Pastor Timothy has a need for transportation so his orphans can get to school and for various trips with the orphans. He’s been borrowing a truck, but the owners now need it full time for their business. He wants to buy either a mini-van or pickup and convert it to a Sawngthaew. (Sawngthaew’s are the standard mode of ‘taxi’ in rural Thailand. They’re pickups with the bed covered by a ‘roof’ and seats along the sides.) Considering that many Thais live on about $200 per month and the cost of vehicles in Thailand is only slight less than here in the U.S., vehicles are very expensive there compared to Thai income.
Pullman Foursquare Church will match donations up to a total of $300, so let’s see if we can raise at least $1000 to send. 100% of the funds raised, as always, go directly to the missionaries.
We will have an offering container at the welcome center on Sunday. Please place your money there or in the offering plate, indicating that this is for the Thailand Orphan Van.
Showing posts with label Orphanages. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Orphanages. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Monday, November 26, 2007
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!
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!
Friday, July 27, 2007
Update from Fang, Thailand
Greeting to you in Jesus Name.I could not belived that it a long time since we comunicate. I am very sorry for this latr reply.We have been praying for you all the time .I am very excited to that young people are very intersted in more missions work look forward to work with them.The Orphans are doing alright and we now have 30 of them,and all are in school. and they have been praying for a new track (truck) to bring to school and back,as of now they all sqeese in to our little blue track,have attach their bios.We are now entering the final stage of our new church building I have attach some picture of the building.We are praying that it would be finished by September and Dedicate the Church building September the 15 2007.so that we would be able to us it immediately.do you think any one from Pullmen church could come for the dedications.?We still need more funds for floor tiling,chair and cutrians.Please help pray for us.We are very excited that it will be finished on time and are trusting God for the finances. Thank you again and we appriciate you all very much.Blessings Thailand for Jesus.Timothy, Fong Fung
Friday, March 16, 2007
Myanmar update
Hi Bruce,
Thanks for the in-depth and encouraging update on what is happening with you guys and the church. My apologies for not responding sooner. I was in the States for ten days of meetings and my inbox is very full (still 75 messages to go!).
Let me say that your continued partnership in Thailand and Myanmar are making a difference and bearing fruit. I am in regular contact with P (talked to him last night) and the ministry there is mushrooming in every direction (its now up to 58 church and doors opening all over). Our big challenge now is to help them get some buildings up! The evangelism is going great but the government and economic situation are very tough and they need our help. I will be there in two weeks for a graduation of the students who have now finished their course work since the Bible School was closed. P is using the church to continue the training and we are looking at finding a way to reopen the Bible School as a vocational training center.
Another need is additional room for the orphans. As they get older, it is essential to separate the boys and girls and they are looking for a way to build a dormitory that will allow for this. The church property is pretty maxed out but P manages to find a way!
You may have heard about increased persecution from the government. Six churches have been closed in Mandalay and officials have been cutting the crosses off of church buildings in the Golden Triangle. So far, none of our ministries have been impacted but the situation is tense.
One thing I have discovered is that places where we have missionaries get a lot more attention and help than the places that do not. That is one reason I pound the drum for Burma a lot. Our involvement with some very solid and proven ministries will greatly multiply the fruit and I have a strong sense that it is God's time for breakthrough in this nation. I have been north to Chin State where the revival started in the 70's and south to Moulmein where Adoniram Judson began a ministry that has left a lasting legacy. In Yangon, Mandalay and the Golden Triangle, a young generation of leaders is rising.
Please convey my thanks and those of the Pastor Philip Ahone, P and the leaders in Myanmar for what you and the Pullman Foursquare Church has done.
Philip and Mie Mie Ahone are in the Seattle area now. Their daughter Charis will be graduation from Seattle Pacific U. in May. I would encourage you to contact them. Philip is the founder and leader of Foursquare Myanmar and I would love for you to be able to spend some time with him. They have a daughter in Portland, Glory.
Thanks again Bruce. I will be happy to work with you and the 20 something's who what to come to SE Asia! Sounds like a great trip. I would love to spend some time with you and this group. Let me know dates, etc and I will help you set this up.
God bless you,
George Butron
Thanks for the in-depth and encouraging update on what is happening with you guys and the church. My apologies for not responding sooner. I was in the States for ten days of meetings and my inbox is very full (still 75 messages to go!).
Let me say that your continued partnership in Thailand and Myanmar are making a difference and bearing fruit. I am in regular contact with P (talked to him last night) and the ministry there is mushrooming in every direction (its now up to 58 church and doors opening all over). Our big challenge now is to help them get some buildings up! The evangelism is going great but the government and economic situation are very tough and they need our help. I will be there in two weeks for a graduation of the students who have now finished their course work since the Bible School was closed. P is using the church to continue the training and we are looking at finding a way to reopen the Bible School as a vocational training center.
Another need is additional room for the orphans. As they get older, it is essential to separate the boys and girls and they are looking for a way to build a dormitory that will allow for this. The church property is pretty maxed out but P manages to find a way!
