The Lord of the Harvest

This year at Easter we were delighted to all attend our local Thai church on Easter Sunday and celebrate with them. This was also a service where 8 people were baptised, so this was a new experience for our non church going staff members at Hope Home, and led to many follow on discussions on what all that meant. I thank God for all opportunities to explain the Christian faith, and pray seeds of faith continue to be planted and watered in each of their lives.

We returned from church for a shared lunch of our already highly decorated boiled eggs, and then a toasty warm easter egg hunt in the playground looking for by now hot plastic eggs and the very melted sweeties inside! Better than chocolate at least. We have still not found them all but the ants will eventually. Seeking can be hard sometimes, can you spot the creature in the photo below?

I am reminded of the story of the apostle Paul, where it is made clear we all have a part in evangelism and discipling – from planting seeds, to watering (teaching and encouraging) and nurturing growth conditions -but it is God who reaps the Harvest. It is indeed a privilege to live and work alongside the Hope Home staff and children and be given the opportunities by God to be a part of their growth in faith. Everytime I am outside with the children either tending our newly planted vegetable seeds, watering thirsty hedges and newly planted young fruit trees or reaping our produce I am reminded to respect the doors of witness that God places in front of us. I pray that my heart, mind and eyes are open to pursuing them.

Here at Hope Home we are really grateful to the Baan Sabaay Foundation that oversees our ministry. Latterly their management have begun to make more regular supportive visits to the staff, and are taking time to get to know them and understand the stresses and challenges of daily care of children and young people with diverse and severe special needs. The staff feel loved and supported and valued and this speaks worth and love into their lives. The impact of this in their lives, and into how they are able to work more empathetically with the children is immeasurable. The prayers for us, and in person by their personal visits are much appreciated by all the staff, especially by those who are not yet believers themselves. I am excited to see how this relationship between Hope Home and the management of Baan Sabaay can strengthen in very spiritual and practical ways, and I am so glad that the opportunities to attend the church they also attend has opened up again, and that we are experiencing greater belonging and family care.

At my Church of Christ in Thailand workplace we as staff at the Social Development and Social Services Unit (SDSU) are relieved to be keeping our excellent and dedicated Director for a further year, even though he could have retired this year. His quiet influence and depth of skill and knowledge is evident and the relief when we heard he is staying was palpable. Praise God for his commitment here.

Pray for the growth in faith for each child and staff member at Hope Home

Praise God for opportunities to witness and tell others His Good News

Pray for the work and ministry of Baan Sabaay and of SDSU - that lives will not only be changed practically but spiritually

Thank you for your ongoing support of BMS World Mission, and especially of the ministries in Thailand. We are partners together and we need each other as together we seek to make Jesus known. May we all continue to live our lives in the glory and living hope through the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.