Integrated Ministries for Ethnic Minorities Foundation (IMEMF)

Prayer and Praise for September, 2010

Many of you know that the Thai royal family is highly revered in Thailand—so much so that Father’s Day and Mother’s Day are the King and Queen’s birthdays.  On August 12th, Queen Sirikit celebrated turning 78, and the entire country celebrated motherhood.  For the motherless House of Love children, you may think that this would be a difficult day—but instead the children had a wonderful day celebrating God’s good provision of care even in the midst of losing their mothers.  The children gave testimonies at church, and this was a very meaningful time for me to be honored on this special day.  Please remember to be praying for Khun Amnuayporn and me as we parent so many children!                                                                                                                                                                              

Praise and Prayer Points:

·         This month, I finished writing some stories about lives that have been impacted by our ministries in Thailand for the International Missions office.  They will be putting these stories and requests for prayer and funding on their website.  Please join us in prayer that God will raise up churches and individuals who will want to underwrite these needs.

·         Thank you for your prayers for all of the children at the House of Love (HOL).  I am reminded that these young people are not yet what God will have them to be—and it is encouraging for me to see God working out His good timing in bringing them to maturity.   One of the young women who was having difficulty adhering to house rules has come to us, apologizing for her behavior.  She was also able to return home on Mother’s Day and ask her stepmother’s forgiveness, and spend the day helping her in the fields and house.  She said she is grateful for God’s forgiveness and His true promise of restoration, and we really do see a new heart.  

·         Please pray for us as we look for one more HOL house mother to hire in the next weeks.

·         Buildings galore—and praise galore!  Give thanks with us that the 2 women who live at the House of Love have moved into their new home (the women’s apartments were completed ahead of schedule!)  The boys’ dorm/daycare and classroom building is still on schedule to open in October—and we just received the wonderful news that the First Baptist Church in New London, NH is going to underwrite the additional furnishings we need for this new building!  Another praise from the Christian Center for the Development of People with Disabilities (CDPD):  our director, Khun Saylo, has been approved to oversee the process for building a vocational training center and handicraft store in Mae Sariang.  Please keep praying for our grant to be approved by the Japanese government so that we can start this building project.

·         Another praise from the CDPD—the Thai school that has been designated for the school integration program now has a separate building which enables the special ed teachers to have space to work with the children during those class times where they are not integrated into the regular classroom.

·         The 10 new House of Blessing daycare students are fitting in so well—thank you for praying for them (and for the teachers who work with all the children).  Please pray for good health for all the daycare children—the rainy season and all the mosquitoes bring lots of diseases.

·         The Health Project teams are starting special survey work for UNESCO—with a former intern of ours!  Please pray for them as they collect data about perinatal care and citizenship issues with ethnic minority women. 

·         As you may have heard, my mother passed away on August 23 as I was traveling back to the US to be with her.  Please be praying for good family time as my 6 siblings and stepfather and I grieve her loss, as well as be praying for all that must be done.  Pray too for Khun Amnuayporn who will have extra duties in my absence.   Please pray for me as a return to Florida on September 23rd with my siblings to start the process of sorting through my mother’s belonging and as a I return to Thailand on September 30th.