I saw Mr. P, a 30 year old factory worker, in the clinic on Friday. He came to see me for a cold. Soon we were talking about his need for a relationship with God. He said, “I need to study this some more.”
“Great idea!” I exuberantly agreed. How about we meet Monday evening? He agreed to come meet me after he (and I) finished work on the following Monday. He showed up as promised and he and I then talked through who God is and what His expectations for man include. After our evening talk, I asked him if he was ready to make the leap and place his trust in God. He said yes! Right there he prayed wonderfully, confessing sin and promising to follow God and bring Him honor. It was a joy to see! Please pray for him. He works long hours and often works evenings and Sundays. Pray that the Lord will call Mr. P to study his Bible and seek all opportunity to grow in his new faith.
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I can’t count how many times I have been told over the years how much I must love Thailand and how adventurous I must be to live so far away in a strange foreign land. If those people only knew how much I am challenged every day and the struggles I face to be content to stay, they would be shocked. In reality, all missionaries are just a breath away from going home. We all need your prayers to keep us where we are. It is a wonderful gift of God each day that we get up from our slumber and walk into the day before us with the Presence of God leading our steps, our encounters, and our decisions. It is a glorious feeling to know you are right where God wants you to be for the time being. When I put my head down on my pillow at night I understand Psalm 4:8 better and better. “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Lately the needs of my family in the States have been before me. I don’t want to worry or try to step in for God, but it does get hard sometimes. When my daughter-in-law just needs a mom nearby to offer a helping hand with those precious babies… when my youngest daughter is sick and needs her mom for just a day… when my parents just need someone to stop by and play some dominos or pull their weeds. I am a fixer and I want to fix all their problems. Then I look at the needs before me here in Thailand. 200+ women who work from their home and not only depend on my wisdom to keep providing income for their families but need me and my staff to share Christ with them in all our ways. My husband who needs me to have a peaceful home to come to and good meals to eat after seeing 80 patients a day, and to help pick up the slack of his daily grind, and to work alongside him when our ministries intersect. My full time staff who need me to be a good example and a wise counsellor. So much to do, so many lives who I want to be a part of. The great work of our Lord and Savior sustains me and I cling to the verses He gives me all the time: “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body (II Corinthians 4:1-10). We have now been back in Thailand for 3 weeks. Since our return I have been met with many different needs and challenges at my work at Thai Country Trim. I am constantly reminded how much I need God's eyes, heart, and compassion. His wisdom, knowledge, and unconditional love need to lead my every step. Left on my own, I would fail miserably. I am often overwhelmed with the feeling that I don't know enough, have enough, or do enough. So, I ask you to pray for me in these matters. They are before me daily and I don't want to mess up.
1. A young mom named Jane who is one of our piece workers. Her husband just abandoned her and their little 6 month old. My production manager came to me to tell me about her situation just a few days ago. She was worried that the mom was not able to feed her baby properly. So my manager has been allowing her to bring her work in daily instead of weekly so she can have a little money each day to buy formula for the baby because she was unable to breast feed. She found out that she has been giving the baby regular milk because she hasn't had enough money to buy formula. (formula is 10 times the price of regular milk here) I saw the baby yesterday and he looked very undernourished. I bought formula for them today but I need wisdom on how to proceed. Today she stayed at the center all day and many of my staff witnessed to her. All my girls are concerned and all have been helping her in some small way. Pray that God will guide us. Pray for her baby. 2. A group of refugees from a nearby country came to see if our center might give them some work. They will take anything we can give them. This particular group of refugees are Christians who were persecuted and had to flee their country. They are here waiting for their passage to the country who will repatriate them. We want to help them but we must do it legally. Pray for us as we see what God will have us do in this situation. 3. My mom and dad have reached the stage in their life where they need more attention and care. They are in their early 80's and my dad has many health challenges. My mom cares for him as best she can but the daily needs are wearing on her. They are hoping to sell their home and move into an independent living apartment where mom will have some help with meals and house cleaning. I want to be there for them when the time comes for them to move. Pray for the timing of things so that I can be there for them. My mom and dad are retired Salvation Army Majors. They have served and helped people all their lives. It's now time for them to be helped. I want to be a part of that. 4. Starting in May we will have a volunteer team from America every month until November. We grateful so many teams want to come and help with our work here. Doug and I want to do a good job picking the sites for our English camp and Mobile clinics as well as give our volunteers a wonderful ministry experience to share in. Pray the Lord will guide us as we plan these times. Pray the Lord will go before us and prepare the hearts of those who will hear the Gospel this year from the efforts of Thai Country Trim and Bangkla Baptist Clinic. May His Word go out and his name be glorified. |