We have been so busy, it has been hard to find time to write. There has been so much going on, I am not sure I will be able to adequately put into words all that has happened. So I will start where I left off. The day we left Sai's village, her dad killed a chicken and cooked it for us for lunch. I had never witnessed the process and it was quite interesting, and not too gory, especially since I didn't watch the entire process. He slit the throat and drained the blood into a bowl because they will cook that later. Then, he put the chicken into a pot of boiling water which loosened the feathers in order to pluck them easier. I didn't watch after this, but I do know he cut it up and boiled it in a pot at the outside cooker. Sai's little nephew got quite a kick out of watching the process. One interesting thing, the chicken's skin was black. I have never seen a black skinned chicken in America, so that was new to me.
Sai enjoyed the chicken soup, and even ate the cooked chicken foot. No part goes to waste for these humble people.
Not far from Sai's house is the village cemetery. Since this is a village of mostly Chinese people, they are mostly Buddhist. Their crypts are dotted all along the hillside and most are brightly painted. The family goes to make offerings at the crypts leaving food, money and other items that the spirits might need in the next world. I found one cross, and this was a grave of a Christian who was buried there.
This lady was on her way to pick some fruit with her pole saw, while across the street, two pigs were being slaughtered for a wedding that would take place the next day. This is also a very interesting process. After they kill the pig (I did not watch this process, one animal slaughter per day was enough for me), they light corn stalks and rub it all over the body. This burns the hair off. They then take a large machete type knife and scrape all the hair and skin off. That was as much of the process as I wanted to see. Then they cut it up for cooking. This was a morning of a whole lot of information to process. I think I will stick to buying my meat at the grocery store and not think about how it got there.
One of the next things I cannot get used to is all the motorcycles and the way they drive. They go in and out of lanes, carrying children and anything else you can imagine. Most do not wear helmets. It just blows my mind. You cannot imagine it, so just enjoy the pictures, because I have no words for it.
The day after Christmas, we went to take rice, fish sauce and noodles to one of the slums. One bag of rice, and one bottle of sauce will last a typical family about one month and only costs about $4.00. We can't even get one meal in America for $4.00. When I say slums, that word doesn't even begin to describe what I saw. I am talking about bamboo poles with scrap wood, tin or cardboard attached to them. some only have two or three sides. People actually live here. Trash is scattered everywhere, piles and piles of trash. Broken glass is all along the path, along with who know what else. In one of the homes, a young lady stepped out with her little girl who appeared to be about 2 years old. They both looked clean, the mother had on shoes but the baby did not. The little girl walked along that nasty path scattered with broken glass barefooted. It broke my heart.
Right in the midst of all of this stood a spirit house where the offerings are made to appease the spirit of that land. These people who have nothing give the best they have to an unknown spirit hoping for a blessing. They don't know about a God who gives blessings beyond measure with no conditions attached. My heart broke again.
This poor lady is bedridden and lies in this old hospital bed all day in an open room. Joseph said she has some sons who look after her and feed her. She smiled when she saw Joseph. He found a cross of hers tossed aside gathering dust, so he cleaned it off and hung it where she can see it. I am not sure if she is a Christian, but this was something that was meaningful to her.
I also am appalled that for people who have so little, they manage to find money for alcohol and cigarettes. It is so hard to understand the mindset of an addict and someone who feels so trapped into a never ending cycle of poverty and abuse. It is so hard not to be judgmental and take on a holier than thou attitude. But then you look into their eyes and see the hunger and thirst for something more than this world can offer, and your heart breaks yet again.
This is their well for bathing water. It amazed me how clean they seemed. Their clothes were clean and they seemed to care about their appearance.
The home to the right is a new home under construction.
Pastor Sanay sang a couple of songs with this small group and shared with them before passing out their food. He asked me to share something with them. I told them that people in America are praying for them and I would use these pictures to tell people about them so many more would be praying for them. I told them the food was a gift of love without conditions and that God loves them and sent His Son for them. After Pastor Sanay prayed, he asked if anyone wanted a private, personal prayer for a specific need. A couple of people raised their hands. Joseph said, this lady wants you to pray with her. I must have looked at him like he was crazy because he told me to just go hold her hand a pray for her, she said her leg hurts. I must admit, I was not at all comfortable doing this, not because I didn't want to pray for her, I am sorry to say I was afraid of touching her. What disease and germs must she have. Then I realized what I was thinking and how selfish I was being. I knelt beside her and placed my hand on her head and never thought again for a moment about germs. All I knew was this precious lady wanted me to pray with her. I don't know if her leg felt better, but I know for sure I did. Her name is Daa and she is the lady next to the young man in the red who is standing up. Please pray for her healing and her salvation.
This precious child had brain surgery when she was a baby. She is four years old and cannot walk. She absolutely adores Joseph. She wanted me to take a picture and then she wanted to see herself. She put her hands to her face and said, "Look at me, I am so cute!" And she is.
On my second night at the pier, we gave out 613 Bibles. Many were Christians and were so excited to get them. One lady took several to pass out to fellow believers when she got back home. One has a brother who is a missionary and she and Joseph exchanged information so they can try to establish a relationship.
Before we left, Joseph and I walked around the pier and I spotted this lady in the picture to the right. She was sitting there reading the New Testament she had received from us. I am not sure if she went with her group to dinner or stayed behind to read, but it warmed my soul to see her so engrossed in God's Word.
The visit to the disabled women's home was so refreshing. These ladies are so full of joy, it is amazing. My Sunday School class donated toiletry items and made
gift bags for ten of the ladies who attend Sai's Bible study and are Christians. They were beyond excited and thrilled to get them. But before we gave out the bags, the Christmas story was read in Thai and Sai led them in a couple of songs. Two of the ladies were wiping tears from their eyes as they were singing. I have no idea what the songs were, but I do know God's Spirit was present and they were worshiping Him.
We didn't have a lot of time to spend with them, because they have schedules to keep, but we were able to polish nails and help apply lipstick and perfume. Many others came up and wanted gifts also. Sai told them if they start coming to Bible study regularly, then the next time, they will get a gift. We will see how many new attendees she gets.
Some of the ladies were in the craft room making crafts. There were two of them who have no use of their hands. They were making rag rugs with their feet. Two others were cutting the strips of cloth for them. It takes about one month to complete a rug about 12" x 24". They sell them for about $3.00 each. I was able to purchase two of them and can't wait to share them with you all. They are amazing.
Then came the visit to the Agape Children's Home. Someone had made a donation to buy educational toys for the children and I was invited to go along to help purchase these toys. That was so much fun thinking about each toy and whether it would be appropriate. The next day, we delivered the toys to approximately 60 children. There were Legos, puzzles, dishes, baby dolls, blocks, cars, etc. The children were beyond excited and I believe they will get much use and enjoyment out of them.
I know this was long, but I don't know when I will get a chance to write again, and I just had to share it all with you. My time here is drawing to a close and I am still trying to process it all. Please be in prayer for each of these ministries and for Joseph and Sai as they seek God's guidance in how they can best be used. Please pray for funding for the Bibles. Each New Testament costs approximately $.80. Right now, they are set to run out of Bibles in the next couple of weeks and need approximately $20,000 left to raise to pay for the next shipment. In 2 1/2 years, they have distributed over 250,000 Chinese Bibles to people who are hungry for the Word. Every cent given for Bibles goes directly to the purchase of the Bibles. Please consider giving toward this cause. If you can't, please continue to remember them in prayer.
In His love,
Pam
