NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

P A I DPermit No. 128Springfield, MO

Asia’s Little OnesAssemblies of God World Missions 1445 N. Boonville AvenueSpringfield, MO 65802-1894

Vol 21/ No 1

A s i a ’ s L i t t l e O n e sMinistering to Children in Asia Pacific

600-001-069438 0 SC:UMUPDATE Vol 21/ No 1

Name _________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________

City ___________________________________________________

State/Zip ______________________________________________

Phone _________________________________________________

E-mail _________________________________________________

Church to credit ________________________________________ Bill my credit card MasterCard Visa DiscoverCredit card # __________________________________________

Exp. date ________ Signature ____________________________

Make checks payable to Asia’s Little Ones.All gifts tax-deductible as allowed by law.Contribute online at: www.asiaslittleones.org

Assemblies of God World Missions 1445 N. Boonville Ave • Springfield, MO 65802-1894 www.asiaslittleones.org • (417) 862-6155

Enclosing a one-time gift of $________

For children in: Cambodia (48) Pacific Islands (02)

Indonesia (60) Philippines (00) Laos (72) Thailand (73) Mongolia (42) Vietnam (88) Myanmar Where most (Burma) (28) needed (45)

Or in the area of: Children’s Evangelism (70)

Homes (47) Feeding (01)

Education (46) Health Care (68)

Please send me regular updates about the ministries of Asia’s Little Ones.

I’ll plant seeds for an abundant harvest in children’s lives

in places like Thailand!

Yes!

A s i a ’ s L i t t l e O n e sWE NEED YOUR HELP

to reach countless others who are still living at risk.

Since 1990 ALO has reached out to thousands of hurting and needy

children through numerous outreaches and compassion projects.

This issue of the ALO Update features

an ancient Thai folktale that is rich in

spiritual symbolism. Consider sharing it

with someone who is not familiar with the

good work Asia’s Little Ones is doing to

help meet the physical, educational, and

spiritual needs of children in Thailand and

other countries in Asia Pacific.

Or read and discuss the stories and

our responsibility to use what we have

to bless others. You can find lots of

opportunities to do this—here are just a

few ideas:

• a children’s service,

• adult missions service,

• Bible study,

• discussion group, or

• any small group setting.

This issue of the ALO Update features

an ancient Thai folktale that is rich in

spiritual symbolism. Consider sharing it

with someone who is not familiar with the

good work Asia’s Little Ones is doing to

help meet the physical, educational, and

spiritual needs of children in Thailand and

other countries in Asia Pacific.

Or read and discuss the stories and

our responsibility to use what we have

to bless others. You can find lots of

opportunities to do this—here are just a

few ideas:

• a children’s service,

• adult missions service,

• Bible study,

• discussion group, or

• any small group setting.

Christians have shared the gospel with people of various races and cultures, they have discovered something amazing. No matter how remote or isolated the people may be or how contrary to Western or Judeo-Christian thought their understanding, God has prepared

their hearts to accept Him. Romans 2:14–15 says, “God’s law is not some-thing alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation” (MSG).

Planted within every culture are seeds of eternity and an innate understanding of people’s spiritual nature and need. Something in the heart of every human feels the call of the Creator, God. Often this is displayed in the oldest stories and folktales told to explain the state of the world: creation, a creator, the struggles of life and death, and the life that fol-lows. Some stories even reflect an understand-ing of humanity’s inability to save itself and the need for a sinless, loving savior. Many prepare the way for Jesus, often raising questions only He can answer.

In this issue of the ALO Update, we’ll look at one such ancient folktale from Thailand. The story of an orphan boy whose deepest longing is to meet the great king is finally fulfilled echoes the longing of weak and needy humans for a powerful benefactor who will care for and reward them. Long before the first missionaries set foot in Thailand, God had given the people a blueprint for understanding His nature. Romans 1:20 puts it this way: “Ever since God created the world, his invisible qualities, both his eternal power and his divine nature, have been clearly seen; they are perceived in the things that God has made” (GNT). ALO

You Write theEnding

TimeOnceupon a

ALO supports the Mae Sod Project in Thailand’s Mae Ramat province on Myanmar’s border. The ministry that has been providing housing, education, and training for at-risk girls has expanded. It now assists and educates Burmese refugee kids.

He has planted eternity in the human heart. Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT

Thailandin

As

Many children in Thailand struggle with the harsh realities of life—they are destitute, orphaned, unable to afford proper food, medical care, or education. Most have never even heard of our great King. But they still need to meet Him. Many have an inner longing for something or someone bigger than themselves to fill an empty spot in their hearts. Those of us who know our kind, heavenly Father know the only one who can fill that need.

You may not have much. Like Makato, you may have only a shell’s worth of seed. But that seed can grow and produce a bountiful harvest when you dedicate it to the great King’s service. ALO

We are very happy to be part of these children’s lives in helping them to have a good future. We could not stop helping them, even though many times we face prob-lems. We are steadfast because we know this is God’s will and that He longs for us to serve Him and bring salvation to these children.

Many children still need help. Please pray for us to have enough funds to help them. Thank you so much for always helping us and being our friends.

