by Anji Barker

Today was the final straw for me. Little Goff (5 years) has come to school covered in red marks and welts after being beaten mercilessly with a coat hanger by his drunk grandfather. Last week he had stitches in the top of his head after the grandfather had smashed a ceramic plate on his head. All of this happens less than 5 meters from my house. This poor little boy is beaten- often for no reason, while his grandmother and various other adults sit around the house, grateful that he is not beating them instead. We constantly struggle with how to intervene when, in the slum, it is considered a sin to interfere within someone else’s family. In the past we have intervened with this family but the outcome only seems to make things worse and we are left unable to help the child any further.

We are not neutral as we standby. We too commit sin in these cases;

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality. — Desmound Tutu

When we see an elephant step on a mouse’s tail and do nothing – we are taking the side of the elephant.

Today this stops for me- culturally appropriate or not, we have to act. Thanks to many volunteers to help sell handicrafts I have the resources today to pay Blah to take this little boy up country to live with his Aunty and cousins- away from the violence and chaos. Maybe it is not too late to save this little one, who has suffered so much in his short life. $100 per month means he has a future and a hope, growing up next to a beautiful beach and with gentle lovely cousins who we previously rescued from the same house. Maybe we have waited too long? Maybe the trauma is already too great? Only God can intervene, and we wait to see what the consequences will be.

(After writing this the whole situation blew up, and Blah has been stopped at the train station by her angry relatives. Goff has been taken by his father for the 3rd time, and will probably end up back where he started in a week or so! We have probably just made his life worse not better!)

On Monday my friend Lyn and I, went with Blah to see a 15 year old boy (Onn), who has spent the last 10 years of his life locked away in a box. It was heartbreaking to see this beautiful young man, who probably has just a mild intellectual disability, being treated like a wild animal. The family asked us for a wheel chair, but this boy can actually walk if they let him out of the cage.

We could see that he would benefit from the special school that both Foam and Bart attend, and have offered the family support including daily transport school fees and food to send him there. Sadly they have declined our offer as they feel embarrassed having him out in public. This poor young man will spend the rest of his sad life locked away, and I am helpless to do anything for him. Child protection laws in Thailand are very weak especially when poor and disabled people are involved- and once a child is 15 they are considered an adult- not by law- but by disinterest.

Last night we were sitting down to eat dinner and a fight broke out in the front of our house. I opened the door to see 2 young guys running down the soi with big machetes chasing another 17 year old. They cut him as he ran- thankfully only his hand seemed to be bleeding, but the agro and violence just kept going. I felt scared, but this young man decided to go back to where he had fled from his attackers- who were still standing there with their machetes, and get right in their face. His hand was pouring with blood but he seemed oblivious. My fellow onlookers just rolled their eyes and told me it is fine as they are all relatives! These are the families we seek transformation for! How on earth can change occur in such an environment?

A few glimpses of hope in a hard week- our boys enjoying a free night in a hotel. Poo in Canberra as the celebrity chef for the voices for justice campaign.

It reminds me of the frog in the saucepan. The water slowly gets hotter over time and the frog doesn’t realize it until he is boiled alive. If another frog was put into the pot while it was hot he would jump straight out as he knows there is something wrong.

As UNOH workers we are outsiders who have come into this community, 10 years or 20 years here, will never make us locals, as we know there is a different way of life out there. We have lived it, and benefited from it.

In UNOH we have a strong value on coming into communities in a learning posture not imposing our cultural values on others where we can help it. However there are some things I think we actually have to contribute as frogs from outside the pot.

We have to demonstrate an alternative way of life- not just within our own families, but also in how we side with the mouse over the elephant. Sometimes we have to be willing to be hated.

The MacCartney’s recently were instrumental in having a preddatorial peadophile put in jail after he had been raping little 3 and 4 year old girls for the last 20 years. The whole community was aware of this and kept saying not to interfere. However, they chose to help the mouse over the elephant.  Their neighbors were mad and complained, and bad mouthed them for interfering- yet every 3 and 4 year old girl is eternally grateful, whether they are aware of this or not. Interestingly now the drama is all over and the man is in jail- many neighbors have quietly thanked them for doing something they were too scared to do.

