THE ZOE STORY

Beloved,

After an early breakfast, the team met for devotions at 7:45am at the hotel.  It was a sweet time.  Kalei led us in worship, Stephen provided a short homily on missions, and members shared of their impressions of our first full day in Thailand.  Of note was Marvin’s challenge for us to discover the purpose for why God brought us to Thailand.  Each one of us has a purpose that is waiting to be discovered. 

Your prayers continue to sustain us.  The weather has been beautiful and resembles a good summer day in Hawaii.  Thank you for your prayers.  We forgot to mention that clearing customs when we arrived in Chiang Mai the night before was the fastest and easiest check out ever experienced by team members.  Of the 32 items of luggage with the team, the inspectors only checked a few bags and let the rest through.  Thank you.  The team is healthy and demonstrated a bond and unity that you have been praying for.  Thank you.  God is good and we are blessed.

Carol continued her orientation and reviewed the ZOE Story with us.  Some of the team members have heard this story multiple times but one never tires of the wonders and miracles that God has provided to His faithful ones.  And hearing this story in ZOE’s new Thailand facility added special meaning as to why we are here.  She expressed thankfulness for short term mission teams like ours which are made up of ordinary people doing the extraordinary.   We give thanks to God for all of it.

In the afternoon, we received more information on ZOE’s child rescue program from Greg Nakamura.  The calls to ZOE to investigate and intervene on behalf of the children at risk increase with every week.  There is promise, hope and danger with each rescue.  Please pray for these rescue teams.

One final item of ministry preparation included the packing of 1,000 goodie bags which will be distributed to the children that our team will minister to in the coming week.  The team worked very well together and according to Carol, we set a record time in completing this packing.  Thank you, again, for your prayers.   

Before leaving ZOE, we finally met all of the ZOE family – the children, the Bible students and the staff.  Little 8 year old Mimi was one of 3 of the youngsters who expressed some words of encouragement to everyone present, all 160 of us.  Her words were mature, convicting and encouraging.  We were blessed.  Then everyone gathered around our team and they laid hands on us.  The murmuring crescendo of their prayers for us filled the entire room.  And our eyes were filled with tears.

We arrived back at our hotel at 8:35pm and we could feel the weight of the travel and activities over the past several days.  A weariness had set in.  We will rest well tonight in His strong arms.  

“For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised”, Hebrews 10:36.

And we will praise Him,

Your Thailand Missions Team.