Posted by Ric and Sharon on Thursday, August 16th, 2012
It’s amazing how much Sharon and I get this question as we travel around and talk to different groups about our ministry. We’re there to talk about Thailand, ministry, the Phu Thai people and our work. Then the conversation turns, suddenly, to us. Our marriage. Our relationship with God. Our personal lives.
That’s what’s been so cool about our time back in the States. It’s easy to get into deep, personal issues like these in our own language. It’s still a stretch in Thai. It’s fun to be able to communicate on a deep level and feel understood. We’ve felt very ministered to and cared for and we’re refreshed, ready to go back for another bout.
Thanks! If you’d like to be a part of the conversation send us an email at ricandsharon@gmail.com or call us on our temporary number at 517-203-9511
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Thursday, May 31st, 2012
During our nearly two week trip to our future ministry location Sharon and I visited five Phu Thai villages that we’d never been to, interviewed over 100 villagers to test their reading comprehension and were able to meet with several key missionaries working in the area. It was productive… but tiring. That came on the heels of our latest language evaluation which was helpful, productive, but also tiring. There’s no rest for the wicked however as events move on apace. We’re in a packing/ preparing phase as there are many things to think about before we head home to the US in a few short weeks. More details will follow soon in our June newsletter. God bless and thank-you for standing with us. -Ric and Sharon
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Wednesday, April 4th, 2012
Sharon and I just returned yesterday from a short trip to the Philippines to visit friends from our home church working there. We were sent as representatives of Trinity Church to encourage David and Vanessa and to get a first-hand perspective of what their lives are like. It was an incredible trip for a number of reasons. The trip gave us a new perspective on Thailand as we visited another place and it gave us a new perspective on our lives and ministry as we observed other missionaries.
We met several Thai people while traveling. It was fun to listen in on Thai conversations then interrupt with a question relevant to what was being discussed. I remember one older lady particularly well. Her jaw dropped and worked around in a circle until she got her wits around her again and sputtered, “You’re smart!” When people are outside their usual environment surrounded by people who don’t speak their language they really enjoy talking to someone who can understand them so this lady unloaded on us… I could have written a book on culture just from our 20 minute conversation. Many things combined to give us a fresh perspective on things that are distinct to Thais and characteristics Thai people share with other Asian people groups. In our line of work, perspective is priceless.
Interacting with other missionaries in the Philippines helped us better understand our own ministry and lives. It turns out missionaries there are slogging through the ups and downs of language learning just like we are here. It was refreshing to share with them the things we’ve been working on and to hear from them what they’re doing and how things have gone for them. Personally, it made me much more excited to get back here to Thailand and get back to work.
Many people on Facebook were able to follow our trip. We’ll continue to get more pictures up so you can experience the trip with us. We’re thankful for God’s protection while traveling and for a new way to look at life and ministry.
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Friday, November 25th, 2011
A good friend sent us this prayer request list. Here’s how he’s lifting us up these days:
That God would find favor on Ric and Sharon granting them good health and full healing for Sharon’s leg from her motorcycle accident.
For them to create a good study routine for the next few weeks before Christmas.
That God will show them ways to use their car effectively for ministry.
That God would lead Ric as he makes disciple-makers of the two guys at his church. Also, that the Holy Spirit would convict their girlfriends of their need for Christ’s redemption.
That God would direct Sharon to those girls that He would desire for her to develop intentional disciple-making relationships.
That God would help Ric and Sharon “see” the needs the students have and how to best reach out to them.
For continued strength and patience in their language learning.
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
Tribal missions
Sharon and I are reaching unreached tribes with the gospel!
Actually we’ve learned that ministry is all about is relationships. We’ve been humbled by the welcome our Thai friends have given us. The time we spend with our friends here in the culture has continued to increase as our language ability increases and our level of comfort grows. Please continue to pray these relationships would continue to grow and blossom. They are not only crucial for an understanding of language and culture they will be the foundation of our work for years to come.
