Pray for Thailand

Most of you would be aware that Thailand has been coping one of its worst natural disasters over the last month or two - as massive amounts of floodwater flow through the country from the north to the mouth of the Chao Phraya River. On its way south the floodwaters have caused over 500 deaths, destroyed innumerable amounts of infrastruture (including many industrial parks and highways) and led to homelessness for millions of people. It has also wiped out a quarter of Thailand's rice crop - Thailand is the world's largest exporter of rice. Much of the floodwaters have now escaped to the ocean, but there is still more water to work its way through Bangkok, which remains under 1 metre or so of water in many parts.

Our province - Samut Prakan - has largely been spared damage from these floodwaters, although parts of our province are now becoming flooded. Samut Prakan is the last province the flood passes through before spilling into the ocean. We are immediately south of Bangkok and at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River. That is to our advantage - at least the floodwaters had somewhere to escape (i.e. into the ocean).

Below are some images of the flood in Thailand. I stress that none of these pictures are my own, I have merely taken some off the Internet. After viewing the pictures, could you please note the prayer points at the end of this blog and take a few moments to PRAY for THAILAND!

Many people have evacuated their homes across the country


Not even Big Mac survives the flood :-)

Floodwaters in some towns have been neck-deep for at least a month

It's sad what people cling to in a crisis - this person clings to 120 baht (around AUD4)

Prayer for Thailand

• that believers would continue to be 'His Hands and Feet' to the vast numbers of people in need;
• that people would see help coming from Christians as coming from the the Living God, the Only One who can help them in their time of desperate need;
• as floodwaters gradually abate that water-borne diseases would be controlled (note: there are already reports of people in the Central Plains suffering from water borne diseases).

Thank you for praying for Thailand. Many of those suffering are very poor. Therefore in partnership with our church we now have a flood relief fund. 100 percent of monies given go directly to providing help for flood victims. If you are interested in giving to our flood relief fund, please contact me at email: malone.phil@gmail.com

Quilts by Jemuay

One of the gifts we gave our new grandson was a set of baby quilts made by our friend Jemuay, who is known to most of the visitors we've had over the last 3 years as she lives in the slum community near our home.

Jemuay is hoping to be able to make these quilts to order, using her wonderful sewing/patchwork skills, in order to earn an income. She will make the size, colour, and pattern according to order, including adult sizes, and can leave an opening to insert a doona if required. They are made completely by hand, these ones mostly sewn in the motorcycle taxi stand near her home while she was helping her sister-in-law sell snacks to passers-by, as seen in the photo here, with Jemuay on the right, next to her sister-in-law, and the motorcycle taxi stand behind them. This baby quilt size will sell for 1000 baht (about $30) plus postage. If interested in ordering a quilt and helping one family living in poverty, please contact me at jenmalone7@gmail.com