A year and a half has passed since we boarded a plane and headed off to a new land.

Next month we’ll head home briefly... different people. We’re pleased with our progress and continue to rely on your prayers and financial support as we move into a new, exciting phase of learning.

MARCH - APRIL NEWSRIC AND SHARON BRUCE

MISSIONARIES TO THAILAND LEARNING THE THAI LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

• First, we want to say thank-you. Over fifty families and individuals have stuck with us through thick and thin, continuing to support God’s work in and through us. You guys rock.

• In March and April we began collecting and re-telling “life-view” stories. During this phase of our language learning program we interviewed over 50 different people gathering over 18 hours of recorded “life-view”stories about things like: our friends’ future plans, past experiences, life overviews and comparisons of two different things (eg: Christians vs Non-Christians).

• We have a very important language and culture evaluation coming up on the 18th of May. The evaluation will last three days. Please pray for us during this time of preparation and study.

• Ric will deliver his first sermon in Thai on May 13. Obviously, this is no small task. Pray with us that it will be a time of mutual blessing and encouragement.

• We will begin an extensive week-long tour of Northeast Thailand on May 21. This is the area of Thailand we’re looking to serve in long-term beginning soon after we return from our time in the U.S. This is an important trip. It will continue to build our contacts in the region and deepen our partnership with our future co-workers, Mike and Sandy.

• Sharon will be running a half-marathon with a friend from Chiang Mai on an island in the Andaman Sea 5 days before we board a plane for the U.S. She has been training hard for it and plans to run it in under 4 hours.

Ric and Sharon BruceThai Cell: 66 82 038 4797Home: (517) 490-1032Email: ricandsharon@gmail.comGive at: www.ntm.org/ric_bruce

Make checks payable to “New Tribes Mission” Note with:NTM ACCT # 202455

PLEASE MAIL DONATIONS TO:New Tribes Mission 1000 E. First Street

Sanford, Florida 32771

Trip to the Philippines and Malaysia:• Four day trip to the visit fellow missionaries from the Lansing, MI area.

• The trip was sponsored by Trinity Church and enabled us to learn more about SE Asia.

• The Philippines are Catholic and Muslim, very different from Buddhist Thailand.

• Read more: blogs.ntm.org/ric-bruce/2012/04/04/trip-to-the-philippines/

• Pics picasaweb.google.com/105689386064880801116/ManilaAndKualaLumpur

Songkran Festival, 2012 • The traditional Norther Thai New Year.

• We were able to get into some great discussions this year about what the festival is about.

• Songkran is a time families reunite and the city we live in turns into a giant water-fight.

• The pictures to the left were taken during Songkran.

• Pics: picasaweb.google.com/105689386064880801116/SongkranActivities

• Video: http://blogs.ntm.org/ric-bruce/2012/04/16/songkran-2012-video/

English Classes: • English language ability is a much-sought skill here in Thailand, allowing people to get

better paying and more prestigious jobs.

• We teach informal, free classes at our church and in our neighborhood twice a week.

• Though we have no training in this skill it’s a good way to build rapport with our friends.

• One day soon we will be dropping the “missionary” label in Thailand and assume the identity of “English teacher”. These classes are preparing us for the change.

• Pics are on Facebook

Online Courses• In March and April Ric took a Jackson Community College course online.

• Ric already has 25 credits toward an associates degree of arts and plans to complete the degree in the next few years by taking a course or two per semester.

• The class he took this semester was Communications, which directly relates to our work.

• These classes are not cheap but serve an important purpose: we want to be lifelong learners. You can help us by donating toward the cost of a course: about $500.

How you encouraged us in March and April:• You’ve continued to support our ministry in prayer and financial support.

• You’ve continued to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and our blog.

• You’ve sent us cards, emails, care packages and special gifts. Thank-you. We couldn’t do this without you

• . -Ric and Sharon Bruce

March and April were crazy. We’ve rarely been so busy in our lives. In addition to learning Thai 50 hours a week we began teaching English, taking

online classes and took a few trips

Ric and Sharon BruceCell: (517) 490-1032Email: ricandsharon@gmail.com