Nelson Family Mission Update: Newest Opportunity

Last week I posted on FB one of the most awesome opportunities I have had in Thailand, possible ever, in the service of our Lord. Now don't get me wrong we have been blessed to serve in many ways but after reflecting and again hearing the continued reports and the report of a dear brother that is partnering, IT IS AWESOME! Let me explain....About two years ago I received a phone call from a brother here on the Island (Phuket) regarding Pakistani in Bangkok. He had heard stories regarding asylum seekers and their dire situation, he wanted to help but did not know what to do. I also living in Phuket and avoiding Bangkok like the plague, had very little to go on. Only stories of scammers looking for the next do-gooder to take advantage of. Not something I was interested in but together we committed this thing to the Lord. Several times over the next year or so we would talk about this situation but really had nothing to go on. A few months back some Pakistani began filtering into the church with stories, legit stories, personal stories, of the situation there in Bangkok. So bad that some young girls have even turned to prostitution for food. Now this is serious, these are our brothers and sisters suffering to the extent of prostitution. Shortly after this my friend and I were eating and he had a contact, something to go on, if I could contact her. At which point I shared the information I had gained over the last few months. If we could only find these girls etc. No information, no location, nothing to go on. As we prayed and began to actively attempt to make contacts to locate these girls, family after family began to make themselves known, we are hungry, without work and need help. My friend committed to donate, ship, and store, 5 tons of fish per month to feed these people, if we could get a program set up...screeching halt! Now we have the need, the resource to meet the need but no way to distribute the resource... PRAYER! Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to have the means to help and no ability to do so? Praise be to God who's love never fails, within a few weeks the Lord brought another Pakistani that would be able to get this whole thing going. It would take about 3 months of prayer, visits and countless hours on the phone to put something like this together. We have 1 ton of fish to deliver in about 6-8 hours before it defrosts and begins to spoil, fish does not keep well if not frozen. Last Monday I had the opportunity to meet the first shipment of fish and distribute to over 400 families, roughly 1500 people received fish. I must stop to explain just how awesome this is; this project has been in prayer for close to 2 years, the majority of people that received the fish were not even in Thailand when the Lord began this project. Every step of the way has totally been by His doing. My friend has the resource no contact or information, I have the information and time, but no contact no resource, the last person our Pakistani sister, has no resource all contact. The Lord in His perfect timing brought us all together to meet these people when they are at their absolute worst, and with FISH no less. Not only were we able to meet the physical need of these roughly 400 families but we were also able to meet their spiritual needs, with an encouraging Bible message about just how much God loves them, and how HE has worked all this out for them.

To top it all of I was also blessed with the opportunity to partner in one of the Pakistani church's community outreach to Muslims. This feeding ministry has made a way for around 75 Muslim Pakistani to hear the Gospel and personally experience the Love of God. For me it just doesn't get much better than that, Both physical and spiritual needs, AND preaching the Gospel. To truly explain how awesome this is would take more words than any of my dear readers could bear. God and His Love are truly, truly Amazing.

We are asking for prayer for this ministry. It is draining to say the least. Even as great as this is it only scratches the surface of the problem, not even a dent. There are currently over 15,000 Pakistani in and around Bangkok, weekly we can only reach upwards of 2000. This trip requires 24 hours on a bus travel back and forth. The actual distribution lasts about 12 hours. Being poured out in every stop and being stretched in every way possible. The lack of ability to help everyone in and of itself is difficult, add minimal sleep, sun, exhaustion, both physical and spiritual, little food as there just is not time to sit around, and believe me you are drained! Currently there are three of us, two American missionaries and one Pakistani/Missionary/etc. The two Americans take turns every other week and the Pakistani every week. Please keep us in Prayer, We truly yearn for your prayers. There is Duke, Tirza and myself. That is our number one request. Although I do not want to I must, this program costs about $300 a week to run. This covers all travel, distribution costs. Currently we split the costs according to week but we are trying to get partners in financing this work. As you remember us in prayer please prayerfully consider this secondary need. Thank you God bless