Integrated Ministries for Ethnic Minorities Foundation (IMEMF)

Prayer and Praise for January, 2013

Anniversaries are a good time of reflection and thanksgiving, and January marks the 3 year celebration of opening our new home.  The children have never got over the wonder of living in such a beautiful place, and still daily thank God for His good provision of this home.  In the last 3 years, we have enjoyed fish from our pond, lots of bananas from our own trees, and rice from our fields—thanksgiving is a way of life for our House of Love family!  Back on the day of the house opening, Jan. 23, 2010, we also broke ground for the boys’ dorm and daycare building, which we started using in October of that same year.  (Having the larger building meant our daycare program could grow from 35 to over 50 children!!).  And in these last 3 years, we have since added a basketball court (with lights!), a 4 apartment women’s building, and a covered playground area for our daycare kids!  It seems a miracle how so many have helped to make this home, and we praise God for involving the larger family of God to care for us here in Chiang Mai.  Thank you for your part in prayer and giving—you are a blessing.  Please read on for some specific prayer and praises for the past month.

·         The Christian Center for the Development of People with Disabilities (CDPD) had sad news as one of the children from the school prep program, a girl named Siriwan, died after Christmas from complications of pneumonia.  This seemed so quick to me, as when I arrived in Mae Sariang on the 22^nd, Siriwan ran up to me and gave me a big hug.  Please be praying for Saylo and all of the CDPD staff, families and children as they grieve for this precious girl.

·         The House of Love (HOL) students are facing the last month before they will go into year-end finals.  Please pray each one will finish well.  We also ask you continue to pray for those who are graduating and have decisions to make about school (we have two in 12^th grade deciding on universities, and our six 9^th graders are deciding whether to pursue vocational education or stay in regular school with a goal of university.)

·         House of Blessing (HOB) daycare students enjoyed a break after their Christmas celebration.  Many of the children were able to return to their villages and to celebrate in traditional ways (like enjoying new rice with their extended families.)

·         We had wonderful programs for Christmas at the CDPD, HOL and HOB.  I praise God for the clear message of God’s love in sending Jesus that was presented at each one! I hope you enjoy the photos from the day’s events.  We are so grateful for the extra financial gifts from some special international friends who provided for personal gifts for each child, plus special foods for our celebrations!  We were also able to use some of the money for new Bibles for our HOL kids—wonderful!

·         Another prayer request—some of the Thai citizenship laws are changing, and we are hopeful that maybe some of our seven HOL kids may be able to receive identity cards in the near future.  Please pray for favor from the government in this area.

·         Personally, I was able to enjoy 5 days at a beach in Thailand with an IM coworker.  Having a much needed break in a beautiful setting was a wonderful gift!  It has been years since I simply had a time away in Thailand with no agenda, and I found it to be restful and restoring!