2019 Looking Back, Stepping into 2020 Looking Forward
We are really sorry, we have not kept our blog updated throughout the latter part of 2019. 2019 has been a year of transition and stepping into newness, which has kept us very busy.
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The Business as Mission (BAM), has been moving along at a slower pace than we would like. However God has shown us on many occasions throughout the year (and is continuing to show us), that He is laying the foundations for us, and we just need to hold-on, keep focussed on Him and following His leading.
Some of the highlights for us from 2019, not in any particular order have been:
Moving to Chiang Mai, getting to know our neighbours, settling in at House of Praise Church, having the opportunity to do Paul Bradford’s Train The Trainer course in Malaga,
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building relationships with staff and residents at New Life Centre Foundation, Paul hit a mile stone as he turned 50, being invited to attend 2 Lahu Thanksgiving services in Lahu villages, Bible Camp in the mountains with NLCF’s young people and 8 of them getting baptised, falling in love with the beautiful scenery / surroundings of Chiang Mai and finally fostering a 10 week old kitten for about 6 weeks…. Yes you read correctly looking after a foster kitten for 6 weeks and finding him a good home. He was alone on the roof of our
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bungalow and eventually came down into our back garden with no mother in sight we took him in. He was skin, bones and fur and very helpless. Unfortunately we could not keep the kitten, since Sarah is allergic to cats, it was also making her asthma flare up. It was sad to see him go, but we are happy that he is now in a good home.
Praise
We have spent the last 9 months trying to find out our elderly Thai neighbours name, he has hearing difficulties. None of our other neighbours knew his name(including a couple that have lived a few doors from him for 15 years), since it is hard to have a conversation with him. He talks to you, but does not give you the opportunity to respond, talk back and unfortunately he can not hear you when you respond. For Christmas we gave him a Christmas present with a booklet that explained the birth of Christ and the real reason we celebrate Christmas in Thai and a card, that with we wrote in Thai with scripture. The day before New Year’s Eve, he presented us with a lovely tropical fruit hamper with a handwritten note, signed off with his name. The translation to the note is – “Khun Paul and Khun Sarah, this New Year may you have good luck and happiness always, from Lek”. So we finally know his name is ‘Lek’. We thank God for this first breakthrough.
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Praise – Thank God for:
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New friendships we have formed since settling in Chiang Mai from March 2019.
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For the Bible Camp that took place in Doi Chiang, for NLCF’s young people and the 8 young people that made the decision to follow Christ and get baptised – December 2019.
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Getting to know our neighbours.
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Finally getting to know our elderly Thai neighbour who is hard of hearing by name, which is a good first step.
Please Pray for:
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As we continue to trust God regarding our next steps with the BAM company
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As we nurture the friendship with our Thai elderly neighbour now we know his name. Continued creative ways to reach out to him with his hearing difficulty.
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The work at New Life Centre Foundation and our roles there and how God will continue to use us there.
Thank you all for the Christmas wishes in the form of emails, cards and gifts, we really appreciate your continued support, prayers that always greatly encourage us.
We pray that this New Year 2020, God will continue to fulfil His plans and purpose in your lives. May it be a year of more evidence of His grace and hands at work in your lives and others that He places into your care to serve. God Bless.
Thinking of you… Just Trust Me
Have you ever had one of those days when God makes it loud and clear everything is going to be okay? When you gain a sense ‘He is thinking of you’, with you and sending people to stand in the gap to pray for and encourage you.
Paul & I had one such day on the 9th of May. As we continue to push forward with setting up the Business as Mission company, we have many days when we feel like things are making sense, then either in a heartbeat or the next day, it then starts to feel like the plan is crumbling and we are back at square one. We are truly being humbled by the process, being taught great patience and stepping into this unknown is make us trust God with every breath and step we take. We have have had days when we feel that the task is too big for us, days when we feel overwhelmed by what God is calling us to do, days when we ask God “Why is it all moving so slowly?”
Spending time in God’s Word as individuals and as a couple, God keeps bringing us to the same lesson “Trust Me, that’s all you need to do Just Trust Me“, “I have called you into this, I will equip and provide… Just Trust me!” It is a daily reminder for us.
So… on the day in question, we were feeling discouraged thinking about the day head, praying about the financial budget for the BAM company that seems to be increasing, Paul feeling frustrated working on the budget and Sarah feeling overwhelmed working on the draft business plan. As we prayed through the requests, it felt like a mountain and we were at the bottom of it looking up wondering how we were going to climb it or if we would we ever be able to climb it?
During our time of prayer, both our phones pinged just after 7.30am alerting us to a message that had come through. 1-2 hours after we had finished praying we decided to look at the message. It was a message from a couple in Bangkok, that used to be in our Life Group and also given us advice on the BAM company, letting us know that they were thinking of us and praying for us. It lifted our spirits to know that we had friends standing in the gap interceeding for us.
Our Thai friend Na from Bangkok visiting us
After 1pm Sarah heard her phone ping again, but not wanting to stop straight away as she ploughed on with the business plan, she looked at her phone about 30 minutes later. We received a surprise message from our friend Na, whom we had taught in the bakery at NightLight. She was visiting family in a neighbouring province to Chiang Mai and wanted to come and see us on Monday 13th of May. With excitement, Sarah immediately called Na and said “Yes, please come. We are really missing you”. It again lifted our spirits to know that our Thai friend from Bangkok was also thinking of and reaching out to us.
Yet again another ping from Sarah’s phone just before 3pm. This time Sarah opened it at once to see who and what it was. Some more Thai friends and a foreign friend we had volunteered with at NightLight, that are now working together at another NGO. The message via Facebook messenger yet again explained how missed we are in Bangkok, and that our Thai friends have been thinking of us and wanted to see us when they come to Chaing Mai for a training course mid-June.
As I (Sarah) shared the last message with Paul we looked at each other and said in stereo “What’s happening?” There was now a clear pattern forming. It just seemed to be too much of a coincidence to be contacted by so many people in one day with similar messages for us. Paul let out an exhale and said, “Okay God, you’ve got our attention!”.
Just when we thought all the messages for the day had finished, Sarah checked her phone at about 5.30pm and saw an email in her inbox. Again another surprise message from someone that used to be in our Bangkok Life Group, but moved back to the USA last year. We hadn’t heard from her in a number of months, so it was very out of the blue. Her message aptly titled ‘Thinking of you’, once again explain that we had popped into her thoughts that morning while she was praying and she had prayed 2 scriptures for us – Psalm 90: 17 & Psalm 20:4.
May the favour of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.- Psalm 90:17
May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. – Psalm 20:4
God definitely had our full attention by the last message. We felt a sense of peace of how much He was ‘Thinking of us’, walking alongside us even in what we initially thought was a discouraging day. The Lord had used our friends to remind us that He is in full control of what He is calling us to do and we just need to ‘Trust Him’.
The events of the day also led us to think of Zephaniah 3:17. A wonderful reminder that not only is God with us, thinking of us, but He also rejoices over us with singing. Amazing!
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. – Zephaniah 3:17
BMS World Mission
From Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Packing – Orgainised Chaos
Removal Day – Our belongings being loaded into the removal truck
The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of packing, that seemed to go on forever. Anyone who has ever moved knows how stressful it can be. We were surrounded by a sea of boxes and suitcases and living out of them was not much fun either. Fortunately, we were relatively organised, even if it did look chaotic. It was a very strong reminder of when we moved to Thailand almost 7 years ago.
In the process of moving, we did not get much done on business planning. Working from home was not possible, due to the array of packing boxes building up in our apartment and working in coffee shops became quite a pinch on our pockets.
Our Bangkok Visitor
We also in the last few weeks before leaving Bangkok, had an unexpected visitor in the form of a RAT!… A problem that we had never experienced in almost 7 years of living in the same apartment. The landlord started some building work and it must have disturbed the rat to enter our apartment on the 3rd floor! We spent the last 2-3 weeks doing everything in our power to get rid of it (giving it rat poison that it seemed to eat like sweeties and come back for more) and also ensuring that it didn’t get into any of the boxes we had packed. So we held it hostage in our bedroom, by keeping the door closed as much as possible and putting up with the racket it made in the early hours of each morning. It did work since thankfully we saw no rat (dead or alive) upon unpacking the boxes in our new home.
Friends & Goodbyes
Saying Goodbye to our Bangkok Life Group
Goodbye to Bangkok Thai and expat friends
One of the hardest things we had to do was saying goodbye to friends (Thai & expat). Although we are still in Thailand, the distance from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is 9 – 12 hours by road and flight only about 70 minutes but more expensive. Therefore, we will not get to see them as often. We hope they will come to visit us or any time we are in Bangkok, we will make time to see them. Our friends have poured into us and us into them, we have grown together, encouraged each other, laughed, cried and prayed together. We thank God for those friendships. Our prayers and hopes are that we will be able to build strong friendships and be part of a Christ centred community in Chiang Mai.
A few days before leaving Bangkok, we had an encouraging conversation with Pee a Thai taxi driver that we have got to know over the years. We noticed that he had an ‘Amazing Love Festival’ key ring dangling from his keys. We asked if he attended, to which he proudly and happily replied that he attended over the 2 days. He said that he was very moved by the worship and message. It is encouraging to see the impact that the ‘Amazing Love Festival’ has left on the people of Bangkok. We hope and pray that the seed that has been planted in Pee will grow.
New Beginnings
Our move to Chiang Mai went relatively smoothly with no major problems. Our belongings were driven up on 27th February by a removal company, and we flew up on the 28th February. We arrived at our new home about 5-10 minutes before the removal van turned up. It was amazing timing considering the driving distance! We thank God that it went well.
Safari Church – Photo of us taken after church service
Some of the animals you can go and visit after Church service.
Dancing Macaw – One of the many animals in the safari you can visit after Church service.
We have begun seeking out a Church and have been attending Safari Church, it is only a 10 -15-minute drive from our home. The Church is set in a safari/zoo! The services are held in a conference room which is part of Chiang Mai Night Safari. It is a very unique place to have Church, walking from the car park you can see the giraffes eating their breakfast, free-roaming deer and an array of colourful birds. Attending the Church gives you free access to wander around the rest of the safari after service. We have been warmly welcomed and everyone is very friendly. So far, we have attended the International Service and Thai Service at Safari Church. Over the coming weeks, we will have the opportunity to visit other Churches. We are praying about which Church God wants us to attend.
Colourful costumes and events of North Thailand
Some information about Chiang Mai: – Chiang Mai is ranked in the top 10 (about no. 4-7) of the largest (populated) cities in Thailand. It is a mix of rural misty mountains meets urban – a juxtapose of two contrasting environments and ecosystems. Chiang Main is based in the northern hemisphere of Thailand and it hosts 6 indigenous Hill Tribes called the – Karen, Hmong, Akha, Lisu, Lahu & Yao, all tribes have their own distinct languages, culture, traditions and colourful costumes. Chiang Mai is known as the ‘Rose of the North’.
Our New Home & Surroundings
We do love our new home. It is much quieter than Bangkok. Living behind a University in Bangkok, on many occasions for 1-2 solid weeks (throughout the year), the students would be practising very loudly for events until 12am – 1am in the morning. So one of the first things we noticed in our new home was the sound level… it is so quiet and serene, we can hear the birds chirping and wildlife chatting away more clearly. We are not far from a flight path to Chiang Mai airport, but the noise level and frequency from that is still no match to the noise levels we had become accustomed to in Bangkok.
