The Joy of Teaching

A Letter from Myoungho Yang and Jiyeon Yoo, serving in Thailand

Winter 2023

Subscribe to our co-worker letters

Dear fellow co-workers in God’s mission,

Greetings from Thailand with apostle Paul’s words, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:2).

Now the season must have come in the places where there are four seasons, where people can enjoy the beautiful colors of leaves. We often miss colorful leaves and white snow as we are living in the country surrounded by trees that remain green all year round. The rainy season here is almost at an end, and the dry season (or someone prefers to call it the cold season) will arrive in a few weeks. In Thailand, which is a tropical monsoon area, the dry season is the easiest time to live in because of its cool weather. But it also means we are going to experience bad air pollution before long. The problem of air pollution is a worldwide issue these days.

In a class

After having finished the first semester, we are taking a two-week break before the second semester begins. While it’s a short break, most students are returning to their homes to spend time with their families. Last semester, Jiyeon and I dedicated most of our time to studying Thai. Every Wednesday last semester, I conducted a sharing class with students who visited churches on Sundays. We shared and discussed what we experienced and learned from worship service and the ministry of the churches we visited. While I was not able to understand enough of what the students shared, this sharing session helped me a lot for me to design my class. I also audited a class during this semester to practice Thai and to learn academic terminology in Thai for the class. I believe it helps a lot, and it was a time of becoming familiar with the educational methodology of Thai Education.

Worship gathering at the school

I have been getting ready for the second semester class, which begins in two weeks. Since it’s my first class to teach in Thai, I spent all day, every day translating the contents of the class into Thai. It often takes a long time to find the right expressions to bridge the gap between two languages. I am not sure if it’s technically possible to teach in a new language only after having learned a new language for one year, but I will try my best. I hope I can make it and enjoy it. As the school also hopes students to improve their English proficiency, I am planning to have a discussion in English after giving the lecture in Thai.

Every year, when the season of Thanksgiving comes in November, we think more of those who are walking with us by remembering us, praying for us, and supporting our ministry. We are grateful for the love always. We give thanks as we remember that your walking together with us makes our ministry here possible. We ask you to continue praying. Please pray for us to keep going in this ministry with the energy, which is new every day through our Lord, and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Please also pray for the improvement of language proficiency. We ask you to pray that we can faithfully fulfill the will of God, which is in God’s heart for this land which God called us to come. We desire that many faithful spiritual leaders be equipped, and that the Kingdom of the Lord be expanded and be placed on a firm foundation as a result of ministering together with you here in Thailand.

We hope the words of our Lord Jesus Christ remain in us as we are living in a time full of news of worries, wars, and fears. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).

Happy Thanksgiving!

Myoungho and Jiyeon