3 February 2008 – Praise and Prayer from Robert & Dara

“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so He giveth His beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:1-2, KJV).

Thank God for giving us more grace to cope with Michael’s accident and supplying us the additional strength to carry out all the Christmas activities successfully in December 2007. Michael’s accident occurred just two nights before the first outreach began. At that time, we were very busy preparing all of us and all the equipment for all the various outreaches. When the accident happened, everything seemed to be in a rush: leaving behind all the preparation work; rushing down to Chiang Mai; reaching the hospital at 1 a.m.; praying through the night for Michael; taking a quick nap in the early morning; visiting Michael after coming out of the operation room; running errands around the hospital, before rushing Home again for family worship and getting things ready for all the outreaches and Christmas worship service.

Thank God for answering our prayer. Altogether, about 400 souls have heard the gospel message during the outreaches. If Michael’s operation was not successful, there would be no outreaches but funeral. Thank God for His mercies. And despite the accident that Michael had, his parents went ahead with the water baptism of their youngest child, Esther (7 months old). God is so good. He knew how to encourage us and used every event to strengthen the faith of everyone who trusted in Him. To God be the glory!

Thank God also for the Christmas cum Baptismal Service on the 23rd December 2007. Thank God that 8 more souls were added into the fellowship of Truth Bible-Presbyterian Church. Among them is Dara’s sister in law, Nop Pha Kaw, a Thai citizen. She was originally from Bangkok, but moved to Fang some ten over years ago and married one of Dara’s brother in 2006. For seven years, ever since we came to Thailand, we have been sharing the gospel to her. After so many years of sowing and watering, God was pleased to give the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:6). Thank God for saving her soul. God willing, her daughter will also be baptised this coming Easter. The labour for the Lord is indeed not in vain. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58, KJV).

We thank God always for all your prayers for us and especially for Michael. God is always good. Michael is recovering steadily. He is learning to walk and eat by himself and he really has a big appetite: eating non-stop. He is also beginning to respond to the people around him although he still could not recognize them by names. Thank God again for his improvement. Please pray that he will regain his memory soon.

Robert and family, together with Grace, are back in Singapore for the Lunar New Year reunion. Do pray for everyone in the Christian Home of Love, especially the older ones who will be overseeing the Home during our absence. Children studying in the government school will still be going to school during the weekdays, leaving at 7.30 a.m. and reaching home at 4.30 p.m.. Dara's sister in law, Nop Pha Kaw, is now the cook for the Home. She comes every day to help out in the Home. John's mother is staying in to help to look after the children too. Pray that all of them will continue to love one another and be faithful in their daily responsibilities. Please remember John in prayer as he leads everyone in the Home in the daily family worship. Being our church deacon, John will also be preaching on the first two Sundays of February and chairing the worship services (begin at 4.15 p.m.). Pray also for the church members to come to worship regularly and for the preaching of the Word of God to minister to many hearts.

How time flies. It seems that we have just entered into year 2008 and now January is gone. What have we been doing for the Lord thus far? It is good that we take a break from the world and ponder over our personal walk with God, as it is written, “if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged” (1 Corinthians 11:31, KJV). May the Lord keep us faithful unto Him always!

P.S. Photographs of the Christmas activities and Lahu New Year will be posted soon.

His unworthy servants,
Robert, Dara, Evangel, Evangeline Peh
& all in the Christian Home of Love
& Truth B-P Church, Thailand

15 January 2008 - Praise and Prayer from Robert & Dara Peh.

“For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone” (Psalms 86:10, KJV).

Thank God again for another improvement seen in Michael to cheer our hearts. Yesterday, he managed to grab hold of a small packet of biscuits in his room, loosen the rubber band and ate the biscuits by himself. He must really be hungry. He could also eat more solid food now as he could chew better and swallow easier. Thank God for His unceasing grace upon Michael and the progressive development seen in his life. “It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23, KJV). “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16, KJV).

Beginning today, we will be celebrating the Red Lahu New year at our village for 7 days. Many villages from the mountains will come down to pay respects to us. It is a good opportunity to share the gospel to them during their visits, when after their traditional dance, they will all gather around waiting for the hosts to bless them and what blessings could be better than that of the blessings of God, even the priceless gospel of salvation which is so rich and so free through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26, KJV).

May the Lord be willing to use even this event for the saving of souls. “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22, KJV).