Paul catching another frog in our bathroom! Asian Painted Frog
Speaking of wildlife… We thought we had said a fond farewell to the rat in Bangkok, only to be greeted by frogs that happily hang out in the bathroom adjoining our bedroom. The species are Asian Painted Frogs, they are less scary than the rat as long as they are not jumping! Paul has become a dab hand at catching them and setting them free back into the wild.
We have a mix of Thai and foreign neighbours. Our neighbour on our right-hand side is Thai. Upon meeting him for the first time, we tried to have conversations with him, unfortunately, we thought he did not understand us but was still very friendly. We began to wonder if our Thai was really bad or if he spoke a northern dialect we didn’t understand. We have just recently discovered that he does speak central Thai, but he has hearing problems. We pray that we can find creative ways of how we can communicate and get to know him.
Prayer & Praise
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Thank God for our smooth move to Chiang Mai.
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Thank God that we are settling in well and getting to know our neighbours.
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Pray for creative ways of how we can get to know our new Thai neighbour who has hearing problems.
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Pray we will build good relationships and friendships.
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Pray that we find the Church God wants us to attend.
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Pray as we work through the next stages of business planning and finances.
This definitely feels like a new season for us, with lots of new beginnings. We continue to thank you all for your continued support and prayers.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland”. – Isaiah 18-19
Yours in Christ Paul & Sarah
Updates to Our Blog
For all of you that continue to follow our blog. We wanted to let you know you, how we hope to update our blog going forward.
The BMS system for writing Prayer Letters / Newsletters changed towards the end of 2018. Which means we now write slightly shorter but more frequent letters per year so you will receive a BMS Prayer Letter / Newsletter from us every 2 months throughout the year.
We would, therefore, like to follow the same format for our blog and aim to update our blog every 2 months in line with our BMS Prayer Letter / Newsletter.
Our blog will be an extended version of our BMS Prayer Letter / Newsletter (since with the Newsletter we can only write a limited number of words and add a limited number of photos to it). Therefore our blog will be added extras and some behind the scene photos.
Thank you for being our faithful followers.
Sarah & Paul
Amazing Love!
We hope the year has started off well for you. For us it has started off well and it feels like we have done so much already. We have made some major decisions, travelled to north Thailand to begin acting on the decisions, travelled to Malaysia to arrange another visa and honoured to witness the beautiful miracle of nearly 2,000 people (mostly Thais), walk in freedom and accept Christ for the first time!
After accepting God’s call to set up a Business as Mission, we began to pray about the location. We had 3 locations in mind; to remain in Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Phuket. We had the opportunity to research all locations and meet with other organisations that we could partner with in the future. After lots of prayer and careful consideration, we have now made the decision to leave Bangkok and move to Chiang Mai (North Thailand).
The first week of January we went to Chiang Mai, to begin the process of looking for a new home. Thank God, within a few days of being there, we found a home that we fell in love with. We also had meetings with some lawyers and looked at commercial properties for the business, which at this stage was purely for research, as we look into the task of financing the business.
Beginning the task of packing our belongings
We have started to pack and just realising how much we have accumulated in almost 7 years of living in Bangkok. We will be move to Chiang Mai on the 28th February. It will be a 9-hour drive from Bangkok to Chiang Mai for the removal service we will be using.
Moving is very daunting, especially to a new location (Bangkok is very different from Chiang Mai), added with the many unknowns as we plan and move through the process of setting up a BAM. We are trusting God and know we cannot do it in our own strength.
Amazing Love Festival – Paul was a prayer counsellor at the event
Paul attended evangelism and discipleship training in November 2018 to be a counsellor, for the ‘Amazing Love Festival’ a gospel and evangelism event led by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The event has been years in the making. Over the past several decades, 3 church denominations in Bangkok struggled to partner together for the sake of the gospel. These churches eventually saw the impact that other festivals held in Chiang Mai and Phuket had, and they realised they could trust the Lord.
The unity from International and Thai churches across Bangkok, over the last year has been so strong. Seeing them come together in prayer, training and preparation in the run up to this event – an amazing miracle. The Amazing Love Festival took place over two days on the 19th – 20th January at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC), it was a completely free event for everyone.
Our hearts were overjoyed as we worshipped with the Thais and others. Many Thais hearing the gospel for the first time. Over the two days, 40,000+ people attended the festival. It was streamed live, 79,000+ viewers watched from 60+ countries. Most viewers were from SE Asia. 1,000+ online viewers replied that they accepted Christ. God used Franklin Graham (Billy Graham’s son) to give a message of God’s truth, hope and peace in Christ. Paul being a counsellor, prayed with those that came to Christ. His heart was touched, as he listened and prayed with a 10-year-old boy that accepted Christ.
Live Stream: Amazing Love Festival – Saturday 19th January 2019
Live Stream: Amazing Love Festival – Sunday 20th January 2019
Crowds going up to accept Christ
It was amazing to witness the huge crowds go up to accept Christ. It was like a peaceful flowing river, wave after wave of people. It brought tears of joy to my (Sarah) eyes. Nearly 2,000 accepted Christ for the first time and 600+ recommitments over the two days! Thailand has never seen anything like this before. God has opened the doors, we pray we will see many more Thais (and others) come to freedom in the saving grace of Christ. Keep praying for the follow up and discipleship of our dear new believers.
Prayer & Praise
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Thank God for us finding a new home in Chiang Mai.
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Thank God for the many lives that accepted Christ at the Amazing Love Festival.
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Pray that all new believers are discipled well and continue to grow.
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Pray that our move to Chiang Mai will go smoothly.
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Pray we will find a good lawyer in Chiang Mai.
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Pray for finances to get the business registered and set up.
BMS World Mission Bringing Faith in Christ and life only He can provide
We Have Nothing To Fear
On Monday 8 October we went to Phuket, in the south of Thailand for 5 days. We were there to have meetings and see if this is where God wants us to be. We will soon write more on what is happening behind the scenes as we following God’s leading on our next steps.
Even though we have been in Thailand for over 6 years, there is still so much we continue to learn along the way. We know that part of the month of October Thailand celebrates an event called the ‘Vegetarian Festival’… Sounds harmless doesn’t it! For all these years living in Bangkok, it seemed to have a harmless vibe to it.
The festival has it roots in Chinese Taoism and is a celebration to the nine emperor gods and happens during the ninth Chinese lunar month every year. There are many Chinese and Chinese Thai, in Thailand, so the festival has become a fixed event in the Thai calendar. It is now a mix of Taoism and Buddhism. In Bangkok’s China Town and many stalls around the city, they switch to only selling vegetable/vegan based dishes (ahaan jay – อาหารเจ); those that are participating in the Vegetarian Festival will abstain from eating meat, following a very strict vegan diet for 9 days as a way to cleanse their bodies. Many wear white from head to toe. The air is filled with the sound of loud fire crackers, beating drums, clashing symbols, the temples are dressed with lanterns, candles and filled with people making merit. The smell of incense fills the air, Chinese dancers and dancing dragon costumes parade past in a flurry of bright colours.
In Phuket we saw a different side to this festival. Phuket is the where the Vegetarian Festival is thought to have originated
Sharp objects pierced through jaws
from, since over 30 percent of the population have Chinese ancestry. The festival starts with the lantern pole raising ceremony, which happens across many temples around the island. The lantern pole is supposed to attract the 36,000 gods of the Chinese pantheon.
Then there are rituals held to invoke the gods along with fire walking, bladed ladder climbing and the nail bridge crossing. The ceremonies also take on a more gruesome twist with parades around Phuket. Spirit mediums walk with knives, saws, fish hooks or any other items capable of piercing the bodies and faces of those that are possessed. Those that are possessed believe they are acting as mediums of the gods and will puncture their faces and bodies believing that the Chinese gods will protect them for harm and little blood scarring from the self mutilation.
Beating themselves with knives
As we walked around Phuket one afternoon, we could hear the pounding of the drums, symbols, raised voices and loud fire crackers popping in the distance. It was heading towards us, we caught sight of row upon row and group upon group, of people dressed in white and spirit mediums dressed in brightly coloured and highly embroidered and patterned aprons, holding swords and knives. The police appeared from no-where to stop the traffic at the intersection to allow the parade to pass though, we stood on the corner, not wanting to cross the path of the parade. The cacophony of sounds became louder, more confusing, as each group stopped in the centre of the intersection and began yelling and beating themselves with the swords and knives they were holding. We could see where some of them had already used large sharp objects to pierce their faces, as deep marks and fresh scars marred their skin. Many of them looked possessed, their eyes bulged, entranced and bewitched, with each strike some of them drew blood from their bodies.
I could hear Paul quoting the verse “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind…” The verse that came to my mind was “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth…” I could feel the tears stinging my eyes not from fear, but as I looked on as each group did the same act, my heart broke. I began to think if this is breaking my heart, how much more much is it breaking God’s heart to see His Children so far from Him, yielding to gods and spirit that they believe are calling them to self mutilate and appease them in this way.
From a western prospective it would be easy to think that in the UK, an event like the ‘vegetarian festival’ would never 
happen. However, how different is this from halloween? As Christians in the west, we are quite sheltered, and because we do not see the rituals or ceremonies that happen alongside halloween, we see it as harmless… It is just about costumes and trick or treating right?. Wrong! Halloween is effectively no different from the vegetarian festival – It is a time of evil, darkness, witchcraft, fear, death, honours the devil and darkness and more than likely has many rituals that go alongside, but we just don’t see.
Wherever you are in the world or whatever your understanding is of spiritual warfare. As Christian, when confronted with evil or the enemy in any shape or form, we don’t need to hide away, or shake with fear. We do as Christians need to be aware of the battle that is happening and know that it is very real. Sometimes it hard for us to understand, because as humans we think if we can’t see it or feel it then it is not real or true. God clearly reminds us of the spiritual warfare happening – Ephesians 6:10-19 The powers of darkness does not have the final say ever. When we place our faith in Jesus, we are in a position of VICTORY always!
I like the way that Priscilla Shirer explains it from her Bible study series The Armour of God: “The enemy’s approach is not just aimed at individuals. He has a collective cultural and global methods designed to derail entire nations and people groups from God’s intended plan. He carefully crafts and proliferates philosophies, doctrines and moral perspectives across entire demographics in order to steer whole societies away from God.”
Pray:
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For God to open our spiritual eyes to the spiritual warfare we can not see in the natural.
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For us not fear or be afraid of the enemy, because God has already overcome the devil, darkness and death. We are victorious ALWAYS!
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To be able to discern what is from the enemy and not just think it is just ‘harmless’.
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Pray against the enemies deception, lies and the ways he tries to deceive us.
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To be in a position to share God’s truth, light and love, with those who have not yet encountered Christ.
BMS World Mission Bringing faith in Christ and the life only he can provide
Moving On…
It has been a long time since we wrote an entry to our blog. We do have good reasons and we will be sharing them with you over the coming months. Since there has been a time lapse, we feel we need to go back before coming forward.
“And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.” Acts 20: 37 – 38
Family bond
When God says it time to move… You’ve got to move! We shared with the churches we visited during our Home Assignment in the UK between June – July, that we have now left NightLight. It was a decision that was very hard for us to make, we prayed, we shared with our Life Group (Small Group), we listened for God and His perfect timing. When God’s clear answer came, it was a bitter pill for us to swallow…
The ladies at NightLight have become our family, and God was telling us it was time to leave them. Over the 5-6 years we were there, we witnessed God’s transformation in many of the women lives, seeing them step into freedom, accepting Jesus, getting baptised, moving forward with confidence, self worth and stepping into leadership roles.
Just like a family we had many joyous occasions, where we would laugh together to the point of happy tears, barely able to catch our breath. When the times of sorrow came, we cried together baring each others pain.
