Missions Report: Thailand
A Compasio Story
Let me introduce you to our newest family. We were told of their situation by a pastor at the Burmese church. The mother is a tiny woman with yellowish skin, perhaps from her illness but a very sweet smile. She is 29 years old (she thinks) but looks more like she is in her 40's she is very skinny because she often gives her food to her children when there is not enough. She has been ill since she was 16 years old but has given birth to three adorable sons ages 5, 6 and 12. She’s been living in Thailand over 10 years now but is originally from Burma. A couple of years ago her husband died, and so she remarried to help support her family. But the new husband only makes 1000 baht a month ($33) plus a bag of rice. He farms the land they live on for the land owner. She used to collect bottles from the trash around town to recycle, but is too weak to do that anymore. The mother is now pregnant again, and very weak and has frequent headaches. The doctor told her she may not be strong enough to handle this pregnancy.
We started visiting and began helping them a couple weeks ago, and already the family has decided to become followers of Christ! We were very excited to hear the news, but at first we wondered if they made the decision because they may have thought it was only to receive aid. We definitely didn't want them to think that, but wanted them to know the joy of knowing Christ. So today at their house we came bearing gifts (laundry soap, shampoo, soap, food, clothes, etc.) and said these are not from us, these are gifts to you from God. He loves you. We are all praying for you and there are people in America and around the world praying for you. Their faces lit up with smiles.
We noticed a poster of Jesus hanging from the wall of their wooden hut, replacing the Buddha statue from a couple weeks ago. The children learned a few songs in Sunday school and sang them for us, and can already very cutely recite in Burmese, Genesis 1:1. The children started going to school for the first time a couple of weeks ago after we helped them enroll. Now they really enjoy having new uniforms and backpacks to wear as well.
Last week we brought them seeds, so they could plant their own vegetables and be self-sustaining, and also perhaps eventually sell some of the vegetables to make more money to live off of. We came back today and they had already planted 3 small gardens of morning glory, eggplant and another vegetable!
Please pray for the mother to be strong and healthy enough to carry this child. Pray that all of their physical and spiritual needs would be met.
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