New Info on the 100 Acres with Buildings for the Orphanage

Looking from the East to what would become VOC and cafeteria +

Today was so exciting! We met with Phimpa and Je Ung about the property we are in the middle of fundraising to purchase. What a blessing to have such a dedicated Christian Thai woman, with business sense to help us in not only the translating so both parties can understand each other, but she has such a sweet spirit, trusts in God implicitly and understands this Buddist Thai lady who currently owns the property and does not understand Christian ways of thinking or believing.

The S edge of the property is almost to these buildings 

We came to an agreement that we would, as God provides, pay the next 4,000,000 Thai Bhat (about $135,000 at the current exchange rate) to her, split up with the first payment being paid to her the first week of March and the second half of that part of the property price, (which is only half of the total amount needed to pay off the property), the last week of March. That is not very far apart, but once we can get this amount paid to her then we can begin to actually move onto and use the property. In order to really transition into the Thai Government’s requirment of a Vocational Training Center, we need to move as soon as able.

Inside the biggest building which would be the VOC training building

This Thai owner, has debt she needs to pay by these March dates so is feeling anxious to receive this money. Phimpa tried to explain to her that we work by faith, waiting on the Lord to lead and guide in directing people according to His will and the calling on people’s hearts in giving to this ministry and in particular to the property fund. Can a Buddist understand Christ’s ways? Probably not, but she is very grateful that this money is coming when she needs it.

The hallway between the 30 bathroom stalls

It has been on my mind a lot, getting the need for this property before God’s people that they might know the urgency and need for immediate action, and be directed by God as to what He would have them do with the information. The total (approx.) $250,000 seems like it is so BIG, and it is. But our God is bigger!  I am always encouraged when I think how God has led so many times in so many peoples lives to bless and honor in His work, according to His will. Like David Gates, for example. What encouraging stories he tells how, he stepped out in faith, doing God’s will in spreading the gospel with some very large purchases and how God makes it all happen, in His time. This isn’t a radio station or TV station which are both wonderful insturments in spreading the good news, but it is a ministry caring for and educating hundreds of wonderful, sweet children, many of which have lived a rough life already in their short lives. In addition, these children will share what they are learning with family (if they have any living), extended family, and others throughout their whole lives, and there are new children enrolling in the school each year. New people with whom to spread the Good News.

From behind the big VOC building looking across the river into Burma

One end of the large kitchen area - much nicer than using open fires!

Please pray for this need. Those that can, please fast and pray about this so we can see God work in a powerful mighty way for the children’s sake. God tells us to take care of the widows, orphans and fatherless. You can be a part of this work with your prayers and fasting and listening to see if God has any other involvment in mind for you or us. This is His work, for his created beings that He loves and that He died for, but He wants us to have the joy of having a part in it. This has been a stepping out in Faith venture all along the way and this current need is no different, just another stepping out in faith act.

Water lilies on one of the ponds

Is there anything you are willing to give up in order to help with this much needed work and investment? Maybe a time or two (per week or month) of eating out, foregoing an extra gadget or unessential item, dessert for a designated time, an extra dress, outfit, or shirt, maybe something much larger like getting along another year with your same car, or not buying that motorcycle, or canoe yet.  Many of you may welcome this opportunity to find out about this project so you can make a large donation of $10,000 or more for a tax write-off or other purpose. You will know what God wants you to do as you pray and ernestly seek how he wants you to sacrificially give. I’m afraid to say we do not know what real sacrifice is until we suffer deprivation, persecution or loss of a body part or a sense from a land mine or see our children tortured. I do not want to be graphic, but I want to be real. As Westerners, we do not know what real suffering is.  We are 

Part of the small village that has found a home on the property

counselled to give of ourselves and our means to further the work for all to have opportunity to know the truth. This is not the quote I was looking for but it is a very powerful one as follows:  

“Those in the home field are under a solemn obligation to support foreign missions, providing means for the establishment of the interests that are positively essential to give character to the work. Those who do not know the truth cannot be expected to support the missionaries who labor among them. Surely those who have become established in the truth are not so dull of comprehension as to suppose that those who for the first time hear what to them are strange and mysterious doctrines, will take hold readily of unpopular truth, and will support the work, building houses of worship and establishing sanitariums and schools.  {10MR 1.5} 

     “How does God regard those who send His servants into a barren field without means and understanding of the work to be done? Shall the messengers of God, sent with strange and peculiar doctrines to a foreign land, be left to make their own way to support themselves and the work? God forbid! If God spares my life to bear my message to our people, the experience of the Lord's workers in Australia will never be repeated in any missionary field. It is a sad thing how hard the work was made with very little means to carry this important work in fields.  {10MR 1.6} 

     “I am instructed to set this matter before all our people (not merely a few) in its true light. We are to know from henceforth how to use the talent of means more wisely than we have done in the past. God's money is not to be expended to indifferent ends. Let there be less display and more praying, more sanctified planning, and less show--fewer expensive buildings. This will testify that we believe that we are living near the close of this earth's history.”

Another view into Burma where the land mines begin

Thank you so much for keeping this ever in prayer to the Lord. Nothing is impossible with God, but each must do his part and hear and respond to His call to finish the work set before us. This is an opportunity to reach thousands of souls that may otherwise never hear that Jesus died for their sins, and how to accept Him as their personal Savior!  In America churches spend $15,000 to $25,000 on an evangelistic campaign that may result in one to five baptisms.  For six times that amount we all can pay half the cost of this property (the other half being due in November, 2011) and begin using it immediately (in March this year) to expand the school/orphanage into an institution that will baptize scores of people EACH YEAR. 

 May the Lord bless you as you seek Him in how you will respond to this exciting opportunity to improve the work in a far corner of the Lord’s vineyard.  In a future posting we will let you know how and where to make a donation.