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Graduation at Chiang Mai’s School for the Deaf—Bua and Gop’s fathers were able to join in the celebration. Pictured here with me is also one of the girls’ teachers plus one of the CDPD staff.
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Khun Saylo, director of the CDPD, also came for the celebration. Afterwards, the families and some of the CDPD and IMEMF staff went to Pizza Hut for lunch (the girls’ choice) followed by ice cream at Swenson’s.
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Sabaithip is pictured in the middle of the group at her graduation. To her right is Bancha, a boy from the CDPD who graduated from the 6th grade of the blind school. Because so few students who are blind pursue higher education, a ceremony is held to ma
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Another of the CDPD’s students distinguished himself in sports at a recent competition in Chiang Mai for the disabled. Here, Sanan holds his silver medal awarded for being on the winning soccer team.
Integrated Ministries for Ethnic Minorities Foundation (IMEMF)
Prayer and Praise for April, 2013
More graduations—this time we are celebrating the graduations of our students with disabilities—including our first student from the blind school, Sabaithip, and 2 of our House of Love girls from the deaf school, Bua and Gop. And this really is a celebration of our CDPD program and the work of the staff to help children with disabilities receive proper schooling! I hope you enjoy the pictures of these special moments. This praise also brings prayer requests with it. Bua will continue in the academic tract of the deaf school, working towards high school graduation. This will be a challenge, and she would appreciate your prayers. Gop will go to vocational school to study home economics. While this school has had deaf students in the past, Gop will be the only non-hearing student at this time, so please pray for her adjustment—and for friends! And Sabaithip has a major life shift, as she has been accepted into a well respected program to learn Thai traditional massage in Bangkok. The plan is for her to study for 3 months, and then she will be placed in a job in Bangkok. This program is used to blind students, and Sabaithip will have a sighted helper, but as you can imagine, Bangkok will be different, and your prayers for good adjustment and safety are appreciated!
· We have welcomed a new staff person to the Christian Center for the Development of People with Disabilities (CDPD). Please be praying for as he adjusts to a new ministry.
· The House of Love (HOL) is looking forward to welcoming a team of 18 from OH from April 2-9. The team will do a camp with our HOL family, and everyone will work together to do a ministry project in one of the urban communities where our daycare kids live. Please pray for good spiritual renewal, good health, and good interactions for all!
· Our House of Blessing (HOB) staff is working hard in the urban communities in these next weeks to interview students for the coming school year starting in May. Please pray for stamina in the heat!
· Please join in praying for our House of Blessing (HOB) teacher, Khruu Rae. She and her husband were expecting their second child in early April, only to learn that the unborn child had died this past week. Please pray for God’s comfort for Rae and her family.
· Did you ever dread receiving report cards at the end of a semester? What a contrast to what I experienced this week when the HOL students started receiving their grades and wanted to crowd into the office to see their results! Excitement! One girl who received a 3.68 was so excited at her success—and I rejoice with her, and each of the children who are working hard at their studies. Thank you so much for your prayer and financial support that makes academic success a possibility for these ethnic minority kids!
· Chiang Mai is having a lot of air pollution because of rice fields being burned in preparation for new crops. Our kids and staff are staying healthy—but I do ask for prayer for continued good health.