Prayer and Praise Points, May 2013, Week Five

Prayer Points

Staff needs for the 2013-14 school year (see the following link for postings:  Staff Needs)

The school's court case and the verdict read on July 9th

Don and Kathy's travels to Korea and Singapore raising funds for the school's capital campaign during the month of June.  If you want to learn more about the project you can check out the following links:

     New Campus Development
     
     Grace International Educational Foundation

The recent graduates of Grace.  Pray for their transitions and adjustments back into their passport countries.  For homesickness, for new good friends, a great church family experience and wisdom as they navigate all their choices.

Praise Points

77 seniors who completed their studies at Grace this year.

For a new administrative assistant for Don starting mid-July.

A visit from Tad, our second son, who lives with his wife in Laos.

Faithful financial partners.

Good health.

Stepping Forth With One Purpose, One Vision, May 31, 2013

G r a c e   I n t e r n a t i o n a l    

S t u d e n t s,   S t a f f   



&   P a r e n t s,
  

A m b a s s a d o r s   o f   t h e  



L o r d   J e s u s   C h r i s t:



In previous summers Grace International School has offered programs for the local Thai Community.  This summer we do not have the personnel to pull off these kind of programs.  

If you are interested in the future in helping Grace or the FM Chiang Mai Church reach out into the community and hold a sports and/or ESL camp please let us know.

Our Neighbors - All Those Unfilled GIS Staff Positions for the 2013-14 School Year

Please share these postings:
in your church, 
with your friends 
and with your colleagues.  

Thank you in advance for helping to spread the word of these important unfilled ministry needs.  

School starts in just a couple months.  Having these positions filled would be an amazing provision of the Lord for the missionary families who count on our school.

Thank you!

Stepping Forth With One Purpose, One Vision, May 26, 2013

G r a c e   I n t e r n a t i o n a l    

S t u d e n t s,   S t a f f   



&   P a r e n t s,
  

A m b a s s a d o r s   o f   t h e  



L o r d   J e s u s   C h r i s t:

Thai Pot Luck Packed

"It was fun to see parents we haven't talked with in a while.  We're thankful to the Parent Staff Community leaders Joy Jariyaphruttipong, Kai Wattanasirakul, Noot Hwang and Siriton Bay!" a parent said.

Grace families love to visit and love to eat.  So, the food and fellowship of 110 student and parents of 30 Thai families was a hit, at their 5th annual potluck!

"We want parents to know our Thai Parent Staff Committee (PSC) and wants to help them know our school better and build relationships between families," leader Joy said.  "Our parents eagerly volunteer at GIS and with any PSC needs."

Next year, PSC may add student performances to the dinner again, like singing, musical instruments, and Thai dance.

(Above text taken from Sawadee, a publication of Grace International School Advancement Department)

Prayer and Praise Points, May 2013, Week Four

Prayer

We have two trips we're making in June.  One is to Korea and the other is to Singapore.  We will be visiting churches, businesses, and individuals, sharing the vision for the new Grace International School campus.  

Please pray the Lord would grant GIS favor as we share the opportunity to pray and give, in order to build the new middle and senior high facilities (phase 1).  Just over 4 million dollars are needed to complete this phase.  We are believing we will be able to break ground by the end of this calendar year.

Here's some pictures of the two projects.  The first one below is the Master Plan.  The high school is the building with the "X" in the middle (actually the courtyard space) with the middle school directly below it.

First floor of the high school building.

First floor of the middle school building.

Second floor of the high school building.

Second floor of the middle school buildilng.

Praises

Michaela had two of her four wisdom teeth extracted today.  The procedure lasted only 45 minutes, cost $143 for the surgery and meds.  She's doing well and so is mom and dad's pocket book.  What a praise!

For the opportunity we're being given to teach ESL this summer.

ESL Sunday School Class

Here's some more pictures from the Sunday School class using ESL as a ministry vehicle to share the love of the Lord.  We will be the substitute teachers during the summer for the Persing family while they are on home assignment.

