Rivers Baptist Church - Christ alone - and Him crucified

Hi All,

Sorry we haven't emailed you all. We have been so busy and this is the only chance that we have had to get to emailing you all. I hope that you are all well. Brad and I have been well so far except for yesterday we were both bed bound. Brad had food poisoning and I had a bug. Today we both seem to feel better. Thank you God.

We were able to get all the presents and stationary packs over to Thailand but we had to leave some things behind we didnt think we could get everything over. When we got to the airport we were over the limit but with Thai airways we were able to take what we had. We didn't know that we could have taken 30 kilos each as we only had about 25 kilo each on us. We know for next time.

Phrae has their first baby, Esther. She is only about 1 month old and she is living with Sharon and John at the moment. We didn't visit the Phrae orphange but Brad's parents did. The photos show that it is not that far from opening so we are hoping that it can open at the start of this year 2008. We need your prayers for that.

Phetchabun was amazing. The land that God has blessed is growing abundantly. When we were at Phetchabun last time they had just bought the land and it was just covered in scrub and bush. Now the land has been cleared and they have 12 different types of trees and plants planted. Plus they have built the fish farm where they have 6 000 nile perch growing, these are to feed the orphanage and to sell plus they have a dam full of catfish for food too. The cow farm is growing with more of the children being giving a cow of their own. They are so proud of their cows. The orphange have some more kids and the kids are looking so well. We got to spend a lot of time with the kids as they were home from school for 3 days. The older kids had a scout camp at the school so the rest of the school stays home. It was hard to say good bye.

Khon Kaen we spent Christmas and New Years with the HIV Orphange. They are all going well. Wendy said that last year had been the best year with the kids. So we hope that this year is even better and the kids health gets even better. Christmas Day the kids did the nativity scene, the staff did a performance for the kids and they had a quiz. This Christmas the kids were blessed with a quilt each that had their name and a bible verse on it. Some ladies in Australia hand made them. Plus a family in Australia bought them all a present each, the boys got remote control cars and the girls got dolls, the older girls got a stereo plus other things. We were able to take one lot of the kids out for dinner and ice cream one night. One afternoon we took another group of kids to Swensen's (ice cream parlour) & the smaller kids (5-7yeas old) to the park. They all seemed to have so much fun. We loved being able to take them out.

At the moment we are in Korat with Pastor Prasarn. We have been to a boys detention centre. One of the boys, 17 years old, was sent there because he spent an afternoon with a 13 year old girl and the dad didn't like it so he called the police and he is spending 1 & 1/2 months in the dentetion centre. Most of the others were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some of the boys are as young as grade 5 & 6. It was so sad to see. We have been able to go into the schools and spoken about where we are from and to sing and speak about our Lord & Saviour. Today we are going back to the railway slums to give them fresh water and to see how they are going.

We are heading to the Kao Yai National Park tomorrow and will be there 3 days. Then we head to Bangkok. The trip feels like it has gone so fast.

Have a great day.

God Bless.

Mel and Brad.