HEROES

They aren't soldiers in the typical sense of the word. They didn't need guns where they served. They didn't have the backing of the U.S. government. In fact, the U.S. government didn't have much to do with them at all except at tax time. What kind of people serve at their own expense and still pay taxes to Uncle Sam? Missionaries, of course. We don't see ticker tape parades for those coming back from serving overseas that were/are missionaries. And that's probably a good thing because whose ego could stand a parade in their honor? Not me! ha. Sadly, though, 1000s of missionaries come home every year from sharing Christ to those who live in strange and far away places and usually come home to a warm welcome from their families and friends and are soon forgotten. And when they've been gone for more than a year or two, often their friends have made new friends (quite normal) and the close connection they once had isn't nearly as close so they feel a bit isolated or disconnected. I'm going to throw a blog parade in honor of our friends, Chuck and Janet Lichtenberger, who are returning from Thailand next week after giving five and a half years of their lives to sharing Christ. You've read about them if you've kept up with our blog over the years. You've even seen their photos. Here's a photo of one of their "smoother" moves on a motorcycle. That red stuff all over them is mud! Let me back up some and tell you how this all started.

Somewhere in the 6.5 year ago range, Chuck and I were out surfing and wondering what we were going to do with our lives. He was a pastor and moving in a different direction and I was working at a hotel that was going out of business and would be unemployed January 2006. As we caught waves and played, I told him I had friends in Thailand and we could go over there and be missionaries. There are plenty of missing details, but that's it in a nutshell. We decided this was a good plan; our wives agreed and in January 2003 we flew to Thailand together.

That photo below is after Chuck had been riding for a bit longer and his smooth factor had gone up considerably.

Are Chuck and Janet heroes of the faith? I think so. What elevates to them such status in my mind? Chuck did something very simple a year ago that really impressed me. Jackie and I moved back here last May. Chuck and Janet were feeling like us, that their time was about up in Thailand. But they stayed another year after we left. You know why? 2 years before Chuck signed a 3-year contract to teach English at the university while I signed two one-year contracts. My commitment ended and we moved back. He had a year to go and stayed.

To leave would have been simple. It's done all the time--you give 90 day notice and they let you go without any hard feelings. Chuck gave his word and he kept it. Janet also had made a commitment to teach at a school for a year and she followed through too. Integrity speaks very loud.

They are hospitable. Chuck and Janet loved to have our university students come over to their house for ice cream get togethers. I don't know how many he did but they were numerous and always fun for us and the students. And the gospel, in one way or other, was always shared in a very natural and friendly way. Nothing was pushed down their throats except for maybe the ice cream and brownies. Oh, Thai kids love our western brownies!

Chuck's only equal in Thai language ineptness would be me. He was as bad as I was and most of the time we went from place to place clueless of what was going on. Yet even with that challenge--being unable to express your deepest feelings-- he's a man that is greatly loved by his students. How can that be? Because he cares for them. If one of his students was hurting, he kept pursuing until he could figure out how to help.

They are inventive. If you want to disciple a nation, you have to be able to speak to them. So he figured out a way to do that. He had written a discipleship manual years ago so he painstakingly had it translated into Thai, working with students to get the work done. It wasn't easy to do but he found a way and did it. He also taught a Bible study at our church (in English) on Sunday and from time to time preached. Does all of that make him a hero? Maybe. What sealed it for me is in the email he sent me the other day telling me of his arrival date and such. I'll quote him: I've been thinking about our time here and figured that it's not so much about 'what did you do?' (if someone asks), but 'what did you learn?'. I think that's better. God can raise up teachers from stones, but what He desires is our growth.

That very simple statement spoke volumes to me about what it means to be a servant of God. How easy it is for our egos to inflate as we look at all the things we've done. But when you look at God you realize that it's not that amazing and even what is amazing is because God worked through us in some miraculous way. Let's face it (pointing a finger at Bob), you aren't that special, but the God you serve and love and try and honor is very special.

Chuck and Janet aren't spectacular--they are down to earth folks who love Jesus and said "Yes" to the Great Commission. Another thing that I find amazing about them is that they have won a race they ran against me--they beat me to 60! Ha. Janet of course is still young, beautiful and energetic, but poor old Chuck....


Yep, they are heroes. And we are honored to have them as friends and honored that they will be starting all over again in Florida, pondering that "next step" that most people don't even think about. If you think about it, say a prayer for them as they reenter the U.S. It's never easy to start all over. If you'd like to send them an email and congratulate them on working for 5.5 years in Thailand, you can email them at: friarchuck60@gmail.com