Brethren, pray with us.

His unworthy servants,
Robert, Dara, Evangel & Evangeline Peh
& all in the Christian Home of Love
& Truth Bible-Presbyterian Church
Thailand, Chiang Mai

12 January 2008 - Praise and Prayer from Robert and Dara Peh.

“With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27).

Thank God that Michael is already back home since Monday (7 January). No one could imagine that he could be discharged from the hospital in less than 3 weeks. Certainly, our God “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). Praise the God! It is indeed His doing that Michael could recover so quickly.

Michael’s parents are still patiently taking care of him. Every day, they feed him with porridge and water, but it is not easy for Michael to swallow. They also have to clean his waste and wipe his body. It is definitely not an easy job. However, thank God for their love for Michael. May the Lord grant them strength daily to attend to Michael.

At present, Michael is still lying on the bed and could not talk nor recognise the people around him. God knows what is best and surely will work all things out for good to them that love Him (Romans 8:28). Thanks for praying and thank God for answering prayer. “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22, KJV). Keep praying!

Today (Saturday) is children's Day in Thailand. We celebrated it yesterday with our children at Home and will also bring all of them out today (Saturday). Thank God for enabling us to start a children ministry and for the bond we have with all the children He has given us. Thank God especially for saving their souls. We are reminded of what Jesus says in Matthew 19:14, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

We will also be visiting Pong Hai village tomorrow as the folks there invited us for their Lahu New Year. Pong Hai is a new village and there is a church there. During our Christmas outreach there in December, the committee members of the church requested for their church to come under our church’s umbrella. God willing, we will meet up with their church committee today (Saturday) to talk about this matter. Do pray with us as we ask God for guidance and direction in this new outreach.

The church in Pong Hai village consists of a few Black and Red Lahu families worshipping together. God willing, we will be ministering to the people there on the 20 of January. Please pray for all our preparation and for Robert in his preaching in that church (11 a.m. service) and for Dara interpreting the message into Lahu. Prior to the worship service, we plan to start a children ministry at 10 a.m. Do pray that the children will be drawn in and will be receptive to the teaching of the Word of God.

Besides, we will also be ministering at Hui Pu village on the 19 of January (in the evening). Preparation is still on the way. May God grant us the strength to serve Him faithfully.

Thank God that both preachers from Pong Hai and Hui Pu villages and their families have been attending our Sunday worship services. We are also providing training for them to be more effective in their ministries. Brethren, pray for us for wisdom to equip the preachers and to reach out the people.

His unworthy servants,
Robert, Dara, Evangel & Evangeline Peh
& all in the Christian Home of Love
& Truth Bible-Presbyterian Church

18th December 2007 – Praise and Prayer from Robert & Dara Peh

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5-6, KJV).

THANK GOD for every opportunity to preach the gospel. This Christmas, God willing, we will have 4 evangelistic outreaches in four Red Lahu villages around this region, namely the Den Luang village, Pu Men village, Hui Pu village and Pong Hai village.

Everyone in the Christian Home of Love will be involved in the outreaches. The children and youths will be presenting some skits and song items. Elder and Mrs Wee together with the other 18 brethren from Singapore will also be participating in all the activities. Aunties and uncles will be doing the cooking and serving. Thank God for a place of service for both the young and the old in the Lord’s vineyard, “for we are labourers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9a, KJV). “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour” (1 Corinthians 3:8, KJV). Thank God for the joy of serving the Lord together as a family in Christ.

Please pray for some of the children to recover from their flu and cough that they will be physically fit to serve the Lord during this Christmas season. Do remember our nightly rehearsals too. May God’s will be done in the lives of the people hearing His Word, as it is written, “the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11, KJV).

Our first Christmas outreach will be held on the 22nd December 2007 (Saturday) at Den Luang village, 6.30 p.m. We are expecting not less than 150 souls to show up. After the performance, Robert will round up the entire meeting with the gospel message. Thereafter, biscuits will be distributed and food be served. Do pray that God will bring in the people to listen to His Word “and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19, KJV).

On the 23rd December 2007 (Sunday), there will be a Worship cum Baptismal Service, which will be held at 10 a.m.. Thank God for the 8 souls who will be ushering in to the fellowship of Truth Bible-Presbyterian Church. Robert will be the Lord’s messenger and Dara the interpreter. Sunday School for children will start at 4 p.m. Mrs Wee will be the teacher and Grace her interpreter.

