Prayer and Praise for July, 2012

 

This month, I wanted to focus on the House of Blessing (HOB) staff who work with the nearly 50 children who come daily to the center from 5 different urban communities.  These three women are amazing!  Each has been with the center for the majority of its operation.  Khruu (the Thai word for “teacher”) Kanchana is Lahu and the head teacher.  I have been so impressed with her ability to keep so many little ones on track.  Once they graduate, K. Kanchana maintains a relationship with each family to ensure that every student is continuing on in the Thai school system.  I believe it is her dedication that helps us to have an 88% rate of students continuing their studies after finishing at the HOB!  Khruu Rae is Karen, and is a dynamo who has the children singing, dancing and enjoying learning.  She plays the guitar, is a marvelous story teller, and her English is good so that when visitors comes, K. Rae can connect with them easily.  Finally, the center is blessed with a faithful cook, Khun Wilai.  She prepares nutritious and varied foods that even 4 year olds like!  Please join me in praising God for bringing these women here to the HOB, and pray for them as they serve our children.

Praise and Prayer Points:

·         The children studying at the Center for the Development of People with Disabilities (CDPD) have grown in numbers—and there are now 25 students in the school prep program who come daily.  It is wonderful to see the students’ interest in coming.  We have even hired a songtaew (a truck with benches in the back used here for public transportation) to help families get their students to the center.

·         The school year is off to a great start for everyone at the House of Love (HOL) –thank you for praying!  I have noticed more interest in diligently finishing homework and studying harder.  But with the praise, I also ask for prayer for wisdom as we parent such a large group of teens and tweens!  This is an on-going need (and I am guessing if you have ever had even one teenager, you can understand why we constantly need God’s help and strength!) 

·         Please be praying for Khun Nok, the coordinator for the HOL who has the honor of being selected to be a chaperone for a Thai girl who is attending an AIDS conference in the US.  This girl isn’t part of our HOL family, but rather is a part of the network of groups who receive AIDS medications that we belong to.  Nok will translate and guide her during the seminar.  Then, after Nok returns from the US, she will immediately go to Bangkok for a 3 week seminar sponsored by the Thai government to certify the child welfare guardians for homes like ours.  Once the course is complete, Nok can legally fill this position for three years.

·         I am pleased to report that the staff is embracing learning sign language, and we are able to have a sign language tutor come every Friday.  The staff has a real interest in communicating with our kids!  Also, on Saturday we have a tutor come, and many of the kids are also learning to sign.  With 6 children who are deaf—I am glad to see this effort by our HOL family to embrace the ability to talk with them.

·         With that praise comes a prayer request, too!  While the three new children are adjusting well, I have noticed it is more of a struggle welcoming them in for the kids who are already here.  Will you pray for God’s grace and love to mark all of our relationships?  Thank you!

·         Rejoice with me that my family has welcomed 2 new great-nieces and another should have arrived by the time you read this.  I would like to make plans to visit them soon!