Christmas for Refugees in Thailand

Though many of the men have fished during the night, day starts early in the lakeside Laoshen village. Smoke rises from dozens of cooking fires for there is no electricity. Life is reduced to basics for these refugees from Burma, now living on the Thai side of the border. No frills, not even enough necessities—such as blankets when a cool night closes in. Or mosquito nets to protect them from malaria and dengue fever.

That’s why last December’s visit from Mercy Teams International (MTI, OM’s aid and development arm in East Asia Pacific) was such a surprise. The team came singing songs about the coming of Jesus to earth. They also prayed in each humble bamboo house, and gave out blankets and mosquito nets. Following that visit MTI helped a local church to provide education for the children.  Six families of the 300 people here have now put their trust in Jesus Christ. Though life is still hard, it is no longer without hope. Christmas has come to their village. At last.

Please pray for three teams that will be working along the Thai/Burmese border this December. One is a medical team that faces five hours of dirt roads, stream crossings and steep inclines to set up a clinic that will care for several hundred Karen and other needy displaced persons.

OM’s role in the Church is to mobilise people to share the knowledge of Jesus and His love with every generation in every nation. OM pioneers and leads initiatives to redeem lives, rebuild communities and restore hope in over 110 countries.