Our lives are woven into stories about how God works, and I thought you might be encouraged by the story of one of our children who was recently baptized.

Six years old Bea (not her real name) was awakened one night by her mother’s screams. She looked up to see her mother being violently attacked, stabbed over and over again by a man with a knife. Running next door for help, Bea was told by the neighbors that it was late and they were sleeping and she should not be bothering them. She ran back home to find her twin sister standing outside of the house, staring into space, unable to speak. Her mother, who was still inside, was now silent. Bea led her sister away, too afraid to enter the house again. When Bea and her sister came back the next morning, they saw their mother’s body, lifeless and without clothing, tossed on the ground in the back of their house. Bea and her two sisters were eventually brought to the House of Love (HOL). They were withdrawn and silent at first; full of grief and fear. They had nightmares. They did not want to be alone for fear that someone would try to harm them. Bea was angry with those who did not help her and wondered what she could have done to save her mother. She wondered whether or not she was in some way responsible for her mother’s death.

During the first year of living at the HOL, Bea and her sisters learned to smile and laugh again as they came to understand God’s love. But Bea really met Jesus in a personal way this last year when she was forced to face her fears. She went back to her village to visit her family and was left in the house all alone. She was very afraid and lonely, thinking someone may come into the house to do her harm. But then she began praying and felt the presence of Jesus come into the room to sit beside her and to be her friend. She knew that she no longer had to be afraid because Jesus was there to protect her. She was baptized this year because she knew that it symbolized new life in Christ and she had experienced that new life. Rejoice!

Praise and prayer requests:

• March marks the end of the Thai school year -- and praise God that the HOL children have done well this year. We are grateful to our Hong Kong sponsors who are funding a summer trip to the beach for the children, including special events like a seafood beach party and a trip to an aquarium (March 17-23). We would ask for prayer for the HOL staff as they work to help the children have a good summer holiday, with a good balance of chores and fun. Please be praying especially for the new house mother and father that they will do well in their roles.

• March also marks the end of the school year for the House of Blessing Daycare, and 8 children will be graduating and heading on to Thai first grade in May. That is a praise! And the children will end the year with an Easter party on March 14 with the same international school children that they celebrated Christmas with -- pray for good interactions. However, we are distressed by the increasing number of our children who are working selling flowers or begging in the night market here in Chiang Mai. Please pray for us as we work with parents to keep them from exploiting these little ones.

• The Health Project staff has been busy planning seminars and teaching times for this next year, and scheduling how the teams will work together. Please pray for the HPTP staff to have unity of spirit and good ideas as they work out the details for teaching.