We flew into Myanmar on August 24th and we stayed in this country until September 6. Myanmar is a country that really needs Jesus as only 6% are Christians and at times it can be hard for the Christians. You are not allowed to preach about Jesus in public. Until recently they didn't even allow tourists into their country but things are started to change and in fact they now welcome visitors. The people of Myanmar would like for people to come visit them and Myanmar is a very beautiful country.
In Yangon we started our prayer and intersessions journey for the country. We stayed in this city for 2 days and then on the August 26 we flew to another city called Mandalay. In Mandalay we meet our tour guide and started our journey to the Myanmar/China border. This was a 2 day bus ride and we needed to have a tour guide as Muse is a city that you can only enter with permission. While we were here we prayed over the city gates for the city and country to come know Jesus and also for the stoppage of drugs coming back and forth between the borders. People also cross the border illegally. You can cross legally but I am sure that money has a bit to do with the illegal crossings. The border between China and Muse is just a row of trees.
There are a row of trees and then a small wall and then a canal of water and then another small wall. We were standing on the small wall praying and interceding and we found out later that we were actually standing in China. I mean that the trees really were the border we thought the second small wall would of been in China. This trip is one like we have never been on before but it is a great one.August 30 we are back in Mandalay where we will be staying for a few days. While in Mandalay we have been going to different parts of the city and praying over it. We also visited some local churches while we were here to see if we could do anything to help them or to encourage them in anyway. The first church was an Anglican church where we prayed for the pastors wife and they told us a little bit about themselves. The pastor and his wife are in their sixties and will be retiring soon and they need a place to live so please pray for them. We also visited a Methodist church where we were invited to come share at the youth service at night. We also got to meet a missionary couple from the Netherlands. With the Methodist church there is a YMCA. The church is trying to build an outreach center for the youth of the area but have run out of money. The building has been started but they can not
continue the work until they get further funding. If you would please pray for them and also if you feel inclined to help in any way please let us know.At the youth service John and I along with a couple of our team members shared a little with what God had put on our hearts. It was a great time and in fact one of the youth workers came to us and wanted to thank us for what we shared. She said that it really touched her heart and that she felt like it would stay with the youth hearts as well. She said that it really gave them all hope and encouragement. So this was a great time.
In a Baptist church we sang a song in front of an adult Bible study group, this was a first for John and I, and also shared a little bit about ourselves. It was great for John to be there as there was only one man in the class so this encouraged the man to see and hear from John. They were so welcoming to us and they served us with tea and water. The people of Myanmar are very lovely people and we are enjoying our time with them.
After Mandalay we flew back to Yangon, the city where we first started from, and meet with a local pastor. This pastor took us to see his 2 orphanages where we had a chance to share a little bit and then to pray over the children. We
even had the children pray over us. After that he took us to his Bible school where we were able to pray and give prophetic words to the Bible students and pastors. In fact we have been invited to share at the Bible school if we ever go back to Myanmar. After the Bible school we went to the largest stadium in Myanmar where they will be holding the second Gospel Music Festival. While we were at the stadium we had a chance to pray for tjs upcoming event. John and I walked all over the inside of the stadium praying for people to encounter Jesus during this time. We even walked around the outside.The Gospel Music Festival and the location of it is a really big deal because they had to have permission from the government to hold it there and they have never given permission before for such an event but they have now. At this Gospel Music Festival which is being held from Oct 14-16 2011 they are expecting over 10,000 people. So please start praying for this event and for the pastors that are putting this event together. There are pastors from all types of denominations coming together for this event. This s a really big deal and we are expecting great things to happen at this event. We will be n contact with a couple of the pastors so we will let you know new information as we receive it.
September 6 and we are now in Bangkok Thailand until September 9. While here we are working with a ministry called Nightlight. If any of you have ever seen the film Furious Love this is the ministry that was shown on that film. This ministry is working with women in the sex trafficking industry. They try to help this women to stop selling themselves. During our time here we ministered to the women with prophetic and encouraging words. We also did some SOZO'S with some of the women there. In fact we will be doing some more ministering with them when we return to Bangkok on September 16.
Sept 9 and we are now in Chang Rei, Thailand until Sept 16. Here we are working with a YWAM base who takes in children that are HIV positive or have lost both of their parents to HIV and they have no place to go. Penny and Paul are the people that run this ministry and they are amazing people. In fact they know that we have been traveling alot so they are making sure that we get some rest time too. They also take in young mothers who are HIV positive and have been kicked out by their families. They would love to see families stay together so if there is anyway they can help the families stay together they will. They are in the process of building a hospice center for HIV people and a floor is also
For young mothers that are HIV positive. Please pray for them and this project they really need teams and funding to finish the project.
This morning we meet with another young ministry called Ezekiel Rain. They are also working in the sex trafficking area. They are in the beginning stages and are working on making relationships with other ministries now. One of the things that one of the woman said was that God was breaking her heart for the men.This is something that God has been doing in me and this is the first ministry that I have heard of that wants to help the men. The men are broken too and they need help too.
Well tomorrow we will fly back to Bangkok. We will be here until Sept 21 and then on the 21st we will fly to Hong Kong. We will be in Hong Kong until Sept 28 and then we will begin our long journey back to the states. We appreciate all of your prayers. When we are back in the states we hope to catch up with as many of us as possible. We love all of you.
Much love and blessings,
John and Cindy
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