Please pray for us as we prepare lessons and teach the children.  We are excited about the opportunity.

The children are in elementary through middle school.

Here they are watching a video.  Michaela is on the right
in the blue blouse.

The fan broke away from the stand so Ikaiasha 
had to hold it on during Sunday School.

The children spilling out the door enjoying the lesson.

The girls are intent and serious about their lessons.

The boys take it all seriously too.

This one student was studying extra hard with a
little more peace and quiet down the stairway.

Kathy's Bible underneath the one used with the students in their language.

Stepping Forth with One Purpose, One Vision, May 2013 Week Three

G r a c e   I n t e r n a t i o n a l    

S t u d e n t s,   S t a f f   



&   P a r e n t s,
  

A m b a s s a d o r s   o f   t h e  



L o r d   J e s u s   C h r i s t:

Prayer and Praise Points, May 2013, Week 3

Prayer Points

For a good friend in Texas who is struggling physically.  Pray specifically that the medical symptoms will continue to diminish and that the Lord would give her sweet sleep and rest.  Please pray for the Lord's complete healing.

The church in Chiang Mai needs your prayers.  They are maxed out in their present facilities.  Thanks for continuing to hold them up in your prayers.  They've found land and are looking to the Lord for his timing and provision.

Pray for the English ministry at the CM church as it goes through a transition in June.  Kathy will observe this weekend as the Persings transition to a summer home assignment.  The Persings leave for the states the fist week in June.  Kathy and I will help cover the ministry until they return.

Pray for the children at the Lahu Youth Hostel as they transition back into life with their family in Chiang Rai.  Please hold them before the Father that those who don't know Him, would put their faith and trust in Him for their salvation.  Also that the Lord would use these children's lives to transform the world in which they live at school, in their families and in the community.  Please also hold Nanci and Annun, the hostel parents, up to the Lord that he would undertake for all of their needs pressed down and overflowing.


Praise Points

For the wonderful news about the young girl staying at The Jasmine Project and for her parents who have all put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ because of this ministry.

For the blessing of having Michaela out for a four week visit.

For good health, for the Lord's provision for our lives and ministries, and for incredible partners who pray and faithfully give to make our ministries and their impact possible.

For God's provision for Pastor Joshua's children's education.

A God Centered Home for a Better Future

Athit

Some of Athit's handiwork.

  

The Whole Family 
      Gets Involved 
Annun and Nanci's oldest son, Athit is in the military.  He gave all the boys haircuts.  They lined up eagerly waiting their turn to get their back to school "hairdo".  Annun did the haircuts for the girls - a page-boy cut, typical for Thai school-girls.

Another haircut by Athit

Annun's hair cutting skills on display.

Nanci preparing the meal.

The children had to spend a morning registering at school and the process lasted until 2:30pm.  That wouldn't have been so bad if they had been served lunch.  They came back to the hostel to enjoy a lunch prepared by Nanci (pictured on the left). 



The children downed the meal of rice, a green vegetable mixed with a little minced pork and an orange squash dish.  It all smelled so good.  Nanci is such a great cook.  She adds such wonderful seasonings to make the food delicious for the children.

Annun and Nanci serving the children

When the children finish eating they are responsible to wash their plate and spoon.

Good to the last drop

The "family" dog gets involved
recycling the scrap food.

Dishes all ready for the next round.

A family's arrival with two kids in tow.

Parents were asked if they liked their kids being at the hostel.  They all expressed great happiness and said they saw a big positive difference in their children.  



Last year, at the opening of the hostel, mainly moms or grandmas brought the children.  This year many dads came.  God's at work in the hearts of these families.

Another family with a supportive dad.

The youngest boy of Annun and Nanci is named Shadrak (pictured above).  When Kathy heard Shadrak's name she shared with Pat a good way to remember the names of the three men in the Bible named Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego with the following saying, "Shake the bed, make the bed, and to bed we go."  Pat thought that was so funny and wanted to write it down to share with the children.

Gotta love those smiles.