Thailand trip

Hello everyone!

Aaron and I have returned from a life
and perspective altering time in Thailand. The plan at
the beginning of our trip (to venture into the jungle
for dentistry work) crumbled as the atmosphere on the
border was a little tense. We believe that God used
this as an opportunity to put us in the middle of the
desperate situation we originally intended to be
involved with.

Mae Sot, Thailand is a town that
borders Burma. Because of the appalling atrocities
being committed by the Military Junta in Burma, many
Burmese/Karen people have fled into the safety of
Thailand. Not everyone seeking refuge in Thailand is
blessed enough to receive legal or refugee status, so
many are there illegally. Among those people are
children who are not even having their most basic
needs met. These children are turned out into the
streets of Mae Sot to beg for food and money. This is
a terrible problem presenting so many safety and
health issues, and puts the children at even greater
risk of abuses such as slave labor, prostitution, and
disease. Some of the kids beg all day for their
parents and themselves, then sleep under a parked
vehicle, tables in the marketplace, or on the
sidewalk.

Aaron and I had the honor of working with a friend who
has given her life to rescuing these kids. Everyday we
sought out the street kids, fed them, tried to connect
them with safety, and just worked to be a support to
them in their suffering. This was heart-wrenching
work, and something that has influenced real change in
all of our lives. These kids need fathers and mothers.
They need safety and education. They have a future,
and we will give what we can that they may live life
abundantly. The love of Jesus is demonstrated in a
tangible way, and we will do what He commands.

“The compassion of Jesus is not generous benevolence,
it is a consuming fire.”
-Brennan Manning

Thank you all for helping us financially to do the
work that God is calling us to. Thank you for going
with us. God bless you.

Jim Sustar