You may have heard about increased persecution from the government. Six churches have been closed in Mandalay and officials have been cutting the crosses off of church buildings in the Golden Triangle. So far, none of our ministries have been impacted but the situation is tense.
One thing I have discovered is that places where we have missionaries get a lot more attention and help than the places that do not. That is one reason I pound the drum for Burma a lot. Our involvement with some very solid and proven ministries will greatly multiply the fruit and I have a strong sense that it is God's time for breakthrough in this nation. I have been north to Chin State where the revival started in the 70's and south to Moulmein where Adoniram Judson began a ministry that has left a lasting legacy. In Yangon, Mandalay and the Golden Triangle, a young generation of leaders is rising.
Please convey my thanks and those of the Pastor Philip Ahone, P and the leaders in Myanmar for what you and the Pullman Foursquare Church has done.
Philip and Mie Mie Ahone are in the Seattle area now. Their daughter Charis will be graduation from Seattle Pacific U. in May. I would encourage you to contact them. Philip is the founder and leader of Foursquare Myanmar and I would love for you to be able to spend some time with him. They have a daughter in Portland, Glory.
Thanks again Bruce. I will be happy to work with you and the 20 something's who what to come to SE Asia! Sounds like a great trip. I would love to spend some time with you and this group. Let me know dates, etc and I will help you set this up.
God bless you,
George Butron
Monday, February 19, 2007
Cornelius in Burma
BREAKTHROUGH IN BURMA
The news out of Myanmar (Burma) is often negative but God has a way of getting redemptive work done even when things are looking bad. After hearing about increased opposition to Christianity in some parts of the country, I paid a visit this once prosperous SE Asia nation which is still known as, "The Beautiful Land." After visiting several ministries that are growing under difficult conditions (the economy is weak, the spiritual atmosphere is heavy and the Buddhist religion and world view is pervasive), a unique opportunity came to meet with a highly placed government official.
While not a believer, this man is like Cornelius from the book of Acts chapter 10. He is a man of peace who fears God and genuinely wants to help people. He has a greburden and spoke with compassion of needs in his nation regarding health care, orphan care and other areas where development and transformation are needed. The health care system faces huge shortages of medicine and supplies with increasing spread of diseases. Regarding orphans, he stated that when poor children and orphans are taken to the Buddhist temple to be raised by the monks it dooms them to a life of poverty and begging with no education or future advancement.
After hearing about Foursquare orphan care, medical teams and development projects in Cambodia and other places, he was genuinely interested to see these things happen in his nation. He said they need the help, offered his assistance and said that many of these projects could be run through local churches--a most unusual opportunity.
After all the negative news--there are powerful players who are actively opposing Christianity-- this was certainly a positive and unexpected conversation! God has a way of arranging divine appointments and opening doors. He is also putting a burden for this nation on the hearts of many people who are banding together for a breakthrough in Burma!
Help is needed and if you are interested in being a part of this project, please contact me at:
fmisea at singnet.com.sg
Thanks!
George Butron
Foursquare Missions International SE Asia
The news out of Myanmar (Burma) is often negative but God has a way of getting redemptive work done even when things are looking bad. After hearing about increased opposition to Christianity in some parts of the country, I paid a visit this once prosperous SE Asia nation which is still known as, "The Beautiful Land." After visiting several ministries that are growing under difficult conditions (the economy is weak, the spiritual atmosphere is heavy and the Buddhist religion and world view is pervasive), a unique opportunity came to meet with a highly placed government official.
While not a believer, this man is like Cornelius from the book of Acts chapter 10. He is a man of peace who fears God and genuinely wants to help people. He has a greburden and spoke with compassion of needs in his nation regarding health care, orphan care and other areas where development and transformation are needed. The health care system faces huge shortages of medicine and supplies with increasing spread of diseases. Regarding orphans, he stated that when poor children and orphans are taken to the Buddhist temple to be raised by the monks it dooms them to a life of poverty and begging with no education or future advancement.
After hearing about Foursquare orphan care, medical teams and development projects in Cambodia and other places, he was genuinely interested to see these things happen in his nation. He said they need the help, offered his assistance and said that many of these projects could be run through local churches--a most unusual opportunity.
After all the negative news--there are powerful players who are actively opposing Christianity-- this was certainly a positive and unexpected conversation! God has a way of arranging divine appointments and opening doors. He is also putting a burden for this nation on the hearts of many people who are banding together for a breakthrough in Burma!
Help is needed and if you are interested in being a part of this project, please contact me at:
fmisea at singnet.com.sg
Thanks!
George Butron
Foursquare Missions International SE Asia
Monday, October 02, 2006
Where the money goes - Myanmar
Brother Bruce Heimbigner
Praisethelord !
Thank you very much for your letter and I receive all the money safely today. This is our difficult time. I will buy Rice, oil, Exercises book {for school}, Pencil, slipper, ....Ect. God will give Many blessing to you and all the brothers and sisters in your church. Every mornning and Evenning we are strongly pray for your team will coming safely in our church. I am so joyful in my heart. Today I arrive form Mainsat mission field today.
In christ
Rev.P
Praisethelord !
