Sunday!

Well it is Sunday here and that means Church. It takes the better part of a day by the time you talk to everyone and eat. Usually the church serves a great Thai lunch after service. The Barefoot Drs. are all devoted Christians and often sing songs. Today they sang a beautiful song at church. They are quite good singers in addition to everything else they do. The theme at church today was “Growing in God’s Wisdom.” I found this very fitting for the Barefoot Drs. as they are here to learn medicine but also the Bible and its teachings. In this way they are equipped to heal people physically and spiritually. In a country like Myanmar there are just as many spiritual injuries as physical. In areas of war, drug running, forced labor, and sex trafficking many of the injuries are not of the physical nature. Their country sees far more of these horrors than we can possibly relate to. All the more reason that treating the whole person, both spiritual and physical, is so desperately important.

The main verses today were Isaiah 55:8-9 and James 3:13-18. In Isaiah 55: 8-9 it reads, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.” Says the Lord. “ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” This is a good verse to remember for our students. It reminds us that we cannot possibly understand some of the things we see happen on this earth but that does not mean there is no God. It only means that we are not that God and should not expect to understand all things as He does. All right, enough of your sermon for the day.

I have also included some more pictures from last week that I thought were good. In them you see the Barefoot Dr students have laid out object that

symbolize some of the worst problems they have

seen in the villages over this last year. It is no surprise that at the top of the list is “Bad Water.” Second is bad roads and bridges particularly during the rainy season. If the transportation is cut off that can be very serious to a village, meaning no supplies can get in or out. Third is “ difficulty getting water”. Fourth was “Mosquitoes.” Of course there is a

much larger list but we picked out the top four to discuss last week.

We should have stats up for you all soon so keep checking in.

Peace be with you all today.

Rick Astone