Being the frog from outside the pot can have as many advantages as disadvantages. We have come from stable nurturing childhoods that result in us having good self esteem and a strong sense of who we are in Christ. Our neighbors and staff don’t have this- even those who appear strong and together.  They have had the same violence abuse and lack of understanding around them since the day they were born. They can be boiling in the pot but completely unaware. We are the ones with the resources who should be prepared to take the heat on their behalf.

In this we put a spotlight on our own failings and imperfections also. As we bring what is done in secret into the light – so too our lives are examained and our motives layed bare- and we have to be prepared to face the ugliness in that. Otherwise we become just like the elephant, only we stand on a cat, or a different mouse. The log and speck illustration makes heaps of sense in our context here.

Is there any hope then? Well in the practical human sense I have to say the whole thing is just too big. There are huge implications if any of these families transform, as the social fabric and ecosystems that they are part of in this squashed up community, are complex and ancient.

But this is the hope that I cling to: That Christ who is in me and surrounds me can do more than is humanly possible to transform evil into good, darkness into light, and hopeless into hope. How He does that is a mystery. The miracle is He chooses to use us as part of this mystery and following Him keeps us aware that the water is getting hotter.

Bring On Your Kingdom Lord!

Anji

Here it seems like anything can happen at any time and often it does. But even so I am still surprised by many things here in the slum. Today though the last thing I expected, as I walked to the Community Centre after Language School, was to be greeted by a mob of boys from our kids club running towards me saying “Yai Tan dai leew!” Translation: “Tan’s Grandma just died!” What do you do with that? My head was still trying to get around the new rules and words I had just learnt at school but BAM I came down to reality pretty quick. At that moment I almost felt stuck not knowing what to do. The only thing I could manage was to continue walking to the Community Centre while trying to round the kids up who were trying to see what was going on in the house. Once inside the Community Centre I stood there with the kids and suddenly became very aware of my powerlessness. The situation was already under control, me getting involved would only make things more complicated and my “helping” could actually have been very unhelpful. I was powerless to do anything. In a world where power seems to be such a sought after commodity it is quite confronting yet strangely freeing to be rendered powerless. As I processed my powerlessness a renewed sense of God being all powerful overwhelmed my despair. We are not in this alone, thank goodness. Tan is one of what we call the lost boys of Klong Toey and one who spends many afternoons playing in our house. He seemed fairly unphased by the events of the afternoon but is spending the night with us. Many times I have watched him play in our house but today as I watched him play with Film & Aiden the reality of his life hit me. Sadly he is one of many people in our community with a tragic story to tell, war wounds of many battles waged on their lives. Life here is raw and rough but God is at work in ways we can’t even imagine.

Time really flies here as that last story was two weeks ago now. It is crazy to think that we have only been home for a month since our few weeks in Australia. The “Cooking with Poo” Tour was an absolute success and everyone is still buzzing from it. Thanks so much to everyone who participated in it in some way, whether you attended a seminar, encouraged the girls or bought the cookbook. The Poo wave is not over yet though as on September the 16th Poo and Noi are being flown to Canberra for a Micah challenge Tear fund event called “Voices For Justice”. There Poo will be the celebrity chef cooking a parliamentary breakfast for 300 people on the front lawn of parliament house! Look out Australia, you might just see their smiling faces on the news soon.

They say that moving house is one of the most stressful things you can do, in my case I think maybe they should have added finding a house to the list. Sometimes life is like a roller coaster ride you wish you could get off. It just never seems to end because there is yet another dip or turn. The house adventure has been one I could write a book on but I like to call a learning curve (all be it a very steep one). The house I thought I would be renovating and moving into to rent soon became apparent was not a viable option. Once I had done it up it was more than likely to be sold out from underneath me and it was causing a real neighbourhood disturbance. Some days I would go to language school thinking we had sorted things only to come home in the afternoon to a whole new drama! When we decided not to pursue that house I was quite disappointed but also relieved as it was quite a stressful couple of weeks. Another option appeared literally right outside our doorstep and it seemed this was even better. The house next door to the Barkers was for sale so Pi Sim (who lives across the road) set up a meeting to talk about us buying it. Sounds like a simple process but no as in the slum we can’t actually own anything. So we had to find a Thai neighbour that we trusted to put it into their name. Thankfully Poo’s mum agreed to help us out. She has been amazing through it all as there have been many hurdles that have required her to take time off work to go to the local authorities to get everything in order. I feel terrible that she has had to do this but have been really blessed by her generosity and continued friendship.

