In my last prayer letter, I mentioned that our team was able to distribute Bibles at an orphanage not too far from our ministry in Hua Hin. While there, I saw the state of the children’s living quarters and began praying about how the Lord could use the Heavenly Treasures Orphan Project to be a help. The Lord miraculously provided within weeks, and I was able to purchase brand-new mattresses, sheets, pillows, and comforters for all 51 orphans. It was one of the most amazing and humbling things I’ve ever been able to be a part of. Most, if not all, of these children had never laid their heads down on a new pillow, let alone on a new mattress and bed linens. Thank you to all who participate in the Heavenly Treasures Orphan Project on a regular basis. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact me via email or my website. If you have a few minutes, this video of the children receiving their gifts will bless your heart. Click here: Heavenly Treasures – Karen Orphanage.
New Curtains & Sister in Christ
In November, I was given the task of finding someone to make curtains for our church’s expanded auditorium. After visiting several stores, I just happened upon Pinkie and her curtain shop. She came that afternoon to do measurements, and I was able to give her a tract and witness to her. I found out that her in-laws had become Christians and had also been witnessing to her for a while. She listened intently and asked quite a few questions, but she wasn’t ready to trust Christ as her Saviour. About a month later when she came to install the curtains, she came with even more questions, and by the time the curtains were installed, Pinkie had trusted Christ as her Saviour! Praise the Lord! Please pray for her spiritual growth and that she might be willing to do our discipleship program with me.
New Schools & Christmas Programs
This year we were able to go into seven new schools to present our Christmas program, which includes an English lesson, games, a Christmas drama, and a Gospel message. We reached over 2,000 students and staff, and we were able to see a number of them trust Christ as their Saviour. Each student was given a John and Romans booklet. Each teacher and administrator received a Bible. We are excited that one of the staff ladies from a school has already started attending church faithfully. It was a particular joy for us to see some of our faithful church kids at these schools, and they loved showing us off to their friends. LukNam and Malee are pictured here with Grandma Shook and Pii Joom.
New Year & Grateful Heart
The Lord has blessed us, not only with wonderful American missionary families to serve together with, but He has also blessed us with a wonderful Thai staff. These ladies are dear friends and true servants for the Lord. They are generous with their time and are always willing to help in any way needed. Some of the responsibilities covered by these ladies are managing our nurseries, cleaning the church buildings and language school, preparing the Sunday lunch meal for the congregation, doing the accounting and tax work for the church and language school, handling all the paperwork for our visas and work permits, teaching in Sunday school, translating for soul winning and the discipleship program, just to name a few. What a help and blessing they are to me personally and to our team and church ministry. This past year, our ministries we were able to see many people trust Christ as Saviour, and over 150 of those followed the Lord in believer’s baptism. We expanded our auditorium, which is already filled up again, and we have nearly reached the ฿4,000,000 mark for saving to buy our own land. God has been so good to us. We are excited about what this new year holds in store for International Baptist Church of Hua Hin and International Baptist Church of Nong Plap. Please continue to pray for us, and feel free to come visit sometime and see firsthand how the Lord is working in Thailand.
Shari House