September update

Once again, we had experienced God’s faithful provision to us this month (September) as many of you, our friends kneel for us before Him. Some people responded and sent us gifts to pay for our monthly bills. We consider it specially miraculous when God’s provisions come from “unexpected” people. With no clear source of regular adequate support, we are experiencing literally how “to live by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7) “as strangers in a foreign land” (2 Pet. 2:11). We praise the Lord every time we remember you are all praying for us. In Christ, we sincerely want to thank you.

Ministry Updates

The Missions Training Center is going strong. The students have proven to be relentless and determined to learn. Pastor Shin Maung (our Burmese Pastor) and Teacher Cherry (volunteer teacher) and me (and in other times Narlin) have been working very hard in preparing lessons and teaching three hours each day. Thankfully, the other two volunteers will come and teach this month giving us a much needed break. Being the only available bus driver around, I really could use a break.

Narlin has been suffering from a terrible tooth ache but that did not stop her from ministering to the children at Grace Home. And with a little help from a friend, we had bought toys for the children. We also find the time to bring the children to the city park to enjoy a day out from their small space. Narlin is also leading a Bible Study for women every Tuesday.

Pray for the ministries that God has entrusted to us. The Missions training center is a ministry made possible only through the partnership of God’s people from different countries and denominations. Americans, Australian, Filipino and Burmese Christians are working

Pray for the Grace Home Day Care Center. The center is attracting more parents asking us to take care of their children, that is, even though we raised the fees a little bit. Please pray for financial resources for our plan to expand the ministry next year. We hope to integrate a hostel ministry for the older children of the Burmese migrant workers. Any kind of help are welcome.

Reuven's second birthday in Mae Sai

Reuven shared his birthday celebration with Zerick. The son of another Filipino missionary couple working in an Agricultural NGO here in Mae Sai. Reuven is 9 years old and Zerick is 4. We surely has been missing home so we celebrated it in Filipino way with “pabitin” and “hataw-palayok.” The missionary kids were gathered together and enjoyed their special time together.

Please continue to pray for missionary children here as they continue to try to live normally in their new country. They have special needs and many of us, Filipino missionaries are struggling and at lost on what is the best thing to do for our growing children. If you know some organizations that can help us, we will be happy to know about it.




Home schooling show down

Another big concern is our children home schooling. Fortunately enough, through God’s sovereign plan, most missionary families with younger children came here almost at the same time with us last year. And because of our common situation and shared experiences, the parents organized creative activities for the children that would enrich their social life and enhance academic learning.

On first of September, missionary kids had gathered together for a home schooling showdown. Children recited memory verses, presented songs and other stuff. And together they presented a mini-play. It was a great experience for the children.

Please pray specifically for our children’s home schooling. This has been an endless struggle for us and for the children themselves. Learning at home by their own is not easy. Please pray for better coordination with their school back home, for our children’s diligence in their study and for God’s provision.

We have been invited to join this year sixth annual CHN Getaway on October 29-November 1, 2007. CHN is Christian Hospitality Network, a ministry dedicated to providing opportunities for rest and renewal to pastors and missionaries. This is CHN’s way of encouraging the missionaries for their sacrifices and acts selfless service. It is an expression of their appreciation. This year event will be held at Phuket Orchid Resort in Phuket, Thailand.


Times of refreshing

We are praying that we can come to this activity. Here we will meet other missionaries and CHN will also provide medical services and counseling. This is offered to missionaries at no cost. However, we need to raise fund for our transportation and because we are five in the family, we need big amount to join. Nonetheless, we know that this will be a time of refreshing and encouragement for us. Although we can never have that amount, we are praying that if God will allow us to enjoy this time, we believe that He will provide. We would appreciate if you can help us join this activity, you can deposit an amount in our bank account and inform us that it is specifically for this purpose.



Pray for Myanmar

Please pray for Burma by whom God has called us to serve with its people. The situation is getting nasty and people are being killed as the military troops opened fire on the demonstrators. They imprisoned the Buddhist monks who initiated and mobilized the masses to protest against the 45 year reign of an oppressive government. We expressed solidarity with the oppressed people of Myanmar. We ask you to join us to pray for a peaceful change in Burma. Let us join the protests and obey the biblical mandate to speak up against injustice committed against the people.

We stand with Burmese protesters. The roar of global public opinion is being heard in hundreds of protests outside Chinese and Burmese embassies, people round the world wearing the monks' color red, and on the internet-- where petitions has exploded to over 200,000 signers in just 72 hours. If you want to join and sign the petition please click here. I also blog about the protests in Burma here and here.

Another update

The mission training hall is almost finished

Mission training class holding session at the church library

The mission training school is on its second week. Two more missionaries commit themselves to teaching some courses. Our vision is to have these students deployed in the villages to do evangelism and church planting. Pray for the unity, love and trust among the “faculty” as we worked together. Pray also for the five students that they may be trained and equipped to do what God has called them to accomplish for His glory. God has also provided us a good interpreter. We also praise the Lord for the financial provision for this ministry. We also thank the Lord for PBTS and CSM for helping out in teaching materials that we can use for the training.

Narlin turned down another offer to teach English in a foreign-owned language center here because she does not have the time to do it. All her time is spent in the Primary School and Grace Home. There are times when we are tempted to work so that we can have regular source of income and reduce the stress of thinking if our support will come on time or not. God has been showing us that He is the God who never fails to provide. Please help us in prayer and mobilizing regarding our financial support.

Jeph Garcia, another Filipino missionary serving in Chong Tawng , up to the mountains in the outskirts of Chiang Mai, has given us his Nissan Urvan that we will use as school bus for the primary school and Grace Home Daycare Center. Isn’t this really a good reason to praise the Lord?

Again, we are going to Chiang Mai on the 10th for visa extension, we all beg you to please include us in you prayers.

The whole family wants to thank those who take time to respond and tell us they are praying for us. I guess, you don’t have any idea how those small acts give encouragement for workers like us.

Church 3rd Anniversary Celebration

Our church here will celebrate its 3rd Anniversary on March 11. We'll be very busy again working on the program and church decorations. 8 people will be baptized as part of the celebration.

Our digicam is broken We found it out when I was about to take pictures of our church visitors one Sunday that it was broken from an impact. Why it did break remain a mystery for us. Anyway, don't expect pictures post for a while until God touches people to gift us with one. We hope that we will have our new camera before March 11.

Narlin is got sick two weeks ago. But she is now well and continue holding free English classes in the community and working at the Day Care Center.

English club celebrated two birthdays

We never thought that December would really be a busy month for us here. Yes, we use to have very busy December back home because of church programs, school activities, associational parties and family reunions, shopping for gifts and many other activities. Now, if you put them together within a month this is really a stressful month.


Anyway, meaningful Christmas activities keep us busy here. Christians celebrate Christmas here in a simple way without the burden of commercialism. On 14th of December, the English Club in Soi 5 Doi Ngam community celebrated the birthday of Jesus and one of its members, Tat Dawn. Most of the members of the English Club are Buddhists.


We ate and played games but the most important part was the narration of the story of Jesus' birth, the story of how God became man so that we can have life. The children and young people had a great time. Tat Dawn was happy to celebrate her birthday for the first time in her life (Buddhists usually don't celebrate their birthday although deep inside they always like to do so.) Her relatives and friends joined us in the celebration. Pastor Mong prayed for her. It was indeed a time when we appreciate the truth that our life comes from God.