God willing, we will go to Hui Pu village on the 24th December (Monday) at 10 a.m., followed by Pong Hai village at 4 p.m. On the Christmas day, 25th December (Tuesday), we will bring the gospel to Pu Men village in the morning at 10 a.m., and in the evening, we will go around singing carols to the friends and members of the church. Do also pray for journeying mercies in all our traveling with so many people.

By the way, Pong Hai village is our latest mission outreach. It is located somewhere near the foot of Pu Men mountain. In September, the preacher (named Mor Bah) from that village came to find us with the intention to invite our church to assist him in his ministry there. Ever since then, he has been attending our Sunday worship services with his family. Thank God also that he was able to join us for our recent Leadership and Discipleship Training Course held in September and October to equip himself. We are still praying and seeking God’s guidance concerning how to render our service and support to this new mission outreach in the coming year 2008.

On a personal basis, we have also made use of this special season to give cookies and gospel tracts to our Thai friends in the town, praying that the Holy Spirit of God will speak to them through the gospel message contained in the gospel tracts.

“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified” (2 Thessalonians 3:1, KJV).

Wishing you all a blessed Christmas and a spirit-filled year 2008!
Immanuel,
Robert, Dara, Evangel, Evangeline Peh
& all in the Christian Home of Love
& Truth B-P Church,
Thailand

9th November 2007 - Praise and Prayer from Robert & Dara Peh

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16, KJV). Thank God for honouring our prayer and empowering us for His service. The message preached and the gospel skit presented at Hui Pu village in October were well received. It has been our practice too to make time after each evangelistic meeting to pray for the sick and needy. On that evening, the chieftain also came and requested us to pray for him too. There are some bullets in his body which are giving him pain, especially during the rainy and cold seasons. We prayed to our God for bodily relief for him, but were careful also to explain to him from God’s Word our Christian concept of biblical prayer, that he (being an unbeliever) may not mix it with his heatenistic idea of prayer.

For that reason, we were inspired to speak on our next visit on the topic of FAITH, from Luke 7:1-10, on the biblical account of Jesus healing the centurion’s servant. So, God willing, our next trip to Hui Pu village will be on November 10, at 5 pm. May the Lord once again fill us with His Holy Sprit and enable us to bring across His message with clarity and simplicity, that sinners may come to acknowledge Him as the only living and true God Who alone could save lives and forgive sins. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6, KJV). Do continue to keep us in your prayer.

Thank God also for helping the younger students in their school examination last month. Praise God that none of them had failed. In fact, all of them did fairly well. Among the Primary 3, Rachel was first and Rebekah fourth. The weaker students have also shown some improvement in their studies. Being Red Lahus, their command of the Thai language is poorer. Most of them need to brush up in this area. Some still have emotional and behavioural problems to tackle with. Nevertheless, thank God for all their good results and for the changes we could see in their lives. Those who ever have an acquaintance with the Red Lahu children and truly understand their background and learning ability and habit would be able to appreciate better how we feel and what we are describing here.

School has resumed since last Thursday (1st November). Please pray for our children and their studies, and especially that they will remain a good testimony in the school, applying to their lives all that they have learned every day from their daily family worship. Please pray for Robert as he teaches them from God’s Word how to be good Christian students for the Lord in the school and the necessary of building up their Christian characters which confirms the good work that God has begun in their lives (cf. Philippians 1:6).

This month is rather a busy month for all of us here in the Christian Home of Love. It’s rice harvesting time. Lots of work to be done, from cutting and drying the straws to threshing, winnowing and gathering the grains into sacks and weigh, before transporting them to the barn for storage. The hays will then be tied into bundles and carried home for animal consumption. The entire harvesting will take about a month. Please pray for all the reapers, for strength and safety working in paddy field.

We are once again reminded of what Jesus says concerning the harvest of souls in John 4:35, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (KJV). Yes, “the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few” (Matthew 9:37, KJV). Not only should we pray (Matthew 9:38), but let us also, as children of God, knowing that we must fulfill the will of God in our lives, respond readily and say like our Master, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34, KJV). May the Lord find us faithful each day to do His will.

His unworthy servants,
Robert, Dara, Evangel, Evangeline Peh
& all in the Christian Home of Love
& Truth B-P Church, Thailand