Dear friends and sponsors,
We thank the Lord for His leading and keeping throughout the past school term. This spring we received 22 new children into our care. All but one child adapted very well to living with us. Sadly, the other child returned to her home. We have the privilege of caring for 119 children. Many come from families that have been decimated by extreme poverty, drug addiction and domestic violence. Our children have been impacted by these evils in many ways, and they often express their pain through lying, stealing and lack of responsibility in their personal lives. They find it difficult to apply themselves to their studies and to receive instruction in needed life skills. But by the grace of God and His Presence amongst us, we are seeing improvements in very many of their lives. Please pray for our children as they return to their homes for the mid-term break in October.
Yao and Ewe had the joy of visiting Charles and Yoke Fong and their family in Ireland. It was a very special time for them both. One of the many highlights of the time there was the Grace Ministries Open Day. God was amongst us, and it was wonderful to meet the very many kind people who attended--many of them Irish sponsors of our children. We will never forget how a friend summarized the work of Grace Ministries: "an extraordinary, God-honoring work, done by ordinary people." It reminds us of the Bible verse, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us"; 2 Cor 4:7 NKJV.
There has been severe flooding in many areas in Thailand and severe drought in others these past few months. We were hugely relieved when God answered our urgent prayers for rain, just in time to save our rice crop and the crops of the poor farmers in our area. How good is the God we adore! The local farmers were in despair that their one annual cash crop was about to die in their fields. Our hearts went out to them, and we rejoice that through answered prayer God has shown His love and compassion to the poor once again.
We thank each of our sponsors and prayer partners for their invaluable encouragement and support that enables us to do what we do.
Praise God for the ministry of Grace. For James reminded us....
James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.