Rainbows and Floods

This time of coming away has followed a period of unexpected and unplanned for events in both SDSU and at Hope Home. At Hope Home we are praising God for the safety of one of our children through an emergency medical procedure the night before I came away and we continue to trust in God, our healer and comforter to see him through this stage of recovery. We are thankful for the excellent care we receive at our local government hospital and for the good relationships with the medical staff there. The contacts with other families whilst caring for a child in hospital are always interesting and opportunities to share a little of our faith in a loving and caring God. I never cease to be amazed at the ways God enables us to speak about our faith in the midst of trying times for them and for us too. I am reminded of the faithful promises of God to protect us and be with us at all times. Our Hope Home children have reached the story of Noah in their Bible learning curriculum and really grasped the assurance of God with us and His promises. The double rainbow that appeared in the sky the day of that teaching was extra special for us all. Now our youngest child expects a rainbow to appear every time we go out to the playground to play, but he is learning to wait on God's timing for that too, like the rest of us.

In recent weeks there has been more severe flooding across Thailand but particularly in Bangkok and nearby provinces. The Social Development and Services Unit team of the Church of Christ in Thailand was once again able to submit a request to a large donor for financial support to help in a rapid relief response. This was successful and after a few hectic days of getting facts together, and teams on the ground mobilised there has been an initial response to help with immediate food and drinking water for people affected in an area in Ayuttaya province who experience prolonged flood water levels due to their location. The SDSU team and others from different local churches in the area, as well as officials from the CCT have in the last two days surveyed needs and delivered much needed practical and emotional support to over 500 households. It is a privilege to be able to step up in this way, as an example of Christ's love to them in their time of crisis.

The SDSU team have grown so much in capacity to bring about swift and appropriate relief, as the representatives of the wider church and we trust that the many lessons we have learned from this, now our second big flood relief project in a short space of time will lead us to an even swifter and more efficiently prepared response for whenever the next disaster occurs. It is a daunting responsibility for the team to be the first line disaster response of the CCT, and we trust to become increasingly prepared in advance. Above all we trust in God's provision and faithfulness in these times.

Sometimes all we can do is look on in wonder and awe at the way God speaks to us through His awesome creation -beautiful as the rainbow is, it requires rain. The flip side seen by many in recent times here has been too much rain water in the wrong places has led to devastating floods and many lives affected. My prayer is that in these times of crises for those affected families and communities, that they will, in the midst of the troubled times, have seen and heard and felt the love of communities of believers reaching out to them in love and compassion.

Please continue to pray for the SDSU staff in what is a busy season for them, and praise God for their willingness to keep on reaching out.

Pray for the recovery of the child at Hope Home, and for no further complications.

Pray for the many vulnerable families and communities continuing to be affected by floods across Thailand.

Thank you for your continued support, prayers and encouragement to us as individuals, and to BMS as a whole. We are partners together, seeking to make Jesus known to all around us. May we always be ever conscious of the faithfulness of or great God and of His promises.

Isaiah 43.v.1,2 Do not fear, I have redeemed you, ....When you pass through the waters, I will be with you

With grateful thanks and prayers