What Now?

Hello! It's been a few days since the team headed off for America so I thought I would give an update on what I've been up to...

(Having Lunch with the ITDP Staff)

The team flew home on Friday leaving me alone here in Thailand...I'll admit that it was a strange feeling being left behind...but I have now settled in and am enjoying every minute in this country! After I dropped the team off at the airport I headed straight to my new home for the summer; A one room apartment located across the street from the ITDP offices. It is small, it doesn't have a kitchen, and there is no TV or Internet...but it is perfect for what I need. I eat three full meals a day for less than three dollars. In the morning I can buy bags of fresh fruit for about 10 cents, and the rest of the day I eat fish, BBQ chicken, noodles, rice, and Pad Thai for about 30 cents...gotta love that!

(View from my Apartment in Chiang Mai)

From now on my days will be consumed with working on the Child Sponsorship program which will provide monthly income for children who want to attend the new school. Included in this cost will be funding for a teacher, school supplies, and daily food for each child (the cost will probably be around 30 dollars a month, per child, so I ask that you start praying about that now). The goal is to have this all finished by July, and for the school to be opened November 1st with fully sponsored students...I think this can be easily achieved! This sponsorship program will require me to spend a lot of time in the villages working with the families, filling out demographic reports, and organizing it all for you folks back home. I will also be planning evangelism events for this summer, a three day crusade for the end of December, teaching the Missionaries English, and helping complete the school...needless to say I will be busy!

(Working at ITDP Office)

On Sunday I had the opportunity to go to church with Somsok...what a privilege. In the Sunday school class they talked about the inerrancy of Scripture and its fading emphasis in Liberal Evangelicalism. We also went through a packet on the importance of a verse by verse, systematic study of the Bible...it's encouraging to see that sound doctrine and study methods are upheld here! The man that gave the sermon was the President of a seminary located in the jungles of Burma. I chatted with him after the service and he told me of the many problems there, some of them being...All Christians have been ordered by the government to place their names on a list (for reasons unknown). Also, many of the seminaries have been closed in his area and there is now a restricted time in which Christians can worship (anything other would be considered a violation). Finally, physical beatings, deaths, kidnappings, rapes, etc. are still a common occurrence. After hearing all of these things I was in shock...but even more shocking was that the man told me things were going really well and God was remaining faithful to those in need. A Canadian missionary to India was also at the service. Her ministry is consumed with going from church to church in India and spending time with Pastors and their families. She said they need encouragement because they are continually having to endure beatings (and worse) from local Hindus who oppose all Western Religion. It's one thing to read a report in Voice of the Martyrs Magazine about persecution stories...it's quite another to talk with the people who the reports are written about. God has been showing me the reality of the cost of discipleship and the urgency for faithful prayer.

I have a special prayer request: A ten year old girl, Pae Ja, from a neighboring village (where the water project was just put in) has a severe infection from a three inch piece of would which is lodged in her leg, penetrating down to the bone. Our team Doctor looked at it and said that it would require immediate surgery, otherwise she would lose her leg and eventually her life. We offered to transport her to the hospital and pay for the surgery, but her parents refused to let her go...they are Animists and have been performing rituals trying to "please the spirits" so that their daughter might be healed. On June 4th I will be going with Somsok to see how the girl's health is, and urge the parents to let us take her to the hospital. Please pray that Pae Ja is alive when we get there and that her parents change their mind...it's a great opportunity for these people to see the powerlessness of their gods, and the the love of ours!

Prayer requests:

1) For the souls of the people in Dae Buh Sae La Koh

2) For Pae Ja and her parents...for physical and spiritual renewal

3) That funding will come in to pay for the surgery (if needed). We are guessing around 500 dollars in total costs...

4) For a safe Journey to Mohojo (June 4th-9th)