Greetings from Christian Mission, I think, sometime just before Easter. Palm Sunday is over and went well; for that we thank and praise God.
Vacation Bible School is history and praise God again. Our Bible Camp started on Wednesday morning and Thursday morning Bee’s grandmother died. However, since God was in charge, her team took over while she went home and all went well. As I get the pictures sorted out, I will include them. We had a total of about 35 elementary school students and 15 or so high school students, so it was quite a group. The questions for this year were three. How do we know God loves us, how much does he love us, and why does he love us? The Bible verse was John 3:16 and the timing could not have been better, coming between Palm Sunday and Easter.
The teaching team of teens was able to watch the video, “The Passion” with Thai and English Sub-titles on Friday night after Bible camp finished. All of the teens were very thoughtful and the point of Christ’s suffering was made quite clear.
Our kids and the teaching teams went from about 8 am to 4 pm for three solid days with lots of games, singing, storytelling, and two teaching sessions by me, in addition to all the team teaching.
The monsoons also arrived early and we had about 2-3 inches of rain during Friday morning. God is great though, and the rains stopped for about 30 minutes in the morning when I went to pick up all the kids and slowed down by the time to take them home.
On Saturday morning for our regular practice and children’s program the storm came back with a vengeance, but the kids were not giving in. All were waiting for me as I made the rounds to pick them up, in spite of flooded roads
The best news is for last; and many prayers have been answered. Last Sunday Ploy came to me and said that she has accepted Christ as her lord and savior. When asked if she had talked to her parents, she said yes, so we went to see her mother. Her father was not home. Mother isn’t really happy – even though in the beginning he said it would be her daughter’s choice to make. She has, however, honored Ploy’s choice. She has, for the present, refused to let Ploy move back in permanently. She has allowed Ploy to come from school on Friday, stay at the mission on Friday and Saturday night and return home Sunday after church. We are praying that mother may change her mind after school gets started again. Please pray with us.
That’s not all. On Monday, Bee came to me and told me that Lita had been talking to her and that Lita has accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. I talked to Lita Monday afternoon and she confirmed that she had accepted Christ. We are going to need some major praying for this young lady. As of right now, she has no citizenship. She has no birth certificate, so she isn’t Thai and she isn’t Lao. But before we can get Lita’s problems straightened out, we have to get her mother’s paperwork straightened out. Mother has no citizenship either. We do know she was born in Laos; we don’t know about Lita’s father, other than he is dead. I will be starting to research after Thai New Years – sometime between April 9 and 17th. :)) I may have some people that can help me – the question is whether they will want to or not – pray that they will want to even though there is nothing in it for them. If we can’t get things straightened out, Lita cannot legally continue school. As long as we are working on the paperwork, the local high school has indicated they will allow her to start school in grade 7, but in order for her to stay, she will have to get the correct paperwork.
Prayer item. Dtaa, a High School Senior from the church in Nong Khon Kaen, and one of the leaders here at our camp, wants to continue school at a Seminary and go into the ministry. The best school – closest to home, cheapest, best teachers – yes, all in one is in Payao. It is the same school that our two interns were from. It has a good reputation and three or four people I trust have said it is the best school for our folks from this part of the country. Pray for: acceptance at the Seminary – it is a 5 year program. Financial support – is unknown at this point – to provide support for tuition, room and board, tuition and books, etc. She is the first of several girls from within our church group that are looking at the possibility of entering the ministry as they finish high school.
Prayer item. John and Maeo as we work out the schedule for the new school year. Our in-house group looks like about 5 7 and 8 grade girls in regular classes, four 9th grade girls in special English Program; Bee and Nun – Bee 3rd year college and Nun a senior. Two others who will live in on the weekends. I have 14 or so teens in English Classes – not all live here, and another 12 University students who do not live here.
It is starting to look like a very adventurous year and a need for a lot of prayer and a lot of faith in God’s promises to provide for everything.
Thank all of you who pray and help, and may God keep and care for you all. Lots of love and God Bless, John and Maeo
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