Finally we had acquired the house and the next step was to find an available builder who could renovate it. Thanks to my teammates we soon had a builder willing to come and have a look. He walked in took one look at it and nearly had a heart attack. Poor guy I think he wished he’d never said yes in the first place. The next day we met him again for him to quote and he said it wasn’t repairable. The floors needed replacing and in order to do so meant pulling part of the house down to be able to sink concrete supports down. It was this process he thought would make the house fall down anyway as it wasn’t strong enough. At this point I felt frustrated that we had bought a dud but then in thinking more about it we bought the house for the location more than anything. My teammate Jodie prayed with me about it and we felt a peace to go ahead with it even though it was now going to cost more than I had originally planned for or had available. I am so thankful we have a big God who is in control even when we have no control over anything. The craziest part about all of this is that then we found out to build a new house I would need a building permit from the council. I found this highly amusing considering we don’t actually own the land (it belongs to the Port Authority) and are technically squatters. Also when you see the state of a lot of houses here it makes you wonder why you need a permit but there are times in life when you just have to roll with the punches.

So with all those dramas behind us we were ready to start the actually building process!! The wrecking crew arrived on Saturday morning and by the time we came home from kids club early afternoon the whole house was down. It is one of the most interesting things I have ever witnessed. Occupational Health & Safety would have had a heart attack had they seen it because there was nothing safe about this process at all. Imagine this…rusty tin, nails, rubbish, broken/termite ridden wood, overhanging electrical wires still connected to power and in the midst of all this 5 people wearing shorts, tshirt and flip flops tearing it all down. Crazy! Once it was all down they began sinking some concrete pylons into 3 metre deep sludge, a sight you have to see to believe. It takes four guys to put it in then they push it down as far as they can before they place a plank of wood on top chained to the pole. Then 4 guys stand on it arms linked together like soccer players after scoring a goal and chant as they jump it down to the right height. I have never seen anything quite like it. The house is making progress each day now which is nice as it feels like it has been going on for months without seeing anything physically progressing. As of yesterday I now have some of the concrete pad down with Anji’s name eternally etched in it!  If you want to know more what is happening on a day to day basis please feel free to check it out on facebook.

Most of you know already that we have been fostering a little boy for the last four and a half months. Well yesterday was Film’s 7th Birthday!! I cannot believe how much he has grown up just in the few months he has been with us. Anji decorated downstairs and filled the table with presents for when he woke up. He was so excited but only had time to open one present before school as he had to be there really early for an excursion. I am not sure who was more excited, us or him, in the afternoon as we waited for him to come home to open the rest of his presents. It didn’t take long to uncover all the goodies and then it was straight into playing with them. Some of you may remember a story I shared earlier this year about his inability to play or imagine but through a few hours spending time together he suddenly came to life. Well I nearly cried again as I watched him open up the Lego and start building it all by himself! It was another milestone for our beautiful little man. We all ventured out for dinner, in the pouring rain, to a crazy restaurant called the Flying Chicken where they literally send BBQ chickens flying through the air via catapult to a man riding a unicycle who catches them on a spike. It is a sight you have to see to believe. The night ended with icecream cake and being serenaded with Happy Birthday Karaoke style. So much fun!

Thanks so much to all of you for your support, it has really helped me get through this rollercoaster ride of the last month.

Big hugs and lots of love…Lish Faulkner

Sub-merge is a year long, full-time, live-in, community mission formation course. It is aimed at those who want to prepare for a vocation with Christ among the poor.

The year starts in January with all Sub-merge students in Thailand for two weeks.  Together they orientate, experience practical work and life with UNOH Bangkok workers as well as some formal class work.

Then they go their separate ways to live with and join their new UNOH team mates in Bangkok, Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland or Mae Sot. They continue accredited formal studies, seminars and lots of mentoring and practical work in their neighbourhood.

In November there is discernment around whether to continue in vocation as a novice UNOH worker for the coming two years or transition into another ministry.

Tabor College accredits Sub-merge at both undergraduate and graduate diploma levels. UNOH is in negotiations with Bible Colleges in NZ, UK and USA for students from those countries.