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Saturday, May 21st, 2011
This weekend we hopped on a $30 flight out of Chiang Mai to a small city lying in the other half of Northern Thailand. Thirty bucks! Sure beats almost dying on buses. The thirty minute plane ride is a six hour bus ride on winding mountain roads. Our purpose for the trip was simple: to learn about the ministry and enjoy the fellowship of fellow NTM co-workers here. They work among a people group here that has limited access to the gospel.
After a four hour delay at the airport in Chiang Mai because of an “electrical problem” on the aircraft we had a safe flight out and a wonderful visit filled with fun activities. Much of our time was spent discussing life in the village, local culture and their current ministry responsibilities. It really helped us get a clearer picture of what our lives in a similar village will look like in the future.
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Monday, April 18th, 2011
Ric and Sharon Bruce
Recently someone on Facebook asked us, “I’m sure that you have written about it, but what is your ministry over in Thailand?” Her question made me realize we probably don’t reiterate this important point often enough. Or at the very least we can’t say it too many times. Here’s the scoop:
We left the United States six months ago to plant churches in Thailand with New Tribes Mission. Before leaving we dedicated five years of our lives to training with New Tribes, preparing our hearts and sharing our vision all over the US. Currently we live in Chiang Mai learning Thailand’s national language and and adjusting to its unique culture. Our plan is to (more…)
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Saturday, March 19th, 2011
We’ve created a new video showing you more of the activities that take place at the local temples. To get this footage we had to drive up Doi Suthep, a mountain near Chiang Mai and then climb hundreds of steps to the temple. The earlier you get up there there better so we left at 7:00 AM. See it at our website or on youtube.
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Monday, March 14th, 2011
We thought it may be helpful to provide you with a short paragraph updating you about our financial situation here in Thailand. As has always been the case, we rely on donations from you, our partners in this work, to continue ministering and serving here in Thailand.
After ten months of partnership development in the US we arrived here in Thailand with more than enough to cover our initial moving expenses and to keep us going here. Over fifty individuals, churches and foundations have chosen to support this ministry through regular monthly giving totaling 74% of our NTM recommended support level. Fortunately many generous people have chosen to give special gifts to our ministry allowing us to continue the work God has called us to here. Our one ongoing need from our partnership development time is money for a car. So far we’ve received $3,000 dollars for this $10,000 project. If you’d like to be a part of the team providing for this need financially please visit our give page here. God bless and thank-you.
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Monday, March 7th, 2011
We spent this past weekend in Northeast Thailand visiting friends in our organization… and potential future ministry locations. Our friends were kind enough to show us around the village they live in where we enjoyed the warm hospitality of the people.
Northeast Thailand has a unique charm to it that just seems to beg to be painted. So some of the pictures Sharon and I took this weekend I’ve converted to colored line drawings for your enjoyment. More to come this week on our trip there so stay tuned. If you’d like to see the pictures a bit bigger right click them and select “view image.”
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Monday, February 28th, 2011
Our February newsletter is embedded in a post on our website and is available like always at http://issuu.com/ricbruce. This update marks progress toward our goals in our first years in Thailand, fills you in on what we do each day, provides you with our prayer requests and gives you a glimpse of our new home. Thank-you for reading.
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Friday, July 30th, 2010
Our July newsletter is packed with information, praises, prayer requests and our heartfelt thanks for all God has done. We thank each of your for your partnership, love and support.
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
Telephone Switchboard Operators - a vintage circa 1914 photo (cropped), a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No-Derivative-Works (2.0) image
During the next week we’ll be hitting the phones, calling just about anyone we think may be interested in getting to know us and learning more about our ministry.
Do you fit that description? There’s a good chance we’ll miss someone who is interested. We’d love to talk with you. Our short, informal presentation takes less than 15 minutes and answers important questions about the work going on in Thailand, our call to ministry, how we will fit in there and how you can help!
There’s no obligation to give us money or to make any decisions when we meet. Our goal is to bless you. Please send us an email and we can plan a time and place to get together.
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Saturday, March 20th, 2010
This class will change your life. Seriously. If you haven’t taken Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University and it’s offered within a fifty mile radius of your home, take it. The class requires only two hours a week for 13 weeks and Sharon and I just walked out of our first class.
