Dear friends,
The boys have moved into their new home. Within eight months the new Greg Crombie house was completed. Again an absolute miracle. We needed two more staff and this too has been provided for. Keeuw, 22 is taking care/coaching the boys. He is also part of the worship team. Da, 23 from Petchabun is working in the girls home. When Da arrived and walked through the gate she turned to me and said; “This is truly amazing for when I was a teenager I had a very vivid dream/vision, in this vision I was working in an orphanage with people from different nations, and all the buildings and grounds here match those in my dream precisely”. God has prepared/is preparing things for us to do that bring glory to His Name. Together with Da we are giving orphans and leprosy effected people real hope and a future.
The food program for leprosy effected people:
Besides our food program we also give medical care to the people in the village. Our volunteers from Australia cleaned infected wounds and helped with the food program as well. Recently I was waiting at the doorway of one of the dwellings occupied by a couple effected by leprosy. They are both completely blind. Mum’s back is also badly deformed through the effects of leprosy. Upon invitation I entered the house. I saw that “dad” was trying to locate something in the corner of the room. What happened next really touched me deeply. They presented me with a Christmas gift. I could clearly sense the intense joy they experienced in giving. This couple who have virtually no earthly possessions and are disabled in so many ways are now such an amazing inspiration. The transformation we have witnessed in their lives has been truly remarkable, from bitterness and anger to people who inspire others with faith in God that is alive and filled with action.
Slum houses:
During our last period in Thailand we were able to build latrines. This is an important part of making the area more livable. The seeds of love we sow together into the lives of orphans and the needy are growing into many lasting solutions.
With love and much appreciation,
Together in the cause that counts for eternity,
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
-Jim Elliot-
Dear friends,
New orphanage home ahead of schedule:
Our volunteers (teams and individuals) from Australia worked very hard to complete the new “Greg Crombie orphanage house”. Attached are some pictures for you to see the result of all the hard work. The new home is almost two months ahead of our projected date of completion. Together we are making a fast growing difference. The love and commitment of all the volunteers is truly inspiring. The children and staff really love and appreciate the volunteers from Australia, they often pray, giving thanks to God for all those supporting the work of Seeds of Love.
Greg Crombie House
View of Greg Crombie House from existing home.
Thanks so much for sharing your loving heart, generous gifts and abilities with those in desperate need.
New children
Pop and Pong, two children who will also directly benefit from the new Crombie house really need sponsorship. Pop an eleven year old girl and her younger brother Pong (seven) have been abandoned by both parents. Their sick and severely leprosy effected grandmother cannot raise them. To sponsor Pop or Pong please contact hansma12[@]hotmail.com
Pop and Pong
The food program:
One of my leprosy effected mothers became very sick and was close to dying. She was so sick and weak that she told me. “Just let me die Hans”. Tears welled up in my eyes, with the team of volunteers we prayed for her. Five days later she was lively again and busy doing some exercises. (Attached a picture of her). We take care of 63 of the most needy leprosy effected people in the village. Since we started this program we have produced and distributed thousands of nutritious meals.
Slum houses:
During our last period in Thailand we were able to build/ renovate five slum houses. Last month we were able to do another five! The joy we see in the faces of those families who receive a proper roof over their heads is simply beyond description. We sow seeds with great love and we all reap great joy.
Helen Keller once remarked that there was one thing she knew of that was worse than being blind; it was to be able to see but have no vision.
With love and much appreciation.
Two photos showing the progress of the Crombie House.
Phase 1 of the 'Crombie House' completed - pillars and roof.
Phase 1 of the 'Crombie House' completed - pillars and roof.
The SOL Family
The building of the new Greg Crombie orphanage house is in full swing. This house is being built in honor of late Dr.Greg Crombie and Thomas (Smiley) McGuinness. Their deep God inspired love and commitment to help others will never cease to touch our hearts. This new home will give even more children a hope and a future. Have attached pictures of the building in progress.
Local workers lay the foundations of the Crombie Building
Pouring the cement for Crombie House
Pruc
Our new addition to the Seeds of Love family is a precious 5 year old boy named Pruc.
His father came to Thailand on a short holiday and his whereabouts cannot be traced. His mother who worked as a bar girl rejected him. He then was placed with different people but they too rejected him.
Upon meeting him tears welled up in his eyes…and our eyes as well. Giving him a big bear hug I told him that we gladly accept him into our family.
Our staff at the home in Baan Non Som Boon love the children very much. They are doing a fantastic job. Pruc has settled in very well and has started school.
Together with God’s help we are able to make a difference in the lives of more and more precious children.
Riding on my motor bike I turned into one of the unsealed and very dusty village roads. It made me smile to know that the noise of my motorbike would make ‘mum’ (I have many) sit up and take notice. On a previous visit she had told me: ‘I can hear your bike a mile away..And upon hearing your motorbike I know you will not pass me by’. Mum is completely blind due to leprosy…she does not have any fingers and toes. The feeling in her stumps is also lost. I thought about how difficult it would be if I were to be in complete darkness, 24 hours every day, and on top of that all feeling in my stumps lost as well. Sitting down next to her I could sense she had something important to share with me. After giving her a hug I noticed she was crying. Mum said: ‘Don’t worry Hans, they are tears of joy for I have given my heart to Jesus’….I asked mum: ‘how did this come about?’ The answer she gave touched me deeply. Without hesitation she blurted out: ‘I have seen real love in action’ Back on my bike I thought about what Jesus is saying: ‘The blind can see and those that can see are often blind’. The food program for our dear friends is running really well. During my previous outreach I visited a number of people who receive ‘Seeds of Love’ food. I am sure you do not need any convincing, but seeing leprosy effected people receiving food is very very precious. Can you imagine how hard it is for them to cook in this poverty stricken village? No fingers to hold utensils. No eyes to even see the food. Once I saw a dear old blind grandfather trying to make a wood fire, so he and his also blind wife could have something to eat. Upon seeing this I was very worried for the fire could have easily burned him and he would not even have felt it. At this time we are looking after 60 people effected by leprosy. We hope to expand this program into other areas (countries) as well.
‘Seeds of Love’ orphanage:The children in our care ( Tab, Jab, Jack, Proy, Pred, Teng, Jea, Em, Proy, Pruc, Pop and Pong) are doing really well. We are all called to take responsibility for precious helpless orphaned children. Such a great joy is ours when we practice what Jesus commanded. Please pray with us for more sponsors so we can add more children to our home.
Teams:Several teams of volunteers helped us do an amazing amount of work….such as painting, gardening, looking after the children, helping in the food program etc. A big thank you to all our volunteers. A big thank you to every person who has been helping in so many many ways to make God’s desire to help those in need become a permanent and ongoing reality.
Two new boys Jae and Em at home.
Jae
Little Em