Please help!

This letter was sent to me by friends with Compasio working on the Thai/Burmese border...please read, pray and help if you can...

Subject: Prison Baby Campaign

Hi Friends,

I just wanted to let you know about an immediate and urgent need that came up here in Mae Sot with Compasio!

A couple weeks ago when Sia was taking some of our children to visit their parents in jail, one of the prison guards approached her and asked why the children were with her. She explained that we have a safe house for children that have been abused, neglected, abandoned or were at risk and formerly living on the streets. Some prison officials were very interested and said, we have some babies here that were born in the prison, can you take them too?

Well we are faced with a dilemma, we were asked to help children, that are obviously in a bad situation, surrounded by criminals, and they have never even seen the outside world. But we do not have a place or staff at the moment to meet this need. We were told that we had until the 5th of March, and then to come pick up the toddlers if we wanted to help. There are five babies from ages 2-3, three boys and two girls. What will we do? Well our motto has always been, Risk on the side of love. And we're believing in faith that the needs will be met and taken care of. We've said Yes, okay, we'll take them!!!

The challenge is this: We have 10 days to find a home, caregivers, and funding to take care of these five toddlers!

Please pray for us to find safe loving staff to care for the children, for us to find a house to rent, get it cleaned, stocked and prepared with diapers, beds, and bottles.

Look for more information on our Website: Compasio.org over the next few days, and to donate to this cause specify that your donation is for: The Prison Babies Project.

Thank you!
Compasio, Mae Sot

Global Youth Network

We partner with a Canadian organization called Global Youth Network. Every year they bring a batch of young leaders to Modesto for a week of outreach and training...which really means they hang out with us and do what we do with us. We love Global teams! Here's some pictures from the week...some from my phone and others from the team...



Day #1 - The obligatory touristy day in the city...Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge, Sunset over the ocean and awesome curry!



Day #2 - Church in the morning and a tour of Modesto and where we work for orientation.



Day #3 - the team spent the whole day downtown with no money, food or resources. They had to rely solely on homeless people to find out where to go for food. They ended up making some really good friends.



Day #4 - We spent the morning with Advancing Vibrant Communities hearing about their work and then we went and did a project with them...chopping and stacking wood for an elderly lady and her daughter...



...then we barbecued for the South 9th St. community...







This team dug in to our heart to make friends and let relationship and compassion lead the way.

Day #5 - Yosemite!





!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day #6 - We went back to 9th St and reconnected with friends from earlier in the week...





These guys were more than just another team...they dove into our heart for people and became friends and co-workers. We even dreamed together about the future. Yay team!



And I think we wore them out a bit.

Club Awesome!

We didn't mean to start a kids program...it just kinda happened. The kids were there at the motel every week and we knew we should hang out with them somehow. We started taking side walk chalk and games, then we bought a Bible story book, some snacks and it was all over from there. It's such a privilege to hang out with these guys through the weeks. Here's a couple of shots too great not to share...



Monique and a puppy.



Selena...I love the t-shirt : )



Junior helping make the hot dogs.



Jesse



Anastasia, hot dog and actual dog.



Lisa has her own, special personality : )!



Jeremiah, trying to figure out how to catch fish.



Willie



Amanda

These aren't all the kids but please pray for these, their families and all the kids from "Club Awesome"...he has a unique destiny for each one.

South 9th St. Barista

We take coffee out to S. 9th St. every Friday...I think I mentioned that before...it was Arlie's idea. So people come now and sit to enjoy something hot and some company. Everyone's favorite is something called a "Cadillac" that I think was started by another group of ladies that comes down here...one scoop of coffee, two scoops of hot chocolate, one cream, one sugar.

This is Amy, she lives near S. 9th in a trailer park. She stayed with us all day and pitched in to help make coffee. She was so awesome! Undeniable service with a smile.

Somewhere Green

We don't know him that well but we're becoming fast friends. We met him on South 9th St. at a barbeque we were throwing with a bunch of Canadians. He doesn't really have any where or any one. He loves to sit and talk...mostly about fishing. He told us his world is noise and concrete and he hadn't been anywhere green in a long time. This is where we went to soak up the quiet, talk about fishing, tell our stories and just be in a place that's not concrete and noise. A great day.

Arlie went too. He jumped in. He said it was pretty cold...in February!

James

He is alone, in despair, bound by chains of which he will not let go

He is taken advantage of, almost helpless, fallen through the cracks

He played piano, had good work, never seemed to fit

He is unkempt, uncared for, written off

He wants to live, he craves friendship, he is not beyond hope

Please, pray for James.

this sign posted by Jimmy after spending a day helping James clean his apartment