Thank you very much for your letter and I receive all the money safely today. This is our difficult time. I will buy Rice, oil, Exercises book {for school}, Pencil, slipper, ....Ect. God will give Many blessing to you and all the brothers and sisters in your church. Every mornning and Evenning we are strongly pray for your team will coming safely in our church. I am so joyful in my heart. Today I arrive form Mainsat mission field today.
In christ
Rev.P
Church building update in Fang - and recent events
Just a short note to let you know that we have received the funds. Thank you very much and we greatly appriciate it.
The church building is up and we are still waiting for any one who want to help us complete the building. Its has now wall stage rooms but the roof and ths drop ceiling is not up yet. They are the most expensive. As of now we have to stop working as we are waiting for more donations.
Attach are some of the latest picture of what happens last week. Rivival are taking place in the North Thailand KEEP PRAYING FOR US. You might want to share the picture around.
Thank you so much again .
I God Blessings
Timothy
From Bruce:
Here are photos one of the Largest Churches in North Thailand. We broke ground on it in March 2006, and with the help of other churches it continues to be built.
Orphanage, revival meetings, and our friends:
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Update from Myanmar
{Since the pastor in Myanmar has been arrested and beaten and had his bible college closed for a year we don't list his name or town on our web page.]
Brother Bruce Heimbigner:
Thank you very much for your letter and you love in our ministary. By the grace of God, all the kids is have a good healths but eatting is very poor. This time is very difficult all in T {his town}. The rain is very havey and some part of T is many water and stop school one week already. Please pray for our orphanage Kids in this difficult time. All the goods is very high {expensive} then Thailand. Because all the goods is form {from} Thailand. Many water and rainning everyday then all the way of T and M {a neighboring town} can not cross.
I am very welcome you and all your team. How many days all the team can use their time in our church? We are free time when they coming in T. What I need to preparation for the team? We are ready for Leadership trainning, bible seminor, Childern ministary and teaching orphanage kids.
When your team coming I will call in bible college and see 740 books over I receive form Timothy and put already in our libarary. All this books is form you and all the team bring when they coming early{er} this year. All the staff and me, we need to say heartlity Thanks to you and all the team. God will give many blessing to you and all the team. This is our prayer. We are still hope bring more books for our libarary. All the christian books is very useful in our land. Christian books is very very few books in {this area}. So please bring more books , When the team is coming in T.
I need to write long letter but my poor English is not enough write letter. Please read slowly my letter.
Pastor P.
Brother Bruce Heimbigner:
Thank you very much for your letter and you love in our ministary. By the grace of God, all the kids is have a good healths but eatting is very poor. This time is very difficult all in T {his town}. The rain is very havey and some part of T is many water and stop school one week already. Please pray for our orphanage Kids in this difficult time. All the goods is very high {expensive} then Thailand. Because all the goods is form {from} Thailand. Many water and rainning everyday then all the way of T and M {a neighboring town} can not cross.
I am very welcome you and all your team. How many days all the team can use their time in our church? We are free time when they coming in T. What I need to preparation for the team? We are ready for Leadership trainning, bible seminor, Childern ministary and teaching orphanage kids.
When your team coming I will call in bible college and see 740 books over I receive form Timothy and put already in our libarary. All this books is form you and all the team bring when they coming early{er} this year. All the staff and me, we need to say heartlity Thanks to you and all the team. God will give many blessing to you and all the team. This is our prayer. We are still hope bring more books for our libarary. All the christian books is very useful in our land. Christian books is very very few books in {this area}. So please bring more books , When the team is coming in T.
I need to write long letter but my poor English is not enough write letter. Please read slowly my letter.
Pastor P.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Update Thailand from Kelly Hilderbrand
Just added 6/28/06 Update Myanmar from George Butron http://seareport.blogspot.com/
Update Thailand June 2006 Newsletter from the Hilderbrand's
NEEDED:
Native English speakers willing to be trained as language teachers.
Website address: http://www.worldbasethailand.org/
TEACHERS: Many wonderful things are happening in Thailand, but before we get to the good news…. We are still critically short of English teachers. We have had lots of people contact us and say they are interested in coming, but we need teachers by August or September to keep our students at the current level.
TEN YEARS IN MYANMAR
In December 1997, Kelly led a team from Hope Chapel Honolulu to the G*ld*n Triangle region of Burma. There he met a young man named Pastor P. He had just arrived from Yangon the year before to begin planting churches in the region. Permission was obtained from the local drug lords and Pastor P. began his first church in the town of T along the border with Thailand. Kelly attended one of the early services there. The service was in the house of a man from the Shan tribe.
This month, Kelly attended the 10th anniversary of our church planting movement there. Fifty one churches have been started along with an orphanage and a Bible School. However, the Bible School was closed recently by the Burmese government and Pastor P. was arrested and beaten for two weeks. The government was afraid of his growing influence in the region and wanted to make sure that he never used his influence to oppose the government. Fortunately, that situation is over for now and Pastor P. is again able to preach and plant churches.
