Hello friends, we are moving to a new blog and a new format. We will still include ways to pray for the world (more frequently than this blog) however, we will also be posting on how to engage the community around you and other important topics related to world mission.
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Seeking Refuge

The United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) reports that so far in the year 2008 there is 486,000 people seeking refuge in Southeast Asia. Thailand hosts 396,00 people from Myanmar and 7,800 from Laos. There have been 22,000 people that have left these camps since December 2007.

Refugees in Thailand are not allowed to legally work outside of the camps but, USCRI estimates that 40 % of refugees do work outside of their camp. Work outside of the camp, typically agricultural work, pays 40 to 60 Baht a day or 1.30 to 1.90 U.S. Dollars. Workers also risk being arrested and having to pay off police officers. Although refugees are offered the option of a work permit there are many strings attached to this documentation. These things include a fee of $120 and several trips to the government office, of which most refugees are unable to afford. Thai government does not allow refugees to receive business licenses, or ownership of farmland, a house, or any thing that they consider a capital asset. (http://www.refugees.org/countryreports.aspx?id=2174)

USCRI tell of a young woman that was sexually harassed and abused by Lao police officials but, was forced to testify that Lao police had treated her well before she could seek refuge in Thailand.
Hmong and Lao refugees are faced with brutality by Thai government officials. The governmental branch, Ministry of Interior, claims that one of their top priorities is to stop all refugees and force them back to where they are coming from. They claim that they will follow through with this priority using violence and guns if needed.
(http://www.refugees.org/uploadedFiles/Investigate/Publications_&_Archives/WRS_Archives/2008/wp2008.pdf)

Life as a refugee is very challenging and discouraging. A persons since of hope diminishes as they are confined to this camp and the camps lifestyle. When hope diminishes a passion and desire for living also tends to fade.

Pray with me for refugees in Thai camps as well as those around the world. I am asking you to pray that a revival would take place in these camps and these people would come to know the name Jesus, as the savior of their souls. I pray that the Lord would work in these camps to show is glory even in the heartache and pain. I also pray that Christ followers would become passionate about these displaced peoples.  That they would have compassion for them and through this the Lord would lead their hearts into action.

Burma Cyclone

The southern coastline of Burma, an already impoverished area, was attacked and devastated by Cyclone Nargis on May 2^nd and 3^rd.  Along the southern coastal area of Burma homes were demolished by water and winds, destroying resident’s belongings.  Crops and farmland have also been devastated by the cyclone creating problems for residents of the coastal region as well as the entire country of Burma, which depends on the rice crop as their main food source.  BBC news said that the UN Food and Agriculture Organization reports that crops must be planted within forty or fifty days to be able to harvest the rice by the end of the year.  The issue is greater than waiting on the fields to dry up so they can plant; new equipment is needed for planting as well as seed and fertilizer.  The transportation of these materials is difficult since roads in the delta are flooded or severely damaged and unstable.  Some people have found their income and meals from fishing but, now they are also in need f fishing equipment to be replaced.  The World Food Program was already in Burma prior to the cyclone, providing food to half a million malnourished citizens of the country.  This situation was previously unstable but can only have gotten much worse after the cyclone.  The number of malnourished and starving people would expectedly reach heights beyond imagination.

There are many things that threaten the Burmese people, economically, physical health, and spiritual health. 

In this time as many of us are left with a feeling of powerlessness I ask that you would find power in the relationship and conversation we have with our Heavenly Father. I ask in prayer that the people of Burma would hear and believe in their Savior, Jesus and trust in Him for their time of spiritual and physical desperation. I also ask that God would provide the necessary resources for the Burmese to rebuild their homes as well as the resources to grow crops.  In this time of desperation that they may come together; that Satan would not be able to divide and stir up problems among the Burmese.   

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7405414.stm