"It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him." Hebrews 11:6

"My name is Boon. I grew up in a province far from the capital city in a rural community where my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents all had the same occupation of farming. While in high school, I realized if I was going to do anything other than plant rice and work on the farm, I would need some more training. Two obstacles had to be overcome: #1) where do I live in the capital? I don't know anyone there, and #2) how can I ever afford to live there for three to four years in order to complete my degree?"

"God provided a way around the first obstacle, as I was able to pass the entrance exam into the School of Technology in the capital city. I prayed on for the answer to obstacle #2. One foreign man in our community saw the dilemma many of us were facing with no place to live and no way to go on to further schooling. As he talked with us, he presented an amazing solution He said, "I will set up a place for you 7 students to live and provide food for your 3 years of schooling. However, if you want to live there, you must also be willing to study the Bible together every night!" This later request was no problem, as we all loved to study God's Word. Praise the Lord for His answer.

Presently, I am enjoying my studies in electronics. However, I am not sure what I am really going to be able to do once I graduate. There are not a great number of jobs. In reality, of 100,000 people that graduate in Laos each year from higher education, only 10,000 of these people will be able to find jobs. This number includes the better jobs, but also jobs like bus boys, waiters, and drivers. What opportunities do I really have of doing something other than going back to farming?"

Please Pray:

• For more meaningful work for the average Tai Dam male. Among the people of Laos, 85% work in rural agriculture situations. In Vietnam, the percentage is almost as high - nearly 75%. Very few job opportunities are really available.

• For motivation to work and better work ethics. Many men do enough to get by, but the women do the majority of the work.

• For more schooling options and hostels/boarding homes for post high school students.