Untitled Document

Dear prayer partners:

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:3). We thank you for all your prayers.

VIRGILIO COORDINATES

On September 3-4, 2004, I went to Nan province on behalf of the 3rd National Convention of the Churches of Christ/Christian Churches in Thailand as a promotional director. First destination was at Namsot village of Khamu ethnic group. This village is close to Laotian border. We worked among these people in 1975-76. I was able to talk to Mr. Jai Paopa, the church elder and local evangelist who was our student then. He is now a very strong leader and evangelizes the Khamu people across the border. When we moved back to Chiangmai in 1976, we made frequent visits to this village to teach and evangelize the neighboring villages.
After supper, we went to Paklang village to visit the Hmong and Lua people. Most of the leaders of these two villages were former students of ours through short-term Bible schools and at the Institute of Biblical Studies. In the evening I met with the leaders, both Thai and tribal leaders and talked to them about the convention. The past two conventions had helped them to grow so much, so they were excited to hear more about the 3rd convention. They said they were going to hire a bus to take them to Chiangmai and asked for prayers that the Lord would provide enough money to rent a bus and registration fees. The Thai Christians would come in a private pickup. We spent the night at the house of a Thai preacher, Mr. Manop Chitari. He was our former student at Chiangmai Bible Institute and presently the minister with Baan Haen Church and coordinator among the Thai churches.

BRAVING THE HEAVY RAINS

On September 9, 2004, we (Virgilio, Esther, & Hannah) went to Maekachan for our regular visit & Bible study. While we were driving along the mountain roads, it rained hard, so hard that Virgilio could not see his way. Rain poured non-stop for about an hour, so our truck went about 50 kilometers per hour. When we got to the elderly couple’s village, we rushed the food/milk we brought for them to a safe place. They were surprised to see us. According to them, no one would dare leave house and brave the heaviest of rains. However, they were very thankful and admired our courage and our consistent visit, whatever the situation we’re in. Also we’re very thankful for God’s providence.

While the heavy rains pounded on their roof, it kind of accompanied our singing and made a special blend of music. On the same note, the rains accompanied our prayers that were lifted up to His throne.

We were starting to go to our Bible study group when suddenly the housemother of the Children’s Home called me (Esther) and in panic reported that the Home was flooded. I informed her that we were 80 kilometers away and unable to help them, so I advised her to call our minister. We thought and pictured in our minds the situation while we were driving slowly and almost blindly to the village. At the same time, the rains drove the kids to work, lifting heavy stuff to a safe place preventing them from getting soaked.

CHILDREN’S HOME UNDER WATER AGAIN

When we got to Chiangmai at around 10:30 p.m. we found the Children’s Home in deep water. In distress, we saw the place became very unsanitary because the septic tanks overflowed and unpleasant things were floating all over the place. There was an obvious risk for the children of getting sick and possibly infected with skin diseases. The children had to use the toilets in the church and in our son’s rented house close by.

The following day, we bought a pump to drain the flood water to city drainage close to the Home. That eased the present situation but we continued to use the pump for two more weeks. This is the second year that the Children’s Home had to put up with the flood. This rented house does not have any drainage system, thus the flood.

Our rent contract will expire next April 2005. And there is no guarantee that the landowner will extend our stay. She wants us to buy her property but her price is sky high! We have been praying since last year that the Lord will give us an opportunity to buy a piece of property to set up the Children’s Home. We have been looking around since then and found many places, but we’re asking the Lord to direct us to a place where He wants us to be. We are asking you our brothers and sisters to pray with us and feel with us the burden of acquiring a piece of property. We know that it will require more than praying; it will challenge you to sacrificial giving. In our next newsletter, we will have more concrete plans to present to you. Please continue to pray with us.

PLEO CHIWIT FOUNDATION STAFF MEET

On September 11, 2004, we held the first meeting of the Pleo Chiwit (SALT Ministries) Foundation. The objectives of the foundation are to help the underprivileged develop their physical, spiritual, and social growth, thereby improving their quality of life (evangelism and benevolence); to support and educate local leaders in carrying out developmental activities and social services (leadership training), and to provide funds in developing the children and youth’s emotional health, and academic attainment (educational).

The board of directors and incorporators are: Mr. Prathom Takiew, chairman; Dr. Aphichat Watcharapuk, vice chairman; Mr. Singthong Yasintoo, secretary; Mr. Bancha Phianpipatanakul, treasurer; and Mr. Uthit Ariyat, member. Members of the executive committee are Virgilio de los Santos, director; Mr. Prathom Takiew, Church Development, Mr. Singthong Yasintoo, Project Manager; Esther de los Santos, Children and Youth Life Development; James and Nerissa de los Santos, Leadership Development.

3rd NATIONAL CONVENTION

The 3rd National Convention of the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ in Thailand held on October 21-24, 2004 went really well! 426 people officially registered, but many more had attended in one of the many services. Two thirds of the attendance were young people. Praise the Lord for they are the future leaders of the church. The singing led by James and Hannah in two different occasions, accompanied by a music band with Esther on the keyboard and praise team, inspired the more than 400 people in sing praises to the Lord. Nerissa led the Children’s Home and youth of Dawn of Life with the performance “Hands of Praise”.

