Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus from Northern Thailand. Today we come to you with a heart of praise and declare that we serve a mighty God who is able to do exceedingly more than we ask or think.
Just about 6 weeks ago, we asked you to pray for “Clarity on God’s Leadership with a piece of Land.” We shared with you that God has been working in the hearts of God’s people and God’s churches and that NTIM had received over $135,000 in the last several months designated for the purchase of Land.
We indicated at that time that we were well on the way to having what we believed we needed to purchase land and that we had a piece of land that we were considering but had not been able to make an agreement with the owner. So, we asked you to pray for God to provide clarity on what piece of land He wanted us to have.
GOD HEARD YOUR PRAYERS.
Yes, the Lord moved in the owner’s heart as we asked you to pray and we came much closer to an agreement on that piece of land we were considering but in the meantime God was at work in another person’s heart who owned another piece of land just the right size and in the right location for us.
On June 5, I received an email from a Christian friend and here is a portion of what she said in that email. “Recently I received your email concerning the 2 rai of land in CR …. I have been praying the Lord to bring me someone who is reaching out to the students at Ratchpat University to make use of my vacant land (2.78 rai filled and paved). Here is my proposal: I would like to donate the entire parcel to your foundation to build your Church (Baan Athithan), English Language School, office facility, etc…. You are an answer to my prayer. Again, the entire parcel is a free gift from me. Your foundation just needs to pay for the name/deed transfer cost. ”
WOW!!!! When I read the email, the hair stood up on my arms and knew this would bring glory to God. Shortly after that I shared it with our staff and Land steering committee and believe this is truly a gift from God.
Sometimes God answers our prayers in ways that we don’t understand. Sometimes God answers our prayers in ways that we do understand. Then there are other times… like this one… where God answers our prayers far better than we could have asked or thought.
Now all of the funds that we have raised for the purchase of land can be used for building and construction costs without having to go through a major fundraising campaign!!! Here is glimpse of what we have planned so far.
PRAYER REQUESTS: Please continue to pray for the finalization of the land transfer. The generous donor of the land will be coming to Chiang Rai in the middle of July to make the land transfer. Please pray that all will go smoothly. Pray for us as we begin to make plans for construction teams to come and help us. We are thinking that we should wait until we get through the rainy season first and then begin construction either in October or November of this year. Please pray for us as we begin to say to the darkness here… we are here to stay… for the glory of God….and for the advancement of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus.
Thank you for your love and for your prayers.
Until the nations in and around Northern Thailand know Him,
Michael
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58