Shalom! I hope you’ve been staying well through the heat of summer
August was filled with busy weeks and meaningful moments. Just last weekend, I had the opportunity to support a home-building ministry for Myanmar refugees in W Village. We also wrapped up activities at the Hope Community Center, said our goodbyes to the village friends, and concluded our ministry in the border town.
Though it was a time of many emotions, I’m grateful for God’s guidance and faithful love throughout. The transition has gone smoothly, and preparations for the move to Y City are well underway. I’ve received my visa, and both the center’s belongings and my personal items have been shipped overland. I’m scheduled to move next week.
"I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one."
Ezekiel 22: 30 (NIV)
🇹🇭🇲🇲As we wrap up our time of ministry in the border villag
During the field conference, I received word from our staff that none of the children who usually came to the center every Saturday afternoon had shown up. Upon checking, we learned that a newly appointed religious leader in the village had told the children not to attend the center.
Concerned that our Scripture memory ministry might have caused a security issue, we prayerfully decided to visit the leader in person. For nearly four years since the COVID-19 pandemic, the village had been without a leader. A few months ago, however, the Islamic authorities assigned a new leader to Village B.
The religious leader told us, “Muslim children must be taught by Muslim teachers, not foreigners.” Even though our male teacher at the center is a Muslim and we assured him that we would no longer conduct any religious education, he remained firm in his stance. Later, he even made a public announcement in the village, warning that any child who visited Philip’s center would not be allowed to attend the mosque. To avoid causing trouble for the village families, we immediately took down the center’s sign and stepped back.
The families and children in the village did not seem to welcome the new leader’s presence. A short-term team from our sending church had planned various activities in the village, but due to the situation, we had to shift our efforts to W Village instead.
Though it was a heavy-hearted way to conclude our ministry there, I was deeply comforted by what Brother Bobo said:“The children aren’t sad because the teachers are leaving. They’re sad because the center had to close due to the religious leader’s decision. They’ll understand that it wasn’t your choice.”
Just as the Lord gave us the rainbow covenant when we first stepped into Village B for the sake of the Gospel, He showed us a rainbow again on the final afternoon we spent with the short-term team. I believe that the Lord, the Alpha and the Omega, is the One who both began and completed this ministry.
Please join us in praying that the seeds of Christ’s love and the Gospel we’ve sown in this village will become a source of hope for the souls there—and that in His perfect time, they will bear fruit.
🤲🏻 Please continue to pray with us—
