements for his masters.

Paula would appreciate prayer for her neuropathy in her feet. Both feet have been numb
for months but it seems to be getting worse. Also, all the travel has made her backache
much more acute. This has served as a prayer reminder for all of us.

I continue to prepare for two mission classes in the fall. The trip to Germany did not come
about as we first thought. However, I will be preaching and doing workshops throughout
August and have a very full fall schedule.

In Him,

Larry and Paula Dinkins

Dear Praying Friends, July 5, 2008

We witness a lot of fireworks on the 4th, but on this 4th of July Titus saw fireworks of a
different kind. It started off with a early morning robbery at our home in Pasadena.
Someone broke in and stole Titus’ cell phone and some money. The robber took a number
of items that Andy was planning to take on a flight to Quebec he had planned for the
morning of the 4th. If that wasn’t enough, Titus was tubing behind a boat on a lake in the
afternoon. When he fell off the tube, he hit wrong and water was forced into his left ear.
The force of the water burst his eardrum. He was taken to ER who told him to wait for 10
days to see if it will heal on its own. If not, an operation might be needed. He has been in
some pain and can’t hear out of his left ear. He also is unable to do the pilot training he
had planned for next week. Do pray for protection and healing for Titus as well as
protection for our home.

Another prayer request is for Lydia (Tim’s wife). She has been diagnosed with mono, yet
the doctor feels there are other factors as well and would like to do more tests. The doctor
has directed her to take a month off to recuperate. Do pray that Lydia will be restored to
full health so that she can continue to work, study and support Tim in their Jr. High
ministry.

We will be returning from a wonderful vacation in Lake City, Colorado tomorrow. We’ve
been able to spend time with Amber who is working here as well as a special time with my
sister and her husband. Lake City has only 400 or so inhabitants during the winter, but
swells by many more hundred in the summer. The scenery is breathtaking and we are
taking in all lovely vistas, mountains and foliage. We’ve had almost daily encounters with
some of the many deer that roam the town. There is a strong Christian presence here and
we’ve enjoyed fellowship with many different groups.

When we return home I will be teaching on Buddhism to some young people at the USCWM
and preparing for two courses in the fall: Kairos (a condensed mission class) and a Cross-
cultural Communication class for a Chinese seminary. There might even be an
opportunity to teach the Walk Thru the Bible course in Germany. All of these teaching
opportunities need to be covered in prayer.

In Him,

Larry and Paula Dinkins
1612 N. Hill Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91104
larrydinkins@usa.net
626 296 3397

Dear Friends,
How are you? I’m really enjoying camp. The kid’s are sleeping in tepees, cooking over fires, learning about God and having lots of fun!!! Last week two campers came to know Christ! I almost cried as the kid’s from last week left. Please pray for wisdom as we prepare for the upcoming week and for unity among our team. Thanks! As camp continues, I see the Lord equipping me for Africa, allowing me to share about Uganda, and being stretched. Please pray He will continue to use this summer as I lead worship and teach drama to draw me and the campers closer to the Lord. You are a huge part of this ministry. Thank you so much for your encouragement.

Teah

(Click the Link Below)

Teah Thomson Prayer Letter

Dear Praying Friends, May 27, 2008

Divine Appointments:
1. In February Paula saw a lady dressed in a black robe in the Denver Airport and told
me “I’m praying that Jesus will have me sit next to that lady on our flight” (Sure enough,
Karen, a trouble MK, was Paula’s seatmate for the next 3 hours).
2. On our trip to Thailand we had a few hours layover in Taipei. Paula struck up a
conversation with a Thai lady (Som) who was a new believer. Som was not used to
international flights and stuck to us for the hour or so before the flight departed. I sensed
that Paula needed more time to disciple Som and so I asked to see her seat number so that
we could change seats when we got on the Jumbo Jet (which seats around 400). Walking
down the jet way to the plane I casually asked to see her seat number and then let out a
yell when I saw it….I was in 48a, Paula was in 48b and you guessed it…Som was in 48C!!
3. A group from YWAM did a worship song for the Mekong Conference and there was
one girl (Alisyn) at the front that stood out from the rest. Paula happened to see her in
the breakfast line the next morning and asked where she was from. She said, “San Gabriel
and Bellflower, CA.” Paula then asked where her house was in San Gabriel. Alisyn
answered, “Bridge Street.” Paula asked, “Where on Bridge Street?” When she gave the
street address, Paula asked incredulously, “Are you Nancy Robin’s daughter?” “Why yes.”
Paula then yelled out, “I LIVED ON BRIDGE STREET TOO! I USED TO BABYSIT YOUR
MOTHER!!” The family had moved to Bellflower and so Paula asked where they attended
church. When she mentioned the church Paula blurted out, “In a couple of weeks Larry is
preaching at that church!” Alisyn’s parents didn’t know that Larry would be at the church
so it created quite a stir when Paula sought them out and told them the whole story.