After Kelly crossed the border and arrived at the celebration, the Shan man from Pastor P.'s first church approached Kelly. The Shan people are racially related to the Thai and their language is similar. This particular man also speaks Thai. He took Kelly to meet two people. One young man had been mute for a long time. Pastor P. had approached the family and asked for permission to pray for the man. A demon was cast out and now he appears to be perfectly healthy. Another young woman was afflicted with a spirit that caused her to run around town like the demoniac in the bible. She was prayed for and delivered. They were both at the celebration.
THE FANG DISTRICT OF CHURCHES
After the two day celebration was over. Kelly traveled to the district of Fang to visit Pastor Timothy. Pastor Timothy and his wife were awarded a grant from the Foursquare Foundation to plant churches among the Hill tribe’s people of the north. In one year, 14 churches and 16 meeting places have been started. Before that, we only had four churches in the area. All we needed were the funds to get things going.
In addition to all the churches, Pastor Timothy has begun taking care of orphans. He now provides for 15 orphans. Many more have applied to come, but there are no funds to take care of all of them. People have given funds to help build an orphan home, but the Pastor and his wife feed and provide for the orphans out of their own resources.
Two young girls recently joined the group. They were found sleeping in a chicken coop covered with sores and rashes. Several of the children have been abandoned. No one knows if they have parents or where they might be. Some have been brutally abused by relatives. But now the children look happy and healthy. They have a one hour worship service every evening and help in the church and have their chores at the orphanage. These will be the next generation of pastors and leaders in the north.
MISSIONS ENCOUNTER 2006
Every year we host a two week training course for people considering missions in Thailand. This year we had 22 people come for the training in Bangkok.
BUILDING
Please continue to pray for our building. All the paper work is done, but the government has not yet given us permission to start. We are only waiting for the paperwork to go through the bureaucracy. We now have a $350,000 loan to begin building, but we still need to raise about $200,000 more to complete the building.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please pray for several new English teachers to come soon. The school has grown to serve almost 800 students and our second Bangkok branch is also growing and in need of more teachers.
Please pray that the government will approve our application for a Foursquare Foundation very, very, very soon.
We have applied for a building permit to begin construction on our new facility. Please pray that the application will be approved. We still need to raise $550,000 to build a seven story facility that will house two churches, WorldBase, Language school and several social ministries and offices.
Please pray for our language teachers by name: Anna, Evan, Gary, Josh, Michel-lyn, Paula, Ty, Kelly, and Angie. Pray that our teachers would develop friendships quickly and be effective in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray that these “seekers” and new believers can be discipled in the Thai church.
Please pray for the upcoming Eastern Conference of Foursquare Churches Convention held in Bangkok this November, 2006. Our church is organizing this international conference which is open to everyone. The cost is $150, which includes hotel, food, and seminars. Dr. Jack Hayford is the main speaker. Please pray that God would give us wisdom and discernment in all matters. For more information, please see our website.
Pray for the new Ram 2 church and its pastor, Max.
Continue to pray for our health and continued protection, especially as we travel.
Let us know how we can pray for you.
Update Thailand June 2006 Newsletter from the Hilderbrand's
NEEDED:
Native English speakers willing to be trained as language teachers.
Website address: http://www.worldbasethailand.org/
TEACHERS: Many wonderful things are happening in Thailand, but before we get to the good news…. We are still critically short of English teachers. We have had lots of people contact us and say they are interested in coming, but we need teachers by August or September to keep our students at the current level.
TEN YEARS IN MYANMAR
In December 1997, Kelly led a team from Hope Chapel Honolulu to the G*ld*n Triangle region of Burma. There he met a young man named Pastor P. He had just arrived from Yangon the year before to begin planting churches in the region. Permission was obtained from the local drug lords and Pastor P. began his first church in the town of T along the border with Thailand. Kelly attended one of the early services there. The service was in the house of a man from the Shan tribe.
This month, Kelly attended the 10th anniversary of our church planting movement there. Fifty one churches have been started along with an orphanage and a Bible School. However, the Bible School was closed recently by the Burmese government and Pastor P. was arrested and beaten for two weeks. The government was afraid of his growing influence in the region and wanted to make sure that he never used his influence to oppose the government. Fortunately, that situation is over for now and Pastor P. is again able to preach and plant churches.
After Kelly crossed the border and arrived at the celebration, the Shan man from Pastor P.'s first church approached Kelly. The Shan people are racially related to the Thai and their language is similar. This particular man also speaks Thai. He took Kelly to meet two people. One young man had been mute for a long time. Pastor P. had approached the family and asked for permission to pray for the man. A demon was cast out and now he appears to be perfectly healthy. Another young woman was afflicted with a spirit that caused her to run around town like the demoniac in the bible. She was prayed for and delivered. They were both at the celebration.
THE FANG DISTRICT OF CHURCHES
After the two day celebration was over. Kelly traveled to the district of Fang to visit Pastor Timothy. Pastor Timothy and his wife were awarded a grant from the Foursquare Foundation to plant churches among the Hill tribe’s people of the north. In one year, 14 churches and 16 meeting places have been started. Before that, we only had four churches in the area. All we needed were the funds to get things going.
