Louisa Spagnolo

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Prayer Letter/Ministry Update

For months I've been praying for a way to connect with my neighbors. I have greeted them, baked for them, let my dog play with their dogs in the park, yet somehow there was always a wall up between us.

Two weeks ago I went over to my colleagues house a few blocks from my own. They are in the states on home assignment and I was working on their computer. As I entered the house I noticed the office lights were on. Strange. I didn't remember leaving them on last time I was there. I didn't think much of it and began my work on the computer, which was also strangely on. I heard a banging noise at the back of the house, but thought it was coming from the neighbors. The houses are so close to each other something happening at the neighbors often sounds like it is happening in your own home. About 10 minutes later I got up to get something from the kitchen. As I came out of the office I saw a man with a mask over his head, his arm raised as if to strike me with the handle of the machete he was holding in his hand. I tried to scream, but my voice wouldn't come. I turned to run but he grabbed me from behind.

"Be quiet," he said, "I'm not going to hurt you." And he didn't. After 30 minutes of talking, he tied my hands to the foot of a bed and left. He took 2,300 baht and my ATM card from my wallet. He left my laptop computer and my cell phone. He also disabled the phone so that I couldn't make any calls. During the 30 minutes, I shared with him that I am a missionary here and that I came to help people like him. I told him that I wanted him to have joy and peace in his life. I urged him to make better choices as the things he is doing now would not bring him happiness.

Several minutes after he left, I easily freed myself and came out of the house crying. Some women were standing out in front of a home nearby. I stopped and asked them for Help, explaining briefly what had happened. Before long, other neighbors heard the story. That afternoon I went door to door to ask people to be careful and watch out for each other. For the first time since moving in 6 months ago, I made a deep connection with my neighbors. They were amazed that I wasn't hurt.
You and I know who protected me. They were sympathetic and thankful to me for coming and warning them. Most of all, they were surprised that I didn't want to run home to the US and hide.

Praise God for His protection. Praise Him for presence of mind to speak grace to another in a moment of distress. Praise Him for this unique opportunity to connect with my neighbors. Praise Him for leaving my computer with me. Praise Him for the confidence that He works all things together for good.

Prayer Requests/Answers to Prayer

Pray with me that God would continue to work through my relationships with my neighbors. Pray that I would have boldness to seek them out. This has unsettled me and left me with moments of nervousness and fear. It is hard for me to go out and walk around the neighborhood like I used to. I don’t want the enemy to get any victory as a result of this event.

Pray that the Lord would work in the heart of the young man that robbed me. Pray that the things I told him would give him no peace until he comes to know the Lord. Pray that other Christians would come into his life to explain more of what I was trying to tell him that day. Pray for my peace of mind. I love my home here and my neighborhood. I do not want to move, but I do have more trouble feeling safe here. Pray that the Lord would restore my sense of security.

Thailand

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