Integrated Ministries for Ethnic Minorities Foundation (IMEMF)

Prayer and Praise for June, 2013

 

I hope you have been encouraged as I have been by our recent graduations, and how well our House of Love (HOL) students are doing as they reach for their academic dreams.  Yet what truly has eternal consequences is when our HOL kids make a profession of faith.  Here is the testimony of Ju—let’s rejoice!  First, a bit of background—Ju had had difficult childhood because of her HIV status, and a year ago, shared her story with friends within our Hope for Hilltribes network.  Many of those friends wrote letters to encourage her to make a decision to follow Christ.  Here is what Ju said:

I did not like it when people would ask me when I was going to receive baptism; when was I going to receive Christ into my life.  I felt that it was though people were trying to force me, but in reality it was said out of concern for me.  I began to ask myself, what am I waiting for?  I realized how many times I had done wrong before God and had done wrong to others, but God was still reaching out His hand to help take my sin away.  I realized that God always shows love and great concern to people.  There is no one who would forgive me in all the things that I have done wrong except God.  Many people might look at me in a strange way.  But this only made me realize that God did not look down on me and God did not hate me, not even a little bit.  God’s way of looking at me never changes.  God does not keep a record of my sins. God is always ready to accept me when I am feeling bad.  This lets me know that it is only God who cares for me and protects me.  This made me feel that God always had a way open for me to be able to receive His salvation.  I do not know how much time I have left; whether a short or a long time.  But I do know that I want to give my life into the hands of God.  I am ready now to receive God as the Savior of my life.  Thanks be to God.

 

·         Rejoice with us that we have all the funds in hand for a new vehicle that will be used for both the House of Love and the House of Blessing.  We are grateful to all who gave and who prayed!

·         The Christian Center for the Development of People with Disabilities (CDPD) enjoyed a 2 day camp for children with disabilities and their caregivers, which included a nice balance of Bible lessons and fun times for the whole family. I have included some of the photos from the camp.

·         Thank you for praying for all of our school openings.  Except for our university students, everyone is back to their learning environments.  We continue to ask for prayer for the House of Blessing (HOB) staff especially as they settle in 10 tribal children who have never been to school.  Pray too for our graduates of the program who are now in 1^st grade in regular Thai schools.

·         When the House of Love (HOL) opened in early 1995, we had 4 HIV positive children.  At the time, we thought we were providing a place for ethnic minority women and children to come and die in a loving environment.  Two of those first 4 children did die, but the other 2 are starting in college programs this month, and I praise God for doing exceedingly abundantly more than I could have ever imagined.  I thank God for the prayer and financial support of a loving Christian family across the globe who have made the HOL a home for so many, and made educational dreams a reality for our kids!

·         Another praise—we harvested the rice on our land again.  We never take for granted the wonderful gift of having our own home. 

·         In early May, I developed dengue fever, and am slowly recovering.  This is quite a set-back for me, as I need to have energy to plan not only my itinerary but also my presentations for my 3 month home assignment starting in September.  Please be praying for all that needs to be done.  Emotionally, I know I will also miss Da terribly as she leaves to study in another city.  She has been a part of my life for 19 years, and while I am excited for the opportunities she has, it will be different to not have her here.