In addition to all the churches, Pastor Timothy has begun taking care of orphans. He now provides for 15 orphans. Many more have applied to come, but there are no funds to take care of all of them. People have given funds to help build an orphan home, but the Pastor and his wife feed and provide for the orphans out of their own resources.
Two young girls recently joined the group. They were found sleeping in a chicken coop covered with sores and rashes. Several of the children have been abandoned. No one knows if they have parents or where they might be. Some have been brutally abused by relatives. But now the children look happy and healthy. They have a one hour worship service every evening and help in the church and have their chores at the orphanage. These will be the next generation of pastors and leaders in the north.
MISSIONS ENCOUNTER 2006
Every year we host a two week training course for people considering missions in Thailand. This year we had 22 people come for the training in Bangkok.
BUILDING
Please continue to pray for our building. All the paper work is done, but the government has not yet given us permission to start. We are only waiting for the paperwork to go through the bureaucracy. We now have a $350,000 loan to begin building, but we still need to raise about $200,000 more to complete the building.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please pray for several new English teachers to come soon. The school has grown to serve almost 800 students and our second Bangkok branch is also growing and in need of more teachers.
Please pray that the government will approve our application for a Foursquare Foundation very, very, very soon.
We have applied for a building permit to begin construction on our new facility. Please pray that the application will be approved. We still need to raise $550,000 to build a seven story facility that will house two churches, WorldBase, Language school and several social ministries and offices.
Please pray for our language teachers by name: Anna, Evan, Gary, Josh, Michel-lyn, Paula, Ty, Kelly, and Angie. Pray that our teachers would develop friendships quickly and be effective in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray that these “seekers” and new believers can be discipled in the Thai church.
Please pray for the upcoming Eastern Conference of Foursquare Churches Convention held in Bangkok this November, 2006. Our church is organizing this international conference which is open to everyone. The cost is $150, which includes hotel, food, and seminars. Dr. Jack Hayford is the main speaker. Please pray that God would give us wisdom and discernment in all matters. For more information, please see our website.
Pray for the new Ram 2 church and its pastor, Max.
Continue to pray for our health and continued protection, especially as we travel.
Let us know how we can pray for you.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Bruce's Blog
What a fantastic week. People’s lives changed, salvation, water baptisms, Holy Spirit baptisms, prophecies, healings, teaching, preaching, sharing, giving, meeting new friends, growing, traveling, eating, digging, stringing, praying, singing, meeting, greeting, bandaging, sweating, playing (with children), but not a lot of sleeping. Sleep is optional.
What can I say?
Saturday we rounded up our trip with a tour of a large tangerine farm (the owner built the hotel we were staying in.) Our tour guide is the Hotel manager. We were kind of expecting to trudge around in muddy orchard but we had a nice duck/truck that drove us to various viewpoints. It was in a huge valley, incredibly meticulously landscaped, a beautiful place.
In the afternoon we had a 3 hour service and pig roast to dedicate the church in the Akha hilltribe we built last year. Laurie did the main preaching but several others also spoke, the ribbon cutting was supposed to be Laurie and Bruce but we had Tom the Lahu pastor who lives with and is the pastor of the Akha tribe, and one old person and one young person who help last year. We all put our hands on the scissors and cut it – that was cool. There were dances and songs, and talks, and prayers, and laying on of hands. Since this building was built (the first for Grace Church) they have built 5 other hilltribe churches. Timothy and Fong have also built an orphanage (they call it a children’s center) that can handle up to 40 children. And this year our team started the 7th church building and the largest.
The needs here are great, Breaking into the kingdom of the snake is very difficult. The gospel has been here for 190 years but not a lot to show. The Tribal people who are ethnically not Thai and not Buddhist have responded to the gospel. For the Thai’s what has started in the mountains will sweep down the valleys and spread. Hilltribe people learn ‘the way’ and English from the missionaries and the Thai government teaches them the Thai language. These second class citizens become first class pastors, teachers, and reaching the lost in Thailand. This along with orphanages (Thais don’t adopt and pretty much only Christian organizations take care of them.), God is doing powerful things here.
We also come across children who have fallen between the cracks of Thai society; parents have ‘green cards’ to work legally in Thailand but their children are illegal and so cannot go to school. Grace church is trying to work out a way to help these students with a school to allow them to get a complete education. (They get none now.) On the other hand, the orphanage is for the poorest children in the worst situations of abuse, poverty, lack of education. For now Timothy has limited the numbers to about 20 because he just doesn’t have the funding for more, but he also needs to establish the children’s center with the basics like a refrigerator, a Clothes washing machine; then teachers, cooks, groundskeepers, transportation. The dining hall still needs to be built and the list goes on.
There is also a bible training center (maybe some day a college) in the church with young and old, pastors and lay, who want to learn more of God.
Sunday, we attended church at Grace church in Fang (population 400,000) several spoke but Pastor David from Singapore preached in English and translated himself to Chinese and Fong translated to Thai. “cross over to the other side to where God is working and he has a plan for us.” Was the topic Mark 6:45 and 53 on. And acts 16:9 and 2 chron 16:9, “if you do the ridiculous he will do the impossible.”
