Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go … “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying,
‘The LORD your God gives you rest and will give you this land.’
Joshua 1: 6,7, & 13
 |
| The Land God has provide for our Ministry in Thailand. |
The past eight years, and even our entire lives have been brought to pass to prepare us for this very moment in time. God has orchestrated every action, every thought, ever opportunity, to teach, and mold, and shape me and my family to be, to live, and to serve in this very moment. Much like Joshua … he grew up and worked alongside Moses, the leader of the Israelite people so that he would be prepared to take on the role and responsibility of the leading God’s chosen people into the promised land. As Joshua assumed this task, he was presented with obstacles, challenges, and often questions about his ability, and about whether or not he was prepared for such a monumental task.
Throughout the course of our ministry, we have been blessed to share with you, both the opportunities and challenges that we face while serving in Northern Thailand. I truly believe that God is doing something NEW and Amazing through Narrow Gate Asia and the Brittan Family, and during the past several months you have shared with us in the burdens and challenges that we have faced.
Just over one week ago, Pattie wrote and shared with you about how God has provided a special opportunity for me to “REST in Him.” I was hospitalized on Saturday evening May 31 where I received four days of treatment for Acute Bronchitis and complications and severe Anemia due to my recently discovered Ulcerative Colitis. I was very pleased with the care and treatment from Srirburin Hospital in Chiang Rai, Thailand. The doctors and staff were very professional and caring. I was released late on Tuesday evening where I continued to recover at home for the remainder of the week.
I made a follow up visit to the doctor yesterday for blood work and received a good report on my progress. THAT SAID … I must be very diligent in my rest to insure that I have a complete recovery. Ulcerative Colitis, does not have a cure, however with continued management through medication and diet, there should be no long term effect once the situation is under control. I still need to take it easy, and make sure that I rest sufficiently, and being a farmer makes this a real challenge. I will have a follow up with the hospital again in one month that will include a complete physical to insure that I am making progress.
I am so glad that I shared with you all about my health situation last week. I cannot tell you how encouraged I was to receive you messages, encouragements, and prayers. As a result or your prayers we even got to tell our Doctor about the Narrow Gate.
During my stay at the hospital, we had several dear friends from the community to help with our home, our farm, and especially with our children. It was a blessing to rest, knowing that these details were taken care of. We do not have health insurance for these types of situations, and as a result, many friends and family have asked about how they may take part in helping. We are praying for $3,000 usd to cover the cost of outpatient testing, hospital stay and treatment, and post treatment visits and medication.
 |
| Hattie leading the tour and milking demonstration |
 |
| Hattie and Phii Nat Teaching about Goat Feeds |
 |
| Local School Tours the Farm and Picnics |
Part or “resting in Him” means that I have to trust that things are taking care of rather than doing them myself. Being “down” has forced me to have to step back and step down in regard to running things in our family and ministry. I have the greatest family in the world, and the greatest farm team ever.
 |
| Practicing English with the Nursing Staff. |
While in the hospital, Pattie, my daughter Hattie, and our farm team hosted an elementary school outreach. Local children and parents got to visit the farm, learn about goats and milk, and hear about how God created the animals and the children in a special way. Hattie led the farm tour, taught about the goats, and had a milking demonstration. Pattie taught the creation story, and they shared goat milk and cookies for the kids. Everyone then had a picnic on the grounds at the farm.
 |
| First Ruzi Grass Sprouts |
Last Friday, our farm team planted our first round of forage grasses at the new farm. I set up a table and chair on the front porch of the house with my binoculars and I supervised from my resting spot. They planted about five acres on Friday and even finished out the day before the rains came that evening. Less than a week later, we already are seeing fresh sprouts coming up near the barn.
This summer we opened an opportunity for missionary kids to come and work in the farm while school is out. Two high school students have joined us to get work experience, life experience, and ministry experience in the farm. They are a fun addition to our staff, and will help us to grow and develop some new areas in the farm.
 |
| Visitors with Pastor Ahmeh at the Farm Yesterday. |
In two weeks, 2 volunteers will arrive from Harvey Baptist Church in Stephenville, TX, and, also 1 from Birchman Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX. They will be working with Pastor Ahmeh in Mae Sai, ESL Camp at Chiang Rai International Chritian School, and Animal Health programs at the farm and community. They will stay for the month of July and we look forward to having them here.
They month of July also presents us with an opportunity to see God’s provision for this new stage in the growth of our ministry in North Thailand. We will be making our first scheduled land payment, and we are so excited to see how God is leading and providing for this blessing to our ministry and to our community. As God continues to open doors for evangelism through our farm and outreach programs, we need your help to facilitate this purchase. We are making signification progress and continue to pray for $80,000 usd for the land purchase, and $50,000 usd for development of outreach facilities and staff housing at the farm. We make a substaintial payment in July and would ask that you pray about how God may lead you in participating in this program.
‘The LORD your God gives you rest and will give you this land.’
 |
| The Brittan Family |
This is my prayer as we write today. Give me rest, Give us this land, and more than that ... Give us more and more of Jesus to share with the people that we encounter in North Thailand.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Pray for Continued and Complete healing for Harry's health condition
- Pray for Pattie and the children during the summer term and activities of farm, family, and ministry,
- Pray for Joshua Tyer, Mary-Hanna Kindred, and Meagan Tipping as they raise support for their trip and for their ministry in Thailand with Narrow Gate Asia.
- Pray for God's provision for cost related to medical care in Thailand.
- Pray for God's provison for the Land that HE has provided and for development of ministry facilities.
- Pray that Jesus will be KNOWN in North Thailand through the Brittan Family and Narrow Gate Asia.
I hope to hear from you soon. All contributions to Narrow Gate Asia are tax deductible, and can be sent via check to our PO Box or Online via Paypal. For assistance with special contributions through trusts, savings plans, foundations, real estate, like kind donations, etc, please contact me at hbrittan@narrowgateasia.org and we can help to facilitate these transactions .
God Bless, and Thank you from the Brittan Family
Harry, Pattie, Hattie, Emma, Harry V, and Nellie.
Send Letters and Tax Deductible Contributions to:
Narrow Gate Asia
P.O. Box 260275
Plano, TX 75026-0275 USA
Please use this link to go direct to PayPal:
Contact us on Facebook, or at hbrittan@narrowgateasia.org
No comments:
Post a Comment