Our last weep together – Gathering in prayer for us
Whilst we were there, God taught us so much about ourselves. We had the great honour of pouring into the women, however without realising it, many of the ladies also poured into us. God has an amazing way of surrounding you with people, when you need it most. We counselled and prayed for each other, sharing deep and personal areas of our lives that could only be shared when an amazing family bond had been formed.
A few days before our last day at NightLight, they prepared a leaving gathering for us. It was the day we had been dreading, the day when the reality that we were actually leaving kicked in. Nothing could have prepared us for wave of emotions that we felt. Many of the ladies shared how we had impacted their lives, what we meant to them and how much they were going to miss us.
There was not a dry eye to be seen; another but final moment when we would all weep together. I (Sarah) was a blubbering mess with tears and snot everywhere (sorry, it was not a pretty sight!). I don’t think I have ever cried so much when leaving a place of work…even Paul shed a tear! The women have left a huge stamp on our hearts, which we will never forget. We will miss them dearly.
Since leaving we have been able to keep in contact with some of the ladies and those we know really well, have invited
us to their homes.
So, God says it time for us to move on… So in obedience to Him, move on we will do. We do not know all the plans for our next stage, but God is revealing the puzzle to us a little at a time. We sense that God is calling us to start up a Business as Mission company, of which we are completely looking to God for guidance. We will still be with BMS, and they are supporting us through this next stage. We are not sure if we will remain in Bangkok or if it will be another location in Thailand. As we step into this unknown and a new journey, we do know that it is all in God’s hands and by His grace, he will reveal all to us in His perfect timing.
We will be sharing with you how God’s plans have been unfolding over the coming weeks and months.
In the meantime can you please pray for us, as we seek His will with all the preparation, business planning, the location in Thailand, finances, our visas, our Thai business partner and finding a retail space.
Thank you for all of the cards and emails we receive from so many of you. They always arrive, when we need a boost of encouragement.
BMS World Mission Bringing faith in Christ and the life only he can provide
Precious Moments
In many of our blogs over the last year, we have mentioned about the many baptisms we have seen and the many lives we have seen transformed. God has been at work in the lives of those that were at the brink of despair, those that felt helpless, bound, not able to walk in freedom, where the enemies lies had blurred the truth, those that felt all hope was gone, those that didn’t feel they had any ability or worth. 
NightLight is known as NightLight ‘International’. This years retreat, definitely lived up to the ‘International’ status . A total of about 90 – 100 staff, volunteers, employees, survivours of trafficking from all corners of the world – USA, Australia, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Brazil, Thailand and the United Kingdom came together, to fellowship, worship, rejoice together at the baptisms and unite.
We have now lost count of the number of baptisms we have seen, whilst in Thailand. They have been a true testimony to God’s power and all that He is doing. Every baptism we have seen has been as beautiful and as precious as the first.
Awaiting To Be Baptised
The most recent baptism at the retreat were made even more special, with 11 women from different countries in Africa attending from NightLight’s International Anti-trafficking programme.
Baptised – Hallelujah!
Over the months the Thai women of NightLight have welcomed and embraced these African women with such great unconditional love, compassion, acceptance and understanding. We have watched as the Thai women took care of the babies of the African women, allowing them to enjoy and have time for themselves during the retreat. There was definitely no shortage of babysitters! As the babies were passed around and lovingly cared for.
Number of women baptised 6 African women & 1 Thai woman. We rejoiced with the angels as each life was set free in Christ.
All the nations you made will come and bow before you, Lord; they will praise your holy name. Psalm 86:9 (NLT)
‘Precious Moments’.
It is an amazing moment when you watch those you have been teaching and working with over the years, rise like phoenix’s from the ashes. When God uses people and situations that were broken and brings them to restoration, fullness, hope that brings Glory to His name.
We have shared in several of our last blogs, about some of the bakery women who had become confident enough to enter into business training. It was a breakthrough, because they requested they were ready for this type of training. I (Sarah), didn’t feel I had the Thai business language skills to train the bakery women to the standard they deserved. So after months of praying (over 1 year to be exact!), and searching for a professional Thai company that could run the business skills course, I almost gave up since we didn’t have a large budget to pay for the training either. Thank God, He never gives up on us, just when I thought all was lost, Paul & I were introduced to a Thai Christian Business Coach, that completely ticked all our boxes.
The Thai business teacher was fantastic and was able to teach the women with such grace, patience and understanding. The women had nothing but praise for the teacher and the information they were learning.
2 of the women after completing the first 2 modules of the business training, decided to take it to the next level and wanted to be enrolled on the individual business mentoring programme.
Successfully Completed – Individual Business Mentoring Programme
I was over joyed, especially since 1 of the women in 2016 was adamant, she never wanted to do any form of business skills training EVER! I am not sure what changed her mind, but I watched her flourish with each session as she come up with the most original ideas… I could see that she was even shocked at some of the ideas she was coming out with. They learnt all aspects that will enable them, to start up their own business in the future, should they wish to do so – business planning, financial planning, designing their own logo/brand, marketing and presenting their businesses on video.
The bakery has been a foundation for these women to step out, grow and realise their own potential, to let them know that God has a plan and purpose for their lives and that they have great ability to put their minds to anything not just baking/sugar crafting but anything.
Paul & I was proud to witness these women, who once didn’t think they could achieve much. Successfully complete the Individual Business Mentoring Programme .
In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 1 Peter 5:10 (NLT)
‘Precious Moments’.
We truly thank God for these many precious moments.
BMS World Mission partnered with NightLight International 
Lost & Found
Here is an account from the Founder & CEO of NightLight – Annie Dieselberg
“Recently, my laptop was stolen at the airport.
I had left it accidentally at the security gate, and someone decided to help themselves to it. Thankfully, airport security personnel immediately checked the cameras and were able to locate the man who stole it. Within a half hour—and with only two minutes to spare—I got my laptop back and caught my plane.
I recently shared this story on Facebook and was struck by how many people “liked” the post. I realized that the fear of having something stolen or lost is a feeling most people can easily relate to. Hearing that my laptop was returned so efficiently gave people just a little bit of hope.
Maybe that’s why Jesus told the parables of the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the prodigal son. The theme of losing something valuable and searching to find it resonates with people around the world, in every era. When what was lost is not just a coin but something of our very own, the intensity and emotional connection with this experience grows. It’s a fear every parent understands.
It’s not as easy to relate to victims of human trafficking and exploitation. Yet every night in Bangkok (and around the world), lost daughters walk the streets in hopes of being found. Their parents do not know where they are and sometimes have not yet even realized that they are lost. These daughters cannot find their way home from this foreign land. They stumble around in the dark; their vulnerability being exploited night after night. The immediate terror and panic of being truly lost eventually gets pushed down beneath layers of coping strategies, but it doesn’t take much to trigger the fear, the trauma, and the alienation. Their dignity, their freedom, their lives have been stolen from them.
**Anna was hired to work as a maid for a family in the Middle East. Once there, however, she was enslaved and forced to work for no pay under a cruel boss. Her employer brought her to Bangkok, where she was beaten and thrown out on the streets with no documents and no means of taking care of herself. Suddenly on the streets, alone in a foreign land, Anna realized she was hungry, desperate, and very lost. Anna had to turn to prostitution for survival. Soon after, she was picked up by the police and thrown in the immigration detention center, where she stayed for 4 months and had no way to access help or family. She did not know if she would ever find her way home.
One day, however, our help line number was given to Anna. Calling us from the pay phone inside the detention center, she begged us for help. Recently, Anna was finally delivered from the jail with a ticket to go home. The immigration truck brought her to the airport the night of her departure, and we were waiting there to celebrate with her. Anna could not stop thanking us, though she said she had no words to adequately express what she was feeling. She had been lost and was found. She was now on her way home.
“We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way,” wrote St. Francis of Assisi. When a child, mother, sister, or daughter is found and returned, even the angels celebrate. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. We celebrate this love which compels us to join in the search, to set the captives free, and to help those who have lost their way to find their way back home. For these women, this is a demonstration of love they will never forget”.
**Anna’s name has been changed to protect her identity.
Praise God for:
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The number of women that NightLight has assisted and repatriated back to their home countries, through the anti-trafficking programme.
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The amazing restoration, transformation, confidence building and counselling, to help women walk in freedom, that come into the NightLight International Programme Centre.
Pray for:
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The many women that are still lost hoping to be found. Pray that NightLight’s help line number makes it’s way safely to the women who need us to help them.
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Pray for NightLight to be in the right places at the right time, to reach out and help those that have been trafficked.
We are looking forward to seeing many of you, when we are in the UK during May – July 2018.
BMS World Mission partnered with NightLight International
God Came Near… The Greatest Gift
“So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son”. John 1:14 (NLT)
Christmas is a special time of year, not because of the sights, smells, and sounds, but because it is at this time that we recognise and celebrate the day that ‘God came near’.
What is it that you place the highest value on at Christmas?
Bangkok Christmas Decorations 2017 – Hot air balloons & Winter Wonderland
Bangkok Christmas Decorations 2017 – Mr Men Christmas & a Christmas theme we are still trying to work out!
There is no official celebration of Christmas in Thailand, with many places open for business as usual on the 25th December. However, the shopping malls of Thailand are all in full swing, selling gifts and adorned with spectacular Christmas decorations, and the twinkle of Christmas lights; with many of the malls trying to out do each other! Large illuminated hot air balls at one mall representing the journey of Christmas, another mall bringing the fantasy of a Winter Wonderland… in the middle of one of the hottest cities in the world – Bangkok! The bizarre, but funny shopping mall with Mr. Men Christmas! Lastly, one mall, we are still trying to work out what their decorations represent!!!
Looking around Paul & I have wondered through each mall – the smiles, laughter, happiness, hundreds of photos /selfies being taken, a medley of Christmas music and gift buying fills the air. It is so easy to get drawn in!…but a strong realisation kicks in, that all of this is nothing compared to the greatest and most amazing gift that came into the world!
“The noise and the bustle began earlier than usual in the village. As night gave way to dawn, people were already on the streets. Vendors were positioning themselves on the corners of the most heavily traveled avenues. Store owners were unlocking the doors to their shops. Children were awakened by the excited barking of the street dogs and the complaints of donkeys pulling carts…
…Meanwhile, the city hums. The merchants are unaware that God has visited their planet. The innkeeper would never believe that he had just sent God into the cold. And the people would scoff at anyone who told them the Messiah lay in the arms of a teenager on the outskirts of their village. They were all too busy to consider the possibility.
Those who missed His Majesty’s arrival that night missed it not because of evil acts or malice; no, they missed it because they simply weren’t looking.
Little has changed in the last two thousand years, has it? – Max Lucado (click here to read the full sample of God Came Near)
This gift is the largest and most expensive, it has no monetary value, it is a gift that brings much hope, love, peace, grace, mercy, atonement, forgiveness and ever lasting life (to name but a few). We are sure that if many people knew the great significance of this gift, they would reach out to receive it with all their hearts. Pass this wonderful gift on.
“After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child”. Luke 2:17 (NLT)
NightLight has been sharing God’s gift and presence in the red light district and local community. December has been a hive of activity reaching out to Thai women / men and international women.
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NightLight successfully run a number of medical clinics throughout this year and ran the last one before Christmas at the beginning of December. The medical clinic, provides much needed medical assistance to Thais and international women from the sex industry or those that have been trafficked. It also provides continued opportunity to pamper the women with nail painting, a listen ear and prayer.
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Thank God that 1,900 Christmas gift bags were hand out to women and mamasan’s (mamasan = A women who manages women in bars and brothels). With each woman being told they were remembered, loved and how precious they are.
