Callahan Corner

Hello Dear Friends,

Though Shirley & I are still in the USA, we have some recent photos to share.

All of our families, staff, a visiting family, and our college students took a Saturday to return to the small Buddhist school that we helped last year. Once again, we spent an entire day doing cleaning, yard-work, and trash-collection over the classrooms and school grounds. It is an opportunity for Faithful Heart to demonstrate our love, and be “Salt & Light” in that community.

“…you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven.” (MATT 5:16)

In the foreground, our new house mother and the boys from Home of Light, we happy to do their part in the school cleanup day.

“You will have the fruit of the work of your hands: happy will you be, and all will be well for you.” (Psalm 128:2)

Here are three of the new boys, already they are friends, acting like real “brothers”, as they have their picture taken.

“Whatever happens, dear friends, be glad in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you this,” (Philippians 3:1)

At home, the boys were busy with their homework as house mother Pahn tries to help & encourage them.

“So encourage each other and give each other strength, just as you are doing now.” (1 Thess 5:11)

Little Champion, from Home of Promise, celebrated his birthday as the boys wait for him to blow out candles on his cake. They grow so quickly!

Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe … Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times–speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly–and so become more and more in every way like Christ.” (Eph 4:14-16 abridged)

Already, the new boys are learning to pray together, with their house parents, several times each day.

One time Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, his followers said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1)

We are praying for you: May God bless you with health, strength, spiritual wisdom, and all the resources you need to shine for Jesus each day!

Grace and peace in Christ,

Hello dear friends,

On Saturday we plan to leave South Carolina, and visit some friends & sponsors in both Alabama and Montana. The itinerary should take about 8-days, and we hope to have opportunities to tell folks about the “orphan rescue” ministry in Faithful Heart Foundation of Thailand. Shirley & I are looking forward to some good times with good people! “Then those who honored the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened and heard them. The names of those who honored the LORD and respected him were written in his presence in a book to be remembered.” (Malachi 3:16)

Meanwhile, here are some more recent pictures from Thailand:

At Home of Comfort, the boys are raising ducks in one of the ponds. This provides some meat and eggs for the dorm.
“The birds nest beside the streams and sing among the branches of the trees.” (Psalm 104:12)

Johnathan looks pretty serious about the basket of eggs he collected before school. Many of these small projects are useful to teach the children basic “life-skills” and also develop confidence & discipline.
“Do your work in the fear of God; be dependable and honest in your duties.” (2 Chronicles 19:9)

Two of our young men are moving on into the next step of their Christian lives. On the left, Gawley, will soon begin a new job working at a tourist resort.
Bob, on the right, has graduated college and he is also about to begin his new job. Both of these fine young guys have been a blessing for our college dorm ministry.
“You are living a brand new kind of life that is continually learning more and more of what is right, and trying constantly to be more and more like Christ…” (Colossians 3:10)

Peter and Grit, from Home of Grace, were able to spend some time in a remote mountain village during school break. The only access (by foot or on motorcycle) is across this suspension bridge.
“He makes me sure-footed as a deer; he keeps me safe on the mountains.” (Psalm 18:33)

This is little Laura, from Home of Promise. I pray God will also bless us to sleep so peacefully during our travels.
“You will not be afraid when you go to bed, and you will sleep soundly through the night.” (Proverbs 3:24)

For all of you who pray for the Faithful Heart children—You have our deep appreciation and the devoted prayers of the families.
May God bless you and keep you and shine His face upon you.

Hello dear friends!

We know…It’s been quite a while since our last newsletter! We hope you will enjoy our new posting.
So, now we’ve got several recent photos to share.

This may explain why many of my photos aren’t “keepers”. Maybe I should try looking where I’m shooting.
“Later the Lord asked me, ‘What do you see…?’” (Jeremiah 1:11)

While we are in the US, we’ve been blessed to spend time with our family. Here Shirley is having a laugh with our daughter Mindy, our grandchildren, and our great granddaughter.
“Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.” (Proverbs 17:6)

At the dorm in Mae Chaem, the house parents and some volunteers are shown replacing the old roof above their patio. There is a bamboo framework that will be covered with corrugated tin. The shaded space is where the children do homework and eat meals. “It will be a shelter from daytime heat and a hiding place from storms and rain.” (Isaiiah 4:6)

The girls at Home of Faith were happy to pose in their new school uniforms. They enjoy the summer break, but are eager to start classes again.
“Intelligent people are always eager and ready to learn.” (Proverbs 18:15)

Here the girls at Home of Promise take time after school, to practice reading (using the Bible).
“Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.” (1 Timothy 4:13)

The boys at Home of Comfort Dorm also posed in their school uniforms. They look happy to be living together at the dorm.  “Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters…” (1 Peter 2:17)

Please pray for all of our children, and their house parents, to be safe and secure in Jesus.
And, pray that Shirley & I will be ready to give God the praise and honor whenever & wherever we have an opportuniy to tell about the ministry.
He (God) is our praise and he is our God, the one who has done mighty miracles we ourselves have seen! (from Deut 10:21)

Grace and peace to you in Christ,

FHF has recently began a relationship with a low-income school in our local community.  Last November was our first outreach and service day with them. You may remember, we spent one morning running an English camp with over 100 students, including a short introduction to who God is.  The next day all of our orphan families returned to serve the school by cleaning the grounds and classrooms. Well, we’re at it again! We gathered all our families last Saturday for another cleaning day at the school.

