Prayer and Praise for March, 2013

Graduation time—to God be the glory!  Throughout the entire weekend of activities for our 9 graduates, I was continually impressed by the thought that God has done so much to bring these young people to reach the significant milestone of graduation.  Let me briefly share each graduate’s story with you.  Two of our graduates were among the first children to live at the House of Love (HOL) and had faced the loss of parents, friends, and housemates in the early days of our home (we had 29 deaths in the first 4 years of the HOL).  Yet by God’s grace, these girls have remained in good health and have graduated—one will be heading for university pursuing an education degree with a concentration in languages (Japanese and English) and the other will be studying for her Bachelor’s degree in Theology.  Two of our girls who are deaf had never had the opportunity to learn until coming to the school for the deaf in Chiang Mai.  One had lived in a remote village without access to any school, and the other had attended school in her hometown, but was placed in the back of a room with a coloring book because the teacher did not know how to teach someone who was deaf.  Both girls have now graduated from 9^th grade, and one looks forward to completing her high school through 12^th grade, and the other is going to study at a vocational school.  Some of our graduates were “throwaway kids” without any educational opportunities before coming to HOL, and I rejoice when I see the pride they each have at their accomplishments.  Two of the boys who just finished 9^th grade are planning to go to vocational school.  Another young man has completed his associate’s degree and is continuing to study the Korean language with a goal to move to Korea.  And one of the top students at her school’s graduation is a girl whose parents had her begging on the streets as a 5 year old.  Finally, the 9^th graduate is a girl who survived toddlerhood because her older brothers cared for her, one going to school to bring home the free lunch each day to share with the family, and the other brother serving as nurse to his dying mother and little sister.  Now a young women, she has a dream to become an architect, and will start her program in May!  I wanted to share about each student—because it is through the financial support and prayers of God’s people that these children have been successful in reaching their graduation dates.  And each is continuing on with studies to reach a unique dream—thank you for your part in these lives!!  I hope you enjoy the photos from our times of celebrating our new graduates!

·         As I write this letter, the Christian Center for the Development of People with Disabilities (CDPD) is having a staff retreat where they are praying about future plans and revisiting their vision and mission statements.  Please join us in praying for this important time in setting the direction of this project.

·         The House of Love (HOL) is finishing up final exams—and all our students are looking forward to summer break until mid-May!  Please pray for our staff as they make arrangements for the kids who can visit relatives, as well as make plans for those who will be staying at the HOL for the entire break.  Pray also for the internships that our older students will need to complete.

·         We have a team coming from the US in April—please pray for the camp they will do with our HOL kids and for the work projects they do together.

·         In February, I sent an email note about the loss of two of our daycare students and another of their friends when they drowned in a pond near their home.  Thank you for praying--our House of Blessing (HOB) staff has been able to encourage the families with a financial gift and with rice, and have been able to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the community.  Please continue to be praying for the safety of our children as the hot season is upon us.

·         More prayer needed!!  In January, we mentioned that some of the Thai citizenship laws are changing.  We are very hopeful that with these changes, Duan and Da might be able to receive identity cards in the near future.  Please pray specifically for them (this card will enable them both to freely study and work in Thailand).