Dear family & friends,

I thought it was time to bring you up to date with what is happening in the world of the Wilcox Family.

I have been challenged in my Bible reading with what James was writing when he challenged and encouraged his readers to be not merely hearers of the Word but also doers! In James 2:22 he writes that we should not just listen but do what it says and then in verse 25 he writes, “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.” The words which strike me are – looks intently, not forgetting, doing it. These are action words, words which describe how my response should be to the Lord when I read His word. My prayer is that I will become a man who is more intentional, who retains what the Lord is speaking to me and who applies the Word of God into my every day life.

Well, we are now back in Thailand after finishing up our home leave/furlough back in Australia. We had a lovely time catching up and reconnecting with friends, supporters and churches. We left simply amazed and encouraged at those the Lord has brought to our side to stand with us, fight with us, believe in us and to be continually praying for us. We do feel very humbled by this. Thank you so much for playing such an important part in our lives and ministry.

Since coming back we are beginning to realise that our new season here will be a season of changes.

Our house manager for the girls house, Susie, has moved down to Lop Buri to go through some intensive language learning for the next six months. Please be praying for Susie. She so wants to get a better grasp of the language and be able to communicate more effectively with the Thai’s. She has done a great job in looking after our girls.

Penny and I have felt that we should take on this role and so last week we moved into the girls house to live with them. We have both felt that our staff needed more direct input and discipleship and have felt the best way was to get involved in a much closer way. Our time away in Oz proved that we have very capable staff but also showed us that they still need more discipling and training. Please be praying for us in this, especially for Penny, that she will still be able to have her times of rest to enable her body to continue to be healed from the cancer. It will be a little more difficult for her to be able to take those times out.

There is also a major shift in my life as I have now taken on the leadership of YWAM Chiang Rai and will also be co-leading the work of YWAM Northern Thailand. This may come as a bit of a surprise for many of you as you will have been aware of my earlier struggle and how I almost stepped out of YWAM. God has turned things around and our outgoing leader asked me many times to pray about taking over his leadership. I kept saying no until one day I felt the Lord say, take it on.

So it is with fear and trepidation that I am taking on this new role. It’s not what I thought I came to Thailand for but yet I trust the Lord in it. I do feel it is for a season but I just don’t know how long this season will be for. Please pray for me that I will have the mind of Christ in each matter. I need His Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that I may know Him better and know how He would have me respond in each and every situation I find myself in. I want to be one who listens intently to what the Lord is saying, retain it and apply it into my life, ‘walking out’ those things the Lord is speaking to me about.

May the Lord continue to bless you and keep you and cause His face to shine upon you. May you know His leading in your life and may you also know His provision in each and every situation you find yourself in. Thanks again for your love, prayers and for your support of us and your prayers for our own children in Adelaide also.

With love, Paul (on behalf of Penny).