Da came to the House of Love with her mother when she was only eleven months old.  She was conceived in a brothel.  She did not know that and so as she grew older she often wondered who her father might be.   At times she was angry with a mother who died without telling her about her father.  She was only three when her mother died.

Her mother was an orphan, sold into slavery in a brothel at the age of eleven, forced to sleep with so many men a night that there was no way to know who her child’s father might be.  Da can feel very alone when she thinks about having no one to call family.

Da has so many questions, “Why does God want all the mothers in heaven with Him?  I have AIDS like my mother; will I die like she did?”  Da’s faith is growing as she asks questions about God, and death, and what heaven is like.  Da and I have talked about her mother.  I told her that her mother had been sold as a child and that she did not know Da’s father, but that her mother had loved Da very much.  After thinking for a while, Da said, “I am sad for my mother, but I know that God loves me.  I know because God has given me another mother and another home.”

Da turns 15 next month, and was baptized this past year.  She knows that baptism symbolizes rebirth in Christ.  She has learned what Jesus did for her on the cross and now she wants to please Him.  She knows that God is real because “only God could create us and the world we live in”.  She also knows God is real because He answers her prayers; He is with her always and keeps her safe.

Da knows that she does not have to be afraid when God is with her. Her favorite Bible story is the story of David and Goliath because it tells her that even small people can do big things for God when they believe in God.  She prays every night that she will be able to receive Thai citizenship, that the new building for House of Love will soon be built, and that the House of Love will have enough money to accept new children.

Praise and Prayer:

•    Please join us in praying for citizenship for all of the children at the House of Love.  Da and 11 others do not yet have the necessary paperwork that will eventually allow them the freedom to work and have access to full rights to be in Thailand.

•    The House of Blessing Daycare is praising God for visitors who bless the center and the children.  This past month, we have had new friends from Japan and Thailand come to learn more of the ministry of the House of Blessing, and then do programs for the children.  

•    The school preparation program at the Community-based Rehab Program (CBRP) has been an on-going success.  I am sad to report that because of family needs, Khun Nipapon, the teacher who has been instrumental in developing the program will be leaving.  We do praise God that we have another teacher in training who will be coming to help after her own graduation in March.  Please be praying that the children in this program continue to move ahead in life skills.

•    Please continue to pray for the IMEM staff as they work on funding proposals that will cover the next two years.  Pray each person will have God’s vision for what should be done in the area of health development.

•    The building continues to move ahead.  More landfill was needed to help with drainage problems—four hundred truckloads worth!  Please keep praying for funds to finish!

Children learning new games at the House of Blessing Daycare