March Update
Friends & Family,
So much has happened in the last month! We are so thankful for your continued prayers and support for our transition to life in Bangkok, Thailand.
We are doing well. We have days of feeling motivated, excited and ready to accomplish everything and days of feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and grumpy. We knew that this would be our reality as we transition our lives to a new place and culture so we have been giving ourselves grace and leaning into Jesus and encouragement from many of you. But most of all, we are so excited to finally be following our calling to international missions and bringing Jesus' love to a nation that doesn't yet know Him.
One of our big events of the month was moving into our apartment. We are living in an area called On Nut, its right along the BTS (major train line) and about 20/30 mins outside central Bangkok. Most apartments in Bangkok come furnished, so we didn't have to buy too much, mostly kitchen supplies and some storage solutions. Here is a picture of our apartment:
Our other major event was starting Thai Language School about 2 weeks ago. We study in a classroom with 9 other students 5 days a week, 3 hours a day. We also usually spend about an hour each evening doing homework and studying. We really like our teacher Kruu (formal term for teacher) Kik, she is a wonderful teacher who seems to love her job and is really good at it. We have a lot of fun but our brains physically hurt after every class from concentrating and because there is no English spoken (outside of maybe 5-10 words in three hours if we're all really stuck).
We feel so blessed that we get to have this season to study this incredibly unique language. We've learned so much already. Here is a peek at of some of the Thai we are learning: Ao saparot haa chin leeo go dengmoo song chin leeo go mangmuan song luuk keeni, kaapkun na ka. (ordering some pineapple, watermelon and mango) and Sawatdi Ka! bpeen yangngai baang? bpai nai? (Hello, how's it going? Where are you headed?)
We have also been getting connected with Neuma Church Bangkok. We have started attending a Life Group that meets on Fridays and are starting to help out with worship and kids ministry. We feel so blessed to already be finding friends and community.
Prayer Requests:
On Wednesday, March 17th we go to immigration to offically switch from our tourist visa to our education visa. Please pray for favor and ease as we jump this big hurdle. We feel confident in our paperwork and the help we're getting from the school. We are just excited to have our long term visa in our hands.
Pray that we would continue to build community and make friends.
Pray that our marriage would remain strong and continue to grow as we navigate this huge life transition.
Pray for Thailand and the Thai people. As we spend more and more time here and meet more Thai people we see up close how desperately Thailand needs the love and peace that comes from knowing Jesus. We are so overwhelmed with the love He has for this nation and it breaks our hearts that for so long they have not opened their hearts as a nation to Him despite many decades of missionary efforts.
If you are interested in seeing more of our daily life please follow us on instagram @kaylacoupe and @coupetroop
Much Love,
Adam and Kayla Coupe
“LOVE — It is a small four-letter word that will cost you everything: laying down your life, passion & compassion, giving without expecting, feeling His very heartbeat & surrendering to His rhythm, and following the Lamb wherever He goes.”
- Heidi Baker