19 Kids and Counting!

Saturday morning at Hot Springs.  Morning worship on 2 Corinthians 5:17 and new creations, reflects the freshness of this sunrise, and the deep joy in knowing something pretty spectacular happened yesterday on the last day of English Camp.  Our worship is but an echo of Heaven's party.

It was four days of everything; colours, alphabet, days of the week, months of the year, vocabulary, introducing oneself, showing hospitality.  We pronounced, we printed and we practiced our English.  We sang of the high, deep reaching love of God, about standing on the Rock of His Word, and we danced and shouted and sang.

All throughout the week, bit by bit, we introduced God's rescue plan for humanity.  Gently, simply, and with full permission of the school principle, himself a Buddhist, but having been taught English by a Christian, and made very curious by the kindness shown.  Why seven farangs would travel half way around the world and volunteer to teach his children English - "At my school, no English teacher" - was an amazement to him.

And yesterday, through indicating on our decision cards (designed for no pressure, low key), 19 children said they wanted to follow Jesus Christ.

We presume nothing.  What God does in little hearts, only the Spirit of God knows.  But it was clear that yesterday, in that room, something pretty spectacular happened.  And somehow we got to be part of it.

The nurturing of these new seeds will be up to Pastor Suradet and Yupa now.  This opportunity only came about through their years of quiet faithfulness in their community.  They paved the road for us to be there.  They will carry this through.  So we will pray for these children, and we will prayer for Suradet and Yupa and Hot Springs Church.

AND, in a totally surprising development, the principle has asked me to come back in and teach the children English, when I am back later this year for three months.  (Oh Lord, what are you up to?)
The opportunities take my breath away.

And now today, the Team rests.  A day to restore, play with the children, perhaps sort through the day camp bins to make sure the supplies are in good order.  Perhaps a visit to a market tonight.

Quiet, fresh, getting warmer.  I can hear a game of ping pong happening.  Under the dining shelter kids are playing chess.  Badmington is a favourite down on the grass.  Beside me, Suradet has his Bible open.  I breath slowly, happy in those deeper ways of being, being here affords.