You CAN make a difference!

It is hard to believe we have only ten more days before 2012. How God has blessed! A year ago, our family was thinking seriously about the possibility of moving to Thailand. Now we have been here at Sunshine Orchard Children’s Home and Learning Center for five months. During this time, God has been working in many ways in our personal lives and on behalf of this school. Our family’s goal for financial support has been met each month, and most of the time we have had extra funds to help with other needs here as well.

As you may know, our greatest financial hurdle has been to pay off the purchase of a 100-acre piece of land just across the road from the six-acre lime orchard that we own. This property has greatly enhanced our ability to grow our own food, to provide vocational training for the students, to service the health needs of students and nearby villages, and to provide housing that is less crowded and in better condition for volunteers, staff, and students. Please read this page for more information and pictures.

Last October, we still owed about US$130,000–half of the purchase price. Thanks to the Lord and to those who donated with a generous heart, we were able to pay $65,000 at that time–a total of about $195,000 paid, with only $65,000 to go. Praise God! Now we are nearing the end of the year, and we have told the seller that by God’s grace we hope to pay off the remaining $65,000 at the end of the year.

As of the last update I received before this writing, a little more than $15,000 had been given earmarked for the property, leaving almost $50,000 to go. Please see the green progress bar on the right for the current status. You can help make a difference!

Yes, in order to meet our obligations it may take a few donations of $5,000 or $500, but if you can donate just five dollars or fifty dollars, it will make a difference. You might feel like what you can give is “just a drop in the bucket,” but if there were no raindrops there would be no streams or rivers. You can make even a bigger difference by appealing to fellow church and family members to add to your donation.

I appeal to you to earnestly pray that God will impress upon your heart how you can give to His work–whether it is here at Sunshine Orchard or in some other part of God’s vineyard. At this time of the year when many are thinking about the gifts they will give or receive from friends and family, let us put first the One who poured out all of heaven to save us.

Please go here for information on how to donate toward the purchase of the property.

Go here if you wish to support our family’s work here in Thailand.