—Pastor Phanon and family, Chiang Rai Children’s Home

ALO supports Chiang Rai Children’s Home in Thailand.

Won’t you plant seeds in the hearts of children in Thailand with a gift to Asia’s Little Ones and trust God to bring forth a harvest of blessing in their lives—and yours?

and The KingThe OrphanA Folktale from Thailand

oung Makato’s life had long been hard and uncertain. His sickly mother strug-gled to raise him on her own while work-

ing whatever odd jobs she could to feed and clothe him. The two shared what little they had—including a love for stories. Makato loved nothing better than to listen to the exciting stories his mother told him at night, before bedtime. He especially loved her stories about the good, kind, and power-ful king of Sukhothai. Makato was fascinated by the stories of the great king’s wealth and the joy of those who served him. Many nights Makato fell asleep dreaming of the day he might meet this king of all the land.

But his mother’s health worsened, and when he was only four years old, she died. Poor little Makato had no family or friends to take him in and care for him. He was left on his own to fend for himself and make his way as best he could. Makato had to work hard just to get enough food to keep himself alive. Clearing, clean-ing, fetching, hauling, gathering wood, and feeding pigs were some of the tasks that brought Makato a little money. Still, every day was a struggle to survive.

Each night before he fell asleep, he thought again of the stories his mother had told him of the great king. On one such night, a seed of hope was planted. What was holding him in this place? If he set out in the morning and walked for many days, might he not get to meet this great king?

The seed grew within the boy’s heart until, early one morning, he finally started his journey. He ate what fruit he found growing along the way and slept in the jungle. Eventually he came to the edge of the jungle and looked out upon the city of the great king.

The young boy’s heart quickened as he saw that something important was happening. A parade was making its way through crowds of cheering people. Makato knew instantly that one of the ornately decorated elephant riders had to be the king. Makato ran to join the crowd waiting to see the king.

He managed to push his way to the front of the crowd, where he could easily identify the trappings of a great king. Makato held his breath and attentively watched the king’s kind face. Makato gasped as he saw some-thing tiny fall from the king’s robe and land almost

beneath the sturdy elephant’s large feet. The boy scrambled to retrieve it and offer it back to his king.

He held out his hand—containing one small cowrie shell (com-monly used as money)—to the king. The king smiled at Makato. “Thank you, but you may keep it.”

Makato was thrilled. Although one little shell was not worth much,* he wanted to use wisely this gift from the king. He found a market, where he hoped to buy some seeds to plant. But he discovered that seeds cost at least five cowrie shells.

Makato thought for a while, then found one kind-looking woman selling seeds. “If I give you this shell” the lad proposed, “Will you allow me to dip my one little finger into your seeds and keep whatever sticks to it?”

The woman was amused by Makato’s unusual proposal, so she agreed. He guarded his precious seed carefully until he could find a plot of ground and prepare the soil for planting. He worked harder than he had ever worked before to plant his precious seed, water it, and tend it; and before long, it grew into a lush, fine patch of lettuce.

Makato picked the first crop from his garden and offered it to the king. “Great king, you have made my garden possible by the gift of your shell. Today I give back what belongs to you.”

The king was so pleased with Makato’s generous gift that he invited him to live in his beautiful palace and serve him in an honored posi-tion. The poor orphan boy’s dreams had come true. ALO

*One cowrie shell would be worth less than five cents in today’s money.

Note: Many Chinese characters related to money or trade feature the character for the cowry, attesting to its importance in the history of money.

Y

The Sukhothai kings, who ruled parts of Thailand, Laos, and Malaysia from around 1250 to 1438, were kind and paternal rulers. Free trade was encouraged—with no taxes. Rule was administered justly, and prisoners of war could become citizens. Any person with a need or complaint could ring a bell that was hung outside the royal palace. The king would come out personally to listen, decide, and dispense justice on behalf of his people.

How is this symbolic of the way in which God, our great King, rules His people?

FactsThailand

about

ALO-assisted ministries in Thailand

• Chiang Rai Children’s Home

• Mae Sod Project to help at-risk girls

and Burmese refugee children

How you can help

• Children’s Camp—$95 per child

• Computers for school computer lab—

$805 per computer (7 needed)

• New water well—$8,600

• Prayer—ask God to bless these

ministries, the children, and ALO’s

efforts to help them.

• Communicate—tell others about

the needs of children in Thailand and

the opportunities through ALO to write

a happier ending.

Size

Shape

Population

Capital city

Currency

Main language

Religion

Flag

198,117 square miles—about twice

the size of Oregon

Some people say Thailand is

shaped like the head of

an elephant. Can you see it?

Nearly 67 million

Bangkok

Baht

Thai

95% Buddhist; 5% Muslim

Most Buddhist males spend at least

part of their life as a monk.

