Deaf school students enjoying their new beds

I get the most encouraging updates from our Aussie “Bloke in the Field”. He works alongside ministries that are reaching out to the desperately poor and hurting all over Asia. Here’s a recent update from him:

(Please Note: Names have been changed or withheld due for security reasons.)

Tim - Many deaf youth are coming to the Lord through an Orphan’s Promise ministry partner in Vietnam, but news of their new faith is often met by violent persecution from unbelieving family and authorities. Orphan’s Promise has been able to provide funds to help establish a girl’s safe house for these new deaf believers so they can live in safety and peace. These funds paid for the rental costs and renovations of the building, and purchased new beds for the girls.

Some of the supplies OP purchased for the students

This Orphan’s Promise ministry partner provides employment, housing, and education for young deaf Vietnamese. Before working here, many of these youth were seen as burdens on society and people with no hope for the future. Now, these promising youngsters have new skills and are filled with purpose and renewed hope, with some even becoming the main income producers for their whole family. Spiritual transformation is bringing about a holistic transformation with thirty-two deaf putting their faith in Christ through the outreach of this ministry.

Ngoc is one young deaf girl who has been blessed through this ministry and has paid an incredible price for her new belief in Christ. In 2005, at 19 years of age, Ngoc was one of the first deaf in her town to come to know the Lord. At first, she hid her conversion from her family, but then they began to see changes in her life. Ngoc would no longer eat food the family had offered to idols and was attending church and reading her Bible. After about three years, Ngoc’s family had enough. One evening, while she was reading, they took her Bible from her and tore it in half. Her mother grabbed her by the hair and flung her about the room, slapping her face and beating her body. Ngoc never fought back but chose to remain respectful of her parents and tolerate the abuse in the name of the Lord. When the abuse began to get worse, Ngoc eventually asked our partner if she could live in their safe house, to which they agreed. Ngoc lived there in safety until her marriage to another deaf Christian. Six months after the wedding, Ngoc’s parents finally accepted her marriage and conversion. Ngoc’s testimony of courage and perseverance in the midst of much persecution has shone forth the transforming love of Jesus to her parents and unbelieving friends.

On a visit to this ministry in January 2011, reports of new deaf believers being beaten, threatened, and persecuted by other non-believers, was a still a constant threat and pressing prayer point. Please uphold these new deaf believers and our ministry partner in your prayers. Orphan’s Promise is so grateful to be able to partner with them. We are thankful to the Lord for the fruit he has brought forth, and to our Orphan’s Promise donors who make it possible for us to partner with ministries such as this, and to reach out to precious deaf youth like Ngoc.

Terry – Please pray for these tender new believers who live in a hostile environment. Also, please pray for Tim, our special “bloke” who has such a heart for the hurting of this world.