Although the time we spent in Thailand was great in almost every way, mission still has it’s downsides. And this weekend we found out one of them.
It was Sunday morning when we found out that one of our friends in Thailand died suddenly of a heart attack on Saturday. His name was Al Steiner, and he was someone we knew for only a very short time, yet someone who made a huge impact on us.
Since Mum & Dad decided earlier this year to move back to Thailand as full time missionaries in a few years, I was quite certain that I would be staying here in Australia. However, after meeting Al in October, I started to rethink that. Al floated the idea with me of him and I going into a partnership teaching English and computing basics to Thai businessmen, and it was something that I instantly begun thinking about. After we’d left Thailand, he told me in an e-mail “you would be the person I would chose to work with. That tells me God’s in it.”
Even though we only spent such a short time with him, we felt like we’d known him for ages. We all shared so much together, and we heard the intriguing story of how he and his family came to be in Thailand eleven years ago (from the United States). Mum & Dad were looking forward to working with him alot when they returned to Thailand, and I too was mulling over the vision he presented to me.
But all that can change so quickly, and it did. After undergoing a routine stress test at the hospital on Saturday morning, his heart gave up and he was called home. Although he was the second death of a friend that I’ve experienced, he was the first Christian one – and just to think that right now he is up there with God is… something that’s very hard to explain.
We’ll always remember Al: his humour, his loud voice, the way he took up two places in the lunch line, the things we taught him, and the things he taught us. And we’ll see him again, one day.
Three pictures of Al Steiner, just over six weeks before his death on 26/11/2005
This is hard I know mate. God gives and God takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord (Job chapter 1). Al gave you a vision of what God could do through you. Don’t let that vision die, I’m sure Al would not have wanted that to happen. Mull over it and consider still what God can do through you. Give your emotions to Him and its amazing what else He can provide (Ephesians 3:20,21).
Hi Tim, I don’t know if you remember me. I’m a friend of Karis’s from a forum board we were both on and I think I posted a few time in your families online Thailand site. I’m sorry about your friend Mr. Steiner. I think Karis mentioned it on her MSN blog thing. I think you’re dad is right. It might be that God used Al to plant a seed in you about what He wats you to do. Pray about it. You’ll know the right thing to do when the time comes. I’m glad you had a nice time in Europe. Have a happy New Year.
Hi Tim, I doubt that you rememebr or even really know me. I posted a couple of times on your family’s on-line journals for your trips to Thailand. I know Karis from a forum board we were both involved with. I’m sorry about Mr. Steiner. I remember Karis mentioning him in her blog thing. I think your Dad is right God may have used Al to plant the idea of you working in Thailand. You should think and pray about it God will show you waht to do when the time’s right. I’ll be praying for you about it. I’m glad you had a nice time in Europe Take care and have a Happy New Year.
I enjoyed seeing the pictures of “Bert”. He and I have been friends since childhood. We attended the same Christian school and church for many years. I was VERY close to his family for a long time. I was extremely sad to hear of his passing. Obviously God needed him more in heaven than we needed him here on Earth. Thank you so much for the pictures.
God bless you.
Luther Trout
801 N Lincoln St
Duncannon, PA 17020