BEHIND THE SMILES

Tales from Life in Thailand

Written by: Jane Fucella

Illustrated by: Mike Fucella

Published by: Onwards & Upwards (O&U)

Price: £9.99 (£5.99 as Kindle e-book)

Jane Fucella and her husband Mike (now a minister in Biggar) spent 22 years primarily as mission partners of the Church of Scotland (but later with Interserve) working with the Church of Christ in Thailand.

The book is not a biography of their time there, but rather a collection of stories (after some introductory chapters explaining how they were called to serve in the Far East).

It is a compelling, entertaining account of mission life, working in a culture completely alien to readers and of working and living at times in the most basic conditions, sometimes without hot water or ready medical supplies, combined with wildlife challenges including insects, mice, rats and snakes. It offers a portrait of life in a very different land through times of both tragedy and laughter, but always filled with hope and a strong sense of call, duty and service.

There were also very occasional bouts of tropical illness, but whilst described, the aim is not to draw sympathy from readers, but rather inform and explain the contrasts in treatment and availability in different parts of Thailand.

The book is an affectionate portrait of lives centred by God and the Gospel, but lived out amongst some of the poorest people in Thailand, although periods of time are peppered by stays in Bangkok as the family were called to serve in different ways.

It is also a portrait of family life and the challenges of living overseas: when Jane and Mike first embark on their mission, they are young newlyweds with a dog. By the time they return finally to the UK they have two near grown daughters.

The account of their work, particularly among the Karen people, is inspiring and profound – and not always for the fainthearted as they dealt with challenges such as trafficking and abuse. Whilst there is tragedy, there is also hope – and this is perhaps the premise of the book.

In a revealing final chapter, Jane writes: “Mike and I were called by God to live and work in Thailand. We did not hear an audible voice and nothing particularly dramatic or supernatural happened that led us to believe He was calling us. But both individually and later together we knew Thailand was where He wanted us to serve Him.”

It was interesting to note that once the family had decided to move back to Scotland that they found themselves discontented and bothered by things in Thailand that had previously not caused any concern. In the family’s eyes, it was time to move on.

The book has received a range of warm endorsements. The Very Rev David Lunan, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2008, is among those who have commended the work, describing it as a ‘moving, honest, perceptive and humorous account of over twenty years of serving the church in Thailand with her husband and two daughters.’

This article appears in the April 2017 Issue of Life and Work

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