We caravanned to Chiang Mai. Tonight (Sunday and tomorrow) we are at the www.raminglodge.com (1200 baht per room which is about $30). It is midnight and the youth and Angie are out shopping, the rest of us have wisely put our heads on pillows. We’ve invited and Timothy and his family have come along for couple days of relaxation.
We will be flying back to Bangkok on Tuesday morning and besides some shopping and maybe Thai massage, we hope to also attend English classes in Bangkok. And leave for home on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Bruce and Laurie will travel on to the south for R&R see http://www.heimbig.wsu.edu/schedule/
What can I say?
Saturday we rounded up our trip with a tour of a large tangerine farm (the owner built the hotel we were staying in.) Our tour guide is the Hotel manager. We were kind of expecting to trudge around in muddy orchard but we had a nice duck/truck that drove us to various viewpoints. It was in a huge valley, incredibly meticulously landscaped, a beautiful place.
In the afternoon we had a 3 hour service and pig roast to dedicate the church in the Akha hilltribe we built last year. Laurie did the main preaching but several others also spoke, the ribbon cutting was supposed to be Laurie and Bruce but we had Tom the Lahu pastor who lives with and is the pastor of the Akha tribe, and one old person and one young person who help last year. We all put our hands on the scissors and cut it – that was cool. There were dances and songs, and talks, and prayers, and laying on of hands. Since this building was built (the first for Grace Church) they have built 5 other hilltribe churches. Timothy and Fong have also built an orphanage (they call it a children’s center) that can handle up to 40 children. And this year our team started the 7th church building and the largest.
The needs here are great, Breaking into the kingdom of the snake is very difficult. The gospel has been here for 190 years but not a lot to show. The Tribal people who are ethnically not Thai and not Buddhist have responded to the gospel. For the Thai’s what has started in the mountains will sweep down the valleys and spread. Hilltribe people learn ‘the way’ and English from the missionaries and the Thai government teaches them the Thai language. These second class citizens become first class pastors, teachers, and reaching the lost in Thailand. This along with orphanages (Thais don’t adopt and pretty much only Christian organizations take care of them.), God is doing powerful things here.
We also come across children who have fallen between the cracks of Thai society; parents have ‘green cards’ to work legally in Thailand but their children are illegal and so cannot go to school. Grace church is trying to work out a way to help these students with a school to allow them to get a complete education. (They get none now.) On the other hand, the orphanage is for the poorest children in the worst situations of abuse, poverty, lack of education. For now Timothy has limited the numbers to about 20 because he just doesn’t have the funding for more, but he also needs to establish the children’s center with the basics like a refrigerator, a Clothes washing machine; then teachers, cooks, groundskeepers, transportation. The dining hall still needs to be built and the list goes on.
There is also a bible training center (maybe some day a college) in the church with young and old, pastors and lay, who want to learn more of God.
Sunday, we attended church at Grace church in Fang (population 400,000) several spoke but Pastor David from Singapore preached in English and translated himself to Chinese and Fong translated to Thai. “cross over to the other side to where God is working and he has a plan for us.” Was the topic Mark 6:45 and 53 on. And acts 16:9 and 2 chron 16:9, “if you do the ridiculous he will do the impossible.”
We caravanned to Chiang Mai. Tonight (Sunday and tomorrow) we are at the www.raminglodge.com (1200 baht per room which is about $30). It is midnight and the youth and Angie are out shopping, the rest of us have wisely put our heads on pillows. We’ve invited and Timothy and his family have come along for couple days of relaxation.
We will be flying back to Bangkok on Tuesday morning and besides some shopping and maybe Thai massage, we hope to also attend English classes in Bangkok. And leave for home on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Bruce and Laurie will travel on to the south for R&R see http://www.heimbig.wsu.edu/schedule/
By Abby
So I got to hang out with the kids from the orphanage for a few days. They are very special. I can tell that they need love, but there are just not enough people to give them attention. I also really liked going to the hill tribe where the guy received his hearing after we prayed and we also prayed for a little boy who I have faith will be healed if I continue to pray for him. One other highlight for me has been spending time with Bekah, KC, and Rosie, and Bruce. They cut my hair! Also I like being with Tyler and my Daddy.
There’s a lot of other great things and this trip has been very good for me. I’ve begun to consider a longer mission trip here sometime except Pastor Timothy wants me to get married first so it could be awhile. Anyways I love you mom and Hannah and everyone else.
There’s a lot of other great things and this trip has been very good for me. I’ve begun to consider a longer mission trip here sometime except Pastor Timothy wants me to get married first so it could be awhile. Anyways I love you mom and Hannah and everyone else.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Myanmar Trip - Jan & Mark
Jan Busboom: On Wednesday, March 15, Mark Reynolds and Jan Busboom from the PFC Thai team traveled with Alan, Matthew and Vincent from the Singapore team by van to Mai Sae (about a 2.25 h drive) Pastor P. met us at the Wang Thong Hotel (Very nice) and we walked across the border into the Union of Myanmar. The border crossing was reasonably uneventful:
1. Made 1 copy of passport (It cost only 15 Baht for all 5 passports)
2. Go to Thai immigration point and they just ask check your passport and ask if you are just going for the day
3. Continue to Myanmar check point. You have cross from the left side to the right side of the street in no man’s land. At Myanmar immigration you go into an office and you can pay them U.S. $5 or 250 Thai Baht. They keep your passport. We continued into Myanmar.
