Serving as a missionary is a profound privilege — filled with the joy of new friendships, cultural discovery, and sharing the hope of Christ. But it also comes with real challenges: language barriers, homesickness, and the emotional weight of starting fresh in a new place. We asked three of our newest missionaries — Micah Smith (Thailand), Anna Thormodsgard (Ethiopia), and Joy Reks (Uruguay) — to share a glimpse into their first few weeks on the field and how you can support them during this crucial season.
Micah arrived in Chiang Mai on October 8 and is already diving into ministry. “The Thai people are incredibly friendly,” he shares. “They’re always happy to include me in whatever they’re doing.” He’s especially enjoying collaborating with Thai Christians to create spaces where youth can encounter Jesus.
Adjusting to the tropical climate and navigating transportation during heavy rains has been a challenge — especially since he drives a Modo, which isn’t ideal in a downpour. Language learning has also proven more difficult than expected. “It takes a lot of time and dedication,” he admits.
Micah says the best way to support him is simple: “A quick reply to my updates or a text means a lot. It reminds me I haven’t been forgotten back home. And of course, prayer!”
Since arriving in August, Anna has embraced the rhythms of Ethiopian life — especially her usual 40-minute walk home from language school. “It’s my language route,” she says. “I stop to drink coffee, play games, chat with shop owners, and practice Amharic. It’s a fun way to connect with the community.”
But the transition hasn’t been without difficulty. Illness, cultural fatigue, and the mental toll of constant adaptation have been real. “I didn’t expect to be this exhausted every day,” she says. “But I’ve never been more aware of God’s grace and provision.”
Anna loves receiving photos from friends back home. “They’re a quick way to say, ‘I’m thinking of you.’ And I always need prayer.”
Joy joined the Globalscope campus ministry team in Montevideo in early September. “From day one, the team has been incredible,” she says. “There’s something special happening here — students are curious about faith, and I’ve had so many meaningful conversations already.”
Despite having interned in Uruguay before, this time felt different. “I didn’t expect to need so much help with everyday things — like finding an apartment or buying a lamp,” she laughs. “And ordering a kilo of ground beef in Spanish? Not as easy as it sounds!”
Joy has also fallen in love with Uruguayan culture — especially its music. “Candombe festivals fill the streets with rhythm and joy. It’s impossible not to smile and join in.”
She says the best support is engagement. “When people interact with my updates, it reminds me I’m not alone. And prayer — always prayer.”
Thank you for being part of something so much bigger than yourself — God’s global mission. Your support makes these ministries possible.
For six years, we have been running a community development project in Jia Jaan village, Northwestern Thailand. While the village had previous encounters with missionaries, it had remained resistant to the gospel. Yet, they welcomed our team, intrigued by our Christian-based programs.
Becca Schafer serves people with disabilities and their families in the Chiang Mai, Thailand, area. She works with Hope Home, a foster home for children with disabilities, providing daily care, love and guidance in a family setting. Here she shares a glimpse of how she integrates spiritual principles into the lives of the children she serves.
Seth was adopted when he was young and considers this part of his story to be a “personal experience of grace”— a testimony that he is now excited to share with other children who have similar backgrounds as he joins the CMF team in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
A pandemic relief food distribution in a small village outside Chiang Mai, Thailand, turned into a spontaneous baptismal service, according to CMF team members Preston and Kristin Coursey.
A recent pandemic food distribution organized by CMF team members Preston and Kristin Coursey provided 140 packages of necessities to help struggling families in their community.
When CMF team member Preston Coursey and his community development team in rural Thailand began to pray that God would open the way for more personal relationships with people in the village, he was amazed at how quickly his prayer was answered.
The reality of respiratory infections became personal to team member Becca Schafer and her team at Hope Home in Chiang Mai, Thailand, when one of the children with special needs in the home became ill recently.
“While our Yindee has a chronic respiratory condition, one day she was her normal self, but rapidly became ill, struggling to breathe, the next,” said Becca. “She was admitted to the ICU at our local hospital and spent a week on a ventilator and then another three weeks in intensive care.
A local witch doctor and his wife are part of a microfinance project in a rural village in Thailand, report CMF team members Preston and Kristin Coursey, which has led to a very successful year for their venture.
