May Newsletter

Almost all our children have returned to their homes for the hot season break, including our two recent university graduates. They are the first members of their families to receive a college education. We are very proud of them. Our five high school graduates are very much looking forward to starting college later this month. Heartfelt thanks to their wonderful sponsors for doing so much to make this possible.

All the members of our staff have just returned from joyous time visiting some of the hill tribes in Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand. While there we interviewed ten of the poorest of the poor children who will come and live with us in mid-May. We also visited the village of Saa, who has just graduated from college after being with us for the past twelve years. We spent time with Thong, a former Grace student who is co-pastoring a church among the Lawa tribal people. We spent a night in the village of Nice and Quan, two members of our staff.

We are looking forward to having all our children return to us on May 11, including 26 new children. The number of precious children in our care will be a record high 130. Our two homes for teenaged and college-aged girls are full to capacity, as is our older boys’ home. This year we have emphasized choosing children of pre-teen age so we can prepare them for the challenges they will face as teens.

We are encouraged by the attitude of many of the farmers towards Witoon and Thaa as they provided a harvesting and bailing service to our local community during the second rice harvest this spring. They are men of impeccable character, with a deep respect for the debt-ridden farmers and a growing expertise in operating our machinery. We have long prayed for an outreach into our community, and it is becoming a reality. How good is the God we adore!

Finally, may we ask you to pray for us as we begin the new academic year with all its challenges and potential?

• Pray for wisdom and ability for our staff as they look after our precious children.

• Pray that our new children will settle into life at Grace easily and quickly.

• Pray for our ten young leaders as we disciple them to love the Lord Jesus.

• Pray that our precious children will remain with us until they have a college education so they can become change agents in their families, villages, tribes and churches.

We are all so grateful to you.

Yao & Doi, Ewe & Witoon, and all the Grace Ministries staff