Integrated Ministries for Ethnic Minorities Foundation (IMEMF)

Prayer and Praise for December, 2012

I don’t know about you, but I find December to be especially full of activities and lots to do—I am guessing this is probably true for many.  So in the midst of the busy times, I thought this was a perfect time to share another one of the testimonies from one of the young women at the House of Love.  Honestly, when I see what God is doing in the lives of our children here, it makes me pause and give Him praise and thanks for His great love for each person.  And that is truly what Christmas is all about—God’s great love! 

 

(Pai’s background includes a difficult and fear-filled childhood of neglect and rejection by her mother and physical abuse by her step mother.)

When I came to live at the House of Love I began to know God better because we had worship every evening. I had known a little about God from before, but I had never been serious about God.  Shortly after coming to the House of Love I began to stray from the path of God.  I began to do rebellious things.  I did not go to school.  I would leave school with my friends to have fun.  I was almost expelled from school many times.  Then Kim, the House Father, and many others went to the school and asked them to please let me continue to study.  At that time I was very embarrassed that I was doing rebellious things.  I felt that others, and even God, were disappointed in me.  I did this so many times that I no longer felt that I could stay at the House of Love.  But Kim and the other staff gave me another chance and I knew that God had also forgiven me.  I had never thought that I would become a rebellious child like this.  In the past I had been a cute child, one that everyone loved and felt sorry for.  I felt sad but I could not go back and redo what I had already done.  I had to go forward from that point.  At that time I did not dare talk to anyone; I did not know where to start.  When I was 18 years old I received baptism and began studying more about God.  I began to know that it was only God who could change me.  I began praying every night and had experiences of answered prayer.  For example, after receiving Jesus the first thing I prayed for was that my stepmother would love me just as she loved her own children.  I believe that God has answered that prayer.  I went home one time, and my stepmother gave me a hug.  In all the years she had raised me, she had never given me a hug.  That time when I went home, my stepmother did not scold me. Whatever I wanted to eat, she would fix it for me; she did everything just as she did for her own children.  She loved me more than she ever had.  It caused me to feel touched by the love of God.  After that I began praying about many things with God and I am thankful every time that God answers my prayers.  Since that time I pray prayers of thanksgiving, no matter if things are good or bad in my life.  I believe that God knows and understands all things, including our thoughts.  God knows.

 

And here are our praises and prayers for December:

·         I praise God for the staff at the Christian Center for the Development of People with Disabilities (CDPD).  Each person is committed to advocating for our children with disabilities. I wanted to share with you one of the strategies used for advocacy.  Recently, the staff took our children to visit government offices in the city of Mae Sariang.  The group worked together to note how accessible or inaccessible a building was (wheel chairs had to be carried up steps in several places.)  A report was made, and given to government officials so that they are aware of the current state, and what ideas can be implemented to make government buildings more user-friendly for our families with disabilities.

·         Thank you for praying this past month specifically for Da, the first child that came to the House of Love.  She seems happier and more up-beat with life these last few days.  I would appreciate continued prayer as she may need to have her medications adjusted, which is always difficult.

·         Thank you for praying for our House of Blessing intern, Casey, who experienced a dog attack that left her with 20 stitches.  She has healed well!  Please join us in praying for Casey as she finishes her internship with us and returns to her studies at Azusa Pacific.

·         We are getting excited for Christmas, and invite you to be praying for us this next month of celebrations.  The House of Love (HOL) will go to Grace International School (GIS) for a party with the high school students on Dec. 1.  Then the IMEMF staff will join the HOL family and the children from the House of Blessing (HOB) daycare for a musical program and lunch together on Dec. 10 (a Thai holiday).  The HOB children will also go to GIS for a Christmas party with the 5^th graders there—our 7^th year of bringing these children together to mutually bless one another!  Our Thai church that the HOL family attends will have a special Christmas program on the16th.  And then I will travel to Mae Sariang to celebrate Christmas with the CDPD families on Dec. 22.  For the 25^th—because it is a Tuesday this year, some of our kids will have to be in school, but we will find time for special gifts and share a special meal together.