I once met a young pastor from Northern Thailand. The village he grew up in had many elephants and catered to the tourist industry. One time I asked him what they did when and elephant died in his village and he said, “We eat it”. I of cause asked how do you eat and elephant and he answered. “Oh! We invite a lot of people”.

It appears no job is too big when enough people are working together to achieve the same objective.

The challenge to raise the necessary funds to maintain Heartland International’s Australian office and our works in Cambodia and Thailand has always rested squarely upon my shoulders. We have always had just enough and Gail and I will be forever grateful for the prayers and financial support of those who believe in the call of God on our lives.

Recently it occurred to me that instead of trying to eat the entire elephant on my own I should invite a lot of friends. So consider yourself invited. I am looking for 25 friends that will take up the challenge of running a fundraising event for Heartland International. It could be a garage sale, b.b.q, morning tea or movie night to name just a few. The possibilities are endless, get creative. The only thing I ask is that your events upholds Heartland’s Christian values.

Check out our website www.heartlandinternational.org.au for information that may be useful for you to run a successful event.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Throughout my whole life, I don't believe I've ever witnessed a miraculous healing - until I went to Thailand. In December 2011, I found myself with an amazing group from Worship Centre (24 Life Young Adults) on a mission to witness to the beautiful people of Cambodia and Thailand. I wasn't sure what to expect. I was the youngest of the group and was far less experienced in ministry than my new friends. How could God work through me?

While up in the mountains of Northern Thailand near the Burma border, we visited a tribal village that we were hoping to witness to. It was late afternoon and the children of Jaba village were already stuck to us like glue, laughing while we played a whole bunch of games with them. Slowly, this attracted a lot of the mothers and intrigued village folk. At sunset we began to sing some songs with the people and soon, the team leader Kevin Barden was speaking of the love and atonement of Jesus Christ. With words of knowledge, the group called up members of the tribe, praying for all sorts of healing and restoration.

Person after person began lining up, these people who had no previous knowledge of Christ or Christianity for that matter. And one after another, I saw every one who had taken a step of faith, be healed. Then one of the boys from he team, asked me to pray for a lady's ankle, while he prayed for her leg. Both were in pain. I started to doubt whether I could heal an injury all by myself, then remembered that it's Christ who heals, not me- I'm simply His vessel. Communication with the lady took a while, after all, we were having to conquer three language barriers. English to Thai, Thai to Lahu and back again. She remarked that her knee had felt better but said it wasn't completely healed. We prayed again but I worried that nothing of consequence had happened with her ankle. After praying for the lady's knee again I asked her about the ankle. My translator told me, "Oh yes, that was healed before," as if she was like "Yes yes, we've done that, let's move on." But I was just stunned that God worked through my simple prayer and changed this woman's life. The best part was after she was healed, she told us, "I feel like something warm has dropped into my heart." Not only does God meet our physical need, but He took this woman and transformed her from the inside out.

The flood waters have begun to recede. Although it was a tough time, the Heartland staff made the most of it.

Heartland Church in Kampong Cham is presently facing the 3rd and largest flood of the 2011 rainy season. Ps Channa reports the water is getting higher every day. They have now bought 3000 bricks to pile up so the pig can stay on top and keep away from water. If the floods stay up too long then our bananas, mango tree and other small plants will be harmed too.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR PIGS TO REMAIN SAFE AND DISEASE FREE.

If you have ever considered getting involved with international missions but didn’t know where to start, then here is an opportunity for you. Ps Eliah and Jit secured a new building in Chiang Rai Thailand to house their family, the Shalom Girl’s Home and their Church. It costs 10,000 baht a month and we are looking for 52 sponsors to pay one weeks rent a year. That is only $80 each. Please make your cheque payable to Heartland International : P.O. Box 629 Rochedale South or direct deposit into the Heartland International Westpac Account BSB 034076 Acc 263099

August was a big month of building in Northern Thailand. The Church in Chiang Rai. A chicken pen at the Shalom Girls home and the toilet block and first of 10 A framed huts for the Northern Base near the Thai / Burma border


Worship Centre Church : Chiang Rai Thailand

New Chicken Pen at Shalom Girls Home

Completed toilet block

The first of 10 huts

Timber and concrete posts for the A framed huts

Please continue to up hold Ps Channa and Simmy in your prayers as they make in roads into their community. The Heartland Community Church in Kampong Cham Cambodia is experiencing an explosion in their youth and children's ministries.