There are limited places and pre-requisites for different teams, so please contact jim@unoh.org as soon as you can if you are interested.

October 13th and 14th in Dandenong, Melbourne.

Tony Campolo is a well known author, speaker and sociologist, much loved and respected in the Christian world. Tony is generously sharing some of his Australia visit with Urban Neighbours of Hope (UNOH). Tony and our other speakers will challenge us with the bible’s call to put faith to work in a hurting world.

Other presenters include: Jim Reiher (UNOH Training), Cheryl Catford (Tabor College), Ash Barker (UNOH) and Wayne Kirkland (Based in Wellington with decades of community based mission experience and is the author of many books, with his latest, ‘Just Money’, launched as part of UNOH Publishing).

Cost: $100 or $70 for those on health care cards.
Location: UNOH Centre for Urban Mission: Factory 2/6-12 Airlie Ave, Dandenong.
Booking: Space is limited so please book with jim@unoh.org
Program: Thursday and Friday, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm.

UNOH Benefit Dinner with Tony Campolo and ‘Just Money’ book launch in Melbourne

UNOH Centre for Urban Mission, Airlie Ave, Dandenong, 6.30pm, Wednesday 12th October.

Come along and enjoy the conversation and the wonderful Burmese food from Free Burma Cafe!

Find out more about what God is doing with UNOH, help launch Wayne Kirkland’s new book and hear Tony speak on the topic “Hope for the future”.

All funds raised from the evening will go to the work of Urban Neighbours Of Hope.

Cost: $25, but places are limited to 80 so please RSVP to unoh@unoh.org by 5th October to ensure your ticket. If any dietary requirements, let Russell know that too.

Here is the latest edition of ‘Finding Life‘ magazine themed around ‘compassion’.

Full of hard won insights, stories and ideas of how to get involved with what God is doing through UNOH.

If you want a hard copy mailed to your home free of charge please e-mail Russ. Click here for Finding Life.’

Thankyou to all of you amazing people who helped make the cooking with Poo Tour a success. We did 32 events in 4 weeks and sold over 2500 books both in Australia and Thailand. We spoke to thousands of people and God changed all of our lives irreversibly. (Last night Poo and Kare came over so that Kare could tell me that he wants to start a community dinner once a week as we are all family. He is so excited and so keen and he decided that it should be the meal before Friday house church as he is now joining !)

I have just landed on my feet back home in Bangkok, (greeted by the sight of a completely naked homeless man laying spread eagled on his back on the footpath!), with an overwhelming sense of gratitude at the many people that were part of this crazy adventure.

Firstly thanks to Bill and Wendy and the wayside chapel crew for being there to ease us into the whole thing.  Thanks Wendy for buying the gas stoves and organizing so much for us. A special thanks also to John (Short Shorts) for looking after the boys and taking them to see the only Australian animals they got to see all trip, and for being there to make us feel so at home. Big thank you also to Gary for the way he helped out selling handicrafts, was very patient with us, and always had an encouraging smile.

A big thank you to the Owens for housing us and making us feel so at home. A special thanks to Lisa for getting all the bits and pieces together and both her and Jon,(jon salat), organizing events. Thanks to Kierra and Kshama for their entertainment especially singing “Chang Chang Chang” and Kare says thanks Jon for the lovely Pizza! Thanks Jazz for attempting to learn Thai and for helping the Thai ladies have so much fun- enjoy your Pumpkin soup! Thanks Adam for lending us the van even if we left some extra poo in it for you!

From there we went down to freezing Melbourne where we were warmly accommodated by the Maher family- thanks Amy for giving up your room! Then on to Oma’s house. A big thanks to Oma who even moved out to let us have the run of her place!  The boys highlight was when Oma made them sit at the table to eat lunch with a knife and fork like high class people! As a result Poo has just bought a table and chairs for her house as they want to eat like that every day!

A huge thanks to Amy Nettlebeck and Ashleigh Newnham for organizing all the equipment and the funds for the women. Another big thankyou to John and Bronwyn Newnham who also moved out of their house to make room for all of us, and to Vicki  who let us take over her lounge room the following week.

