Outreach to Japan and Thailand!

I've been staffing the photogenX DTS (Discipleship Training School) this quarter and we are about to leave for outreach. This summer I am leading a team of 11 to Japan and Thailand! I'm beyond excited!


My team is absolutely amazing!


Here is what we will be doing and the ministries we will be working with: 


We leave Kona on June 29 and go to Japan for three weeks. We will spend a night or two in Tokyo and then head North to the areas affected by the Tsunmai. We could work in cooperation with Samaritan's Purse in a city called Sumita or Ishinomaki. Most likely we will do relief work, food distribution, prayer walks etc, yet we were also asked to possibly set up a simple studio to take portraits for people that have lost everything. 

We leave Japan on July 21 and head to Thailand. We will spend a day doing cultural orientation, then a day doing a prayer walk around Bangkok and head to Pattaya. We'll be working with the Mercy Center in Pattaya from July 24 - August 14. 

MERCY runs a shelter for children at-risk. They truly provide a home for them with all the necessary amenities (food, shelter, clothing, schooling) as well as the love and support of a family. MERCY also runs two projects in various slums around Pattaya. Known in Thailand as chum chon air at, these areas are very much in need of aid. They provide food, clothing, medical care, and other needs to the people living there. They particularly look to help the children and women who are at risk and those who are severely destitute. We can help pack up the food for short day trips and pray and talk with the people. MERCY also provides an early learning / day care center. They provide low to no cost care for children and families in chum chon areas. For the long-term, MERCY gives referral to other community services that are available to help the communities overall. MERCY also runs a student scholarship project. They aim to provide scholarships for students who have been referred by the local school authorities. These students have demonstrated an ability and desire to pursue educational and/or vocational training. MERCY supports these students’ families as well, providing food, clothing, medical care, and spiritual support. MERCY appreciates any help in improving the homes of these students. Lastly, MERCY partners in a with Hand to Hand Ministry. They visit the prison to pass out food and water three times a week and give counsel, practical assistance, prayer, bibles, and other resources as appropriate and as available. MERCY helps facilitate connections with national embassies and families for international prisoners as much as they are able. We will likely hit the streets and talk to and pray for the bar girls and lady boys as well. For more information please visit http://www.mercypattaya.com/. 

August 15-August 31we will be working with a Local Thai Church. In downtown Bangkok is a church of about 30 members, but their congregation is growing rapidly. Pastor Ta, lead Pastor of Mercy Church, has a huge heart for the lost, and much compassion for the hurting people of Thailand. His main ministry within the church is done through discipleship. He is in constant contact with the people of his church, meeting for several Bible studies throughout the week, and visiting them at their places of work. Many people in his church work in the bars and pubs of Bangkok, working as singers, dancers and bartenders. At first glance, it may look like something most Christians would intentionally stay away from, but the more you read the Word, the more you will find that this kind of ministry is exactly what Christ has called us to do! Think about it, what a wide open harvest field! So many hurting, and lost people work in those bars, in the dark places, and we have the only light that can reach them, and save them. It says in Mark 2:17, that "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."This is exactly the work that Christ came to earth to do, and we at Mercy Church are continuing in that. We can prayer walk and reach out in the areas of Thonglor, Sukhumvit, Ekkamai and Phetburi – right in the middle of Bangkok traffic, noise, business, and needy people! We can also go and visit with local students, both high school and university, and take them out for an ice cream, a meal, a free English lesson – classic friendship evangelism. We can also be a part of the development of the church by sharing our testimonies, singing a song, performing a drama and even preaching a message. They also have a sister church in nearby Sakeaw province. 

September 1 - September 13 we will be working with the MST Project. I'm excited about all of our ministry but this is one that sticks out to me the most, because if you cut off the demand, there is no longer a need! 

Many of the men who come to Thailand looking for sex are hurting and in need and are trying to fill that need and hurt with love and intimacy. Yet, the love and intimacy that they seek in a red-light district is not the answer. When the MST Project first started there were a few people who said that there was no hope for these men, that they were better left alone or ignored. But where is the compassion of God in that? They do not look at these men for where they currently are but rather for where they can be with a transformed heart. How many of us grew up in a broken home, have looked for love and intimacy in all the wrong places, or have struggled with issues that are common to men; yet God has brought about redemption in our lives. The MST Project wants to reach out to these men and be an example of restoration and redemption.

It is our responsibility to go to these men, when very few will, and bring the love of God to them in an area where they least expect it, by those whom they least expect it from. These men are like us, and it is our hope that these men will experience the love and the hope that is found in a relationship with Him. The Father’s love is available to all, in all places and at all times. The hope we have in Him will cause a man to return to his wife and become a husband. Will cause him to return to his children and become a father. Will cause him to return to his community and become an example, not a statistic. http://www.ywamthai.org/mstproject

We'll spend 3 days debriefing in Thailand and then begin our trek back to Kona on September 17, where we will debrief with the other five teams.
 


Please prayerfully consider partnering with me. I need prayer partners, financial support and/or referrals (do you someone that might be interested in partnering me?). Please feel free to leave a comment with your email and I'd be happy to answer any questions or share more information. 


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Thank you for your prayers and support! I cannot do this without you!