Standing Up

This week has been a week of persecutions. First, Hope House was turned down by a secular hiking club for an afternoon of trekking. We asked the resident foreigners to consider taking our kids on a two hour hike, just for fun. They replied that they would love to take our kids and even provide lunch for them at a waterfall. The kids were excited! Then, the hammer fell when they emailed withdrawing their offer because they read our web site and saw that we are Christian and we proselytize our Hope House children.

On Friday, we received a letter from the school where eleven of our children attend. The letter was sent to all Christian parents in the school. The letter called our children disobedient and disrespectful and stated that if we did not attend, it would show that we do not love and support our kids. The abrupt letter took us by surprise and we entered the meeting readied for an unpleasant time. At first, the teacher railed on and on about how they had taken the school children to the temple for a morality lesson by the monks and our children refused to wai them and bow to Buddha. The children refused to take part in any of the worship ceremony with the chanting, etc. We were told that the children must show respect on the outside by performing the rituals but they could secretly be praying to “our “ God while doing it. The parents respectfully explained to the teacher the reasons why this would be impossible for our children to do.

Another complaint from the teacher was that our children will not take part in the morning prayers thanking Buddha for the day and asking his blessings on all activities and also the noon prayers, thanking “nature” for the food. In Thai school, each child must verbally pray these prayers individually. Her complaint was that our children refused and that made them act rebellious and disrespectful. What happened next was no less than a miracle! GOD MOVED! We asked if the children would be allowed to pray for the day’s blessing and for the noon meal in the Name of Jesus. Something broke in the Spirit! She said “yes, yes”!! We were amazed. The teacher called all the children from their classrooms to come into the meeting. (There were about 100 kids in grades 1 – 9. ) The teacher appointed one of our Hope House girls as a spokes person for the group and asked them if they wanted to be part of the school group when they go to the temple or would they want to remain off to the side and separate. Hands went up all through the children to remain separate and off to the side. The teacher told them they will not be asked again to pray to Buddha or wai the monks but they must sit respectfully and quietly while the Buddhist children do. Then, she made a startling suggestion. She appointed a 5 person committee of the older children and put 3 Hope House children on it. She asked if every day one Christian child would represent the Christian faith and pray at the opening ceremony in front of the entire school after the Buddhist prayers were heard. We were astounded at this request. Our children were beaming with excitement. The teacher asked them which prayer they would recite and after a quick deliberation, our children said, they would like to say the Lord’s Prayer and recite the Ten Commandments, then pray for the day. The teacher approved! Then, one of our children requested a weekly prayer and worship time on campus, like a cell group, for the Christian kids. The teacher said YES! How is this possible? She made a 180 degree turn in her demeanor toward our children. GOD MOVED on her heart and granted us mighty favor. We are so blessed and encouraged. We are so humbly thankful to our mighty Father. He hears, He cares, and He moves his mighty hand for His children. Words cannot express what is in our hearts this night. When God moves, H E MOVES!!