JIM IRWIN
……Near the beginning of our stay, the students presented to us a program of music, praise and worship, dance, acrobatics and drama. The skits and drama illustrated the problems of alcoholism and addictions, domestic violence and broken families, which are present within their society. These are the same issues we have to deal with in our own lives! The Karenni students prepared and presented this program to neighboring villages as well as an outreach.
Working hand to hand with these men and women passing bucket upon bucket of sand, stone, water and concrete touched everyone’s heart, spirit and faith. The Holy Spirit was indeed at work.
I formed a special bond with a young man who played the keyboard. He was 22 and had at one time been involved in growing and selling opium in Burma. He had made money, but always had to pay off road guards, police, soldier, etc to run his business. He left that life to go to the Bible School in Nai Soi. He wants to become a pastor to minister to his people. He will be going back to Burma once he has finished School, which he does not want to do, but feels he has to in order to continue his music ministry. The school had a keyboard that he played during services, but during the week, he would practice diligently on a keyboard that made no noise. He wanted music to be his ministry and was doing the best he could to improve his skills, practicing patiently and silently.
This young man came to me late one night and wanted me to help him learn English. We spent an hour several nights reading to one another and sharing our lives with each other.
My son Keith who has been in Thailand for the past 1-½ years serving with a Christian organization called Youth with a Mission (YWAM), joined us on our mission trip. It was a tremendous pleasure to work and live with him while watching him relate to the Karenni people, the Thai people and all of the people from our mission group. He treat all with respect, love, honesty and fairness while expecting the same from them. I am truly thankful for this time to see how he has grown and developed as a man, a leader, counselor, musician and a missionary for Christ.
All of the material work may not have been completed, but a lot of spiritual journeys were energized and jump-started. Hopefully, with God’s grace and love, I can pass it on as I continue my journey.
……Near the beginning of our stay, the students presented to us a program of music, praise and worship, dance, acrobatics and drama. The skits and drama illustrated the problems of alcoholism and addictions, domestic violence and broken families, which are present within their society. These are the same issues we have to deal with in our own lives! The Karenni students prepared and presented this program to neighboring villages as well as an outreach.
Working hand to hand with these men and women passing bucket upon bucket of sand, stone, water and concrete touched everyone’s heart, spirit and faith. The Holy Spirit was indeed at work.
I formed a special bond with a young man who played the keyboard. He was 22 and had at one time been involved in growing and selling opium in Burma. He had made money, but always had to pay off road guards, police, soldier, etc to run his business. He left that life to go to the Bible School in Nai Soi. He wants to become a pastor to minister to his people. He will be going back to Burma once he has finished School, which he does not want to do, but feels he has to in order to continue his music ministry. The school had a keyboard that he played during services, but during the week, he would practice diligently on a keyboard that made no noise. He wanted music to be his ministry and was doing the best he could to improve his skills, practicing patiently and silently.
This young man came to me late one night and wanted me to help him learn English. We spent an hour several nights reading to one another and sharing our lives with each other.
My son Keith who has been in Thailand for the past 1-½ years serving with a Christian organization called Youth with a Mission (YWAM), joined us on our mission trip. It was a tremendous pleasure to work and live with him while watching him relate to the Karenni people, the Thai people and all of the people from our mission group. He treat all with respect, love, honesty and fairness while expecting the same from them. I am truly thankful for this time to see how he has grown and developed as a man, a leader, counselor, musician and a missionary for Christ.
All of the material work may not have been completed, but a lot of spiritual journeys were energized and jump-started. Hopefully, with God’s grace and love, I can pass it on as I continue my journey.
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