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Christmas caroling in the brothel of International women. Some listened with tears in their eyes. Many are Russian Orthodox and far from home in a foreign country at Christmas. For them to be seen and thought of at Christmas (or at any time) is no small thing for women in prostitution.
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On the Anti-trafficking side of things – To date NightLight has sent home 45 International women this year! The anti-trafficking team has worked hard with many women that are now walking in freedom, and have been repatriated back home to be reunited with children and families.
NightLight ladies performing traditional Thai dancing to Christmas Thai music
As part of one of NightLight’s Christmas party morning activity, we were split into about 5 groups, to visit various hospitals around Bangkok. We visited the Veteran’s Hospital, to visit the patients, hand out gifts and pray with them.
The afternoon activities continued with games, Christmas carols in Thai, dance performances and of cause an array of amazing Thai food prepared by each group.
Freedom Bakery Update
Many of you have asked about the ladies from the Freedom Bakery. They did an amazing job during the month of October, confidently leading and teaching baking & decorating workshops at 2 external organisations. They taught and brought hope to vulnerable women making the decision to leave the sex industry and those that have been internationally trafficked to Thailand. They taught a total of 6 workshops.
* Freedom Bakery ladies teaching at the International Programme Centre
It was incredible to see the bakery ladies that over 2 years ago had no bakery skills, were fearful of the oven, frightened of the mixers and insisted the microwave was going to blow up, move so enthusiastically and with purpose. They are all teachers in their own right!
November saw, the same women from the Freedom Bakery begin learning soft business skills. The ladies have expressed a desire to hopefully in the future open their own business. Therefore, Paul and I, felt it was very important to ensure they received the right business training to guide them. They have completed 2 modules in product development, marketing, packaging, how to start a business, finance and funding.
The training has been well received by them. In the new year they will decide, whether they wish to continue with further training to be mentored in exploring setting up their own business in the future. It has been excellent see the ladies’ progress and development reach new levels.
We would like to say a big thank you for all your continued support, prayers, emails, cards and letters and gifts we have received for special occasions. We really appreciate them all.
We will be taking a break for the Christmas period, to recharge our batteries, before heading into the New Year 2018.
We hope you all have a blessed & joyful Christmas and a peaceful New Year 2018.
Please note: We will be in the UK on home assignment from May 2018. If you would like us to come and speak, please contact BMS, who will be organising the dates on our behalf.
*Faces have been blurred to protect the identity of the ladies from the International Programme Centre
BMS World Mission partnered with NightLight International
Pass It On…
I watched as the bakery ladies buzzed around the bakery, with *P Mon giving gentle directions “…*Noon have you checked that the following items are packed in the case, from the check list – weighing scales, mixing bowl, recipes, cupcake tin, cupcake cases, buttercream, palette knife, piping nozzles, piping bags… We don’t want to forget anything for the workshop!…”
I (Sarah) could hear the excitement in their voices, and sense the tension and nervousness in their body language as 3 ladies of the bakery team, prepared all the equipment needed to take with them to teach their first ever external bakery workshop!
I took a moment to remember how far they have all come from, not just learning in the Freedom Bakery, but the total transformation that has and is continuing to happen in their lives – they are definitely not being defined by their past. God is an amazing miracle worker!
The Freedom Bakery ladies wearing the white hats; teaching others from difficult situations, bringing hope & joy.
I was further reminded about the gifts & talents that God has given to all of us. When God blesses us with gifts and talents they are never just for our own benefit. He doesn’t bless us with talents and skills so we can look brilliant or be selfish with it! God wants us to steward those gifts for Him! To bless others and build His kingdom.
When we unwrap what God has given us, use it well and remember that even though the gift has our name on it, it doesn’t mean it is all for us. God uses our obedience and stewardship in wonderful and spectacular ways to bless others, with hope and joy in a way that we just can not do in our own strength.
As I watched the beautiful bakery ladies that 2 years ago had no bakery skills (many Thai homes still do not have an oven), that were fearful of the oven, frightened of the mixers and insisted the microwave was going to blow up… move so confidently around the kitchen. I thanked God for providing me with the privilege of using me to be part of their lives; yes teaching them baking and cake decorating has been part of it, but most of all God has given me the opportunity to pray into their lives, for trust to be built so they are able to share some of their most deepest life experiences, to pray with them when they feel all hope is lost, to laugh and cry with them and tell they can, when their confidence takes a knock.
On many occasions I questioned God, what am I doing this for? I can’t do this, my brain is exploding from trying to teach in Thai, can I give up now Lord? How am I supposed to win souls with baking & cake decorating? When my own confidence took a blow, life and spiritual struggles caused me to be discouraged or forgetting that I don’t need to do this all in my own strength.
To hold onto God, and remain obedient with the gifts and talents He has given me has been well worth it! On Friday 6th October, I witness 3 ladies of the bakery team confidently lead and teach their first external workshop (outside of NightLight at another organisation), teaching ladies making the decision to leave the sex industry.
Bakery team wearing white hats. Giving a guiding hand, practicing how to pipe buttercream. *Face has been blurred to project her identity.
When we got to the workshop, I had a brief wobbly moment, that they couldn’t do it and would need my help, so I proceeded to put on my hat and apron ready to help! I immediately heard *Noon say to me in a firm voice… “What are you doing? Take it off! We can do this!” That’s when the tears of joy began to sting my eyes, when I gained further understanding of how God is using me and the gifts His has given me to fulfil His purpose in their lives.
I am soooooooo proud of the bakery ladies, on their first workshop I cried with joy and smiled so hard (my cheeks hurt!), I even jumped up and down praising God! I watched them teach with such professionalism, giving advice and answering all the questions. They taught all of it by themselves with very, very, very very… did I say ‘very’ minimal assistance! I just stood in the background and took pictures, feeling like a spare part… Which was fantastic!!! They are all teachers in their own right!
God receives the praise and the glory since none of this has been done in my own strength… Trust me, I would have given up ages ago if it was left down to me!
Jesus gives us two commandments: to love the Lord and to love others as we love ourselves. – Matthew 22:37–40. So when we steward our talents to honour Him and to bless others, we are doing just that.
Pass it on… God wants to use your unique role in the body of Christ. So, if like me it is baking, then bake, singing, then sing. If your talent is a little less conventional—maybe you’re good with numbers, computers or play the bass like Paul (who teaches bass lessons, advises on computers and computer skills) — then find a way to translate that into a job to glorify God. Use your God-given abilities to reach those who don’t know Him—and give God the praise for all He has given. Pass it on…
* Names have been changed to protect their identities
Thank God for:
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The bakery ladies confidence and courage to lead independently a bakery workshop to reach out to others.
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The bakery team taking ownership of the Freedom Bakery.
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There are 5 extra external workshops lined up for the month of October, that the team will be running.
Pray for:
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For conditioned confidence, growth and development of the bakery ladies.
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For the extra 5 external workshops being held in October at 2 different organisations.
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Pray for the women that will attend these workshops, that they will be impacted by them and good conversations and relationships can be made.
BMS World Mission partnered with NightLight International
5 years!!!
Time has flown past so quickly, that we can’t even believe it! It has crept up on us, without us even realising! On the 29th June we noted that we have been living and serving in Bangkok, Thailand for 5 years!
We have been looking back and recapping the last 5 years. It has been a time that has been filled with crazy moments, challenges, confusion, spirit filled, hot, humid, rainy, flooding, stormy, emotionally driven – fun, happy, sad, tearful and fearful journey that God has led us on!….but we wouldn’t change it for the world! We have had the honour of working with many amazing people of God, who are serving, loving, learning and teaching others outside of their comfort zone.
In 5 years we have walked alongside and worked with woman coming out of sexual exploitation and human trafficking, it has been super hard, but in this time we have been so blessed and privileged to have met, some of the most strongest and courageous women in the world! Women that have stood tall and taken brave steps into freedom and transformation.
In the areas of the sex industry and trafficking that are dark and spiritually heavy. In 5 years, we have had the joy of seeing God’s light and hope break through the darkness and seen God’s hand at work – as women have gained their self-worth, value, dignity, a new life, and their God given purposes unfold, breakthrough’s of women delivered from evil spirits, brothel owners asking for prayer, listened to men confess that were about to use the sex industry for the night – but felt compelled to come into the coffee shop and share their heart, watched some of these same men give their lives to Christ, witnessed some of the most amazing baptism’s ever, watched God’s power of love and grace help trafficked & exploited women overcome extreme trauma and God’s justice break down walls of corruption!…. Phew!!!… this is the short list! There is so much more we could add!
In 5 years, we have embraced Thailand – the people, rich culture, food, heritage, language and seen God’s face in every single Thai person or other nationalities we have met. We have built strong relationships with many Thais that speak little to no English, a true testimony to how God has enabled us to embrace and learn the Thai language. We have been welcomed by Thai families that shows a bond of trust including Buddhist families allowing us to pray for them.
Most importantly, even before arriving to Thailand, during our time in Thailand and now, God has been with us ALWAYS, providing us with the strength, encouragement, giving us nudges to take steps into the unknown, providing us with the words to support others, providing us with the wisdom to make the right decisions. God’s hand has been unchanging, we have relied on His guidance throughout this whole journey and this will not stop. We are reassured that He will be with us always.
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. – Deuteronomy 31:8
We want to say a ‘big thank you’ for all your support, prayers and encouragement you have given us over the last 5 years. A ‘huge thank you’ for all your letters, cards and presents that have surprised us for New Year’s, Easter’s, Birthday’s & Christmas’. Thank you to our Church Partners for the great relationships and friendships that we have formed with you, your warm welcomes, kind hospitality, food and cakes whenever we come to visit your Churches. Some of you have been with us, before we left the UK 5 years ago and that support from you has been greatly appreciated.
We don’t always get the time to answer every single email or letter, but please know that each one has been up lifting. Many have come right on time, when we have needed a boost of encouragement.
Thank God for:
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The number of transformed lives that have happened during this time – those that have made the decision to leave the sex industry, trafficked woman that have been reunited with families in their home countries and men that have had their hearts transformed and touched by God.
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For our 5 years in Thailand, the people we have encountered, the lives that God has allowed us to make an impact on.
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The growth in our journey and walk with God.
Pray for:
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Please continue to pray for the all those, that recently got baptised. As new believers, the enemy uses many situations to pull them back. Pray that they will stay strong and remain close to God.
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Us, as we continue to live and serve in Thailand – God’s guidance, direction and wisdom for serving others and our personal lives.
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*Noon & *Ma – 2 Ladies that were working at NightLight but left recently. Ma has sadly gone back to work in the sex industry and Noon has got caught up in a bad situation and has been contemplating suicide. Please pray that God’s truth will break through the lies they are been fed. That with God’s help they will have enough courage to come back to NightLight. That they will understand that they are beautiful, precious daughter’s and princess’.
To help you understand how much God loves and cares for us, here is a poem that some of you may know or have read already. Please click on the poem title to take you to the poem link –
‘My Precious Daughter (A love letter from God to His Daughters)’
*Names have been changed to protect their identity
Lots of love
Paul & Sarah
BMS World Mission partnered with NightLight International
God’s Tapestry of Grace
We always feel like we are saying Happy New Year, but when you live in a country that actively celebrates 3 new years per year it is hard not to get involved. So again… Happy New Year 2560! You can visit our blog from April 2016 for an explanation about why it is New Year in April & the year is 2560! – click here
NightLight Retreat 2017 & Baptisms
NightLight Retreat Team Photo
The NightLight Annual retreat took place in Rachaburi, Thailand on 30th March – 1st April. There was a total of 95 people, with 14 nationalities represented across women, children, staff and volunteers. It was a great time for everyone to be together in worship, being encouraged and renewed in God’s word, there was a guest speaker sharing on our continued theme of ‘Breakthrough’. Everyone wore t-shirts with the Thai words ‘Step Into Victory’ printed across the front
In our December 2016 blog & March 2017 prayer letter we shared about an amazing baptism that took place at NightLight.
