December
2006 Update
 This
is my first update since returning from the states. I would like
to thank all of those who encouraged me while I was home. I had
a wonderful relaxing time visiting family, friends, and churches.
For those of you who are reading this update for the first time,
Iíd like to welcome you and hope you enjoy the news.
The
Christmas season is here once again. Our house is a chatter with
celebrating the birth of Jesus. We had a special time putting up
our tree drinking warm apple cider and eating a birthday cake as
we talked about Jesus being born. Our children are all looking forward
to celebrating this time of year.
Traditionally in Thailand, the month of December is used as an outreach
time. Since most Thais are Buddhist and have never heard the name
of Jesus we want to use the opportunity of Jesus birth to share
about Jesus with our neighbors and friends. We have decided to go
caroling in our neighborhood, bringing treats to our neighbors.
 We've
had some staff changes while I was away and weíll have a
few more this coming month. While I was on home leave Amy Labreque,
a volunteer, finished her time with us. Amy (pictured above with
the kids and far left) was a wonderful blessing to our home. We
will not forget all the little ways she had of blessing us. Here
you see Amy with the children at a special send off for her. Making
each child a laminated picture of herself with each of them was
just one of the many thoughtful things sheís done for all
of us. Please keep Amy in your prayers as she adjusts back into
life in Colorado Springs.
 We've
also added two new Thai Christian staff to our home. Waan came just
after I left. She went to the same Bible school as Linya and was
really looking to work in a childrenís home. Waan has taken
over the laundry. The laundry is a big task especially with 8 little
ones and Iím sure sheíd covet t your prayers.
We also had Maria join our staff. She is the mother of 3 children
who are living in Burma. She is a wonderful Christian woman who
is also a teacher. She is very hard working and I'm much relieved
to have her taking care of our children at night.
Please keep her in your prayers as well as she is taking a sewing
course during the day and working with our children at night. She
has a quite a busy schedule and I marvel at her energy!
 The
end of this month, Linya, whose worked with our home 3 years now,
and Jeri, our volunteer, will leave to do a Discipleship Training
School (DTS) with YWAM.
Please pray they will meet God through their DTS in very personal
ways.
Anna, one of our staff who has been at our home almost from the
beginning, will move to work in Bangkok. Anna has been supporting
her two younger brothers as they go to school. They will soon be
starting university and she will need to earn more money to pay
for their expenses.
Please pray for Anna and our staff and children that God will help
all of us through this time of change.
Our biggest prayer request is that God will bring
people to us who really have a heart to be long-term family for
our children? Time is getting short and we really need more people
to staff our home. It has been difficult on our children with volunteers
leaving.
Shortly, after I returned I was putting Paul to bed and he asked
me when I was going to leave? It took me a while to reassure him
that while Mommy was away for a while, this was home and Mommy wasnít
going anywhere. Please pray that God will give me a peace in my
heart throughout this time and He will provide just the right long
term people we need.
In closing, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas
and a blessed new year. May God pour out His love on you this holiday
season and throughout the coming New Year. I pray you would be able
to put aside all the hustle and bustle that this season brings and
ponder once again the birth of our savior.
With love and hugs to you all this Christmas,
Kathleen
September
2006 Update - Summer Recess
 After
school closed for the year, we decided to take a trip to the beach
in Phang Nga. Last November we had a van donated to our home. I’d
been telling my staff for a long time that once we had a van, I’d
take them all to the beach. We had the most wonderful time. I met
up with Apple and King, old friends who used to live in Chiang Mai.
They were so hospitable taking us all around and spending time with
us.
One day we took a boat ride to three different islands and went
swimming with the fish. They were the most beautiful islands we
had ever seen. While there, we also celebrated Ann’s birthday
at a local park. The children are all excited about going back to
school. Paul and Ann have entered Preschool 2 while Peter has started
Preschool 1.
Please pray for them that they will do well in their studies
and make many good friends.
Staff Training
 In
June Anna, Linya, Nim and Da went to a Discipleship Training Week
(DTW) organized by YWAM. had an exciting time learning to hear God’s
voice, They were challenged to live right with God by being open
and broken before Him, by practicing a daily quiet time, and by
sharing Him with others. The last day they went on outreach where
they shared Jesus with a community that has very little Christians.
Da came back praising God after witnessing God open the eyes of
a blind woman and heal a lame man through the prayers of her out
reach team.
 As
our staff went to the DTW, we had a DTS team from Chiang Rai come
and take care of our children. What a blessing they were to our
home! The Thai staff on the team lived in our home and took the
place of our staff. They did all the cooking, cleaning, and took
care of our children at night. The Westerners taught our children
Christian songs, played games and did all kinds of crafts. Our children
thoroughly enjoyed the week. In July we sent our staff to a Child
Protection Seminar. They were taught what child abuse means and
how to protect against it. It was a challenging seminar that made
us all examine our hearts and look at how we are caring for our
children. As the director I was challenged to put in place policies
and procedures to protect our children. Christine and Amy, our long
term volunteers, were joined by another team to take care for our
children during this time. They did a great job!
House Hunting
We have been praying for long time that God would provide us a home
of our own. The ideal would be to buy a home with two rai (about
2 acres) of land. Would you pray for us that God would lead us to
the place He wants for us? As we continue to pray and look, we have
also set up a bank account to receive donations toward our new home.
We now have 50,000 baht ($1300 US) in this new account.
If you would like join us in providing a new home for our children,
you may send a gift to YWAM Honolulu at the address below and include
a note designating it for “Home of Joy building fund”.
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Paul's
4th Birthday |
Swimming
in the Ocean |
Home
Leave
It has been 4 years since I’ve been home to visit my family.
My mother has been very sick this past year so, I’ve decided
it is now time for a home visit. I’ll be in New York and hopefully
FL from Oct. 13th until Nov. 4th. I’m looking forward to spending
time with family, friends, and churches who have supported me and
our work over the years. If you would like to get together, please
email me as I’m setting up my itinerary.
Blessings to you,
Kathleen
Send financial support for Home of Joy to:
YWAM Honolulu
Attn.: Accounting Dept.
P.O. Box 61700
Honolulu, HI
96839, USA
(Please include a note designating it for Home of Joy
(or Kathleen's personal support or tell them what your gift is for.)
Please pray
for:
- Ann and Paul
as they adjust to their 3 new brothers.
- Mark, that
he would continue to grow healthy and strong.
- our staff
as we learn to work together.
- wisdom and
discernment in accepting new babies to Home of Joy.
Thank
you for being a special part of our lives. When we
see our children smile and hear their laughter, we thank God for
you and all that you've done to give our children a place they can
call home.
If
you have a love for children and a desire to work in urban missions,
please contact us to see how you can get involved!
Home
of Joy - Chiang Mai
c/o Kathleen De Maso
P.O. Box 162 Mae Ping
Chiang Mai 50301
Thailand
Phone: 66-53-221-257
or 66-1-883-3515
Email: kathyhoj@loxinfo.co.th
Return
to the Home of Joy Main Page
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- Project L.I.F.E.
