January – February 2011 Update
As we settle into the New Year we have so much work ahead of us. We thank God for you and are praying for you and especially those of you in Australia at this time please know you are in our thoughts and prayers.
ATM Discipleship Training School and Building Project
The new dorm and meeting hall is coming along well and we hope to see it finished by May-June this year. In the mean time we also hope to start renovations and repairs of the current dorms so that they can be completed by the same time. Please continue to pray for the building. Everything can only be achieved by faith and each week all of us come together and pray and believe that God will help us to finish what has been started and see the ATM base fulfill God's plan and purpose to the best that it can.
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New dorm and meeting hall |
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We have closed the school for 2011 in order to focus and complete the building project but will re-open in 2012 with a new batch of students who are already waiting for the school to re-open. In the mean time all the curriculum and materials used in teaching at ATM are being translated from English into Thai and Karen. We hope to be able to start the school again and by having these materials translated we will be able to have more teachers join our team and also be more effective in teaching as it will be in their own language. This is a huge job and we have 3 wonderful people - Mali, Ang and Pee Pee Tryphena helping us with this.
We would also like to introduce Alice and Sharon, two students who have just recently graduated last month from ATM Discipleship Training School. Both of them have now joined our team as staff. Over the next 6 months they will be taking some short courses to improve their English and Computer/Office skills. We are very proud of them and believe the Lord has a mighty plan for them and all those who have graduated this last month.
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ATM Graduation January 19th 2011 |
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Children of the Border Project / ATM Outreaches:
We praise the Lord for these last few months that we have been given opportunities to minister to so many along the Thai-Burma border and in Karen mountain villages. We also now have 10 acres of land which we can build an orphanage and training centre in Karen land just across the river border. The land has already been cleared and we will commence building a house for the orphans this month. This will not only be such a wonderful help for many children and orphans but also a strategic place for us from which we can then outreach further inside Burma and Karen State. It will become a base for us across the border.
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Team crossing the border. Our 10 acres of land all cleared and ready to build the orphanage! |
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This last month we were also so blessed to have a wonderful team join us from Pryor Creek Community Church (Patrick, Lily and Karen) and also Laura Pintur from Melbourne and Josh Helmer from Florida joining with our ATM team to reach out to these areas. Our heart is that we would love to see more young people come and join with us serving the Lord together.
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Laura and US team helping give out blankets and warm clothes |
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These last few outreach trips have been especially touching to all of us as much aid was needed along the border and as we shared and gave we were able to really minister to these needs and also their hearts. We were able to distribute warm clothes, blankets, mosquito nets, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, rice and medicines thanks to all who helped donate the funds for these things. Many who have recently lost their family members and homes were so touched by the Lord's presence as we encouraged from
the Word of God and prayed with them. Many shared how they felt hope return to their hearts and were encouraged to be strong during this time and encouraged to pray with faith believing God will change the situation. We were able to give out bibles and tracts which they were so excited to receive.
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First Christmas gifts and celebration for border kids) |
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Over the next few months we will be following up help for the places we have been to along the border already but also will need to continue to distribute aid across the border in other areas and also inside Karen State. Please continue to pray for peace along the border areas. The Peace Council area is secure and stable however other Karen areas and groups are facing much trouble and war once again with the Burmese. We pray for all Karen that they can experience peace in their areas all along the border and inside Burma. Please continue to stand with us in pray for this to be a reality.
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Ministering to Naw Pah Village which has nearly 300 people. They all came out to say goodbye when it was time to leave.
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Martha, Mali, Hannah, Sharon and Alice are planning to go to Mae Sai border town which is north of Chiang Mai and near Chiang Rai to share, teach and evangelise in a village there. They plan to go from the 25th of Feb and for about 1 week. We will be supporting them to go and would like to ask you to especially pray for them. We are so excited to see God leading them to go and outreach and as part of our ATM team we support them to go.
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Our team on the latest outreach – Patrick was taking the photo :) |
Thank you for all your prayers once again for our Karen people and for our missions work and ATM team and family. We really appreciate and feel so blessed and strengthened to know that you are all behind us and praying. In the end our mighty God is the one working and moving and touching hearts and opening doors and whatever he starts and does is lasting. So we know that all our work is not in vain but is leading people to Christ. With love and blessing in Christ,
ATM Team