Baptism Candidates after their baptism
God is continually at work and the ‘Breakthrough’s & ‘Steps Into Victory’, keep coming. At the retreat we witnessed another 7 women get baptised! The candidates consisted of Thais, and one woman from our International anti-trafficking program from the Ukraine!
We all rose early for the 7am baptismal service, to beat the heat of the blazing sun.
7 beautiful women, stood in the early morning sunlight looking nervous, but joyful wearing satin burgundy robes. We all congregated around the resort swimming pool, to rejoice with the angels. Each candidate stepped forward to give their testimony, then stepped into the pool; each baptismal was just as amazing! Each receiving a crown of flowers after they stepped out of the pool.
One of the candidates called Grace*, stood in the pool her palms clasped together; after she confessed her belief in Christ, her commitment to follow Christ and that she had made the decision on her own.
Grace upon Grace
She then let out a loud cry of joy, that came from deep within, that echo’d around the resort. Even one of the hotel Thai staff could no longer hold back the tears!
Her loud cry of joy held so much – it was her release from time held bound by idols and idol worship, the release from time held in bondage working in the sex industry just to make enough money to make ends meet, the release from the feelings of worthless with no purpose and the release from feeling ashamed.
Her loud cry of joy – was her entering into God’s freedom and truth, it was God’s grace, mercy and transformation in her life, it was God restoring her worth, purpose, her identity, her dignity taking away her shame and most of all her allowing God to be master and ruler over her life.
Like God has done many times over, He has handed these 7 beautiful women, the gift of ‘Grace’ that is undeserved and unmerited, it is the gift of salvation that is available for all people through faith. God has taken all their good and bad – the sad and glad and woven it into a ‘Tapestry of Grace & Praise’. Giving them Grace upon grace
Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. – John 1: 16
*Grace’s name has been changed
* One of the women’s faces has been blurred to protect her identity
Pray for:
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The 7 women that have been recently been baptised. That we will be able to support them as they grow in their faith.
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For strength and wisdom whenever they go home to visit their families. Sometimes when visiting families they are asked to participate in Buddhist ceremonies and rituals.
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That more women will experience God’s love, grace, mercy and choose to except and walk in His freedom and truth.
Thank God for:
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The NightLight retreat, the fellowship time and renewal in God’s word.
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The lives of the 7 women that have made the decision to walk in freedom and truth.
BMS World Mission partnered with NightLight International
His Birth = Our New Birth
Baptism in a large black bucket – Just before being baptised
2016 for us, has been filled with witnessing lots of great and wonderful things! The one we witnessed recently was no exception, it was an absolute privilege, it was the most humbling baptism we have ever seen!
There were no huge crowds of people, no church building, no projector for worship or songs, no drums, no piano, no microphones. There was no baptism pool, swimming pool or the sea. It was held in a small back room next to a small kitchen and cooking area with a largish black plastic bucket, the kind you use for carting rubble, holding ice for drinks or in our case washing lots of dishes at a time!
A small crowd of us gathered to witness with 1 person playing an acoustic guitar.
Baptism in a large black bucket – During the baptism
The young lady getting baptised *Humble, is a lady we are assisting through our anti-trafficking program along with her children.
Whilst in our care, she had been asking lots of questions about Christ, He became real to her and made Himself known to her in her dreams. We were in the process of assisting to help get her repatriated back to her home country, and she wanted to get baptised before going home (which was due to happen a few days later). With such a short space of time, there was not enough time to arrange a formal baptismal service. The quick preparation and thinking – “What can we use to baptise her in?”turned it into the most humbling baptism ever.
She shared her testimony, made her declaration of faith and expressed her great love for Christ.
Feeling happy and joyful – After the baptism
As *Humble stepped in to the black bucket, and knelt down. The water was poured over her head…in name of the Father…. in the name of the Son… in the name of the Holy Spirit. Tears of joy rolled down everyones cheeks as we rejoiced with her!
As her children looked on – In the small back room next to a small kitchen and cooking area; in that largish black bucket for carting rumble, holding ice for drinks or in our case washing lots of dishes at a time, an amazing ‘New Life’ was born. Her humble baptism, symbolised her ‘Re-birth’.
And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. – Luke 2:7
The way this baptism took place, is a great reminder of how Jesus came into this world. There was no big fanfare, no luxury, no mansion and to parents with very little. We can only but image what the stable was like, there was probably the smell and noise of the animals, the uncomfortableness of the hay and the trough for feeding animals used as His bed. With witnesses that were one of the lowest classes in society – the shepherds. In all the simplicity and humbleness came our wonderful Saviour, Joy & Hope to us and the world. His birth, was the humble beginnings of our new life and re-birth.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. – John 1:12
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ – John 3:5-7
*Humble and her children’s faces have been blurred and her name has been changed to protect their identity.
Please pray:
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For *Humble as we continue to help her get back home. Challenges with corruption, injustice, lack of understanding and sympathy within the system, has made the process very difficult and caused many obstacles that have delayed the process of getting her back home. Please pray for officials hearts to be softened and for understanding. Please pray urgently for a breakthrough.
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Hopefully if all goes well *Humble and her children are due to go home shortly after Christmas.
Thank God & Thank you:
Christmas is not celebrated in the same way in Thailand and this year is even more different since the passing of the King, with a very sombre mood. The Christmas decorations went up very late this year. People will still give each other presents, however with no real understanding of what they are celebrating.
- Thank God – This a great time for us to share with the Thais. We have had the opportunity to witness to some of the local Thais we know well near our house and have been able to give them a book about the Nativity of Jesus in Thai.
- Thank God – For a trafficked woman from Uganda that NightLight assisted, was able to return home last week after many years absence and many health challenges. It was such a victory and joy to send her off at the airport and know that she was reunited with her child finally.
- Thank you – For all your support and encouragement throughout the year. We have received Christmas cards, gifts and messages from many of you.
We hope you all have a blessed Christmas and a peaceful New year! May you know Christ’s Joy, Hope, love always.
BMS World Mission partnered with NightLight International
A Great Royal Legacy
We really regard Thailand as home now. Our love for the Thai people and the country runs very deep.
Painting of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, showing all the many achievements and royal legacy he has left behind in Thailand.
So on the evening of 13th October 2016 as we prepared to leave to go to our Thursday Life Group. The news at 7pm came with the announcement that every Thai had feared; King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, Rama IX of the Chakri dynasty, had passed away at the age of 88, in the 70th year of his reign. He was the world’s longest serving monarch.
The news hit our ears and we both looked at each other in disbelief. We knew this news would hit Thailand hard; even in that moment in our apartment the stillness from outside was evidence. As we entered onto the streets of Bangkok, the silence, shock, grief, sobbing was written on every face.
We have 2 Thais in our Life Group and the sense of loss for them was painful. King Bhumibol Adulyadej was highly revered, he was the King of Thailand but was also the Father of Thailand who has done many great things for the country. The next day as we comforted, listened and spoke with many of the Thai women at NightLight, the personal loss of losing a Father cut deep. We are standing with, supporting and mourning with our Thai friends and family and feel their sorrow through this difficult time.
On Friday 14th October, Thailand a country often associated with bright colours, saw Thais, expats and tourists predominantly dressed in black, white and somber tones as the official national mourning period began. The initial mourning period will last for 30 days, but the funeral rites will last for one year. This will then be followed by the royal cremation.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, took his role with great seriousness, travelling through many parts of Thailand to
Mourners gather in larger numbers at the Grand Palace to show their respect to the late King of Thailand
improve the quality of life for the people of Thailand. During his 7o year reign he set up many Royal Projects and installed infrastructures to enable Thailand and the people of Thailand – some of these include improving agriculture, farming and the general landscape of Thailand. He has left a great legacy.
Over 500,000 (according to Thai Public Health Ministry) people lined the route to see the King take his final journey from Siriraj Hospital (where he passed away) to the Grand Palace. The location surrounding the Grand Palace and Sanam Luang Park has seen huge crowds daily paying their respects to the King and signing the condolence books.
On Saturday 22nd October a massive crowd of an estimated 170,000+ mourners from all over the country flooded to Sanam Luang Park and nearby side streets as far as the eye could see to sing the royal anthem in a historic assembly in memory of the beloved King. With an accompaniment of a 200-piece orchestra and a 150-strong choir under the baton of renowned music director Somtow Sucharitkul A momentous occasion that was also filmed by 1,300-strong production crew, 50 cameras, including two drones and cameras positioned on two cranes, as well as 25 microphones set up in six locations to capture the event. The film will include added footage of the Kings royal activities, will be shown on TV and cinemas across the country.
As the Thais gather together, they are beginning to look ahead to a hopeful future, following in the footsteps left by – A Great Royal Legacy – King Bhumibol Adulyadej. This is more than just the unity of Thais loyal to the late, revered King, but a demonstration that the King left an example to follow; they are strong together – serving with love, kindness, friendship and willingness to help each other.
Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Please pray for Thailand, the people of Thailand that they will be comforted by the Lord. Pray also as they step into this new period of transition.
BMS World Mission partnered with NightLight International
Return Home
It has been a while since we have written a blog, so we will be spoiling you all with 2 blogs in a very short time frame. Please keep posted!
It has been nearly 3 months since we returned back from the UK on our 3rd Home Assignment! We also marked and celebrated several dates in June – Sarah’s Birthday, our 5th wedding anniversary and at the end of June, noted that it has now been over 4 years since we have been serving and living in Thailand! Where has the time gone!
For us coming back to the UK for Home Assignment is always bittersweet, since we really miss the ladies we work with, friends and family we have formed in Thailand and now regard Thailand as home. However it is always a joy to see family, friends and visit the Churches in the UK.
For Sarah, it was good to see her Mum, since whilst in Thailand she has been very concerned about her health. Unfortunately last year November her Mum fell and broke her hip and coupled with late stage Parkinson’s her mobility has suffered. Thank God, she looked much healthier than when we saw her last year. Her mobility is still not great, but she still has all her faculties, she loves to sing even though her voice is sometimes affected by the Parkinson’s and is still a strong prayer warrior.
We would like to say thank you to all of the Churches for your amazing hospitality, support, encouragement and prayers. It always overwhelms us to know how much support and generosity we receive.
We were warmly welcomed back to NightLight with gifts and hand written notes on our desks. It was wonderful to see all the women. While we were away 4 more women joined NightLight. However 1 of the women unfortunately left and went back to work in the sex industry, we are hoping she will return. The rise in the number of women coming forward so far this year, is amazing, since this means more women are feeling encouraged to leave the sex industry and walk in freedom. Please keep these women in your prayers, we will explain more about these women in a future blog. In the meantime please keep them in your prayers.
Bakery Miracle
Bakery women working on a customer order – Minion Cake
A wonderful miracle has happened in the bakery! Sarah and Julie (who assists in the bakery) had been praying since the end of the last year for extra help. It was very specific as to who the person needed to be, with Sarah being the only Thai speaking person in the bakery, so she had to do all of the translation. We didn’t even get round to advertising for the post, we just kept praying!
Here is what we were praying for – Job Spec:- Someone who is a Christian, a Thai national that speaks English well, someone that comes with all the skills and elements of baking and sugar crafting (since there is no time to teach a new teacher, with time taken up teaching the women and completing customer orders), someone who would be able to help Sarah with the admin and marketing, with management abilities and someone willing to accept a very low salary!
