Untitled Document

Dear prayer partners:

Greetings from Chiangmai, Thailand!

NEW CONVERTS CLASS

We praise the Lord for the number of baptisms during the past months. On the first Sunday of July, Virgilio started a New Converts Class to give these new Christians further instructions they need to strengthen them in the faith so that they will endure the test that Satan will put on their way. We are studying the questions that they themselves asked pertaining to God, man, church, baptism, temptation, and Christian living. This method seems to be working well because each one waits for their questions to be answered with great eagerness.

MAE ANG KHANG MAI

The rainy season makes it impossible for us to go to Mae Ang Khang Mai village in Omkoi. But we keep our communication with Acharn Jann open. He keeps the church alive by having worship service every Sunday and visitation during the week. Praise the Lord for his commitment. Please pray for him and his family.

Acharn Jann is an elected member of a local government’s district council. Because of this responsibility he only serves the church on part time basis. But it is his intention to go to a full-time ministry. Pray for the Lord’s guidance and direction in his decision. We thought that being a district council member would help him have more contacts with the local government officials for Christ.

THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION

Preparation for the upcoming 3rd National Convention of the Churches of Christ and Christian Churches in Thailand makes us extra busy. Esther is program committee chairman, James is music committee member, Hannah is in charge of the advertisement (posters and handouts), printing the program and screen presentations. She is also a worship leader & instrumentalist. She and the youth of DLCC are in charge of the sports and games activities throughout the convention, and I (Virgilio) am treasurer.

The convention will take place on October 21-24, 2004 at the Agricultural Research Institute of Chiangmai University. The purpose of the convention is to study God’s Word, worship together, and to promote the unity and fellowship among the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ of different ethnic groups of Thailand. The theme this year is “‘The Ministry of Reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).

The 2004 convention committee set a budget of $7,500. $2,500 has already been raised. Should the Lord touch your hearts to have a part in this endeavor, you may send checks to Shauna O’Brien, 273 Springforest Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32216 or direct deposit in Savings Account #731-2 14246-9, Siam Commercial Bank, McCormick Hospital Branch. Name of Account: Virgilio de los Santos, David A. Filbeck, and Kamrop Boonsiri.

NEWS FROM HANNAH

On July 30, 2004, three of the girls from the Children’s Home, who won 3rd place in the Bible Bowl in Chiangmai, traveled to Bangkok by van (chaperoned by 2 representatives from Thailand Bible Society) to attend another Bible Bowl. The three girls (Luke’s Angels) Pang, Nid, and Meow, along with the 1st and 2nd place winner participants arrived in Bangkok the next morning. I and another member from church, Joy, also went to Bangkok by bus to cheer and be an encouragement to the girls. The event started in the afternoon with 115 teams (3 in each), and all questions were based on the book of Luke. Although the girls were quite tired from the traveling, they still did their best, and even if they didn’t win, they weren’t bummed since they were thankful for such a big and new experience.

Before the event began, the girls and the two other teams were taken to the newly opened underground subway to try it out. This was also a new experience for them. After the event finished they began their journey back to Chiangmai. Joy and I, with a few hours left to kill, went to visit some of Joy’s brothers and sisters (all non-Christian) who were residing in Bangkok. Our visit was a good witness to them and they were able to see that Joy’s life has changed and that she has been doing very well since she had been a Christian.

As for the youth in the church, a new youth committee has been chosen. We went outdoors to a park; the roles and duties of the committee were revised to us, and nine members were voted as the new youth committee. I’m now the treasurer’s assistant. We have been consistent in our weekly Tuesday evening cell group. We visit different places each time and have singing, a short devotion, praying and time to just talk about what’s happening in each other’s lives and encourage and help one another out. We haven’t missed a single Tuesday throughout July and August and we’ve seen that our cell group has really helped us spiritually. Every Wednesday evening we also have music rehearsals, learning and practicing new Christian worship and contemporary songs to use for the worship service or for special music. I thank God because the youth have been faithful and it’s given us more unity in working together in the church ministries.

On Sunday, July 25, our youth had the chance to follow up on the kids (from the elementary school that the kids from the Children’s Home attend) who attended the Children’s Home camp this past March by holding a program at the church. Only a few of those who went to the camp came, and in turn newer kids showed interest and excitedly asked permission from their parents to join. They joined for the worship service and Sunday school in the morning, and after lunch, the Children’s Home music band opened the program with songs. Hannah and Eiw (the youth committee president) emceed the program, and others on the youth committee led games. James & Nerissa taught an English, action song. A short devotion was shared from the Word, and in the end a video taken from the Children’s Home camp was shown. At the end before being taken back home, Christian, children magazines were passed out to everyone as a souvenir. All the kids enjoyed themselves greatly. Several more kids have been introduced to the Lord, so please pray for them. This event has also given more practice to the Children’s Home kids to act out their faith by inviting their friends to church.

On August 29, our youth joined with Lanna Christian College students and two other local churches for a sports day. Boys competed in soccer matches, and girls competed in volleyball matches. Our boys got 1st place in the soccer matches, and our girls got 3rd place in volleyball. It was a fun day, and a good opportunity for us to get to know more people.