Thanks so much for praying for our long awaited trip to Chiang Mai. It was an emotional
journey for Paula but God gave her good health and stamina. Paula estimated she spoke
at length with 50 people and was greeted by around 200. Thai and ex-pat friends hosted
a open house for Paula and she was able to give her testimony at both a tribal church and
ex-pat church. A missionary even gave us some money to go to a nice restaurant for our
30th wedding anniversary. Over the past six years Paula had often dreamed about going
back to a certain restaurant in Chiang Mai…if God restored her health. What a joy to be
able to celebrate together on that evening – May 13th.

Closure after Six Years
2002 - June 2nd evacuated out of Thailand upon cancer diagnosis- chemo treatments
2003 - Paula receives Bone Marrow Transplant on our 25th Wedding Anniversary
2004 - Paula completes critical first year following transplant
2005 - Remission continues
2006 - Paula is able to travel to England to visit Amber
2007 - Reoccurance of cancer just before Tim and Lydia’s wedding in Aug 2007
2008 - Back in remission and able to celebrate 30th Wedding Anniversary in Thailand

On this trip we attended the OMF Mekong Conference which is attended by around 300
missionaries who have targeted around 20 unreached people groups (long range goal is to
add another 10 UPGs). The cyclone in Burma hit when we first arrived and so it was
sobering to get first hand reports by OMFers who had evacuated out of Burma. Others
were planning to go back into the area of the China earthquake. We need to continue to
bathe that area in prayer.

Our main ministry was one on one counseling with OMFers as well as teaching workshops
and leading a mens meeting. We had one week at the conference and then another
intensive week teaching a prayer counseling seminar and meeting with 10 people in
counseling sessions (these last around 2-3 hours). I was able to tell stories and sing
songs with 45 orphans at Breanna’s House of Joy (it breaks your heart to see these
abandoned girls – 5 years to 14 years old). We ended our time in Thailand at the Bangkok
Airport where “Juey” met us to share about his life and ministry (Juey is the 21 year old
student who asked to accompany me around Thailand during my last visit in February).

From May 31-June 1st Paula and I will be speaking at a Thai church retreat (the pastor
said that around 20 nonChristians will be attending). Titus is getting in flying hours this
summer and has asked me to fly with him on a 3,000 mile cross country trip from June 6-
9th (Note: I didn’t enjoy teaching Titus to drive, and now I’ll be with him in a plane for
four days at 10,000 feet!)

Finally, Tim and Lydia leave tomorrow for 3 weeks on a vision trip to Albania, Macedonia
and Turkey. They will be visiting Lydia’s parents in Albania and “spying out the land” in
anticipation of missionary service in that part of the world. Lydia has not felt very well
recently…pray for her health and for travel mercies and good connections with people.

Larry and Paula Dinkins

Friends of ABWE in Myanmar Affected by Cyclone

May 6, 2008

On Saturday, a deadly cyclone struck the southwestern part of Myanmar (formerly Burma). News reports have listed at least 14,000 dead and possibly a million homeless in Yangon (the former capital) and four other districts of the third world country. The total scale of destruction is unknown and information hard to get as the military-controlled government continues assessing the damage to the tribal villages and outlying areas.

For many years ABWE has assisted dear Christian friends in this country through our Global Access Partnerships (GAP) ministry. Telephone and mobile phone service have been severed by the storm, and we have not yet been able to contact our friends through email. We are very concerned for the people of Yangon, especially these Christian brothers and sisters we know personally. News reports say food and clean water is lacking. ABWE has opened an account to assist our brothers and sisters in the recovery efforts. Teammates in neighboring countries are preparing to visit Myanmar as soon as they can get visas and seats on a plane. They will contact our partners, assess the damage and determine what we can do in the wake of this national disaster.

For more information please contact Beth Isbell at gap@abwe.org or (717) 909-2309.