At the time our prayer request seemed like a tall order, since there are not many Thai Christians in Bangkok, many of the Thais that speak English well, generally choose to work with bigger companies that pay generous salaries. Baking and sugar crafting is still fairly new to Thailand, so to find someone with these skills was going to be hard and if they did have these skills they would probably either go to work for a top hotel or open their own business!
Finished cake by the bakery women – Minion Cake
Well… Our God is the God of impossibilities! During July whilst we were still in the UK. A young Thai lady in her early 30’s, walked into the bakery to say that she had been living in the US for the last 15 years; she explained in excellent English that someone at her Church had told her about the work we were doing in the Freedom Bakery at NightLight. She explained that she is the only Christian in her family and has been a Christian for 6 years. She then went onto explain, she has just in the last 1-2 years made the transition from being an Accountant to training in bakery (patisserie) and sugar crafting skills and only just arrived back from the US in June to relocate to Thailand. Would we be able to use her in the bakery?…
Sarah received the information about her whilst in the the UK. Paul & Sarah begun praying about it and felt a sense of peace about it. We arranged to meet her when we got back to Thailand. After 2 lengthy interviews and happy to accept the very low salary that we could offer! The Freedom Bakery is please to introduce a new member of the team called Panita. She started on the 1st September and is already becoming a great asset in the bakery and administration. Having another Thai speaker especially a Thai national is a huge weight off Sarah’s shoulders and a great help. The women are also warming to her well.
In September the bakery successfully showcased their cakes at an an expat event. It was wonderful to see the women at the
One of the bakery women, proudly exhibiting their cakes at the expat event
event, interacting with the Thai visitors that were taking an interest in their spectacular cakes; with the women confidently answering their questions. This year has seen the women skills and abilities climb to a new level and as teachers we are having to assist much less. They are even now telling us how to do many of the techniques! Which is a great testimony to how God is working in the bakery.
On the 21st November, the bakery will welcome a new trainee, she will join the bakery as an apprentice. She has just recently left the sex industry and is determined to move forward with a new start. Please keep this in your prayers as we prepare to teach her, walk alongside and help her step into a transformed life
The Freedom Bakery has again this year, been nominated by Entrepreneur Now Asia in the Social Enterprise category. We have been invited to attend the award night which is due to take place on the 23rd November. Even if we don’t win an award, we know that the ladies have achieved so much and beyond.
NightLight Ladies Growing in Confidence
Niim playing for the first time in the International Church to a congregation of more than 1000 people
We had the wonderful privilege to witness recently one of the NightLight women *Niim play with the band at in the International Church we attend. The International Church has a congregation of more than 1000 people with about 50+ different nationalities (over 2 morning services). *Niim plays and leads worship at NightLight’s Church plant, which normally has a congregation of about 30! So a much lower numbers than she is used to. This was a first time experience for her playing in front of such a large number of people, but she approached it with such confidence and grace. God really used her. It made our hearts smile!
Give Thanks For:
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Our time spent in the UK. It was a blessing to be with family, visit Churches we already knew and make links with new Churches.
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The bakery women that coped so well on their own, whilst myself and Julie were away over the summer period.
- The women that have made the decision to leave the sex industry and come to work at NightLight.
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The new Thai member of staff that God has provided for the bakery.
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The Freedom Bakery successfully exhibited their work/cakes at a expat event.
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The Freedom Bakery being nominated again this year, for the Entrepreneur Now Asia in the Social Enterprise category.
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God giving *Niim the confidence to play in the International Church.
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God’s continued guidance in the bakery. None of what has been achieved has been in our own strength. The honour and glory goes to God alone for what has been achieved so far.
Please Pray For:
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The new women that have started at NightLight in the last few months. Pray that God will provide them with the strength and encouragement to move forward to step into freedom and transformation. For God to give us the abilities to walk alongside them and support them. For God to help us love them unconditionally especially when things get challenging or difficult.
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The new trainee due to start in the bakery on the 21st November, pray against fear or doubt that may creep in for her and that we will be able to support and teach her to the best of our abilities.
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Sarah, who has been having problems with her left foot and needs to have surgery. If all goes according to plan the surgery is due to happen on the 19th October. She will be away from work/bakery for 1 month to rest her foot. Pray for speedy healing and recovery.
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Sarah’s Mum – please continue to keep her health in your prayers.
Then he said to me, “This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. – Zechariah 4:6
*Niim’s name has been changed to protect her identity.
BMS World Mission Partnered with NightLight International
Breakthrough
The year is 2559! The Temperature is 40+ degrees Celsius and on the 13th – 15th April, was the start of Thai New Year! So Happy New Year 2559!
13th – 15th April is when Thai New Year is celebrated, it is called Songkran, also known as the Water Festival. When the temperature hits 40 degrees Celsius and above, it is the perfect time for Thailand’s Songkran Water Festival, to cool down! The festival starts off on a serious note, importantly by honouring the elders, pouring fragrant water & flowers in their hands…and then… It’s time for the largest water fight across the whole of Thailand for 3 days!
There are are 543 years difference between the Buddhist calendar and the Gregorian calendar. With Songkran being the start of the New Year. So 2016 in Thailand the year is 2559!
There have been many highs and some lows along the way, but through it all, we are still Thanking God for His continued guidance.
At the beginning of February, the Freedom Bakery, welcomed on board a new trainee. The new trainee wanted to have a trial period in the bakery to find out if, it was an area that she would like to work in. It was great for the ladies that graduated last year, to have the opportunity of helping to teach the new trainee.
Freedom Bakery – Finished Work
It made the graduates realise how much they had learned since joining the bakery last year and how much they were capable of doing and teaching. At the beginning of April, the trainee took the decision to not continue in the bakery. This is sad, however it was wonderful to see the graduates from last year step up and see how much they have grown in confidence, ability and skills. Orders for this year are gradually coming in. Since the start of the year the bakery team have completed, over 400 cupcakes, a 2 tier character birthday cake, royal iced fruit cakes, a gravity defying noodle cake, cookies, cakes done as presents, amazing realistic sugar flowers, several wedding cakes and a jewellery box cake with edible jewellery to name a few!
In March, NightLight had its annual retreat. 62 adults and 17 children travelled to a beach location about 3 hours outside of Bangkok. It was a time for the women to escape from the busy bustle of Bangkok, spending quality time with their children, work colleagues, to worship, team build and have fun! The women use much of their finances to support their families, therefore many of them don’t get the opportunity to travel out of Bangkok apart from returning home over the holiday periods, such as Songkran. So the NightLight retreat is really important to them.
The theme for this years retreat was ‘Breakthrough’; this is the same subject that we have been following in NightLight’s morning devotions for the last 5 months. The guest speaker was from Scotland, she was not initially in Thailand for our retreat but God orchestrated for her plans to be changed, an answer to prayer since up until about 1-2 weeks before the retreat we had no speaker!
The speaker had no planned message, but God impressed it on her heart to speak to the women about
NightLight Retreat 2016 – Group Photo
‘Breakthrough in Forgiveness’. The message touched many of the women and on the last day of the retreat many of them share the impact the message had on them. *Yim shared about her years of unresolved forgiveness with her Dad, she thought she had forgiven him, but on hearing the message realised she hadn’t. She felt encouraged to make the move to contact him.
A lesson for us all to remember: When you reach forgiveness, you break through. The order is forgive, then break through, because the forgiveness itself is the breakthrough.
Another wonderful breakthrough that happened during the retreat – 2 women gave their lives to Christ on the second day of the retreat! We rejoiced so much!
There has also been breakthrough in other areas at NighLight:
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2 more women (sisters) accepted Christ in mid-April. One of the women shared that a man dressed in white came to her twice in her dreams!
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NightLight has assisted with repatriating trafficked women back home. One woman, who was from Liberia was repatriated after a long journey of loss including losing family to Ebola. Returning home for her was bittersweet, but the reunion with her children brought her much joy.
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The outreach centre with the weekly beauty shop, has had a real impact and breakthrough, with women making the decision to leave the sex industry. Some of the women have come to work at NightLight – since January this year, 6 new women have joined NightLight. The outreach centre has also helped other women to get job roles with dignity outside of NightLight.
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The Freedom bakery team, have been given the opportunity to attend 2 day training programme at the beginning of May. The training programme is geared towards reaching emerging entrepreneurs from vulnerable backgrounds. Enabling them to become trainers and leaders of others. When I (Sarah) shared the information with them, they jumped at the opportunity and were really excited! This for me (Sarah) is an amazing breakthrough as they are beginning to take initiative and steps towards self development. Please keep this in your prayers.
NightLight Retreat 2016 – The women doing a skit about ‘Breakthrough’.
* Yim (not her real name) Name has been changed to protect identity.
Please continue to keep the many ministry areas of NightLight in your prayers – Jewellery, t-shirts, sewing, bakery, coffee shop, outreach centre and the transition home assisting trafficked women.
We will be in the UK from mid-June – end July 2016. We will be visiting Churches from the end of June – end July 2016, our schedule is as follows:
27th June – Our Home Church – Aylesbury
29th June – Chipping Sodbury BC
3rd July – Epsom BC & West Watford BC
10th July – Kensal Rise BC
17th July – Cheltenham, Gas Green & Swindon, Gorse Hill
24th July – Hainault, Franklyn Gardens & Bromley Park Road
For the Churches we will be visiting we will be aiming to contact you all, nearer to our time of visit to the UK.
Thank you all for your continued support and prayers.
BMS World Mission partnered with NightLight International
What A Difference A Year Makes!
2015 is now behind us and 2016 holds exciting possibilities. Your support and prayers is enabling us to change and impact many lives. Through outreach, intervention, rescue and restoration.
The Freedom Bakery is coming up to it’s 1st year, since the official training programme launched in February last year. It has been an amazing 1st year, with highs and lows, teaching and watching the first team of women grow in confidence with their new found skills and abilities.
Some of the women in Freedom Bakery team at the Entrepreneur Now Asia 2015 Awards
Some of you may have read our December 2015 prayer letter, bringing you all update with the progress of the Freedom Bakery (you can follow this link to our December prayer letter Paul & Sarah December 2015). Which we outlined the early successes that the business side of the bakery was having; nominated for the Entrepreneur Now Asia 2015 Awards.
Shortly after our prayer letter was published, the Freedom Bakery was contacted by The Bangkok Post. The Bangkok Post is like the Guardian, The Daily Telegraph or The Times. It is read by many including the large expat community in Bangkok. A journalist & photographer from the newspaper visited the bakery and interviewed us. We took it in our stride, thinking it was going to be a small article in a little corner of the newspaper. We were just excited by the fact the women’s work and abilities was going to be in The Bangkok Post and receive more coverage.
Freedom Bakery article in The Bangkok Post. Showing casing the bakery’s sugar craft work – December 2015
It was a very pleasant surprise, when we saw the article in The Bangkok Post a few days later. It was a large article (nearly full page), placed in the lifestyle section of the newspaper! We received many customer enquires following the article.
We are now in the process of praying and planning for the next stage of the freedom bakery. We have 1 new woman starting in the bakery training programme on Monday 8th February. Like the other woman that started last year, she is very nervous about learning this new skill. Your prayers for her as she takes this new step are really appreciated.
We are also hoping to introduce a development programme to work closely alongside the women, to keep up with their training requirements. The woman from last year will be involved with training the new trainee.
Another year has also made a big difference and impact, in the many other ministry areas at NightLight.
Another Year At NightLight
34 women are currently employed at NightLight. Working in alternative employment and job training to Thai women leaving prostitution or sexual trafficking through jewellery production, silk-screening shirts, sewing shirts and scarves, coffee shop barista, baking and cake decorating, child care, outreach ministry, and administrative work.
