My dear Friends,   This Monthly Update comes with love for you and to say thank you for remembering us in your prayers.

You will all be pleased to know that our KBC Annual Convention was a great success!  Over 1,400 people registered for the Convention but I think it is true to say that about 2,000 people attended the meetings.  Can you imagine making arrangements for 2,000 people and for preparing food for them each day?  The Ler Hay (Maesot Association) worked so well and everything ran smoothly.  Since the meetings were held very close to the Thai / Burmese border we were able to welcome Karen brothers and sisters from Burma.  We enjoyed great times of worship and had the opportunity to listen to many choirs.  We were also inspired by good Bible teaching.  I think we all returned home resolved to serve and worship Him with all our hearts.

Last month was one of the hottest on record!  We have been trying to live and work in temperatures of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (40 C).  We are surviving although I think it’s true to say that the heat really “zaps” your energy.  I’m pleased to say that it rained last night so it’s considerably cooler today.

The work on the Jubilee building is progressing well.  Since I returned we have raised about 100,000 BT (£1,500) and we are very grateful for that.  As I write this e-mail I can hear the noise of the builders at work and as I look from my landing window I can see the workers welding the rafters for the roof together.  The bricklayers are also working on the inner walls so the building is certainly taking shape.  We still need to raise 900,000 BT (£15,000) and we only have seven months to do this!!  Please continue to pray for this project and for our Karen women as they work together to raise this money.  In faith we have made plans to dedicate and open the Jubilee Building on 5th and 6th December 2008.  I will be writing to those of you who are thinking of travelling to Thailand for the opening in a week or two.

Now I would like to share my prayer requests for this month:

30th April - 4th May
Yuleybay, Deborah and I will be working in the Chiang Mai Association.  Our plans are to visit the churches at Mem Law Khi, Mae Oh Klo, Mae Hair Khi and Mae Pui Khi.  Two of these churches are new to us so it will be great to meet new brothers and sisters in Christ.  Please remember us as we lead worship and Bible studies in the Women’s groups and as we share in the worship on Sunday.

8th May
Committee meeting for the Tabitha Handicraft Project.

9th May
Committee meeting for our Karen Women’s Union.  Please pray for us as we make plans for the next three months and as we encourage our women to send their gifts for the Jubilee Building.

10th-14th May
For our second trip this month we will visit the Musikee Association.  We will be high up in the mountains enjoying breathtaking scenery.  Our Women’s worker for this area is Saythong and she will be assisting Yuleybay and me as we visit the churches of Nya Soo Klo, Klo Klo and Maw Blur Khi.  We pray that the Holy Spirit will inspire and help us in our leading of worship and as we teach.  Do not forget to pray for safety in travel.  The monsoon rains should begin at the end of May.

17th-25th May
HOLIDAY AT THE BEACH!!  My friends Karen, Barbara, Shelagh and I are travelling to Railay Beach near Krabi for a week's holiday!!  We are all looking forward to this.  Krabi is in the South of Thailand and the area is great for snorkelling and scuba diving and there are wonderful beaches where we can rest and relax.  It will be great to be together and I’m sure we will have a lot of fun.  Please rejoice with us as we enjoy our holiday and pray that the Lord will renew our strength.

31st May
Meeting for all missionaries who work with the Karen Baptist Convention.  We will meet at my home in Chiang Mai to share about our work and pray for each other.

Thra Bonny, one of our finest Karen evangelists, died on Monday 14th of April.  He was 96 years old.  On the 17th of April I was privileged to join hundreds of Karens in a service of celebration and thanksgiving for his life.  In Isaiah 57 v.2 it says “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news”.  Thra Bonny certainly walked the hills of Northern Thailand and the Lord used his life and preaching to plant many Churches in the Musikee, Pai and Mae Hong Son Associations.  It was good to take time to think and reflect on how God used Thra Bonny’s life.  Our prayer is that the Lord will take our lives too and use them to give Him glory.  We thank the Lord for Thra Bonny and praise Him that he is now rejoicing in His Saviour’s presence.

I will conclude this letter with a beautiful prayer written by David Adam.  This prayer has blessed me and I hope it will bless you too.

The Shelter of God

Lord you are my hiding place
A shelter from the storm
A protection from the heat
I rest under the cover of your wings
Your love is all around me
Above to uplift me
Beneath to support me
Behind to protect me
Before to guide me
Around me to shield me
Within to strengthen me
Lord you are my hiding place
This day and forever.

Looking forward to hearing from you,
  love and prayers,
   Jacqui

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