Dear Praying Friends May 1, 2008
May 13 will mark our 30th wedding anniversary! How different that day will be than our
25th anniversary (May 13, 2003) when we found ourselves at the City of Hope Cancer
Hospital with Paula receiving her brother’s stem cells during her bone marrow transplant
(BMT). Humanly speaking it was that transplant that saved Paula’s life (we all know that it
actually was answer to prayer by 100s of believers….like you). In April of 2004 Paula
attended a huge celebration (3,000 attended) at the City of Hope for those who had
survived their BMTs. All the participants wore a huge button with the number of years they
had lived since the BMT – Paula’s had a large “1″ on it. This last week Paula attended the
same ceremony at City of Hope, however this time she gladly wrote a large “5″ on the
button. Paula’s joy was heightened by the fact that the doctors had cleared her to return
to Thailand where we can minister to OMFers but also celebrate our 30th anniversary in
our adopted “home”…we fly in a few hours!

When we were evacuated from Thailand in 2002 we had 3 days notice and so Paula did not
get closure and didn’t get to say good-bye to her friends. We anticipate that this will be a
very emotional trip and would like you to pray:
1. Paula’s health and endurance: Paula has been taking shots (all her previous
vaccinations were wiped out by chemo) and this has reminded us of the dangers of various
diseases in Thailand. Pray that Paula will have good health and no fevers. We face a 24
hour+ flight and so she needs extra endurance
2. Pray that Paula can see all her friends (thai and expat) without it being too emotional
or draining – she really needs to pace herself.
3. We will be mainly doing counseling with OMFers and helping put on a pray counseling
seminar, along with workshops, preaching and a trip to an orphanage. Paula will probably
lead some Moms in Touch meetings and training.
4. Pray that Andy and Amber will not have any problems with the home, cars etc. while
we are gone.

Kids News
Andy hopes to go to Quebec to receive his MDiv degree in a few weeks. Pray that all his
course work will be approved so he can get the degree and start preparing for France
Tim and Lydia will be leaving for 3 weeks to Albania and Turkey to see Lydia’s folks but
also spy out the land for possible ministry in that region in the future. Pray that God will
speak clearly during this time about their “niche” in that region.
Amber has secured a job to teach 3rd grade in the fall, and plans to work over the
summer in Lake City Colorado.
Titus will be working in San Diego over the summer. He and I are planning a long cross-
country flight in a small plane in June.

Champ and Cheese
I had a very sobering hour long conversation with a 15 year old Thai boy, Champ, whose
mother had fled to the LA after a divorce and had later sent for her children. Champ had
been taken out of his house and put in a foster group home for six months due to
violence against his sister and mom. I could quickly see that Champ was still a very angry
young man. Part of his anger was towards his mother who had forced him to come to LA
and now was putting him into a 3 bedroom house with 10 other Thai people. Included in
that 10 was his “step father” who during the time he was gone had brought in another
minor wife, her daughter and a bunch of kids. I talked with the social worker who was in
charge of Champ and could hardly believe the dysfunction of the situation. The one
glimmer of hope is that the mother has recently professed Christ. Do pray for the Thai
pastor as he seeks to get Champ and his family out of that toxic home. The only hope is
for God to graciously and powerfully intervene.

Encouragements
We recently attended a large OMF mission conference in our area and represented OMF at
Biola University. At Biola my workshop on human trafficking was not put in the
brochure/schedule. They simply announced it five minutes before it started during a
chapel service. I expected a handful to attend. To my amazement there were 110 students
in a room that was set up for only 70. I attended a 4 day Kairos course (Condensed World
Mission Course – kind of a mini-Perspectives) and hope to teach it to the Thai community
here in LA. My storying group at the US Center for World Mission continues to grow. Paula
will be doing a one day seminar on “Friendships” with Ruthi Curtis when we return as well
as the both of us speaking a Thai family retreat. Things are going quite well despite our
18 year old Buick giving up the proverbial ghost, leaving us a bit short on transportation.

We will give you a full report on our trip to Thailand when we return May 19th

In Him,

Larry and Paula Dinkins

Paula and I are in Thailand from May 3-19th. We would appreciate prayer for
good health (especially Paula) and our opportunities to counsel with
missionaries and put on workshops. Paula will lead a moms in touch seminar
and we will be ministering in a orphanage and thai churches.

Larry and Paula Dinkins