The people you meet along the way...

I (Kerri) have met so many amazing people who love Jesus and love people so much this week. I arrived in Bangkok last Monday and while there I stayed at the volunteer house of a ministry which rescues girls from Bangkok bars. Once a girl comes to them, they are taught from the Bible, and they are also taught how to make jewelry. The ministry sells jewelry made by these women. They start their day off with an hour of prayer and worship, then they head to the office to work. I met many of these girls, and they have so much joy. Some are doing accounting, and, to me, it seems they have self-esteem...something I suspect they haven't had before. I also spoke with the woman who founded the ministry (along with her husband). She said that anyone serving in Thailand must have a great appreciation for the spiritual battle taking place for these girls. Would you join the battle and intercede for these women?

I also met a Harvard lawyer turned ministry founder up in Chiang Mai (where I am now). She left a career in private practice to found a ministry (with her preacher husband) to exploited women in northern Thailand. They also employ vocational training for the girls coming out of that life. And now they are moving to that country to the northwest - opening a home and vocational training center for women in Burma who are coming out of the sex trade.

And then there is the young man from that same country across the border whom I met yesterday - Dakhota. He lost his father, lived in a rebel military camp, became a Buddhist monk (for only a month praise God), went to live in a Christian orphanage, came to know the Lord, and now works with a ministry rescuing exploited children in Thailand. He has such a heart to serve the hopeless - to show them that there is hope! I will put Dakhota's testimony in a newsletter, but I can say this - God calls people from all situations in life - even from a war torn country where just surviving is gift from God. This young man wants to spend this new life God gave him preaching His word and loving people.

Yes, I can truly say I have met some amazing people along my journey here. People who understand that our time on this earth is short, and we must use all of it to love our God and our neighbor - even neighbors across an ocean. I will write more in a day or so...I want you to hear about what God is doing here - it's amazing!

kerri