Uniforms for the Blessing Home kids
March is always a great blessing for us, because it is the month the Blessing Home kids get measured for their new school uniforms. Each teen needs 3 sets of uniforms and shoes (younger children only need two sets), an academic uniform, a scouting uniform - yes, every Thai student is a scout, and a physical education uniform. These uniforms are required for every student to attend school.
For Sherri and I, seeing our Blessing Home kids in their school uniforms. These uniforms are a manifestation of how wonderful the trajectory their lives are on because of your generosity that makes this ministry possible. These children and teens are in school and are not being trafficked! God is great! God is good!
(Below is a picture of some of our teens at Blessing Home Isan being fitted for their new uniforms.)
English Camps
For Thai kids, summer break is from the middle of March through the first week of May. This is the time that many of our churches do English Camps. You would call it Vacation Bible School, but we call it English Camp because every parent wants their children to learn English because it is the language of international commerce, and being fluent in English opens many doors of opportunity. At English Camp, they hear the Good News of Jesus Christ and worship the Lord, they learn English with fun games and songs, and eat good food and snacks.
Below is a picture of children at the Chaiyaphum outreach (which is a location where we are planting a new Pioneer Pastor Church and a new Blessing Home Center) enjoying a game together.
Our pastors are very busy during this time, because they will usually do at least two of these camps, one at their own church and another at a location (like Chaiyaphum) where there is no church. Most Thai churches connected with Thailand NOW go on to plant at least one or two other churches, and these English Camps are one way that they use to evangelize and make disciples of Jesus Christ.
Songkran
Songkran is the Thai New Year celebration and it was celebrated on the weekend of April 13-14. During Songkran, most shops and businesses are closed so that everyone can travel to be home with extended family. Usually when tourists think of Songkran, they think of children and adults wearing vibrant colored flowery shirts having fun out on the streets tossing water on each other. But Songkran was not always celebrated in this raucous manner. Songkran was originally a time for young people to bless their elders.
In the Thai churches, we celebrate Songkran in a beautiful way from their tradition. The elders will sit while the young come and kneel and pour flower scented water on the hands of the elders, as a sign of gratitude (many times this evokes tears of joy which are contagious). Then the elder will lay their hands on the younger person and give a word of blessing. This is truly a magnificent custom.
