Sar Tin

Be sure you read all the way to the end! 

It has been a big week.  

Been busy. 

The Japanese students came and left. It was a very good time for all. The kids at the house loved having them around. Started with lunch at Chinda's Aunt's restaurant. That is the third time in two weeks I have taken a big group there. She loves it when we come and of course keeps it all in the the family. Chinda or Chan are related to someone everywhere we go. Always a big help.    

Pic is of Sam Pong playing the guitar he made for the Japanese students.
Three are music majors.
They were very impressed.

lunch 

After lunch we went to Chinda's home with the students.  Chinda's home is one block off the main street but a world away. In the rainy season you have to take a boat. No toilets. I have never asked about that and don't want to know. Some things are just better off not to ask about. You may not like what you hear! 

The Japanese students played with kids in the area. All had a great time and stayed for four hours. Then Chinda took them in pairs to five different houses for home stays. They had a great time and Andy got a break. Taking care of ten people would be a handful. 

Enjoying time together

The next morning we took a boat to the kids village to meet their parents. Their father is doing the tile work along with two other men from the village. They ride their bikes one hour each way and are very thankful for the work. I am more thankful than some. I am one that has an interest in this and is involved.  We are paying the two men five dollars a day, but the kids father won't take any money. So when the kids went home today I sent them with forty dollars worth of food. Some they can sell in the village for money. Chinda said that was best way to do it. Don't want him to work for nothing. He already has nothing. And the work is getting done for less than I would have to pay a builder. So good for all! 

Kids village along the river. 

We would be standing in four feet of water if it was the rainy season. 

That's why the kid live in this house. 

They can't get to and from high school in the rainy season.  

I don't want to end this post without sharing a story about Sar Tin. She was brought to the house so I could pray for her. Like I am someone special. They treat you that way. Hard to take sometimes. 

Sar Tin is the sister-in-law of a girl that goes to pastor's church and she is also a friend with Chinda. During Chinese New Year Sar Tin goes to some party with her family to celebrate the New Year. Two days later she starts acting funny. Talking to herself. Won't take care of kids which of which she has five. At twenty eight years old. She sells vegies with her husband in the market. 

She and her husband are not Christians but know all about Jesus. They live in the same house as Tra Nin. The next day she is running around the village talking crazy so they brought her here. We had to keep the gate locked or she would run away. We prayed over her for hours. Till late at night. Then everybody went to bed. She and her husband stayed the night. It's not like we don't have room. So for two days this goes on. She seems to be getting better but not sure. 

Then on the third night as we are praying, she speaks out real loud, "You can't have me I belong to Jesus." Everybody just looks at each other and thanks the Lord all at the same time. 

Yesterday she brought me mangoes and pineapple. Today they are going to church with us. 

They both, she and her husband, gave their lives to Jesus! 

What more can you ask for! Thank you Lord! 

Well have gone on long enough. 

To say the least it has gone from nothing to everything!    

All of the Japanese students walked through the village and asked the villagers questions. Mainly about school and what was needed. The villagers all answered "a way to get kids to High School."  So they want to help with that. It just so happens that Chinda and I have been working on a way to help a few of them. It would involve others supporting it for two years at a time before we even get it all worked out. God needs to send some others to support the first two years of the first house.    

Oh, we purchased equipment for the meat shop. Will be here from Malaysia in four to eight weeks. Lots to do until then. God Bless.

What a awesome God we serve!

 Mark

marktmasingale@gmail.com