Today Dave explained his first baby step to financial peace: setting aside $1,000 for emergencies. The more I thought about our situation as missionaries the more I realized how important it is for us to have an emergency fund. For all its modernity Thailand can be unstable at times as evidenced by the recent protests there. We will need an emergency fund just in case something happens. In fact, an emergency fund of $5,000 will be a pre-requisite to our financial peace as missionaries.
We’re starting small: we’d like to set aside the first thousand dollars of our emergency fund within the next two weeks. You can help us reach this goal by learning how to give here: http://blogs.ntm.org/ric-bruce/give/.
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Sunday, December 6th, 2009
We’re on the home stretch. Tomorrow we visit Friendship Baptist Church in Arkansas and then drive into Oklahoma. We had a safe flight last night from Arizona, where we spent Thanksgiving (and a few extra days) with family there. In Oklahoma is more family and a supporting church. Keep it tuned right here to find out how things go.
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Monday, November 16th, 2009
A cross outside Crystal Ridge Community Church
We’re tired, so for the next few days we’ll be relaxing and seeing some of the sights in Tennessee, Alabama and Missouri. After all the work Sharon put into her Cherokee analysis and the days of traveling we need to take a few days to slow down, catch up on our mail, and prepare for our next meetings.
We had a great time with in Tennessee today. This Sunday we will be in Missouri at Prosperine Baptist Church. Monday we fly to Arizona to spend time with family for the holidays.
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Saturday, November 14th, 2009
We have arrived in Tennessee, the third stop on our seven state tour. Here we will do what we do best recently: spread the word about our lives and ministry.
The drive here proved… frustrating. Two major interstates over the Appalachians were closed, forcing us to take slow and windy back roads. The payoff: we saw some amazing country. Below are some pictures we took.
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Sunday, November 8th, 2009
We have been in Virginia with my brother Sam and his wife Kari since Thursday. This morning we presented our ministry at South Norfolk Congregational Community Church, the church they attend here. Tuesday is Sam’s 23rd birthday, so we’re very excited to be here for that as well. While here we’re doing what we do on the road: talking to people about our ministry, handing out our prayer cards, spending time with family, and Sharon is stealing as much time as possible to work on her Cherokee write-up which is due TOMORROW!!! She will likely be pulling an all-nighter tonight and then be exhausted in the morning.
This coming Friday we head to central Virginia to visit some very good friends and then will drive on to Tennessee on Friday. Please pray for Sharon as she finishes up her paper and for safety as we travel. Thank-you.
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Saturday, October 24th, 2009
Thailand: the land of smiles
If you haven’t heard by now then let me be the first to tell you: Sharon and I are now headed toward Thailand. We recently discovered that NTM will no longer be expanding the field of Cambodia under the current arrangement, leaving us with a tough decision: to pursue Cambodia with another mission or choose another field. After talking with our home churches, seeking wise council, and meeting with missionaries from Thailand we decided to begin pursuing ministry in Southeast Asia via Thailand.
Thailand is a natural choice for many reasons including its close proximity to Cambodia. Thai culture is similar in many ways to Cambodian culture and the minority people groups within the country are numerous.
It’s been great to see how the body of Christ has come around us to help us make this decision and support us during this time. Continue to pray for us as we sort through the implications of this change and seek to keep all of you up to date with the latest!
Posted by Ric and Sharon on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009
This post is just to let you know that we are in the process of sorting out a major change in our ministry location. We will be posting more information here as it becomes available. We have been able to talk to some of you in person, and would be more than happy to give anyone a call that is interested in hearing more about these changes. This in no way affects our desire to head overseas next summer or our existing financial and prayer partnerships.
Right now we feel about like this fish being devoured by a shark but very soon we will be getting information out to you. If you’d like more information now please send us an email at ricandsharon@gmail.com and we will reply promptly.
Ric and Sharon Bruce On a journey with you to Thailand 
This post is just to let you know that we are in the process of sorting out a major change in our ministry location. We will be posting more information here as it becomes available. We have been able to talk to some of you in person, and would be more than happy to give anyone a call that is interested in hearing more about these changes. This in no way affects our desire to head overseas next summer or our existing financial and prayer partnerships.
