Letters from the Field – The Dream Becomes a Reality || Margie Castro
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Three years ago, God opened a door I never expected.
For seven years, He used Rancho Bonito and Sparrow Academy in Honduras to shape and prepare me. Sparrow Missions was not simply the place where I served; it was the place where I was discipled, stretched, equipped, and taught how to walk faithfully with others. Through leadership, service, meaningful friendships, and a community I deeply loved, God was preparing me for the people and places He would later bring into my life.
Years before the Ross family was called to Thailand, I had a dream that my family and I had moved to an Asian country. In the dream, we visited Sparrow Academy, and there were Asian children running all around. I remember sharing it and saying, “Wouldn’t that be crazy, to have Sparrow Missions in Asia?”
Now, looking back, I see that God was giving me a small glimpse of something much bigger than what I understood at the time. When He called me to Thailand, He was not closing the chapter He had written in Honduras; He was continuing it. The lessons, love, and vision God planted through Sparrow were becoming part of His work in a new place, among new people, in Rong San village.
Coming to Thailand has been beautiful and stretching: a new culture, language, and rhythm of life have required surrender and deep dependence on the Lord. But, one of the greatest reminders has been this: God is always at work.
After almost a year serving in Rong San village, I have had the privilege of witnessing the fruit of Pastor Ake and Phii Pai’s faithful love over many years. They have cared deeply for this community, not through occasional moments, but through consistent presence.
They have walked with families, welcomed children, listened to needs, and opened their home again and again. Their house has become a safe place for so many people in the village: a place where children are known, meals are shared, joy fills the room, and people experience the love of Jesus in tangible ways.
It is truly a house of blessing.
Among those who have been welcomed into their home are two young girls from the community: Ice Cream and Mee Na. These young girls first began coming for simple reasons: English lessons, crafts, guitar, and time with friends. But somewhere along the way, those afternoons became more than just activities.
The girls began staying longer. They began helping without being asked. They began bringing questions. They began listening closely when we talked about Jesus.
Ice Cream is quiet and laid-back, but she notices the little things. She is thoughtful, attentive, and especially caring toward her younger sisters. She was the first young girl in the community to share that she wanted to follow Jesus. Since then, she has continued to show up faithfully. There is something beautiful about watching her listen closely to God’s Word, join in wherever she can help, and grow in confidence as she is surrounded by people who care for her.
Mee Na has also expressed a desire to know more about Jesus. She is outgoing, funny, and quick to learn, often bringing energy and laughter into the room. She continues to come with an open heart: ready to learn, help, and hear more. We do not know all that God is doing beneath the surface, but we are grateful to see small signs of curiosity, trust, and faith growing.
What has been especially meaningful is not only watching them participate, but watching them become part of the life around us. They are no longer simply girls who come to a program. They are becoming friends, helpers, learners, and they are beginning to understand that they are deeply loved by God.
God has also given us opportunities to build relationships with two other young ladies: Gao and Maisi, Phii Pai’s nieces. They are talented, hardworking young women with big dreams, and a deep respect for their family.
Gao is 23 and works six days a week with an unpredictable schedule. When she found out that I teach English, she asked if she could learn, even though finding time would not be easy. We told her we would make time whenever she could. Now, every Saturday night at 8:30 p.m., after a long week of work, Gao comes ready to learn. We share meals with the family, talk, study, and sometimes finish close to midnight. Even after exhausting weeks, she arrives with joy and a genuine desire to grow.
Those evenings have become more than English lessons. Around the table, through conversations and shared time, trust is growing. Gao and Maisi have both heard about Jesus and have been part of meaningful conversations about faith. We are grateful for the opportunity to walk with them and to make space for them to encounter Christ in a way that feels personal and real.
Please pray that Ice Cream, Mee Na, Gao, and Maisi would continue to encounter the love of Jesus through His Word, His people, and the relationships surrounding them. Pray that the seeds being planted in these ordinary moments would take deep root in their hearts.
Please also pray for us as we serve across cultures—that we would listen well, lead with humility, honor the families and community around us, and faithfully point each person God brings into our lives toward Christ with both truth and love.
Thank you for supporting Sparrow Missions, for believing in the work of local leaders, and for trusting God’s work in Thailand. What began as years of formation in Honduras is now becoming part of a larger story, one that God is writing across communities, cultures, and oceans.
With gratitude from the field,
Margie Castro