There were just so many special times in Melbourne and the warmth of supporters friends and family helped make a cold place warm and cosy. We laughed and laughed, this whole trip and each day I had a real sense that something really special was happening in all our hearts. Seeing the transformation in not just the lives of these women- but also their families and how God has broken down so many barriers is really exciting. In UNOH we have often been heard to say that if knitting classes would reach the poor for Jesus then that is what we would do- well I think Cooking Classes may just have done that!

From Melbourne we went to Perth- warm sunny Perth!! A huge thank you to Irene Farmer who organized all the equipment and the venue and the accommodation! She was truly a one woman Machine and enabled us to have a very relaxing time in Perth even with such a busy events schedule!

Thanks also to Graeme and Jenny Faulkner for the transport especially the VIP bus tour to Freemantle!

In Perth we received the sad news that Doaw a young woman(24yr) from our house church and community was found dead. She has 3 month old little twins, and a 6 year old boy. The Thai ladies were devastated but glad to return in time to help with the funeral, and be a support to her family.

This for us was a tragic reminder of the reality of our lives back here in the slum. Tragedy and suffering surrounds us- and yet for a brief period we have lived this amazing dream- but it is not real- the real bit is a daily struggle to shine the light of Christ in a hurting world. As I sit in the handicrafts room writing this the struggle is almost tangible. There are many relationship dramas between the staff while we were away many of the women quit and AA and Kru Duen who run the room are mad with everyone. I feel like God really prepared me well for coming back to deal with conflict and difficulty and sense that it is in these places we encounter amazing works of the Holy Spirit. I am powerless- God is all powerful- in Australia we can sometimes forget that- here you are reminded daily!

So thank you to all of you who made this possible. Of course I have saved the biggest thank you until last. Liz Maher- what can we say? Without her organizational skills her sense of fun, her passion and dedication to the poor and her friendship it would have been a nightmare. Thank you Liz from all of us!

As I write this Poo and the ladies are running a cooking class of 10 people in the new cooking school which was our home for 8 years. On September the 16th Poo and Noi are being flown to Canberra for a Micah challenge Tear fund event called “Voices For Justice” where Poo is the celebrity cheff cooking the parliamentary breakfast for 300 people on the front lawn of parliament house! What a great opportunity!

Thank you to the amazing Louisa who held the very busy forte back in Bangkok as the bookings went crazy. This month Poo has 177 customers and is fully booked out until the second week of September.

Please pray for Poo and I as there is certainly a lot of drama going on. I really get the sense that while some of this is practical and expected- how to manage staff etc.. I believe there is certainly some spiritual warfare going on. Satan never likes it when people respond to the call of Christ to transform their lives. I sense that God has given me new eyes to see things from a bigger, less personal picture. People here are very damaged and fragile, and that doesn’t go away when they start working with us. Poo has a peacemaking gift that is being put to the test with her new staff, and I feel like I have jumped into a swirling Tsunami of disaster here at the community centre and in the lives of my neighbors. Yet God in His timing and with Grace is somehow in control!

I am encouraged by these words-

“all things of value are birthed of pain and struggle” ” The joy of the Lord is indeed our strength!”
Thank you all of you amazing people who make what we do here possible! May God bless and keep you!

Anji

Hi everyone – I hope you are all well and loving life! It is freezing here in Melbourne these days…. I feel the guilt of using the air con (imagining all those CO2 “black balloons” going up) but I cave in to the temptation anyway! Penance may be sought… perhaps I should buy my modern indulgence by paying for the planting of a few trees…? Hmmm… kind of an “offset indulgence” sort of thing….

Anyway.. that is not what this email is about. This is about what is coming up at UNOH!

“Cooking with Poo” is under way. I am proudly wearing my tee-shirt: “I cooked with Poo and I liked it!”. Poo (a dear Thai friend from the Klong Toey area of Bangkok) is in Australia to launch her cookbook “Cooking with Poo” – published by UNOH. She is one of the most incredible people we know from the Klong Toey Slum. Poo runs a successful Thai cooking school from her home in the slum. If you like Thai food, cooking or hearing a good story or two then don’t miss out on this very special opportunity to meet her. There are events happening all over the place: Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. For all the dates stay tuned to www.cookingwithpoo.com or the facebook page ‘Helping Hands Thai Cooking’. Hear stories of microenterprise in the slum, purchase and have your copy of the cookbook signed by Poo, meet some of our incredible Thai neighbours, check out new designs from the Klong Toey handicrafts, experience cooking with Poo firsthand and taste her delicious Thai cooking.

