December 6, 2011
By Ed and Sue Danneker, serving in Thailand
The floods that have ravaged Thailand for the last several months are finally starting to abate. The waters have been in and around Bangkok for more than a month and are quite putrid. It became common to see hundreds of cars parked along elevated highways to escape the floods. People barricaded their homes and businesses with sandbags or cinder block walls in an almost futile attempt to keep the waters out.
Praise God; many areas are finally drying out, and clean-up has begun. However, some communities, especially in north Bangkok, still have a lot of water in their homes. The waters continue to slowly be drained into the sea. We are very thankful that the flood waters never reached Mahachai. It is good to see the stores once again at almost full stock. Pray for those who are still suffering and for the extensive clean-up and repairs that need to happen.
A Flood of Teens
After the regular mid-year school break in October, the schools were closed for an additional three or four weeks because of the floods. But since Mahachai was dry, there were a lot of kids with a lot of time on their hands. So the group of teenagers who have been coming to our church to learn guitar, keyboard, and practice their band started dropping in almost every day. And the teenagers invited their friends to come to church and “hang out.” It stretched Pastor Somkit and his wife, Suda, who live on the third floor of the church’s store front building, but they embraced the young people with open arms. The teens are getting so comfortable at church that they even prepare meals together in the church kitchen.
Pastor Somkit and Suda have been able to disciple the new believers: Ploy, Gick, and Pet, all in ninth grade. The kids finally started school on November 21. Several of them still stop by the church after school to hang out for a while before heading home. Please pray for each of these precious teenagers, that each one will come to saving faith in Christ. About six of them come to church each Sunday.
The youth group came over to our house on Saturday, December 3, for the regular weekly outreach time. They were treated to Sue’s “famous” homemade pizza. Pray that the good news of Jesus will penetrate open and receptive hearts.
What You Can Do
Praise God that the flood waters have receded and for the new ministry opportunities among teens. Pray that the new believers will grow strong in their faith. And pray for Alliance workers worldwide.
Donate to the Great Commission Fund. In doing so, you partner with workers like Ed and Sue to share the Light of Christ with people young and old.