Ilkka, Maree, Lora, Emma and Micah, worked with tranzsend in Thailand from mid 2004 to the end of 2010. Their home churches are Taumarunui and Eastgate.

 Ian and Colleen

We were privileged to work with Ilkka and Maree for two years and we wish it could have been longer. Initially, we were involved together in finding whether we were meant to move to Isaan. This meant lots of times together praying, talking and taking road trips and drinking coffee. Through this time and eventually working in Isaan we became aware that Ilkka and Maree are a tremendous couple. They have a deep love for the Thai people, understood their culture and were fluent in the language. We in the team with our various levels of language are missing this. They were both a good example of a couple committed to following the Lord and serving Him with excellence. Ilkka's godliness, his devotion to prayer and constant interaction with the Thai people on the things that really matter, was inspiring to us all. Maree was a naturally gifted English teacher and she brought the classes alive with never a dull moment.

Lora, Emma and Micah can be simply summed up as 'a delight'. We appreciated their acceptance and friendliness to us "oldies". We admired the way they got involved with their parents in some of the ministry projects. We will always remember playing cards with them each week when their parents went to a ministry project out of town. We saw it as taking care of them; they saw it as "Ministry to the Elderly"!

After the family left we were speaking to a pastor and said how sad we were to see them go and the pastor simply put his hand on his heart and said 'siajai'. Literally, this translates as 'a heart full of sorrow'.

Ilkka, Maree, Lora, Emma and Micah though we miss you deeply we know that wherever you go you will continue to follow His leading, be highly effective and an inspiration to others.

 Mark, Viv, David, Christina and Rochelle

Ilkka and Maree leave a big gap in the difficult work of seeking to reach Buddhist Thais with the gospel. Ilkka's determination, thoughtfulness and patience in seeking to understand people, as well as language, made him respected and liked by both the Buddhists and Christians he worked with. Maree's contagious enthusiasm for life and people had a similar impact, even with those who only knew them for a short time. Both of them have shone as Thai language learners and as people committed to the hidden spiritual work that is behind their attractive and vibrant witness for Jesus Christ.

Most of all we will miss their friendship inside Thailand. More than anyone we know there they seem to understand exactly where we are at. Thank you for the model you have been in marriage, family life and spiritual dedication. You are a gift to whoever has the privilege of knowing you.

 Peter and Lynley

We first met Ilkka, Maree, Lora, Emma and Micah in late October, 2004, at the bus station in Chiang Mai. They had been waiting for some time for our bus to arrive and the temperature was about 35 degrees. Their patience waiting in the heat characterises them very well.  They took us to the guest house and introduced us to the city in which we worked together for the following four years. Their kindness in helping us settle was also characteristic of them.

The family have been good colleagues both to Thais and ex-patriates and it is with great sadness that our working together comes to an end. Their patience and flexibility were necessary characteristics to have for Thailand. Within nine months of their arriving, in the middle of language study, Ilkka took on the leadership of Cornerstone Workplace English for the best part of a year, and Maree became the head teacher.

Through the ups and downs of life at CWE, time spent in prayer and seeking God's direction for the future of the tranzsend work after the closure of CWE and the move into the new region, Ilkka and Maree played a major part. We have often relied on Ilkka and Maree's skills in Thai language and knowledge of Thai culture in laying the ground for the Thai team to carry on post CWE. 

We have also appreciated the input of the whole family as the willingness of Lora, Emma and Micah to move from Chiang Mai to the "backblocks" of Isaan was essential for the move.  The kids helped Maree in her teaching at various places and helped out at the holiday programme at Baan Hua Khua. We have always appreciated their great humour and keen wit.

Ilkka has been a man of wisdom and thoughtfulness, a pray-er and initiator. Along with Maree, he has formed important relationships with Thais. Maree has been a great teacher and had important input into the lives of many Thai neighbours, students and workmates. Lora, Emma and Micah contributed to the work in ways that cannot be measured, and sacrificed a "normal" teenage lifestyle to do so. It was a big sacrifice for them to have made.

This family has given so much to the work in Thailand and their presence here is greatly missed. We pray God's richest blessing on their lives in New Zealand and are confident they will continue to be used to extend His kingdom.