Family & Friends,

From 17-27 January we hosted a team blended from 5 different churches in 3 different states. One of 
the churches was not even Foursquare -- imagine that! We partner with all who share in the vision and 
have a desire to see God's Kingdom grow through the various ministries here in Mae Sot. The team 
was made up of 11 people, ages 16 through 63.

One of the team members, Roland Waterman (pastor of West Union, Iowa Foursquare Church), had been called by God several years ago to preach the gospel to the lost in Thailand. He was to come a couple of years ago but had back problems, surgery, etc. and had been in much pain. He came on this journey which included 24 hours flying, 6 1/2 hour van ride to Mae Sot, 3 1/2 hour 4x4 ride up to mountain villages, sleeping on wooden floors in chilling temperatures and not only survived but was overjoyed and plans to return! He is over 60 with a bad back so this shows that you can participate in the next team that comes. All you need is faith that God can do it, you just need to be willing and available.

We encourage you to come see for yourself what God is doing in this part of the world. Do not be fearful or anxious: Isa 43:1-2, '...Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.

What did the team do? They preached, gave testimonies and sang worship songs in the Sunday service at Foursquare Mae Sot Church. They visited ELPIS Migrant (Refugee) School. They visited the children at Home of Hope a few times and did a type of VBS for them. They bought supplies and painted the protective wall around the new Home of Hope land. They visited two different Karen Hill Tribe villages in the mountains and ministered to the children and adults there.

In the first village the team visited the school during the daytime and sang, did crafts and played games with the students. The Karen people in these mountain villages are very shy and some have never seen white people before. The first night we showed the Jesus film in their native language, preached, gave testimonies, sang worship songs and three people gave their lives to the Lord!! Several others came for healing and other prayer.

The second village is a poor village and does not have a school so we walked through the village handing out candy and were shown how they work pounding and sifting rice and other things. We repeated much of the same ministry as the night before and many people came for prayer. The pastor did not say if anyone became a Christian that night but one Christian lady asked us to stop at her house in a small village on the way home the next day. Pastor John did not really want to stop as he needed to get back to Mae Sot as early as possible but he said, ' I will obey You, Lord.' Five  people were saved from their sins in a tiny room in a house in that small village that day!! It shows us that we don't need big crowds to see big results and that those results are brought about 'according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit' (Titus 3:5).
 

The Mae Sot church also enjoyed two wonderful Sundays of altar ministry as Roland and John Hoffman shared God's messages for us. On the 26th the women enjoyed ministry through teaching, song, testimony, fingernail painting, and an excellent lunch. The team also finished painting the new Home of Hope wall with the help of the Home of Hope children. By looking at the attached picture you might wonder if any paint got on the wall!? Even the van drivers got in on the painting a couple of days.

We want to thank the team members and their churches for partnering with us and making these ministries possible. From preaching to painting to planting churches -- what a privilege it was to work with this team with servants' hearts. Please continue to pray for these ministries and also about coming on a team to join with us here in expanding God's Kingdom.

If you feel you are to come to Thailand on a team or individually, please talk to your pastor about it and contact us or Roland Waterman. He [Roland] has volunteered to visit various churches on our behalf and share his and the team's experiences with whoever wants him to come and speak. His email: victory2008@alpine.net

Enjoy the pictures and God's Blessings to you,

Neill & Diana
Your partners in ministry