Myanmar update From George Butron

Dear Friends,

For those of you in America, I hope you enjoyed your turkey, family and friends on Thanksgiving. We got together with friends here and did some serious damage to a 10kg bird along with salads, potatoes, pies, etc. Also did some damage to my diet!

I want take a moment to give thanks for some great ministry that is happening in the Golden Triangle area of Myanmar.

It is rumored that long time drug lord Khun Sa (once at the top of America's most wanted criminals list) died in the past few weeks. Unfortunately his legacy of drug trade in the Golden Triangle continues. Producing huge amounts of heroin and meth, not only do traffickers export these deadly products but they also encourage use in villages by giving out free samples to the kids. They tell these simple village people that the meth pills are vitamins that will give them added energy to work. The result is a generation of young people addicted to drugs and distributors with lifetime customers.

This month a new property was found just outside of T. (just across the border from Thailand) that has a small house, a natural source of spring water, a fish pond and enough land for a large garden. We are purchasing this property to open a drug rehab center that will help new converts kick the habit and receive intensive discipleship and vocational training to get them moving in a new direction. We do not know of any other rehab center in the area and believe that this will have a huge redemptive impact. The cost of the property (about 4 acres) with the house is under US$20,000.00. The owner is the wife of a drug lord who built up a big gambling debt and had to sell at a low price. The husband has moved to Vietnam to avoid the Burmese Army so this great property that was originally purchased with drug money will now become a drug rehab! Want to help us develop it? (see details at the end)

Pictures on the way:
Golden Triangle Drug Rehab Center

Spring fed water supply

Fish Pond

Our Bible School in T, was closed by authorities over two years ago (along with other Bible Schools in the area) and it is now used for the orphan ministry (40+ kids from ages 6-16) while the Ministry Training continues in the cramped quarters of the town church under the leadership of Pastor P. Since it was the central military authority (not the local police) that closed all the Bible Schools, there is no way for them to use the old site for training. By changing locations, we have found a way around this roadblock. Training will continue in town at the church and also at the new rehab center as it is developed.

The 70 Foursquare Churches and outreaches in the Golden Triangle are making a difference and communities are being touched in multiple ways. Jesus is proclaimed in power through outreaches and crusades and the message is lived out through local churches that use community health evangelism, agriculture projects and preschools to help meet practical needs in villages. The momentum is building and in the month of October, these ministries saw a combined total of 760 people come to Christ with 387 receiving water baptism! We are working on getting a support team of missionaries established just across the border in Northern Thailand who can help with the training and development of these projects. Continue to pray for this great ministry and the new team members from America who are preparing to move to Thailand in 2008!

Ken diagnosed with Malaria

It is a great joy to be able to update you. We do hope that you are experiencing the favor of God in your life.

The past two weeks have not been easy for us. I was hospitalized for four days having been diagnosed with malaria. It was very difficult for Tim & Ann to comprehend what was happening. Although it was so serious, we made it look as if there was no danger. Eunice & I had to spend five days away from the Children. I learnt not to take good health for granted. I led two people to the Lord in Kisumu where I was hospitalized.

Our standard eight students did their exams last week. Pray with us that they will maintain position one that we have had for the last five consecutive years. Both our preschool and primary will be sitting their end of year exams starting this week—pray that both the children and the teachers will be in perfect health.

Last Saturday, I was privileged to teach at Garissa medical college—they are training to be nurses. I was asked to teach about end time—and this immediately after coming from the hospital where I had thought it was time to meet Jesus. Pray that they will take the message and see their profession as a calling to reach out to people with the gospel.

I had wonderful time training about 100 Teachers at Garissa teachers college last Sunday. They are now equipped with skills on evangelism. Our Jesus film staff—Zakayo is joining the same team this Friday for a four days mission in Embu—Pray for salvation and deliverance of many people.

Eunice continues to experience God’s favor in leading the prayer movement. Many people continue to flock our office every Monday for one hour of prayer. The good thing about this is that all the churches here are represented. This Sunday, we will be gathering to celebrate together what the Lord has been doing—pray that we will have great time in the presence of the Lord.

Kenya will be having its election on 27th December this year—political temperatures are already high. Violence have been reported in different parts of the country. Garissa is bracing for a tough duel between two very powerful Somali people who want to represent us in the next parliament---pray that God may give us the right Member of Parliament and also the right president.

We thank you for allowing God to use you to bless the work in Garissa.

BLESSING
KEN, EUNICE, TIM, ANN