March - April 2011
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,
In our lives as believers we face many challenges. Often they are much bigger than we can overcome on our own. But I would like to encourage you from personal testimony that we can overcome EVERYTHING in Christ.
To be in Christ means that even "against all hope" we can in hope believe and see God's promises fulfilled in and through our lives. How wonderful and how awesome is our God. In these days we need to establish in our hearts that even when all looks lost that we are already victorious and that we have already won. Christ has won it all for us. Just as it says in 2 Corinthians 5:7 – "We live by faith, not by sight." All around you may seem impossible circumstances so let your faith rise because we believe and serve a God who loves to save and who loves to make the impossible possible all for His glory and for His children.
This is what our ATM team and our family continue to stand in and believe.
May the Lord bless you and may your hearts be encouraged,
Karenna Laklem
ATM Discipleship Training School and Building Project:
We are now in our second stage of six stages in the building of the new dorm and meeting hall at ATM base.
This stage will continue on until the end of May. The wall behind the dorm, the frame of the second floor and the roof will be completed in this stage.
Below are the latest photos of the work so far – we will be sending another update at the end of May to show you the finished work of the second stage.
Children of the Border Project / ATM Outreaches:
This year we have had to really face a lot of challenges working along the border. We have had to face corrupt Thai authorities and inhuman moral standards. It has just reminded and challenged us more of the great need spiritually as well as physically that there is along the border. Morals are blurred and those in position of authority along the border have used the situation of the people as excuse to carry out their corrupt dealings. Through what we have faced these last few months the Lord has really used ATM to bring to light and expose the motives of these authorities. Please pray for us, for protection, favour and that we would continue to have boldness and words from the Lord to speak truth, justice and righteousness in all these situations.
We have been continually bringing aid to 2 areas along the border which greatly need food and basic living supplies. The Peace Council area is stable and peaceful but many other Karen areas are still facing such hardship and have fled to Thailand. ATM supports the work of Peace and our heart is to see this for all Karen from whichever group. We are committed to helping all Karen no matter where they are from.
These last few months many of our old students who have gone through ATM Discipleship Training School have come together and collected rice and vegetables and other food produce from their villages to send to these Karen IDP. This is such a beautiful thing to see - below are some photos of the IDP and the food sent:
The IPD Villagers are stilling having to hide but are no longer allowed to stay in the area. The Thai soldiers are forcing them back. Many Karen who live and have houses on Thai side are now housing many families in their homes as they cannot return back to Karen side due to the fighting still going on.
Please also continue to pray for our Children of the Border Project. We are trying to finish the orphanage building and community centre in Wai Ler Mu (Mae La – Karen side) as soon as possible. This will be a strategic and very effective centre to not only help many orphans and widows but also build up development in the whole area through different agriculture projects and training. This has always been a big part of the vision of ATM and we pray that we will start to see this effectively helping the people through this centre. Below are the plans for the centre so far. We will starting to build the Temporary Shelter and Workshop Training Centre first and will work from there until we can complete the other areas and buildings.
Thank you for your continued prayers and for believing with us for the resources needed to see this centre become a reality.
With love and blessing in Christ,
ATM Team