Letter 1

Hi Guys,

As my friends and family, I'd like to let you know that I am going on a short term mission trip to Thailand this summer from November 27th till December 23rd. I will be going with a TSCF/OMF team and we will be working with one of our sister student groups in Thailand TCS, helping them get established and bringing together the other Christians on campus.

At this stage in my life, I really have a heart for student ministry, and also for God's work overseas, especially Asia. As I'll be working for the next 3 years, I see this as a really valuable time to combine these two passions and to start seriously looking at what life might hold for me after I fulfill my contract.

I will be travelling with a team of 5 other students and one TSCF staffworker (James Allaway), and look forward to a retreat with them in Wellington on Oct 27-29.

It would be so encouraging to me if you guys were keen to support me while I'm on this trip. It will be a new culture for most of our team and a pretty intense month of ministry. There are three things that you could do which would be really encouraging.
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Reply to this email and tell me you would like to receive more emails, updating you on our progress in Thailand.
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Pray for us, especially for:
1. Our retreat together next weekend that we will grow together for the sake of advancing the gospel. (Philippians 1:27-28)
2. God would prepare the hearts of the people we meet in Thailand that they will respond to the gospel. (2 Thessalonians 3:1)
3. That we would gain an understanding of the culture that we are going into, in order that we may share the gospel effectively. (Acts 17:22-32)
4. That God would give me a greater understanding of the truth that his gospel is for all mankind, and that I would see the opportunities to take part in this work.

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Support me financially: As I will also be visiting my parents in Thailand, I don't think it's right to ask for money for my plane tickets there and back, but I would really appreciate it if you would like to partner with me financially in the ministry side. The cost of training/accomodation/outreach/shots will roughly be $1000, so that is my 'fundraising' target. My plan is to have 50 people, each contributing $20 each (but i think my church is keen to support me a bit more than $20 so will probably need a bit less than 50 people), so if you are able to contribue $20, that would be really appreciated. You can pay online at:

P B McIvor
National Bank
06 0529 0683200 18

or even better, pay directly and come and chat to me, and ask me more questions about the trip. I'm always happy to talk about God and Thailand!!! :)
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Sorry that this post has been so long!

In conclusion, reply to this email now saying that you would like to receive further updates about my trip to Thailand. If you don't reply to this email, you won't get anymore emails about my trip.

God bless,

Philip McIvor