In no man’s land and as soon as you cross into Myanmar there will be many people there to sell you things or offer you services (like telling you that you need to cross the street in no man’s land. In Myanmar we took a songthaew (taxi truck) that Pastor P. had hired for 400 baht for the day. We first went to the church and orphanage (which is officially a free boarding house for children without parents or parents who cannot support them). The older children were in school, but there were 20 younger children who sang several powerful praise songs and then prayed powerfully for us. At least one professor was weeping. It’s an awesome sight to see 20 two through five year olds with their hands raised to heaven singing and praying with all that is within them.
Then each of the visitors spoke a word of encouragement to them, Mark taught them a couple of fun kid’s songs and the Singaporeans taught them “I Love You Jesus Deep Down in My Heart”. Then we passed out small gifts like bubbles, candy, face paint and stickers. The children love the gifts but they are very thankful just to have you there. They love to shake hands with you and give great hugs. They are indeed beautiful. Pastor P. then gave us a tour of the facility. They have 44 orphans. They have an elevated pig pen that they feed leftover food and a little corn. They provide much of the protein the kids consume.
We then traveled to the Bible school that was closed down last spring. Pastor P. believes he will get government approval to reopen in June. He had 40 graduates of the school who have all gone on to plant churches and the government now believes him that his school is devoted to ministry and is not a potential political enemy. He will welcome visitors to help teach at the school and to conduct training for pastors in Myanmar.
We ate lunch at a Burmese restaurant, drove to the Buddhist temple overlooking the city and then visited the “long neck” village that has received Christ. Then we crossed back over the border.
At Myanmar Immigration they gave us back our stamped passports. At Thai immigration we had to fill out arrival cards.
On the road back to Fang at a check point they stopped us and they checked all of our bags and checked the Singaporeans passports but not the US passports. It was obvious Mark and I were not illegal immigrants from China.
1. Made 1 copy of passport (It cost only 15 Baht for all 5 passports)
2. Go to Thai immigration point and they just ask check your passport and ask if you are just going for the day
3. Continue to Myanmar check point. You have cross from the left side to the right side of the street in no man’s land. At Myanmar immigration you go into an office and you can pay them U.S. $5 or 250 Thai Baht. They keep your passport. We continued into Myanmar.
In no man’s land and as soon as you cross into Myanmar there will be many people there to sell you things or offer you services (like telling you that you need to cross the street in no man’s land. In Myanmar we took a songthaew (taxi truck) that Pastor P. had hired for 400 baht for the day. We first went to the church and orphanage (which is officially a free boarding house for children without parents or parents who cannot support them). The older children were in school, but there were 20 younger children who sang several powerful praise songs and then prayed powerfully for us. At least one professor was weeping. It’s an awesome sight to see 20 two through five year olds with their hands raised to heaven singing and praying with all that is within them.
Then each of the visitors spoke a word of encouragement to them, Mark taught them a couple of fun kid’s songs and the Singaporeans taught them “I Love You Jesus Deep Down in My Heart”. Then we passed out small gifts like bubbles, candy, face paint and stickers. The children love the gifts but they are very thankful just to have you there. They love to shake hands with you and give great hugs. They are indeed beautiful. Pastor P. then gave us a tour of the facility. They have 44 orphans. They have an elevated pig pen that they feed leftover food and a little corn. They provide much of the protein the kids consume.
We then traveled to the Bible school that was closed down last spring. Pastor P. believes he will get government approval to reopen in June. He had 40 graduates of the school who have all gone on to plant churches and the government now believes him that his school is devoted to ministry and is not a potential political enemy. He will welcome visitors to help teach at the school and to conduct training for pastors in Myanmar.
We ate lunch at a Burmese restaurant, drove to the Buddhist temple overlooking the city and then visited the “long neck” village that has received Christ. Then we crossed back over the border.
At Myanmar Immigration they gave us back our stamped passports. At Thai immigration we had to fill out arrival cards.
On the road back to Fang at a check point they stopped us and they checked all of our bags and checked the Singaporeans passports but not the US passports. It was obvious Mark and I were not illegal immigrants from China.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Sunday - Pictures
Bruce: Today was a very busy day. We traveled together today. We started our day at 8 am for breakfast with devotions and communion then on to Pastor Timothy’s church in Fang. It was a terrific service and Dr. Jan Busboom spoke. The message was well received. After lunch we went to the Queen’s school for poor children. This boarding school is one of the places we visited at Christmas with youth 2 years ago. After our skits, 2 years ago, several Christian students came and begged that someone would come regularly to pastor them, it took a few weeks to organize but Pastor Timothy (or his youth leader Thumb) now go and have church service with them every Sunday afternoon. The students want a church building on campus, and Timothy has now arranged that a church can be built IF there is a full time missionary there to teach English.