Other events coming up:

One day intensive: “Spirituality of the Activist”, July 27th with Mick Duncan in Melbourne.

Mick is a New Zealander who has had decades of ministry both overseas, and locally. He is a radical disciple for Christ, who will challenge, provoke, ruffle, and inspire you. Cost: $60 or $40 for those on health care cards (or talk to us!) At the UNOH building: factory 2/6-12 Airlie Ave, Dandenong. Booking person: jim- jim@unoh.org; (Stay around for the evening as well: an “Open night” with Mick at the same location.)

Tony Campolo 2 days seminar: “Putting faith to work”,  October 13th and 14th in Melbourne.

Tony is the well known author and speaker who is much loved and respected in the Christian world. Tony is generously sharing some of his Australia visit with UNOH next year, and we are overjoyed to have him speak in our October seminar. Tony and our other speakers will challenge you to put faith to work, as they explore the Biblical teaching on putting “legs on your beliefs”. Cost: $100 or $70 for those on health care cards (or talk to us: we would rather you come than miss out!) At the UNOH building: factory 2/6-12 Airlie Ave, Dandenong. Booking person: Jim- jim@unoh.org;

Missio Dei discernment retreat

This two day discernment time is a most valuable experience for all who do it. You spend time reflecting on:

-          where you have come from, what/who has shaped you and made you

-          where you are now

-          where you might be headed

-          who you might want to travel with in the days ahead

It is a terrific time of pulling things together as you seek what lies ahead. Ash Barker will be leading the 2 days with those who attend.

Sydney: Sep 30th and Oct 1st   (a Friday and Saturday)
Questions or bookings, contact Jon Owen: jonowen@unoh.org;

Melbourne:August 26th and 27th (a Friday and Saturday)
Questions or bookings, contact Naomi Dekker: naomi@unoh.org;

Auckland:August 5th and 6th (a Friday and Saturday)
Questions or bookings, contact Dave Tims: d.tims@unoh.org;

And open nights at Dandenong, for the next few months:

Hope to see you around!

Jim Reiher

???????UNOH Mt Druitt Sydney

Email: lisapaxo@unoh.org  

When I was 16, Good News was told to me by a lovely Christian lady. She told me that Jesus never lets go of those who love Him (John 10:27-29).

While this was the Good News for me, for some it is forgiveness for all sins in Christ, and for others it is that God has a sense of purpose for their life. I have been given so much and am blessed to be able to pass on the good news to others now. Travelling with people on the road of life means that it becomes clear after a while just what “Good News” is for them.

 Last year my neighbour Kathy was declared terminally ill. With an addiction that rendered her full of shame, she was unable to bring herself to walk into a church. One evening I was visiting, and when we were alone she asked me:

“I know God is real, but he can’t live in me because I’m a bad woman, you know? I’ve done some terrible things in my life, but I want God to be with me. I’m scared”.

I started to cry for her because of the darkness and fear that surrounded her as she faced her final days. That evening Kathy and I prayed and she experienced a peace about death that she hadn’t known before. From then up until she passed, she would ask to be prayed for whenever we were alone.

The good news for her was simple yet profound – she wanted… (continued over)

…to know the love of God so she could die in peace.  Kathy passed away a few months later after a long, hard battle, but I’m grateful for the knowledge that she is now in the arms of God and no longer suffering.

In April we organised an Easter Sunday service for our neighbours. Held in the garage of UNOH teammates the Owens, about 60 people crammed in. Jon Owen started his message (a 10 min sermon) by summing up some of the feelings of the crowd.

“I bet you thought that if you ever walked into a church the roof would fall on you. But it won’t…”

The service was a time of celebrating Jesus rising from death, and the hope and forgiveness that ensues. There were people there who had never heard good news from the Bible before.  It is sometimes odd to think that for a good number of them that day the good news was that the roof of the garage would not fall in on them as judgement!

I’m convinced that those who deeply desire and need the love of God in their lives rarely enter the beautiful and inviting churches that we build. They fear judgement, however the good news is that Jesus offers forgiveness and release from shame.