It’s a rewarding and fun experience all around.  Jesus said that it is better to give than to receive.  And we want to help our kids experience that as well.  The kids in our foundation get a unique opportunity to serve and give to others—a new experience for many orphans who have so little to call their own.  It is revealing and empowering for them—they too have something wonderful to share: themselves!

This experience is also a great chance to build unity among our families—the ongoing process of making our foundation a Family. It’s a fun time of fellowship and serving together in love (as well as a rousing game of soccer!).

We are excited about the opportunity to build on these new relationships at the school in the future and see how God might have us be salt and light to them. This Buddhist Thai school continues to welcome us with open arms.  Please pray we can continue to love and serve them well in Jesus’ name.

“…serve one another humbly in love.” Galatians 5:13

Hello Dear friends,

This week, we are busy with:
1) Hurrying to finish “last minute” packing for our trip to America;
2) We just returned from a weekend trip to the northern border (near Laos and Myanmar) for Cherry’s wedding; and
3) We’re actively working to establish & setup our new orphan family home— Home of Light.

So things are even more hectic than usual. Shirley & I plan to fly out from Chiang Mai late tonight, but before we leave, here are a few recent photos.

Cherry got married!
She’s been living with us for almost 7 years, and she calls us her “grandparents”. The ceremony was held in a town on the northern Thai border with Laos. Here we are sitting in the small church, with no Air conditioning, in late afternoon with the temperature near 105 degrees!
Jesus told them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.” (Luke 20:34)

The church was packed with guests to witness Timmy & Cherry say their wedding vows. There were some wall-fans stirring the hot air. Later, a great meal with entertainment was served outside.
Jesus told them, “When you’re celebrating a wedding, you don’t skimp on the cake and wine. You feast.…” (Matt 9:15)

Shirley & I met Cherry during a short-term mission trip to Thailand in 2001. In this photo from 2005, the 3 of us were shopping in an outdoor market.
“No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.” (1 John 4:12)

Wow! What a lovely bride. A friend said that Shirley & I “cleanup pretty well” too. Everyone was dressed for the joyous occasion.
“The bride, a princess, looks glorious in her golden gown..” (Psalm 45:13)

Meanwhile, the oppressive heatwave continues; we’ve had 38 straight days with temperatures well over 100 degrees…today it reached 110 !!!!
At our rice-paddy land, we had to pump water out of the last of our fish ponds (trying to salvage the rice crop). These are some of the fish we pulled from the pond as it emptied.
“Now you will have plenty to eat, and be satisfied. You will praise the Lord your God, who has done wonderful things for you.” (Joel 2:26)

Meet the new house parents, Pban and Choom, who will love and care for boy’s in our new orphan family home.
“And God has reserved for his children the priceless gift of eternal life; it is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled…” (1 Peter 1:4)

We can rescue up to five (5) boys to live in the home. Below are the first boy applicants (Ohm-sen on the left, and Guhn on the right).
Ohm-sen’s father (in the photo) asked us to help his son—he cannot care for him while working long days in the fields, neither can he earn enough to send him to school. The man’s wife has abandoned both husband and son.
“ Let us thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was through His loving-kindness that we were born again to a new life and have a hope that never dies.” (1 Peter 1:3)

Please remember to pray that our new children, will find love and security, and hope in their new Christian home and family.
Also, please pray that Shirley & I can be a blessing to everyone we meet & interact with in America.
“I will bless you … and you will be a blessing to others.” (Gen 12:2)

Shirley & I plan to be in the US from May 13th, until August 30th.
We’d love an opportunity to visit your church or group to report on the mission of Faithful Heart Foundation.

Grace and Peace to you in Christ,

Hello dear friends,

There is an adage called Murphy’s law that claims, “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong”.

In our ministry, we often face events & circumstances that bring this saying to mind! Things seldom go as smoothly as planned, and sometimes it even seems as though God is testing our patience & fortitude. So, this week let us share about some recent “trials”.
“In this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world.” (John 16:33)

A few months back, a visiting team helped us build a ground-water irrigation system. It worked great—we pumped water from a small canal to water a garden and keep our Moringa Tea trees producing during the dry season. But now the long drought in Thailand (over 10 years) has dried up our water-source.
“The nobles send servants for water from the wells, but the wells are dry…The ground is parched and cracked for lack of rain; the farmers are afraid.” (Jeremiah 14:3-4)

Here you can see part of the garden…so beautifully green & healthy in January. But Now, the plants are brown. Nevertheless, God blessed us with many delicious tomatoes!
“So those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.” (Psalm 126:6 The Message)

For several years we’d been putting a little money aside monthly, hoping to buy a used van for our foundation. Then, last year, we found a used 1999 van (similar to this one) that fit our meager budget. We bought it for a low price, knowing it needed some minor maintenance…or so we thought!

