Christmas 2005 Orphanage Trip
Dear friends,
We returned yesterday from a cold but wonderful trip up north to the border to visit the children in Joseph’s orphanage near the Burmese border. I say cold, but what I mean is about 6 deg C at night and 22 in the daytime but our blood is thinner these days and, without going into the science of it (which I confess I do not understand anyway) we were, to put it bluntly, freezin’.
Well bejumpered, where available, we drove over the mountain to the orphanage to arrive for lunch, for which they sacrifice much as we are always served meat, which they have little of. Over lunch we chatted with Joseph and he was telling us of some Christian guests from over the border who had planned to join him several days ago but got stopped by the police at a checkpoint in the village. They had no papers for either Burma or Thailand and were arrested and would be sentenced to the usual extremely harsh punishment of 400,000 Baht each (£5,600) or 10 years imprisonment. In conversation they mentioned Joseph’s name to the police who not only let them go without a fine but unaccompanied, with the resriction that they could stay one night at Joseph’s house and cross back into Burma at the border crossing the following day! The police had never met Joseph but his name is known and respected among the tribal groups there. Real evidence of God blessing those who are faithful to him!
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see here for bigger pics.
On a more sobering note we were talking about some new toddlers that Joseph had taken on and asked him about babies. He is from time to time offered babies who are for sale, usually from tribal groups in Burma. The top price is about 3000 Baht (About £40) and he has been offered them for 800 Baht before now, about £12! This is the price of a human life? You can buy a dead pig for 5000 Baht….. Please pray for these children and for those who are spreading the message of life here, that the spirit of God will brood in this place and give birth to a new way of thinking here and a new value for life itself. Joseph always has to turn these babies down as he does not have the money to buy them with and nobody to help him look after them if he did buy them as he cannot afford workers here. I am forced to stop typing for a moment as the appalling nature of these circumstances trouble me again. The fate of these babies if he does not buy them is not good to think about as they become another statistic in the Asian child trade/industry.
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It was however a joy to see the 180 fortunate ones who he looks after with his wife and several others who come and go. They have had a double redemption in some ways as they have been saved from a physical death and are being trained in eternal things by Joseph and his wife. What will God achiev with them as they reach adulthood one can but wonder. Perhaps we will have the privilege of seeing one day.
We were sung to and some of the girls danced which was beautiful to watch. Our own children then handed out blankets to the children. They are more like duvets as you can see and a vast improvement on the thin covers they have at present. The blankets were jointly paid for by ArunCC and The Open Hands Foundation in Norway, via Thomas. In addition, we bought food to give them enough to last through new year with meat and vegetables on most days, hopefully.
I hope that the photographs help you share something of the joy there is in the giving and receiving of these things. Your support is making a real difference here and is appreciated more than I can express.
Happy Christmas, we miss you all,
With much love,
Andrew and Esther, J, L, M & I XXXXXX
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December 23rd, 2005 at 11:13
Dear Andrew,
Thanks very much for this. I feel I am there with you in this. This will help greatly as we make our Christmas Day offering on Sunday.
With our love to you all.
David
December 23rd, 2005 at 13:50
Hi all - have just read this at work (not my normal practise) and shared with colleagues. They have all been so moved by what you have written. Thank you for reminding all what its really all about. Lots of love C
December 23rd, 2005 at 14:21
Thank you for sharing this with us.
Last night we went to D? gig at Shepherd’s Bush - excellent - Kendall Payne talked about our value being measured in terms of whom we seek rather than what we have or our “image”. The picture of the children praying says it all.
December 23rd, 2005 at 15:27
Hi guys - great to hear from you. We were, like others, moved and challenged. How wonderful that Joseph has such a good reputation. A real man of God - true LIGHT in the Darkness. How does one send money for him & the orphanage - through ACC?
There’s some stuff in the post.
Thinking of you lots, praying for you often, loving you always,
Christopher & Marion
Hope to speak soon.
December 23rd, 2005 at 16:59
Happy Christmas you guys!!!!
What you are doing is soo amazing.
God bless you richly.
We love you and miss you.
Lottie & co xxxxxxxxx
December 23rd, 2005 at 20:25
Hi guys,
Just read your Christmas blog from and internet cafe in Colombia, you´re an inspiration and we hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a new year that brings even more adventure.
Love and blessings,
Joe & Carolina
December 24th, 2005 at 15:57
Hi, guys
Christmas eve in cold England and we have just read your news. Imagine how cold we feel!!!
Amazing what you have done. We are very much with you in our prayers and thoughts. Looking forward to visiting ourselves sometimes soon. Love to all. We will miss you on Christmas day so many fond memories of last year.
See ya soon
love
JJJk
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December 26th, 2005 at 20:27
hi guys, really touched and amazed at whats Gods doing, we feel so priviledged to be a very small part in this through you. we pray that god will use you and bless you greatly in all thats going on there . We hope you had a lovely Christmas and wish you all a blessed new year , all our love Chris and Sally. ps Pete and Ali have become engaged
December 27th, 2005 at 12:37
Hi All,
Lovely to hear from you .Ouma and Aunty D. have been here with us and really enjoyed reading your news. It especially touched Ouma as she could relate and recognise names and variuos pictures.She is flying up to Glasgow tomorrow to spend time with Jo. Jo before they leave quite soon. Same as Katie and Matthew: but I’m sure that you know all about that -much more than me!!
Technology is quite amazing in being able to keep in touch, isn’t it. At the moment it is snowing in Englefield Green and uncle barry has just left a message on the phone- not interesting , just something about genevieve’s car and driving in the snow - whilst he is sitting on the runway trying to get the de-icing sorted for his jumbo, which apparently not easy as it is similar to the Forth Road Bridge ie.can never seem to finish the job before you have to start again! He is off to Bombay , which is a trip he enjoys because of the food.
I am really busy this week with a funeral for a friend of a friend whose husband has died . It was a bit of a shock as he had taken his grand-daughter to an ice show which she was performing in and died in the stalls. She could see all of the ambulances but didn’t know that it was her grand-dad. It was better for her as she wasn’t affected during her dance routine.
Lots of love to you all and DO keep in touch
Aunty Stephaniexxx
December 31st, 2005 at 04:52
Hi guys,
Lovely to get your Christmas news and see the pics. Another amazing adventure had by the May Family. Miss you guys. Hope to catch up in the new year.
Bless you all
Love Barry, Linda, Peter and Leonie
January 3rd, 2006 at 11:33
Hey there guys
Just catching up on our emails after Christmas and had a look on your Blog.
We think it is so great to see how God is using you now within your area. It is amazing to think of all these people serving God in remote places. We look forward to being able to visit you again sometime and see all that is going on.
Like the Wongs we are also back in the UK until the 10th of Jan when we return to Sydney via Japan. We then head off around Australia in the campervan working with backpacking.is.it to encourage Churches in Backpacker outreach.
Looking forward to your next update
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from us
Love
Jamie and Merve xxxx
January 3rd, 2006 at 11:59
Hi wishing you all a healthy, happy, peaceful, blessed new year. Great to hear all your news.
Love Tony & Jill