The theme “Ministry of Reconciliation” had been emphasized through preaching, teaching, and workshops. On Friday night 27 people came forward to dedicate themselves for the ministry. Five confessed their faith and received Jesus as personal Savior. They will be baptized at the church where they come from. On Saturday evening 15 people came forward to dedicate themselves. Our family worked hard and had a lot of input in making this convention a success for Him. Pray for the new set of officers and the different committees of the 4th convention in October 2005. (Note: The people from Nan province made it to the convention as planned. Praise the Lord!).

NEWS FROM HANNAH

The months of September and October have been another two busy months for the youth and I at Dawn of Life Christian Church. On September 19, we had another sports day with two other local churches (hosted by our youth). It was another fun event of exercise and fellowship with old and new friends. It was also my first “official” time to really play volleyball (we got second place) since I’m more of a basketball fan. We ended the day with a girls soccer match. The girls enjoyed falling, slipping and rolling in the mud, and the audience died of laughter watching them try to make a goal.

Another highlight event of September was our opportunity to go outdoors and pass out Bible tracts once again. This time we went to “Tanon Kon Duun”, which means “The People-walking Road”. This Road is a famous outdoor shopping strip (open only on Sunday evenings) in which people set out their products of clothes, accessories, food, and lots more right on the sidewalk. This road which connects with several more roads and is several kilometers long are closed to vehicles since thousands of people come walking and shopping each Sunday. This shopping road is a great place to pass out tracts since there are so much people of all ages. It was another opportunity for our youth to practice their courage in expressing their faith. Not only did we just pass out the tracts, several of our youth also had the chance to talk and witness to those they passed the tracts out to. We’re also thankful for a friend and old co-worker of my dad who has a special budget for Bible tracts and is able to give us the tracts for free.

Besides being kept busy with the youth activities at church, the month of October kept me busy day and night as I prepared for the convention. Worawut (Eiw) and I were on the convention committee. Eiw was the head of the sports and games department, and I was in charge of the poster, convention booklet, committee nametags, and power point presentations for each of the worship services. I also was given the opportunity to lead one of the evening worship services and was also an instrumentalist for another service, therefore, music rehearsals also kept me busy. Making the convention booklet was a new experience since it was my first “real” time to actually make a big convention program booklet and work with the printing press on my own. It was also a big challenge, but through it I learned new stuff, which will definitely help me in the future. It was also fun because I had to design the cloth signs and stage signs in order for the concept to be consistent with the poster, booklet and nametags.

Besides all this, Eiw, I and five other youth met for meetings about the sports and games activities and preparations for the convention. The work was shared and appointed to each of us two or so weeks before the convention, and two days before the convention everything was brought together and we all went together to the convention grounds and prepared the fields for the sports activities. We made soccer, volleyball, and share-ball fields by measuring, digging, and lining the fields with plastic ropes and cement powder. We enjoyed working together even though the heat from the sun drained our energy.

The month of October has been the busiest of the busiest for us so far, and without the Lord’s strength and wisdom we could have never done any of it. It was because of God’s wisdom and creativeness that I was able to make all the convention designs. It was ultimately God’s strength that kept me going through each step and completing each work. It has also been an honor that God has chosen our youth to serve Him and have a big part and many parts in this convention of around 500 attendees. It was also my first time to lead a big congregation, and thank God it went well. This convention has proven to us that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. May God receive all the glory.

NEW SEMESTER, NEW HOUSEPARENT

The first semester for the children at the Children’s Home finished at the beginning of October. The junior high and high school kids had a three week break and returned for the convention, following that was the beginning of the second school semester. Along with welcoming the new semester, our new house-parent, Mr. Wichian Trakunhan (Siriwan’s, the Big Sister at the Home, husband) was also gratefully welcomed. Mrs. Panni, the houseparent for one and a half years, resigned to go to Bangkok to work with her sister. We have been praying for a “complete” set of house parents so there could be a father and mother for the kids. Wichian, a Bible-school graduate and active servant for God, resigned from his old job in order to follow God’s calling for him to work side by side with his wife, Siriwan. The boys at the Home are happy to have a “father” to turn to, and we all are grateful for the Lord’s answer to prayer. He is an effective worker and connects very well with all the kids.

WHAT’S UP!

The big events scheduled in November and December are the:

1. Construction of the house of worship at a Karen hill tribe village of Mae Ang Khang Mai in Omkoi district in Chiangmai province. The construction had been delayed due to the rainy season. This village is situated five to six- hour away from Chiangmai City. One hour out of these six-hour trip is on a rugged hilly dirt road.
2. Transfer of land deed to Pleo Chiwit (SALT) Foundation at Baan Haen Village in Nan province. The land title is presently in the name of the wife of a former elder (now deceased) of the church.
3. Reopening of the day care center at Baan Haen. The operation of the center had been stopped due to the lack of teachers and the construction of the facility. Even though the facility is still half done, we hope we can re-start the operation if we can find teachers to teach and take care of the children.
4. Revival meeting to be held at Dawn of Life Christian Church on November 19-21. The theme is “Life that Produces Fruit”.
5. Christmas evangelistic outreach in December in three provinces of Chiangmai, Chiangrai, and Nan.

We remember you in our prayers with thanksgiving for your part in the propagation of the Good News in Thailand.

Thank you for being our coworkers.

In Him,

Virgilio & Esther