Visiting Rev Robert Peh at Fang

Today we set off from Chiang Mai City to head north with Dn Hwee Lee, Auntie Jeannie. After about several hours drive, we were at Fang to visit Rev Robert Peh and his wife Dara at their farm orphanage.

Nelson began to experience an onset of fever at this time. Perhaps due to fatigue from the activities in the past few days. Nonetheless, we had a good time interacting with the children there as well as having Rev Peh show us around the orphanage. They reared cows, pigs and even grew rice. After 6 years there, they were able to built many new structures on their own. Such as the 2 storey bamboo house for guests.

While we were there, we met Teck Hiow from Calvary, who as a retired naval service men had come to teach the children english. He was planning to use his english teaching diploma to go into the mission field to tell the gospel. His “post-retirement” 2nd career. Praise God! We also saw 3 christian university young adults from Singapore who have decided to come up to Fang to help Rev Peh out with the ministry to the children. As university students ourselves, it was heartening to see student from other universities like SMU and NTU come to the mission field too. And some of them were only 1st year students. Perhaps yet another encouragement for tertiary students who have the luxury of an extended break to go out to preach the gospel to the many souls who have not heard the news of Salvation, of loosening the bonds of sin, of peace that surpasseth all understanding, of love unconditional.

Interestingly enough, Nelson found his ex-economics jc lecturer, Elder Victor Wee in virtually all the photos there. Elder Victor Wee is the resident/”borrowed” Elder since his retirement and has been staying in the orphanage for alternate months. Thank God for him. Nelson remembers him as always being a caring, jovial teacher and one of the few who were zealous for the Lord in his time in teaching service at Saint Andrews’ Junior College.

Later we headed towards our hotel in Chiang Rai. Nelson’s fever continued, as he took medicine and had an early night. Prayed that God would heal him or at least sustain him to see all that He had instore for us in the coming days of visiting some of the other mission work by Singaporeans in Northen Thailand.

 

Thanksgiving Church Service

This morning is what we’ve spent the past 2 weeks planning, shopping, arranging, practicing, tracting for the 1st church service of Lighthouse BP!

Worship Leader P’Gade.


Thanksgiving and worship


Musicians!


Preaching of The Word

Who were at the Service…
Brother Nathaniel (Preacher/Pianists/Translator)
P’Gade (Worship Leader/Scripture Reading)
Koi (Guitarist, though the guitar did not work out eventually)
Ying (Offering)
Sister Patricia
John, Geoff, Christy
Nelson Lim, David Cher
Auntie Hwee Lee
Auntie Jeannie
Ruth and Ilona
Aruni, Gina and friend.
P’Ploy and her son Zack
Timothy Chen
P’Took and her daughter Aor
Apple, Apple’s Mum and sister

What a sizable number. Thank God for allowing the service to proceed smoothly. We had a time of thanksgiving as Auntie Jeannie, Nelson, Sis Pat, P’Gade and Auntie Hwee Lee gave thanks for 2006. Followed which, Brother Nathaniel gave a message on giving thanks to God at all times. In all things give thanks, for that is the will of God in Christ Jesus.

After the service, we had fellowship and lunch. Nice fruit cake from Mrs Heng. The lunch packets were very spicy though. Even P’Gade and Ying said it was too spicy.

We were really thankful that Apple’s mother and sister came. The sudden death of Apple’s father came as a mystery to us. I was not sure why would God take his life so suddenly and have it occur as we were planning to start the church. But God really did make all things work together for the good of those who love Him. If not for the funeral and our outpouring of love and concern for Apple, her mother would not have been touched and come for the church service. She even expressed a desire to want to come again next week. Praise God!
Michel was not able to make it for the service as he had to visit John(Gina’s dad had suffered a stroke and was in critical condition) in the hospital. Aruni also made a request that the church pray for Gina’s dad together, which we did.

Everything ended by about 2pm. Praise God for His mercies and blessings.

 

Neighbourhood tracting

We’ve had new additions this morning! Thank God, Deaconess Hwee Lee and Auntie Jeannie have arrived safely in Chiang Mai. We had a good time of fellowship over lunch today at Central’s foodcourt.

Thereafter they returned to the hotel while we went off to start tracting the neighbourhood at 3pm. Many were rather receptive of the tracts we gave out today. Perhaps, because of the Christmas season that people are more receptive. We pray that the tracts given out will speak to the hearts of those reading them and perhaps bring them to church. Looks like we need to look into proper signs as some have mistaken our new church with Grace church which is nearby too. We walked into a sort of bakery cafe chain that is from Bang Kok during our prayer walk and the son of the owner of the chain cafe actually treated 5 of us to a meal of hot chocolate, milk and toast with kaya, chocolate and lemon jam! He was so friendly we were at a little lost. It turns out he and Bro Nat had children of the same age too. He even allowed us to give the tracts to his customers! And when Bro Nat mentioned that he was setting up a new church, he actually gave to the church! Praise God! So encouraged!

Please pray for him, he said he believed that there is a God, but his ic says buddhism as his religion. He is very open and I believe the Lord has spent time tilling this ground to be ready to recieve Him into his heart.

In the evening we went out for dinner with Aunt Hwee Lee and Aunt Jeannie with P’ Gade and Ying to black canyon and later we drove to the night bazaar where the vehicle and human traffic was really unlike anything in Singapore.

Continue to pray as the new church service is starting soon. Pray for wisdom and diligence for the people starting the church. And the Holy Spirit to open the hearts of the blind and lost to want to seek His light at Lighthouse BP.