Mark and Abby spoke to the group of about 40 Christians and several non-Christians (high school mostly). This is the largest gathering of Christians I’ve seen in my 4 visits to Thailand. Mark and Abby did a fantastic job and several accepted Christ for the first time and several more, about 12, rededicated their lives. There also were about 6 students who were supposed to be baptized after the service and Timothy’s wife Fong explained what it meant to be baptized, I think she thought more would respond positively but instead when they heard what baptism was about then 3 of the students decided not to get baptized.
We wrapped up the worship service and drove about 2 miles on a VERY rough road to a reservoir that I thought was partially filled up but in fact the lake was covered with huge sections of floating plants supporting small trees. We found a good spot for the baptism and one of the Thai youths went in to clear away the scum. Then Timothy and KC went in to do the baptism, they were both pretty wobbly since the bottom of the lake was large stone.
Michael decided to get a good spot to video tape and jumped to one of the ‘islands’, without realizing that it wouldn’t support him until it was too late. He was quickly up to his knees, he turned and headed for the bank, but it was too late. Now he was over his waist and about to nosedive his only choice was to support himself with his hands, unfortunately he had his DV camera in one hand and it got baptized, we are now laying on hands that it be revived but it isn’t looking good. Michael on the other hand merely got a wet body and slightly bruised ego.
At any rate 3 people were baptized by Timothy with KC’s help.
Next it was off to the children’s center (Timothy’s orphanage) which is just getting started with about 15 kids. It is about 10 miles in the country and property adjoins Timothy’s house. When the school term ends this week he will be getting about another 20 students.
It was here that we learned that we could either build a kitchen and dining room or start building the church. This will be the second Grace church as Timothy will continue to meet in town as well. This church will be much bigger and more expensive to build than the hill tribe church we built last year. Even though we won’t be able to finish the project we decided to start it. We plan to get the land leveled and the foundation poured and the large concrete posts in place that will form the structure of the building. We also will be building a concrete post fence around the property. At 65’ by 30 feet of sanctuary this may be the largest church in the Fang area and will mostly be attended by the hilltribe people (I don’t recall which one) who work in the tangerine groves in the area. They currently have no church building and no pastor.
Next (about 6pm) we traveled to the Akha hilltribe where Dana, Mandy, Dan, Patty, Bruce and Laurie built a church building last year. The youth ALSO visited this tribe at Christmas 2 years ago. It was VERY exciting to Bruce and Laurie to see these people again and they recognized us and greeted us all very warmly. The tribe has a full time pastor (Tom, who is Lahu). Laurie introduced us and thanked them for their hospitality. Michael spoke and thanked them for being some of the people who so positively affected his son James who was part of the youth team 2 years ago. Tyler preached about the need to reach out to others (this tribe is all Christian). Timothy also preached to us in English and in Thai to the tribe. As we concluded they served us a wonderful spread of fresh roasted peanuts, squash, tea, some sort of spicy pickled herb, and awesome bananas (now the youth know what Laurie and I were raving about)
Next Saturday, they will slaughter a pig and we will dedicate the church. We were back at the hotel, had dinner and our summary session and in bed by 11 pm and everyone was told to be ready for breakfast at 8 am.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Arrival in Bangkok
We arrived in good condition. Everyone is well. It is hot here. Took the grand of bangkok tour. It is 5:00pm and youth are now going to university for evangelism and bring people from college to this evenings chuch service at 6 where we adults will re-join them.
Everyone is doing well. The heat is more of problem for some than others, but now everyone knows to drink LOTS of water.
I'll try to upload some pictures in the next day or so.
thanks for the comments.
Bruce
Everyone is doing well. The heat is more of problem for some than others, but now everyone knows to drink LOTS of water.
I'll try to upload some pictures in the next day or so.
thanks for the comments.
Bruce
Monday, March 06, 2006
Team Thailand 2006
We are working hard on the final details of our trip. Everyone is very excited. Our primary project will be either completing an Orphanage in Fang, Thailand (actually about 15 Miles out of town) or helping Pastor Timothy Tang build the foursquare church building in Fang. Maybe both. We'll be working with another youth team from Singapore. We'll also be running 1 or more encounters for the Thais and the Singapore team, and hopefully with at least one Hill Tribe. We'll be update this blog while we are in Thailand
Youth will be doing skits (pantomime) for each of our encounter topics to help make things more visual. Youth are also prepared with 3 songs that have hand motions, and have prepared their personal testimony and brief sermon.
We are working hard on the final details of our trip. Everyone is very excited. Our primary project will be either completing an Orphanage in Fang, Thailand (actually about 15 Miles out of town) or helping Pastor Timothy Tang build the foursquare church building in Fang. Maybe both. We'll be working with another youth team from Singapore. We'll also be running 1 or more encounters for the Thais and the Singapore team, and hopefully with at least one Hill Tribe. We'll be update this blog while we are in Thailand
Youth will be doing skits (pantomime) for each of our encounter topics to help make things more visual. Youth are also prepared with 3 songs that have hand motions, and have prepared their personal testimony and brief sermon.
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