How can they if they have not yet heard?
“How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?”  This verse came to mind as Mrs. P and I worked side by side in the kitchen. I was praying for her salvation – and suddenly realised she had no idea who Jesus is. How could she believe in him? So I asked her, “Do you know who Jesus is?” Her face drew a blank. “He’s the one who created the world,” I explained, “The mountains and the trees, the people and the animals. He loves people – he loves you and he loves me.” What did this explanation mean to a spirit-fearing person who heard it for the first time? This is a lost soul – and there are millions more like her in the Mekong area. There are many people groups that we as part of Mekong Springboard feel God wants us to talk to and live the Good News among them – some have Mekong workers living among them and some do not – YET!.

• Praise God that currently there are some 175 Mekong Springboard workers among about 20 of the unreached people groups that God has placed on our hearts.
• Pray for the other 20 groups that God has placed on our hearts BUT still do not have a single Mekong worker! Pray God will send out willing and suitable workers to reach the unreached.

Tai Lue
Recently some Tai Lue people, who are members of a Tai Lue church worship team, recorded twenty worship songs for the production of two Tai Lue worship CDs.  These two CDs will represent the first of their kind.  Members of this team are also producing a new Tai Lue songbook, which will include the old Dai script, new Dai script and Chinese.

Also, some Tai Lue church leaders and workers from a number of Tai Lue churches will be attending a training course in basic Christianity, understanding the Bible, evangelism, discipleship and church planting.

• Pray for the production of the Tai Lue worship CDs and the new Tai Lue songbook.  Pray that the Lord will use these resources in a positive way in the lives of Tai Lue believers.
• Pray for the Tai Lue church leaders and workers. Pray that the Lord will use them to reach their own and others with the Gospel.
• Pray for physical and spiritual protection for the Tai Lue believers.  Pray that the Lord will “blind” the eyes and “deafen” the ears of those who could cause trouble during these times.

Zhuang
As usual, the meal began with a round of drinks for everyone.  Even before the rice was served, the empty bowls were filled with rice wine.  Village life is hard and drinking is one of the simple pleasures of the Zhuang.  Drinking together is a sign of friendship and solidarity.  To not drink with ones host would make the host “lose face”.  It also plays an important part in business contracts. As the host reached their guests' bowl he politely declined with a comment, “No thank you, your wine is too strong for me.”  He knew the reputation the area had for being able to drink. He thought of a friend whose father died of illnesses related to alcohol addiction; another friend's relative that died in a motorcycle accident where alcohol was a factor; someone else's husband that drank himself to death, leaving a wife with two children.  How does one build meaningful relationships in this culture without getting drunk?

• Pray the widow, her sons and her village would come to know Christ.
• Pray those who bring the good news of Jesus Christ would find creative ways to relate to Zhuang men without the need to drink.
• Pray also for those who are suffering as a result of the damage caused by alcohol.