Karl & Sun Dahlfred

Dear Family and Friends,

It feels like an awfully long time since we’ve been in Thailand and undoubtedly, some of you may be wondering, “What’s the deal with Karl and Sun? Are they going back or not?”  Following the completion of my Ph.D. in Scotland, we moved back to the U.S. in March 2021, thinking that it would be a matter of months before we could go to Thailand.  At that time, no visas were available, tight COVID restrictions for entry to Thailand were in place, and we were low on financial support.

In the past year and half, we’ve been glad to see visa applications re-open and just this past month, we were delighted to learn that Thailand has now dropped all its remaining COVID-related entry restrictions. The only piece of the puzzle remaining is the financial component.

During our time in the U.S., we have been thankful to gain some new mission partners, both individuals and churches.  However, more recently, we have also lost financial support from some long-term partners because we have been away from ministry in Thailand for so long. We are thankful for all of you and can certainly appreciate questions that may have arisen in your minds since we have been out of Thailand for so long.

However, we want you to know that unless God closes the door somehow, we are committed to returning to Thailand. We believe we are at a crucial point in making that happen. We are asking God to provide our financial support need, an additional $3600/month, within the next 4 months or so. The money doesn’t need to be “in-hand”, but we do need pledges of regular giving (How to Pledge?). If the gap in our support can be made up by very early 2023, then OMF Thailand can submit visa applications for us so that we can return to the field by summer 2023. The visa application process takes 3-4 months.

July 2023 is our target date for returning to Thailand and we are planning accordingly.

We’ve been in communication with OMF Thailand leadership and although the details are not confirmed, the general plan is for us to live in either Bangkok or Chiang Mai where I (Karl) will continue my involvement with theological education in connection with a seminary, and we will work alongside local Thai church(es) in evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development. 

We are excited about the prospect of finally returning to Thailand. The church there is growing. People are becoming Christians. The need for training, discipleship, and leadership development is great. Only about half of Thai churches have a pastor or any type of full-time Christian worker. We are equipped to help train leaders and meet that need alongside Thai Christians and missionary colleagues. 

Please pray for us. Pray that God would guide us and give us wisdom as we contact potential partner churches. Pray that God would provide the needed finances so that we can get back to Thailand where we can contribute to what God is doing in expanding His kingdom in this Buddhist-majority nation.

This past October, our family had a great trip up the east coast of the U.S., visiting friends and supporters, and preaching in a church outside of Philadelphia. We hope to connect with more people and churches in the coming months. If you have any ideas, leads, or questions for us as we pray and work towards a July 2023 departure for Thailand, please let us know.

We value your prayers and partnership with us in the Gospel. Thank you. May God receive the glory as He builds His church in Thailand.

Soli Deo Gloria!

By Christ’s grace,

Karl & Sun Dahlfred

PRAYER POINTS

• Connections with new mission partners in coming months

• Additional $3600/month to be fully supported & return to Thailand in July 2023

• Ministry with Thai in USA

• Advance of the Gospel in Thailand

PRAISES

• Recent visit with friends and supporters, and church visits along the east coast U.S. in October

• YOU (!), our many faithful mission partners who have lifted us up over the years. Thank you!

• Publication of Karl's chapter on "The History of Christianity in Thailand" in the recent book Missions in Southeast Asia

CALENDAR

11/12  Karl teach at Thai Bible Study, Melbourne, FL

...more church visits to come.... can you help?