Mien Center
Now that all 86 piles for the foundations have been driven in and the building has begun please pray for good relationships, good speedy work, safety and health for all concerned. Application forms are being sent out to Mien churches for students to enrol for the 24 places in the new hostel. With the stronger emphasis on discipleship and preparing future lay and full-time church workers, please pray that the Lord will guide and overrule that the students of His choice will  be accepted.

         

Thank you for praying for Granny M who was very unwell and afraid that she was going to die.  She is very much better.  Mr F’s wife, G, who had severe pain in her back due to a pinched nerve, still has some pain but it is not so bad.  She is generally feeling better.  Please keep praying for her and that Mr F will come through  to faith in Jesus.

 

Many Mien students are finishing or have finished their tertiary education and are looking for jobs.  MT has finished her degree in accountancy.  MF majored in English.  Please pray that the Lord will give them jobs in areas where they will be able to join a Mien church.  Mien churches desperately need these lively, keen, educated young people.

 

Mien CD 
The first major recording session to make the Mien hymnal CDs, had to be postponed due to T's hospitalisation.  Please pray for the healing of her stomach ulcer. The recording of over 500 songs is being done from February to May by 4 different churches, one student’s hostel, and some individuals.   Please pray for safety in travel.  KT, who is temporarily helping with the Mien radio work, will serve as a driver and as guitarist.  A volunteer pianist/organist from Japan will assist. Please pray for good team-work.  Also please pray that this undertaking will encourage these churches and singers to learn more how to worship God with praise and thanksgiving.

         

Please pray for the young people. One man who made a decision to follow Jesus at the youth camp last year is in the second term of the Bible School, along with 4 Mien young men from other churches. Pray that they will know God in all His fullness more deeply and that their commitment and dedication to Him  will be strengthened.

 

Please pray for pastor SZ and his wife O.  They have started a small business to support their family and to help the church be financially independent.  Pray for their health and that they may know God’s leading in the division of their time between ministry, work and part time seminary study.  Praise the Lord that SZ’s ministry skills are developing and his passion for evangelism and outreach to Mien in other countries is growing.

      

Thank you very much for praying for Daniel's thesis writing. He has submitted the first full draft, which will be followed up by 3 revisions from January to April.  Besides the revision work, he is now free to preach in MMC and at Thatch Church.  Please pray for Thatch Church.  It has been without a pastor for nearly one year and has many problems.  Pray that they will respond to God's Word.

 

Baptism
Instead of 8 being baptised just before Christmas, there were 10.  A couple who had attended the baptism classes but had paid for spirit worship to be done for his sick mother, got up in church and confessed their sin. We have been surprised by the life changing work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of these people most of whom live in the spiritually unresponsive village of M.  Five are not literate, but have started to learn to read.  The Thai Mien script is not easy to master.  Please pray for them to be sufficiently motivated to read God’s Word that they will persevere.  We are stressing that baptism is just the beginning.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will continue working in their hearts causing them to want to know more of God and to obey Him in every area of their lives.

       

Out of over 100 students, Miss E has won the only scholarship to university.  She  was planning to do nursing but now wonders if the Lord is nudging her in another direction.  Miss F who usually does better in exams than her close friend E, did not gain a scholarship but should do well in her exams at  the end of Feb.  Pray for both girls to know what they should study.  They were both baptised last year.

 

Arrived Safely
Thank you for praying.  The small consignment of about 150 New Testaments and hymnbooks that went into a creative access nation last month arrived safely.  Please pray for the Lord to provide more couriers.  There are still several thousand more books waiting to go in and more are being printed.