On June 11 David Baker and Fil Olimpo, a member residing in Bangkok, visited the family of Davidson Lay Beh at their home in Mae Sot, Thailand located near the Thai-Burmese border. Davidson contacted one of our offices in early April to request membership in the United Church of God. (Davidson was baptized by Victor Kubik during the Feast of Tabernacles in 1993). This was our first opportunity to visit him since his request.

After traveling through most of the night of June 10 from Bangkok, we were able to meet Davidson on the morning of June 11. After a brief breakfast at the Central Mae Sot Hill Hotel we accompanied Davidson to his home. Davidson is the son of Mr. Saw Lay Beh, a faithful minister of the church of God in Myanmar until his death in 2000. Saw Lay Beh translated many of the hymns composed by Dwight Armstrong into the Karen language and Davidson gave me a copy of the recently published hymnal. During our visit Davidson’s family sang some of the hymns in the Karen language while Fil and I joined them by singing in English. I conducted a Bible study during our visit using the Bible of the late Saw Lay Beh. It was a unique experience conducting this study from a well used Bible once owned by a faithful servant from a remote area of Myanmar. As I turned the pages to read familiar passages concerning our calling, Saw Lay Beh had underlined those passages and it was obvious that he had referred to them and preached them to his congregation many times during his years of service.

After a wonderful meal and more fellowship Fil and I had to return to Bangkok but we left with some wonderful memories and new friends along the Thai-Burmese border. I know that Davidson and his family (wife, Htoo Htoo Paw; son, Saw Htoo Wah; eldest daughter, Naw Lah Say Wah; and youngest daughter, Naw Elizabeth) would greatly appreciate your prayers for God’s guidance and protection in a very challenging location and situation. —David Baker