This event was also a great activity and opportunity in inviting several non-Christian friends of one of the youth members, Tan, to join since soccer is one of the most loved sports among the boys. Tan has been and is very active in reaching out to his friends, and his love for the Lord has been an effective example for the youth at the church and among his friends outside.

On Thursdays I go with my parents to Maekachan to visit members there and we have a Bible study time. All this has kept me busy, but I’m glad and thankful that God can use me in serving with the mission here. I believe this is where God wants me at this moment. The mission and church here needs servers so instead of working or serving elsewhere, why not serve where I’m needed most right now.

MINISTRY WITH THE SENIOR ADULTS

This ministry commenced when an elderly lady, Betty, who had a sick Dutch husband started to attend church. She came regularly and right after the service she went home to bring in lunch. We had visited this family several times, spend time talking about God and His Word. We always prayed together before going home. His final days came and we visited him in the hospital (regular ward and ICU). Finally, he was taken home when the doctors could not do anything more. On October 7, he went to be with the Lord.

Our church staff had the opportunity to take care of the funeral needs. Betty was left with nobody (There were just the 2 of them for 59 years). She was lonely, fearful and so she asked us to keep her company in the evenings. Amidst our heavy schedule, we had to find time to talk, to encourage, and we slept at her home many, many nights. We helped her find a person to replace us and she’s now doing fine.

It’s been almost a year since her husband died. She makes herself busy. We encouraged her to be a prayer warrior. She donates to charity and contributes to church treasury. Recently, she made a big donation towards a church building for our Karen brethren in Omkoi, province of Chiangrai, a ministry of SALT. We do encourage her to pray for the need of buying a piece of land for our Children’s Home and Dawn of Life Christian Church. Presently, we hold a Bible study and prayer service at her home every other Monday evening.

One elderly couple lives 80 kilometers outside of Chiangmai city. They used to be one of the “faithfuls” in Maekachan church. But because Mae Kaew (lady) is almost blind and Loong Sao is almost crippled, they are not able to go to church. The church members go see them instead and one Sunday of each month, the church holds worship service in their house. Every other Thursday, we (Virgilio, Esther, & Hannah) go to Maekachan. Before we hold our Bible study in town, we go see them in their village house. We would bring cooked food, fruits and milk to help them maintain their health. We would sing memorized hymns, read the Word and pray together.

We believe that this is worth doing because we are preparing our elderly brothers and sisters to meet our Lord. The prayer and Bible study time revived a man who had been indifferent for a long time. He has come back to the Lord with a great enthusiasm to serve. Pray for him. His name is Mr. Kham Suniraj. Another fellow has promised that he would not miss Sunday worship anymore.

UPDATE ON THE CHILDREN’S HOME

Last August, the Children’s Home started to have a meeting on the last Wednesday, and it was decided that this will be a regular activity in the Home every month. Everybody was involved. They talked about problems in the school and in the home and everybody (mostly older kids) had an input on solving those problems.

Two kinds of problems arose from the elementary kids. One Lisu boy, Nipon, in grade 6 was known to be a “boxer”. He was involved in a small fight to defend his friend. So he was advised to stop doing it, and he was encouraged instead to find other ways of defending his friend. Everybody voiced out that the Children’s Home doesn’t need to be known to have boxers but to have peacemakers.

Saying bad, curse words and calling names between the new boy resident, Big, and Yao boy, Wichan (both in 5th grade), was brought to attention. Both boys come from difficult backgrounds. One grew up with his Muslim grandmother, and the other came from a village which is very opposed to Christianity. The boy’s language was normal to them, but it came to a point that everybody who heard them couldn’t take it. They were rebuked at the meeting and were counseled that everyone should be careful not to let any unwholesome talk come out of their mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up. The Children’s Home committee decided to fine anyone who speaks bad language. For every word they were fined 10 Baht.

The main problem that was discussed involved Wichan, who seemed to be a problem boy. For the last couple months, practically no one in the Home had the heart to help him, talk to him, or even be near him because of his rebellious attitude, uncontrollable behavior, and stubborn heart. The house mother and big sister taught and warned him several times, but he was unteachable. After this was brought up in the meeting, Wichan ended up in tears. He confessed to try to do better and change himself. The adults and older kids comforted him and told him that we all still loved him, but he needed to allow God to change him.

There were other discussions about kids getting up late, not doing their chores, and piling dirty clothes at the back of the house. Overall, the kids resolved to improve, make changes and abide by the rules of the Home. At the end of the meeting, the kids with problems were asked to stand in the middle of the room. We laid hands on them, prayed for them and asked the Lord to reign in the Children’s Home.

In closing let us quote Apostle Paul’s thanksgiving and prayer, which also expresses our gratitude. “I(we) thank God everytime I(we) remember you. In all my(our) prayers for all of you, I(we) always pray with joy because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now.” (Phil.1:5a NIV)

Your coworkers in Thailand,

Virgilio & Esther