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News From Tom Tune inVietnam
Write to Tom at: Tom@Dorcasue.com |
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Sponsored by:
Farmington church of Christ, Farmington, Kentucky
Wills Point church of Christ, Wills Point, Texas
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Tom Tune's Newsletter
| January, 2012
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Tom Tune has been doing mission work in Vietnam for nearly a decade. He has established two churches, one in Saigon and another in Can Tho. He has also founded "Tom's Kids," a charity devoted to educating poor children. "Tom's Kids" is administered by Amazing Grace International, Inc., a Virginia Charity.
Tom has been a missionary since 1961 when he and his family went to Hong Kong. There he established two churches and published a variety of literature in both Chinese and English -- including a hymnal. He has worked in Guyana, the Mediterranean, Fiji, and The Cook Islands.
The Work at a Glance:
* Tom Tune has been a missionary for 50 years.
* We have 145 children in school.
* 2 students studying at Christian Universities in the States.
* 1 student graduated from Bible college in Singapore.
* 4 Students currently in Bible College in Singapore.
* Have established 2 congregations in Vietnam in 5 years.
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Graduation Day!
On Saturday, December 17, I attended the graduation of the first of our young people from a University. Ngan, who is from Can Tho, graduated from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. Besides being the first of "Tom's Kids" to graduate from a University, she is the first of her clan to do so. After the graduation there was a surprise party for Ngan. Attending were some of her teachers at Harding, as well as supporters from Oklahoma, Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas.
Ngan in the middle. Debbie Austin on the Right
Ngan cried when she saw the banner in her honor and so many people. She stood up while we were eating and told how as a small child she dreamed about graduating from a University. She would think about it as she rowed the boat alone as a child across the river and then walk a mile each way to a jungle school. She would think about it at night after taking care of her uncle's three children, and while cooking and washing the clothes and then trying to study for the next day. She said she thought about it when she moved to the big city of Saigon and received more schooling. There she met the American missionaries and they helped with her tuition. It was in Saigon she learned of The Christian God, and the love of Jesus.
Along the way, the Christian missionaries and an American named Debbie Austin made it possible to visit the USA where she was able to visit Harding. She remembered walking with Debbie walked into the great hall and seeing many pictures on the wall, and Debbie told her one day her picture wold be there, and it was.
At long last, after entering Harding, came the classes. They were so formidable and hard. By the second day, she said, she believed the impossible dream really was impossible and she started making plans to quit. She cried, and as she did, she realized there were other students having the same problems she was having. Then she thought of all those she would be disappointing.
And so she stayed, reviewing each evening not only the lectures of the day, but reading ahead so she could understand the professors. She could hardly tell the story for crying but that was ok. We all were in tears. They were tears of joy as we rejoiced in the goodness of God.
Ngan has been an inspiration to our other children to continue their education. Four of our "kids" attend a University in Vietnam and two are from Ngan's clan. Ngan herself has been awarded a scholarship to Oklahoma Christian University to work on her MBA and will begin her year there next week. |
Next Big Project
We are now making hard plans for the opening of the John Mitchel Bible School. Since we built the new church building on the river, we now can use both our city buildings for the school. There will actually be two schools: One in which to teach English, the other to teach Bible.
Frenchy has agreed to come down a couple of days a week to teach, and I will of course be there all the time and teach. Hai will graduate in April and will be teaching, Then we have the ladies coming from the USA to teach English from time to time. We will register the English School first, and this process has already been started.
Our Two Buildings are the ones with gates.
It will take about 20 thousand dollars to put the buildings into shape to be approved by the Government. They have already told us what is expected. There has to be an extra door, better kitchen appliances as well as tables and desks for the students. Not only will we be training future preachers but also our own members. I plan to set up classes for them especially during the summer when the kids are out of school.
I hope some of you can help with this and let me return shortly to Vietnam. If you can help, mark it for the school, and send it to Pacific Missions at the Limerick Lane address below.
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While I'm Away I am back in the States for a bit, raising money for support and for the school. I also have to go twice a year for a health check-up. But things continue to carry on while I am gone. These pictures were taken a couple of weeks ago. We provided a small amount of money to buy candy for the children at Christmas. One of our members dressed up as Santa and gave out the candy and the children were thrilled. The pictures reminded me of another Christmas, so very long ago, in Hong Kong when we took our little boat early in the morning to give candy to children in the fishing villages. You just can't beat the sight of wide-eyed children rejoicing at gifts on what would be an other-wise giftless day. Another picture is of a recent children's Bible class and the final one is of the Sunday assembly Christmas day with Hai preaching.
 
We have SO very much to be thankful for.
Thank you for your support in 2011. I pray you will continue in 2012.
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Sponsoring Congregations: Tom Tune's work is overseen by the following churches:
Farmington church of Christ, 145 Hawkshaw Street, Farmington, KY 42040 (270) 345-2690 -- http://www.farmingtonchurch.org/
Wills Point church of Christ, 302 Corky Boyd Ave., Wills Point, TX 75169 (903) 873-3106 -- http://www.wpcoc.us/
Send Support to:
Support for Tom should be made out to Pacific Missions and sent to 8008 Limerick Lane, North Richland Hills, TX 76180.
You can send a poor child to school for $12 a month. Send your tax deductible contributions to Amazing Grace International, P.O. Box 8453, Falls Church, VA 22041. Mark contributions for "Tom's Kids."
Write to Tom Tune at Tom@Dorcasue.com
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Need to say goodbye?
We appreciate you reading our news and being interested in the Lord's work going on in Vietnam. Many of you have been on our mailing list for a long time. If you are getting two of these letters, please let us know. If you'd like to be removed from our mailing list, please just write my son Mike at MikeTune@MikeTune.com, give him the email address you want removed and it will be done.
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