Celebrations through the trials

I returned from Home Assignment in the UK in time to attend the 50th year celebration of our Baptist family, the Thailand Baptist Missionary Fellowship. It was a bitter-sweet time for many who came traumatised by the recent floods in their family homes and work places but it was a time of healing for many. This year we invited back to conference previous mission workers who have retired and returned to their home countries. These were special gatherings, and we have so much to learn from our history and the experiences of those who came before us. The theme of the conference was Mission Faithfulness, and we were all challenged to keep on being faithful to God, who is the One who has called us, and to keep God central in who we are and all we 'do'. We had a special event with many of our National partners present and the value of faithfulness in service to all was recognised and celebrated.

Back at Hope Home it has been a busy time and since returning from the UK it has been chaotic. Sadly we are back on hospital care for one child and this takes its toll on staff management and also we would prefer to care at home. Pray for resolution please.

During the floods we praise God that Hope Home was not in the flood area and we were spared evacuation. My empty and dry house was able to be a safe haven for families for which I am grateful. Many people rallied together and still are to clean up , including the church which we attend. Unfortunately we were unable to be that physical presence with brooms etc but our children and staff put together little survival bags for families which a work colleague was able to distribute in their flood relief programme. We love to help our children and staff be involved and participate and learn to be the 'givers' and not receivers only. We trust many families were blessed by this.

The playground is really coming along too and we are well on the way to completion. The donor visited this month and is very happy with the progress. We are reaching the lovely stage now of embellishing, and of planting trees and shrubs - or at least we will once we are hospital visits free! When possible we are getting the children out there under good supervision since it is still a bit of a worksite too. It is wonderful for the children to have space to run safely, and to enjoy the experience of freedom in play. We are looking forward to opening our playground to community and to our wider special need family network too. We never cease to be amazed how God has blessed us in this.

This period of celebration, and of joining in the trials of many freinds and colleagues opens opportunities to keep declaring the faithfulness of God. Reflecting back on history and looking to where we are now, and hope to be has been helpful but above all, we were encouraged to be faithful NOW where God has us NOW and to trust in Him for all our needs, to submit all our plans and simply trust. I don't know about you, but sometimes that is hard to do isn't it? But our God is faithful and loving and all comes to fruition in His time. I pray to keep growing in simple trust.

Pray for all those affected by the recent flooding and the ongoing cleanup, grieving loss and lost incomes for many.

Pray for the child in hospital at Hope Home that the doctors will know what is wrong with her and we can move forwards in her care.

Pray for the staff of SDSU with much work to catch up on having down-tooled in flood relief response for the church

Praise God for HIS faithfulness ALWAYS.

Many thanks for for your prayers, encouragement and enabling. The visits to churches were so encouraging and I came away feeling very blessed. Please continue to support the work of BMS so that we can together reach out in love declaring the Faithful God we serve and lead more to Him. Your partnership is immeasurable.

Praying for you and your families, that you will continue to experience His peace and faithfulness in these often uncertain times.

With my love and prayers

Judy Cook