27 children of employees and local at risk community were in NightLight childcare. 21 children of employees received tuition scholarship.
100+ Medical screen and intervention provided for women in prostitution and those who are trafficked.
1000 + Thai and International women, were reached through activities in the outreach centre and building relationships in the bars, brothels, and on the streets.
2000+ gifts were given out at Valentines, Women’s Day, and Christmas in 2015. Over 100 women came to the outreach centre in for beauty salons, English classes, and clinics.
32+ International women were assisted through housing, medical care and/ or repatriated in 2015 – from countries such as Africa, Asia, Central Asia and South America. Many wait for assistance in 2016.
It has been amazing for us to look back and see how many lives were reached last year. Sometimes you can not always see what God is doing until you have all the picture in focus. As we look back, we have seen God’s provision, grace, guidance and His hands at work.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning,
great is your faithfulness. -Lamentations 3:22-2
We will be on home assignment in the UK and available to request as a BMS Speaker from 27 June to 24 July 2016.
Churches wishing to request us as BMS Speakers should click on the link for the BMS Speaker Request or contact BMS World Mission directly.
The deadline for requests is 1 February 2016, however you maybe able to try after this date, since there may still be slots available.
Please keep in your prayers:
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The new trainee due to start in the bakery on Monday 8th February. Against fear and nerves, and that she will learn well. For us teaching her and the ability for the current bakery team to be involved with helping to teach & train her also.
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All the ministry areas at NightLight – alternative employment for those exiting the sex industry, outreach, outreach centre, the coffee shop, children’s day care and the transition home for trafficked women seeking assistance from NightLight.
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For Sarah’s Mum’s heath – Unfortunately she broke her hip and it is slowly recovering. It has been a set back as she also has Parkinson’s. We do worry about her a lot whilst in Thailand, but we know God is taking great care of her.
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For out health and emotional health – We have had personal issues that we are working through, whilst working on the Freedom Bakery project. We know God is in control, but would appreciate your prayers for spiritual and emotional strength
BMS World Mission partnered with NightLight International
Waiting on God Purposefully
It has been a while since we published a blog, however our busy work load and schedules mean that writing for a blog has taken a back seat.
The last few months have been difficult, since we have been working through issues in our personal and working lives. Things that have made us totally depend on God and require us to wait on Him. Waiting is an inescapable fact of life. It is not about if we will have to wait for something, it’s about when we will have to wait, and crucially how we wait.
The thing about waiting is that, no matter how tough it can be, it helps us to understand that God is sovereign. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
When the trials come, we often want to step or jump right over them, shut our eyes or pretend they are not there. However through these trials God has been preparing our hearts and giving us the ability to grow in faith. God’s picture for our lives is way bigger than what we can imagine. Obviously when we are in the period of waiting we often forget this, when we are rocked to the core, we know that God can and will come through, but you are left with the wondering of when.
There are two ways you can wait. You can wait actively or passively – active waiting is best. It does not really matter what you’re waiting for; Joyce Meyer says it well, “Enjoy where you are, on the way to where you’re going”. In other words – wait well.
Whenever we are going on a particularly long trip somewhere, we always have something to read or some music to make the journey more enjoyable. It may sound simplistic, but that’s exactly what we need to do while we are waiting on God. Having a parallel project doesn’t make the waiting always enjoyable all the time, but does make it easier. We are trying to have thankful hearts, drawing closer to God while waiting, resisting being passive. It has been wonderful to find ways to add value to someone else’s life, by serving and helping them to reach their goals.
We understand that waiting is a godly act. The enemy would rather we forfeit the wait in favour of a counterfeit lesser option; he doesn’t want us to access the power and strength that are developed within us when we wait. We both love the scripture, ‘They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint’’ – Isaiah 40:31
In the waiting, it puts us right into God’s hands and at the centre of His will for our lives.
“God grace is sufficient for us, for His power is made perfect in our weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
We would appreciate if you would keep us in your prayers. We have received emails from some of you, and they are greatly appreciated. We don’t always get the opportunity to reply to them all, but please know they are valued.
Thank you for your continued support & prayers.
We would appreciate prayers for:
- Sarah’s Mum health
- Both of us to continue to grow in faith for God’s provision
- God guidance on work & life matters
- Sarah’s health
BMS World Mission partnered with NightLight International
Celebrating Freedom
The time of our visit to the UK came and went so quickly! We arrived safely back home in Thailand on Wednesday 29 July and now settling back into a routine. We are taking some time off before going back to work at NightLight.
It was good to visit Churches we knew already and see some familiar faces, however it was also wonderful to link with some new churches and build new friendships; and spend time in worship with you all.
We hope that what we shared was encouraging, it is always a blessing for us to share how God is working in people lives, the transformation taking place, the hope and Good News being spread.
We are grateful for your role in bringing freedom to these women as well as the prayers and support which enable them to stay and thrive in freedom.
This is an update of some of the work that was continuing whilst we were in the UK. It is amazing how much happens in your absence.
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NightLight’s work with trafficked women continues to bring us face to face with amazing women with horrific stories who are overcoming and walking into freedom. Since April we have assisted 2 Ugandan, 1 Liberian, 1 Uzbek, and 2 Columbians in returning home. These women and their families have been greatly impacted by your prayers and support. We are presently assisting three others from Uganda and Colombia as well.
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A young trafficked woman from Morocco is presently in our care. Please pray for her as she suffers from post traumatic stress and tries to walk through a difficult process to return to her country.
A Central Asian woman, in our care who was seriously ill. We were able to get her home safely where she could reunite with her family and receive medical treatment.
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One of our women who has struggled to get off the streets and free of addictions for over 10 years agreed to enter a rehab centre in July. NightLight will be visiting with her family in the northeast and then taking her to the centre up north. Please pray for her to have courage for this difficult journey.
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The bakery completed their 12 week training course and in June had a graduation ceremony and celebration. They often doubted themselves and their abilities, but persevered and made some incredibly beautiful cakes. In the Autumn they will open for sales locally.
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The outreach centre has been very busy with beauty salons twice a week, English class once a week, outreach parties, and a medical clinic. Women from the red light area come for care, conversations, and hope. As the women share their stories with our staff, they ask about Jesus. Four women have come to Christ through these visits.
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On the June, 25 women and their children were treated to an outing at Safari World by the Evangelical Church
of Bangkok. For their missions service weekend they also partnered with us by playing live music in our coffee shop at night, and joining us on outreach. It was wonderful to have their support and presence.There is a lot of discouraging news around the world and we face challenges, which often seem impossible. We are so grateful for your prayers and support and we celebrate the goodness of God in bringing freedom and hope to so many.
The Spirt of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.
Isaiah 61:1 (NLT)
BMS World Mission partnered with NightLight International
Graduation Celebration
Unfortunately we haven’t managed to update our blog as often as we would have liked. However both of us have been extremely busy setting up the Freedom Bakery, the budget, business plan & business strategy. Setting up and overseeing a new project takes up a lot of time, coupled with setting it up in another language and cultural differences that adds to the many challenges. Sarah also had to come to terms with seeing 2 women leave about half way through the training, however it is hoped they will take the opportunity to come back.
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Designing their finale cake for their graduation ceremony.
Paul has been busy beavering away on the budget for the bakery and over seeing the financial aspects of the project on a daily basis. He is also still budget monitoring for the jewellery & t-shirt area and doing statistical monthly reports for outreach, childcare, transition home/trafficking in persons, song sawing church, the coffee shop, playing in morning worship and still teaching some of the women how to play bass guitar every week.
Sarah has also been wearing many hats; Handling marketing, material & ingredients sourcing, teaching the 12-week intensive bakery course that she also had to prepare as well, including a Food & Hygiene and Health & Safety course that all had to be delivered in Thai. She has been teaching the course every day (Mon -Fri) from 10.30 – 17.00. It would be tiring teaching it in English, so teaching it Thai has been very tiring indeed. At the end of the working day, her brain is frazzled! Quite amazingly during the training we were also taking in customer orders as well; for the month of May we had 2 orders every week! The word about the bakery is starting to spread. The last day of the bakery training course was on the 29 May.
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Graduated bakery team and finished cake.
Sarah organised their final training project and all of the elements for their graduation ceremony and celebration. On 5 June we saw the ladies graduate in a full graduation ceremony in gowns & hats with their final training project cake the centrepiece of the ceremony. All of them accomplished so much whilst training. When they first started in February this year, they were so scared. They were unsure of the techniques, not confident, even the oven produced fear and fear sometimes pushed them to complain about the new techniques they were going to learn for the week or the crazy cake design/flavour order we had undertaken for a customer. However they always managed to learn what was being taught and far exceeded their own expectations. They are all so proud of their work and overjoyed with their new skills and abilities, which has opened new opportunities for them.
It was a wonderful, precious and proud moment seeing them graduate. There were tears of joy all round!
They worked hard during the 12-weeks and achieved standards of excellence which we are confident will continue. Sarah has been privileged to watch their confidence, courage and skills grow. She has enjoyed every moment of teaching and working with them.
The bakery team and the ladies at NightLight have so much potential to achieve so much. The graduation gowns and sashes were made by the NightLight sewing department and the flowers arrangements and bouquets by a very talented lady that works in the jewellery department. Amazing abilities from the ladies at NightLight!
During our time in the UK the bakery team will be taking the time to improve on all the skills & techniques they have learnt on their own and then go onto work into the feeder/partner bakery linked with the project in August/September.
Thank you so much to everyone that has sent us emails of support and has supported this project financially through BMS & NightLight. Your support is making a tremendous difference of transformation in in the lives of these women.
We are really excited how God will use and move this project forward.
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Graduated bakery team cutting their final project cake.
BMS World Mission partnered with NightLight International 
NightLight Shines Bright
NightLight is a busy place and with new activities and projects launching, we have a lot of updates to share. We hope you will enjoy catching up on the news and will also be aware of how much your prayers and support contribute to all that is happening.
NightLight’s Outreach Centre Activities
- Nail painting at the outreach centre
We have been hosting medical clinics every couple months out of our outreach center in the red light area. The last few clinics have averaged around 40 women and ladyboys (transgenders) coming in for HIV testing and medical attention. The clinics are a great way to build trust in the neighborhood. On March 24th it rained a lot, but we still were able to receive 15 clients. It was a good opportunity to hear their stories and offer assistance. We are grateful to Dr. Katherine Welch of Relentless and a great team of international volunteers.
In February the outreach team made over 724 contacts with women from Thailand, Africa, Central Asia, and South America in the red light area. We gave gifts on both Valentines and International Women’s Day to bless the women and let them know that they are seen and loved. nail salon Three of our Thai women have now joined the outreach team as well.
English classes take place every week in the outreach center for women still in prostitution. We also open the center for hairdressing and nails once a week. As a result of these consistent events, the staff is able to build relationships and gain trust among the women in the community.
- Celebration cookies by The Baking Project
CityLight Coffee Shop
We were excited to celebrate the 1st year anniversary of CityLight Coffee in March. The Baking Project made personalised cookies. The coffee shop is a safe and welcoming space in the red light area. We are exploring ways to increase revenue so it can become profitable as well. If you are in Bangkok, come by for a great cup of coffee or non-coffees drink and a Panini sandwich!
Employment and Job Training
Jewellery and Shirts
Sales were better in February and March, in part due to high number of visitors and teams. Due to the low sales last year and the financial stress we moved many of the women out of the business and into the foundation. We now have 8 employed in NightLight Design Company and 36 employed in NightLight Foundation. We need more sales, jewellery parties, and retail connections to increase revenue and allow us to hire more women.