Well, this photo is our van. It’s been in the repair shop for nearly a year! The transmission needed parts only available from Germany, and at every step of the repair process, another delay for parts has kept us waiting. Last week the mechanic finally gave it a test drive, and (Murphy’s Law) one more thing broke. Now we’re waiting for another part from Germany. Still no van to drive, but we remain hopeful. “Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” (Hebrews 10:36)

HOWEVER…Even during trying times; while living through circumstances which could be stressful, or lead to frustration, “Our hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus Christ, our righteousness”.
During this dry season, the air is polluted with heavy smog from farmers burning the dry fields. This news photo is in Chaing Mai.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But in the morning, above the smog, God may still be seen in the beauty of His creation.
“You have allowed me to suffer hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up” (Psalm 71:20)

Especially today, we cheerfully rise above and beyond our earthly cares to celebrate our risen Savior! Hallelujah …

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grace be with all of you,

Hello to our dear friends,

We don’t know what your weather is like, but ours is turning HOT!
But weren’t we, just a few days back, complaining about the cold weather?
Oh well, here are some photos to enjoy…
Just in case you think we are exaggerating about the hot weather, here is a screen-shot of our 10-day forecast.
“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence. He is like a tree planted along a riverbank, with its roots reaching deep into the water–a tree not bothered by the heat nor worried by long months of drought. Its leaves stay green, and it goes right on producing all its luscious fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

“But let your words be simply, Yes or No…” (Matt 5:37) And, I’ll say that our “cold” means cold too! Not long ago the girls in our Home of Faith had to bundle in blankets while doing their homework.

Rebecca lost a tooth – but it wasn’t because her teeth were chattering. All of the girls visited the dentist for a checkup, and only one of them had a small cavity.
“Your teeth are like a flock of sheep coming up white from the washing;” (Song of Solomon 6:6)

The onset of hot weather brings out the mangos on our trees, and tomatoes in our small garden.
“He [God] sends rain upon the mountains and fills the earth with fruit…and there are fruit trees, vegetables, and grain for man to cultivate” (Psalm 104:13-14)

Warm weather means it’s time for a “cookout”! Here Grit and Mark, from Home of Grace were grilling fish. The inset photos show their results.
“When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire…” (John 21:9)

Chiang Mai held a big parade recently to celebrate 720 years since its founding. The boys from Home of Grace went to see the spectacle…many parade floats were covered with colorful flowers & seeds. Pray that we who are Christians in this place will truly be “salt and light.”
“And God replied, ‘If I find ten godly people there, I will spare the entire city for their sake.’” (Genesis 18:32)

Please pray for all of our children to be protected and held safely in God’s loving hands this summer, as many will be visiting relatives in their home villages.
Remember, you are well loved and often prayed for by our orphan families in Thailand!

Grace and peace to you in Christ,

 

Shout out for Kingdom-Investors!

As we begin a new year at Faithful Heart Foundation, we want to take the opportunity to invite you to join us in transforming young lives! We model our orphan care on a family model. That means small homes (usually about 5 children with Dad and Mom) rather than large dormitories (Two parents trying to care for 50 children). The costs are higher, but so are the rewards. We love seeing the sense of family and the stability that our children gain in their homes. And that’s where you come in!

We cannot do what we do without you! These young lives are precious to us and to God. Would you consider partnering with us in sponsoring a future for a child here in Thailand? These children are already in our care, but there a few who still need additional funding.

There are currently three dorm students looking for sponsors at Home of Comfort. Most of the young men here are from poor families living in the hill tribes of Northern Thailand. Home of Comfort provides access to quality education, good food, and a safe, loving Christian home. Our dorm parents, Yay and Moi do a wonderful job loving and supporting these young men. It costs us about $100 per child per month to cover the expenses of the dorm and school fees. Anything you feel led to contribute is gratefully welcomed!

Praise God, all but four of the children in our family orphan homes are fully sponsored! Would you consider helping sponsor these four remaining children? Our cost for providing these family homes is approximately $200 per child per month. However, these children are already partially sponsored and only need up to $100 per month to be fully funded. All gifts are greatly appreciated. We continue to pray that God would allow us to open another home in 2016!

At Faithful Heart, we want to reach as many children as we can with the love of God. But we are a small ministry and we think that has its advantages. We know all of our kids. We meet with them regularly and are involved in their lives. We celebrate their good grades, and we attend their graduations. We know our sponsors too. Just like our homes, we consider you all our family. There is no better investment, than to invest in these young lives. 100% of your donation goes to our families.

Thank you for hoping, praying, and serving with us! May the Lord bless you and keep you!

FaithfulHeartFoundation@gmail.com • FaithfulHeartMinistry.com