Another Update

Home of New Beginnnings:

Poverty, gender inequality, and violence has cursed the rural women of Thailand, making them particularly vulnerable to trafficking and the sex trade.  It is through your kindness we are able to offer hope to each of the women and children God brings to Beginnings. 

Christmas has always been an expression of miracles – Christ’s birth, the Star in the East, the immaculate conception, the message of the angels to the shepherds, the wise men who did not report to Herod.  God is still in the miracle business and because of your faithful prayers we have seen them here in Bangkok.  He is still using the celebration of His birth to bring hope to the lost, the forgotten, the poor, the children.  Last week He brought hope to 360 prostituted women and children through our Christmas parties.

There were miracles! – Before and during the parties:

Even the winds and rains obey Him:  The thunder rolled and the lightening filled the sky for two hours before the parties, yet not a drop was spilled on our guests and volunteers who walked to the event.

The global economic downturn: Though the dollar is less than75% of the value it held a year ago, the funds were extravagantly given for the sake of the gospel.

Health issues:  Roy’s surgery was entirely successful (PTL) and Ann’s (my Thai partner) daughter was released from pediatric ICU just a week before the parties and continues to improve.

Generous, loving volunteers flew from the U. S. to help as well as ex-pats and Thais – all praying and waiting to witness God’s miracles.  

We closed one bar by purchasing all the women, the cashier and the mamasan!  At least 8 other mamsans or cashiers joined our celebration this year.

Where else could you gather 360 non-believers (let alone prostituted women) in a Buddhist country to hear about Jesus?

Sixty of these beautiful women prayed, acknowledging their need for a Savior, and left with a New Testament.

One of the girls stood up and then grabbed her friend’s hand.  They picked up their New Testaments together.  When they returned to their seat the first one leaned over to her table host and said, "I met Jesus last year.  He is in my heart.  I talk to Him all the time.  I wish I didn't have to dance --- but my family needs me.  Pray for me."   The host asked her friend if she knew Jesus and she said, "I met Him tonight for the first time, but now he is here." (as she pointed to her heart).  Both the girls read their New Testaments while the gifts were being passed out -- never looked up!

Perhaps the “joy unspeakable and full of glory” for me is the miracle of changed lives.  Transformation from dark to light, from despair to hope, from guilt to glory, from judgment to joy!  All of this so obvious in our Beginnings family.  Our growing family is 14 strong from age 11-33 (some not pictured).  They have all accepted the unconditional love of the Savior and wish for you the joy of witnessing miracles of your own this season.