- Training in The Baking Project
The Baking Project We are excited to have recently been granted additional funding we needed to make this project successful. The women are in the middle of a 12-week training program learning food & hygiene, health & safety, sugar crafting, and baking skills. So far what they are doing is beautiful and excellent in quality.
Child Care Center
We are averaging 17 children during the school year and closer to 25 during school breaks (happening now, which is their summer holiday’s). This month the children are going on a special outing to the Aquarium with a school group from an international school in Korea. The following week they will have an English camp. This is a really good opportunity for the children who live in the rural areas. School will start up again in May and funding will be need to provide tuition assistance for around 35 children ages 3-19.
Thai New Year
NightLight closes over Songkran (Thai New Year) so the women can go home to their villages and participate in the family blessings. After a day of blessing gently with water it turns into a 3-day water festival (the worlds largest water fight!). It is a lot of fun, but there are also a lot of accidents. Please pray for the women’s safety and for the time they spend with their families.
Anti-Trafficking Program
Transition House
We have had three women from Uganda enter the Transition House since the New Year. A mother and baby went home in January and a second woman went home in March. The stories are both horrific and amazing and the women continue to impact us as we assist them in transition and repatriation. The process is complicated with a lot of roadblocks and the team needs continuous prayer covering.
We are in immediate need of house mothers and volunteers to cover shifts at the house and help. The burden is heavy on the residential staff, which works overtime. Please hold them in prayer for endurance and strength, but also pray for the right people to come forward to help. There are many more women who need assistance, but at the moment our limitation is due to not enough people to help.
Repatriation and Assistance
The anti-trafficking team is visiting several trafficked women in the immigration detention center. We hope to advocate for them and accelerate the process for them to return home. Our Spanish-speaking team member has been working with a woman from Colombia and we hope she will return home next month. A big concern we have, is for a woman from Central Asia who is in a pretty serious medical condition and at high risk of dying here if she doesn’t cooperate with the necessary treatments. Please pray for wisdom and for her to understand the necessity of accepting assistance.
NightLight’s Needs
NightLight has expanded its work into new areas and we appreciate so much your prayers, supports, donations and pledges, which makes it possible.
In celebrating Easter Sunday, we also celebrate the new life we see in the women and children and the hope they have for their future. Thank you for being part of this transformation!
Thank you
Annie Dieselberg CEO / Founder of NightLight & Volunteers of NightLight
BMS World Mission Partnered with NightLight International
Beauty in the Brokenness
“When I first started training in baking & sugar crafting, I thought what is this? I’m not
Food colouring used to paint autumn cookies. Royal icing piping
going to enjoy it, because I can’t do it. I know I can’t do it. I don’t have the ability to do this! I had never done any kind of baking before, so how am I ever going to be good at doing this?
I was scared to try something new and really scared I might fail. But as the weeks and months went on and I learned, I realized that I had abilities beyond what I thought I could achieve. Each week as I learned something new, I improved; I remembered skills and techniques that I was being taught. I began to feel more confident in myself.
My hands are now producing delicious cakes & beautiful delicate and elegant sugar decorations, when I look at them, sometimes I can’t believe I have produce them!
I am so proud of the work that I am producing and the fear of trying new things is fading. I am enjoying learning it so much! You don’t have to be afraid of trying new things, believe that you can do it. God gives you the ability to do it.”
This is the testimony that *Tia was able to share with the new women that are joining the training program in the ‘freedom bakery’.
I meet with the new women for the first time on Friday 9 January. I had already decided that I was going to open the meeting with – 2 Timothy 1: 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.
Over the last year of teaching them, I had discovered that the women I was teaching were gripped by fear, fear of failure, lack of confidence and self worth. I wanted to instill in them that fear is not of God.
I had the team read the verse together. Afterwards all the women except *Tia gave me a blank stare. I looked back at *Tia and asked “What did you think when you first started the bakery training?” She smiled because she understood why I had chosen that particular verse. Then she shared her testimony. She encouraged the team!
*Tia – In charge of getting the Christmas Red Velvet Cupcake orders in & out of the oven.
*Tia was once so afraid of doing things; achieving things that may seem simple to you and me, but was a big deal for her – measuring the ingredients, switching on the oven, putting baked goods in the oven, taking the baked goods out of the oven, shaky hands when piping, shaky hands when sugar modeling – she was gripped by fear, fear of failure and no confidence in her own abilities. But she is overcoming them. For the Christmas orders she was in charge of getting the cupcakes & cookies in and out of the industrial oven!
Many of the women that have come from being exploited generally think that they don’t have the ability to do much, they have low expectations of themselves, they lack confidence, courage, self-worth. Many have been told they won’t amount to anything or that they are only good for one thing.
However what I am continually learning and seeing – When you teach with love, give reassure, build up confidence, and nurture a woman’s abilities, amazing and wonderful things happen!
*Tia is not yet a believer in Christ, so it is encouraging to hear her share with others that God has given her the ability to achieve so much.
I didn’t realise the impact the ‘freedom bakery was having on the women until then!
The new 3-month bakery-training program will begin on Tuesday 27 January, with 7 women. In the training program the women will be learning food & hygiene, health & safety, speacialised baking skills, sugar artistry and business skills. Upon completion of the training they will graduate and receive certification that will enable them to be employed in the bakery.
You could be a part of sowing into the lives of women, leaving a life of exploitation and taking a step into freedom and transformation. The freedom bakery is still in the early stages and our biggest obstacle to setting up the training successfully is finances to purchase the essential training materials and equipment for the bakery.
The past that these women have come from does not have to be the shape of their future.
Using food colouring. Finished hand painted & piped leaf, plaque & button cookies.
I am hoping that with the freedom bakery, people will see beyond their past and see God’s transformation, radiance, confidence, beautiful gifted, talented women with amazing creative abilities.
To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. – Isaiah 61:3
Out of brokenness, beauty is being created.
*Name has been changed to protect her identity.
If you would like to support NightLight Baking project, you can do so through BMS’ ‘Thailand Freedom Bakery Appeal’. Please call BMS on 01235 517 700 or click on the image below to take you to the BMS website for more details about the appeal and how you can donate.
BMS World Mission partnered with NightLight International.
Baking, Cake Decorating, Freedom & The Gospel… What?
“Lord why have you opened my eyes and heart up to such pain & suffering? Thanks for the gift of cake decorating, but how am I supposed to help & win souls with cake decorating?”
I had been earnestly seeking for about 2 years, for God’s guidance on how He wanted to use me and the creative skills He had blessed me with. Little did I know how the Lord would un-package an amazing new skill; plus the journey & adventure He would take me on. As they say, when you ask God for something, be prepared for how He will answer it!
I am not formally or professionally trained as a cake decorator, my education & career background was firmly in fashion design, business & production.
In 2006, whilst working as a Fashion Production Manger, I was randomly asked to make & decorate a baby shower cake. I knew how to bake, but decorating was completely alien to me. At the baby shower, some people thought the cake I had done came from a specialist cake shop in London! What! I couldn’t see what they could see.
It was not long after that orders began streaming in! About 6 months later, I sensed God’s timing to step out to start my own cake decorating business! Was I crazy? Possibly! Leaving the security of a well-paid job to start a business in something I knew little about or never received training in.
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Bakery team sugar crafting for the gravity defying cupcake tea set.
Reading the bible one morning I stumbled upon Exodus 31:1-5 – “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts”.
It confirmed that God cared about the creative gift He had given me. I discerned that God wanted me to do more than just build up a business empire; it was about something much bigger.
I began to do wedding cakes, sculptured cakes and model full size shoes and handbags out of cakes all with no training. I began to use it as act of worship and prayer time as I found myself reflecting on God and The Word as I created these cakes. Each time I finished a cake, I would stand back in amazement and wonder how I had produced it!
I then spent about 1 year, turning down opportunities to teach individuals and small groups (about 5-10 people at a time) the art of baking, cake decorating & sugar artistry. “Me teach?” Was my instant answer “How can I teach something I haven’t been taught?” I was petrified at the thought of teaching others.
I believe that God got tired of me saying no, and set up a divine appointment, that left me stunned. I some how managed to agree without realising, to teach cake decorating to 120 people over a 2 day period! Aaaggghh! The first day I was shaking like a leaf, as I tightly gripped the piping bag, microphone strapped over my ears. I began to pray “ Lord, This is not what I do? I’m in the fashion business. How did I get to this point? How Can I teach these people, when I haven’t been taught? God wasted no time in replying, I heard a small voice respond “Who say’s you haven’t been taught? I’m your teacher”. A sense of peace swept over me and I relaxed into teaching cake decorating skills.
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Bakery team, sugar crafting flowers for Autumn themed cupcakes
God opened the doors of teaching opportunities; within a month I took on board a 16 year old student with learning difficulties as a 6 month work placement. The women’s group at Crisis SkyLight homeless organisation heard about the work and asked me to run classes, a women’s hostel housing over 100 women heard about the work I was doing with Crisis invited me to teach. Each time the 6-8 week courses finished, the women requested for me to come back. I began working & walking alongside women that were broken – some were prostitutes, suffered physical abuse, were battered, had mental health problems and drug addictions.
“Lord why have you opened my eyes and heart up to such pain & suffering? Thanks for the gift of cake decorating, but how am I supposed to help & win souls with cake decorating?” This became my hearts prayer. I now understand that this was my training ground, God setting the foundation, for the work to come.
As time went on the women began to ask about why I came to teach them, and mentioned that they there was something different about me. This was my ‘Oh’ moment, as I saw God open the doors for me to share my faith story, God’s love, grace & Jesus. Doing this in a creative workshop setting made it less threatening, as they shared their life stories, poured out pain, they were seeking freedom.
Teaching a skill that I have had no formal training in still seems strange. Recently I reflected and had to laugh, I was so scared of teaching in English, but fast forward about 7 years and now I am teaching baking & cake decorating in Thai!
Working & walking alongside Thai women that have endured horrific treatment, bound by the sex industry. I am now watching them walk in freedom as they are given an alternative job opportunity out of the sex industry.
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Bakery team, making & decorating Autumn themed cookies, using edible food colours.
This is what the newest venture at NightLight will do – ‘Thailand Freedom Bakery’ – the aim is that NightLight, will be able to offer more jobs to women leaving the sex industry, providing them with employment with dignity & a skill. I began teaching some of NightLight’s women in September 2013, over 1 year later, the women are thriving, their confidence is continually growing and their cake baking & sugar artistry skills are improving.
In mid-September renovations to the kitchen at NightLight began, to provide the bakery team with a professional space. From February 2015, 5 more women will join and I will begin teaching a full-time training program, covering – hygiene, essential business skills, along with baking, decorating & sugar artistry. This will enable them to produce beautiful, celebration cakes, wedding cakes, delicious baked goods and run a bakery with dignity. The name for the bakery will be unveiled soon.
God may not be asking you to leave your job, sell all your possessions or go overseas, but at some point He may ask you to follow Him into the unknown. What He will ask of you may stretch you beyond your resources. When He asks, say yes. Your “yes” will prepare you for a later time when you will need greater faith to say yes. Then, you will find fulfillment in doing His will, laying down your life, and knowing that you are pleasing your Father.
If you would like to support NightLight’s Baking Project, you can do so through BMS’ ‘Thailand Freedom Bakery Appeal’. Please call BMS directly on 01235 517700 or click on the image below to take you to the BMS’ website for more details about the appeal, the work of NightLight and how you can donate.
BMS World Mission partnered with NightLight International.
Paul & Sarah in Thailand 