Most Thai schools have a temple and

statues of Buddha and include time for

worship.

tha il and

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

P A I DPermit No. 128Springfield, MO

Asia’s Little OnesAssemblies of God World Missions 1445 N. Boonville AvenueSpringfield, MO 65802-1894

Vol 21/ No 1

A s i a ’ s L i t t l e O n e sMinistering to Children in Asia Pacific

600-001-069438 0 SC:UMUPDATE Vol 21/ No 1

Name _________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________

City ___________________________________________________

State/Zip ______________________________________________

Phone _________________________________________________

E-mail _________________________________________________

Church to credit ________________________________________ Bill my credit card MasterCard Visa DiscoverCredit card # __________________________________________

Exp. date ________ Signature ____________________________

Make checks payable to Asia’s Little Ones.All gifts tax-deductible as allowed by law.Contribute online at: www.asiaslittleones.org

Assemblies of God World Missions 1445 N. Boonville Ave • Springfield, MO 65802-1894 www.asiaslittleones.org • (417) 862-6155

Enclosing a one-time gift of $________

For children in: Cambodia (48) Pacific Islands (02)

Indonesia (60) Philippines (00) Laos (72) Thailand (73) Mongolia (42) Vietnam (88) Myanmar Where most (Burma) (28) needed (45)

Or in the area of: Children’s Evangelism (70)

Homes (47) Feeding (01)

Education (46) Health Care (68)

Please send me regular updates about the ministries of Asia’s Little Ones.

I’ll plant seeds for an abundant harvest in children’s lives

in places like Thailand!

Yes!

A s i a ’ s L i t t l e O n e sWE NEED YOUR HELP

to reach countless others who are still living at risk.

Since 1990 ALO has reached out to thousands of hurting and needy

children through numerous outreaches and compassion projects.

This issue of the ALO Update features

an ancient Thai folktale that is rich in

spiritual symbolism. Consider sharing it

with someone who is not familiar with the

good work Asia’s Little Ones is doing to

help meet the physical, educational, and

spiritual needs of children in Thailand and

other countries in Asia Pacific.

Or read and discuss the stories and

our responsibility to use what we have

to bless others. You can find lots of

opportunities to do this—here are just a

few ideas:

• a children’s service,

• adult missions service,

• Bible study,

• discussion group, or

• any small group setting.

This issue of the ALO Update features

an ancient Thai folktale that is rich in

spiritual symbolism. Consider sharing it

with someone who is not familiar with the

good work Asia’s Little Ones is doing to

help meet the physical, educational, and

spiritual needs of children in Thailand and

other countries in Asia Pacific.

Or read and discuss the stories and

our responsibility to use what we have

to bless others. You can find lots of

opportunities to do this—here are just a

few ideas:

• a children’s service,

• adult missions service,

• Bible study,

• discussion group, or

• any small group setting.

Christians have shared the gospel with people of various races and cultures, they have discovered something amazing. No matter how remote or isolated the people may be or how contrary to Western or Judeo-Christian thought their understanding, God has prepared

their hearts to accept Him. Romans 2:14–15 says, “God’s law is not some-thing alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation” (MSG).

Planted within every culture are seeds of eternity and an innate understanding of people’s spiritual nature and need. Something in the heart of every human feels the call of the Creator, God. Often this is displayed in the oldest stories and folktales told to explain the state of the world: creation, a creator, the struggles of life and death, and the life that fol-lows. Some stories even reflect an understand-ing of humanity’s inability to save itself and the need for a sinless, loving savior. Many prepare the way for Jesus, often raising questions only He can answer.

In this issue of the ALO Update, we’ll look at one such ancient folktale from Thailand. The story of an orphan boy whose deepest longing is to meet the great king is finally fulfilled echoes the longing of weak and needy humans for a powerful benefactor who will care for and reward them. Long before the first missionaries set foot in Thailand, God had given the people a blueprint for understanding His nature. Romans 1:20 puts it this way: “Ever since God created the world, his invisible qualities, both his eternal power and his divine nature, have been clearly seen; they are perceived in the things that God has made” (GNT). ALO

You Write theEnding

TimeOnceupon a

ALO supports the Mae Sod Project in Thailand’s Mae Ramat province on Myanmar’s border. The ministry that has been providing housing, education, and training for at-risk girls has expanded. It now assists and educates Burmese refugee kids.

He has planted eternity in the human heart. Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT

Thailandin

As

Many children in Thailand struggle with the harsh realities of life—they are destitute, orphaned, unable to afford proper food, medical care, or education. Most have never even heard of our great King. But they still need to meet Him. Many have an inner longing for something or someone bigger than themselves to fill an empty spot in their hearts. Those of us who know our kind, heavenly Father know the only one who can fill that need.

You may not have much. Like Makato, you may have only a shell’s worth of seed. But that seed can grow and produce a bountiful harvest when you dedicate it to the great King’s service. ALO

We are very happy to be part of these children’s lives in helping them to have a good future. We could not stop helping them, even though many times we face prob-lems. We are steadfast because we know this is God’s will and that He longs for us to serve Him and bring salvation to these children.

Many children still need help. Please pray for us to have enough funds to help them. Thank you so much for always helping us and being our friends.

—Pastor Phanon and family, Chiang Rai Children’s Home

ALO supports Chiang Rai Children’s Home in Thailand.

Won’t you plant seeds in the hearts of children in Thailand with a gift to Asia’s Little Ones and trust God to bring forth a harvest of blessing in their lives—and yours?