Updates

December proved to be the busiest month of the year, back home and even here. We were “mistakenly” informed that Christmas is just an ordinary day in Thailand, but it was not so. I never seen so much people came to Mae Sai for the holiday. Of course, it does not mean they know the true meaning of the season.

Time passed by so quickly. We have been here in Mae Sai for a year. And we remember God’s faithfulness every second of our lives here. We are sharing here the ministry opportunities we had last December and we beg you to continue to pray for us.

GKHC Health Seminar for Migrant Workers

Together with Angela (our local partner), Grace Home Kindergarten Center (GHKC) staff and Narlin organized a health seminar for the children’s parents and the migrant community on diarrhea, first aid and hygiene . The health seminar was held for two days and was concluded with Christmas party with the children presented song and dance numbers to the delight of the seminar participants. We also gave small gifts to everyone. Joey was asked to share the gospel through the retelling of the Christmas story. More than 70 people attended the event.

Christmas Program

We had a Christmas program at the church. More than 100 people attended the program that included the members of the football teams who played in the concluded football league organized by the church. The event showcased the talents of the church members in singing, interpretative and folk dancing, dramatization of the nativity and most specially the proclamation of the gospel.

Gift-giving

As customarily we had been doing in the Philippines, we wrapped gifts for the and gave these gifts out to the children in our church and in our neighborhood. We also gave gifts to our friends. Christmas is about giving; God giving his only son to save us from sin and give us the gift of eternal life. We were not expecting any gift in return, but we were surprised when our neighbors gave us gift also and we know it is a beginning of a lasting friendship.

New Year Celebration with Asia Vision Staff

Surprised visitors from the Philippines came to look at the possible Short Term Missionaries deployment this coming summer. We love the idea of having STMers to help us in our ministries this coming summer. We are going to hold DVBS and English camps and we need more workers. The four members of Asia Vision Short Term Missions (AVSTM) celebrated the New Year with us. The surprised visit was indeed a blessing and an encouragement for us.

Animal Shelter: Activity for the Kids

A Canadian English teacher who loves to visit and play with the children at Grace Home became Narlin’s friend. She went to Korea to teach English. However, she is kindhearted and have been helping poor Burmese people in Mae Sai. She also has a heart for abandoned animals. She is taking care of twelve cats and a dog. And since she is now in Korea, she asked our children to take care of the animals while she is gone. The children love the animals and are delighted to care for them.

Prayer Concerns

Grace International Church is the first international church in Mae Sai. So we have the opportunity to expand our ministries both in Myanmar and Thailand. This includes Christians from different nations and tribes who occasionally attend our worship service. We are envisioning that we may be able to train and disciple future church leaders from here and nearby countries.

This month, the Missions Training Center begins. Its goal is to train seven people or more as church planters and leaders both in Myanmar and Northern Thailand. Pray that we can find supporters for these students. If you want to support one or more student, please let us know. We will be using the Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary curriculum for Certificate level. We need help to get the needed textbooks and materials.

Continue to pray for Grace Home Kindergarten Center (GHKC). The income is not enough for the expenses and support for the teachers. For the meantime, the Dela Paz family will shoulder the support for one teacher. However, Mae Sai Grace International Church will start its primary school for Burmese Migrant workers this June. Hence in February, our teachers will be utilized in the school. This means that there will be less two teachers at GHKC. It also means more workload for us.

Angela might need the motorcycle she lent to us. She might take it back anytime now to be used in Myanmar. We need to have our own motorcycle. Please pray that we can have funds for it.

We have until June to prepare for the expenses for one-year extension of our one-year visa. The expenses will be more than 30,000 Baht (U$857). Please pray for financial provision as we have more than six months to prepare about this concern.

We have been praying for a desktop computer. We are a bit worried that our laptop might breakdown anytime as it is over-used and abused as we do all our works here since we came here last year.

We are ordinary Christians here whose ministries are all being done through the local church where we are currently members. We could have neither a business nor a NGO platform as other missionaries here are doing. Nevertheless, we believe that this is our calling and God can accomplish great things through us in partnership with a local church. Our prayer for this year is that we can become more effective witness for our Lord Jesus Christ and be faithful servants of his local body here in Mae Sai.