Saturday evening [part 2]

Saturday evening, Mommy Paw arrived (Mommy is our head of ministry). With her she brought some of the most joyous news I have ever heard.
Background Story:
For those who have been following me for some time, may remember when we had trouble and vandalism at our school a few months back. One of our students, TaPoeTu, was behind a lot of it. TaPoeTu is 15 years old. Most boys his age have dropped out of school and started working, or "bumming" (aka living like many Karen men by mooching off their parents or relatives and using any money for drugs or alcohol). TaPoeTu started to get influenced by many of his friend outside of Shekinah Children's home. He started sneaking out at night and not coming to school. When he and his relatives showed up drunk one night, it was too much. He had to be expelled.
Last year when I came, TaPoeTu was a student that I got to know personally because he can speak English very well. He loved Jesus and served him best when playing the guitar. TaPoeTu is an extremely talented musician and was our regular worship leader. He called me "big sister" and I called him "little brother," and I loved him like it was true. Watching him being pulled into darkness was heartbreaking and when he was expelled, I was absolutely crushed.
A few weeks after the event, I was visiting a family in his village. He heard I was there and sought me out. We had a long talk by the side of the road. I'll never forget him looking at me and saying "I don't want to do these bad things. I want to do good, I want to follow Jesus. But if I stay out here with my friends I will never change."
We prayed and I encouraged him to keep praying and standing up for what he knew was right. I saw him a few times before I left for the U.S. in August and his eyes were shining again. He was working for his father and taking care of his family.
In early November, Mommy was able to get TaPoeTu a spot with a Christian Karen organization based out of Chiang Mai. He is now receiving on the spot medical training in Burma helping the Karen and other tribal people in need.

Saturday evening, Mommy Paw arrived. With her she brought some of the most joyous news I have ever heard.
Earlier that day, she received and email from the head of the ministry TaPoeTu is working with. He said it has been an absolute joy to have TaPoeTu helping there and that he is working hard and serving well. Furthermore, TaPoeTu expressed the desire to make his commitment to Christ public and permanent. On Saturday afternoon, TaPoeTu was baptized and fully committed his life to Jesus Christ.
Mommy shared the story and the pictures with the children at worship that night. The last time the kids saw TaPoeTu was when he was being expelled from the school. They know what he has been and were overjoyed and in awe of the transformation God had done in him. KawPawShee, TaPoeTu's niece, ran up and hugged me exclaiming "Teacher, I'm so happy!!!"
We are having a baptism after our Christmas service on December 23. Already, about a dozen students have expressed that they wish to be baptized at this time. There is excitement in the air at what God has done for TaPoeTu and for our students! Jesus IS worth giving our life to! And no one is beyond saving.

Please pray TaPoeTu as he continues to grow in his relationship with Christ. Also for his family that they too may come to know the Savior who has redeemed their son.

Please pray for our students who wish to be baptized. That they may understand what it means and truly want to commit their lives 100% to Jesus Christ. Also, that their parents support their decision.

God is Good, All the time! All the time, God is Good!


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