He came to proclaim good news to the poor, freedom for the captives, recovery of sight for the blind, and to set the oppressed free! (Luke 4:18-19)

I am lucky to have been mentored and grown in beautiful churches and am now thankful for the opportunity to pass this love onto others.

Lisa

Heather, Lisa and Jaz (see prayer points)

Please Pray

…

Thanking God for the amazing turn out and reaction to the Easter Sunday service. Please continue to pray as we consider starting a regular worship meeting.

For Kathy’s family as they continue to grieve her passing.

For former housemate Jazmin who has moved to the Owen’s house on a permanent basis. This is an exciting time for her as she looks towards finishing year 12.

For housemate and co-worker Heather as she leave Mt Druitt to join the UNOH NZ team in August, and for myself as I consider future household options.

Thanking you,

 Lisa                                                                                                      

I’m no green thumb so it comes as no surprise to see one of our flowers we recently planted beginning to turn brown. What started as a one-man project, planting flowers at the front of our house, turned into a fun and spontaneous activity with people of all ages. Bright, colorful flowers speak of new life and fresh hope, particularly for those living in an overcrowded concrete jungle, with temperatures hovering around 40 degrees day after day.

As we approach mid-year we look back over the past 6 months to see how our year is panning out. While the start of the year, like new plants, brings with it new hopes, dreams and a sense of excitement, it’s seems at times, that some of our plans are interrupted and have started to go a lifeless brown colour; People we love making poor and unhealthy decisions; Projects we run fail to make the impact we’d initially dreamed of; Sickness; The sudden death of a loved one.

Some of the girls on our youth camp at a beautiful national park

We realize once again we are incapable of many things, we have limits and we are not in control. The temptation is to become disillusioned, disappointed, cynical and frustrated with ourselves, and those around us.

But as we endeavor to walk with Jesus here in Klong Toey, learning from him, we have found ourselves caught up in Him. Remembering not to be defined by these external factors of failure, (and also successes), but by Christ alone.

Jesus says,”Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” The mystery for us is that these times of disappointment, frustration and death actually are the seeds of new life, which was ultimately demonstrated in the death and subsequent resurrection of Jesus himself. These difficulties become moments of grace if we allow them to be.

Now, when I walk out our front door and see the flowers my friends and I planted, I’m reminded that life doesn’t always turn up bright, colourful flowers as we’d hoped and dreamed. We feel disappointed. There can be disillusionment. But in death there is new life in which we are invited to partake. This is where we can place our hope and not be disappointed!

Thankyou for your love, prayers and support as we seek to embrace life here in KlongToey – regardless of what it serves up.

With love & gratefulness,

Chris & Jodie,
Grace, Ruby & Millie
xxxxx

Second Chance Bangkok:

The store is running well and enabling a number of families the peace of mind that comes with regular income. We are in the “high season” for donations as many ex-pat families are moving…below is just a glimpse of the chaos you will find every Friday as we auction off the big furniture items. There is a sense of excitement and we have hopes of opening a 2nd store by the end of the year.

PRAYER/ PRAISE

Chris visits the Psych ward at Klong Prem prison every Thursday. Pray for energy, creativity & wisdom as he connects with some very difficult and intense poeple.

PRISON MINISTRY    SECOND CHANCE

Chris and the lads heading off on their 3 day hiking trip up to Khao Yai national park. The national park is known for its beautiful landscapes - and wildlife!! By the time this goes to press no doubt there will be some sore stiff bodies, but many great stories to tell!

Pray for wisdom as we seek to find ways to set up a 2nd store.  Pray we will find a new site that will still enable those from the slum access.
Pray for “Toon” as he finds himself in difficult cycles of homelessness and drug abuse
Pray for Toey & Guy & for us as we work with them in the shop

KIDS & YOUTH CLUBS

Praise God for the fantastic time away with 30 people at a national park. we had times of discussions around the meaning of love. Kids club continues every Sat.
Chris, Jim & Adam have taken 7 young guys on a hiking trip this weekend

FAMILY

Pray for renewal and energy as we near the halfway mark of the year!
For patience as we continue to grieve the loss of Jenelle. We will be visiting Aus in July – pray for time of refreshment & rest amidst meetings & church visits.