News letter at bottom of page   August 2008

Mike & Ellen Conserva Chiang Mai, Thailand Mike & Ellen Conserva are currently serving in Chiang Mai, Thailand. With them serving are their children Karis, Drew, Cana and Seth. Michael is involved in theological education at Chiang Mai Theological Seminary as well as lay-leadership training, evangelism, discipleship and mentoring. Ellen is involved in the English speaking youth group at the Chiang Mai International Church and is still on the Board of Directors at Chiang Mai International School. She also volunteers at the Agape Home in Chiang Mai, an orphanage for Thai children who were born HIV positive. AGAPE CHILDREN AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP Sponsor a child for $25 per month. We'll charge your credit card or transfer the funds from your checking account on the first of each month, or you can send us a monthly check.   The Agape Home cares for 72 abandoned HIV-positive children in Chiang Mai,Thailand. Click here for more information about the Agape Home.You will hear from your sponsored child regularly and are encouraged to write to him or her. http://www.allforyouth.org/thailand.html They can be contacted at EFCA, 901 E. 78th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55420-1300 or through email at mecons915(at)gmail.com (please note that in order to avoid email being added to spam lists, we've listed the conserva's email addresses above with the spelling of the @ sign; therefore when you email them, replace (at) with @) Their most recent update is included in their newsletter, Conserva Chronicle. A few pictures of Thailand

          Conserva Chronicle         JULY - AUGUST 2008

Conserva Chronicle Newsletter

133/297 Mooban Taweechoke, T. Talad Khwan, A. Doi Saket, Chiang Mai 5022066-53-868-723; 66-84-378-7940Email: mecons915@gmail.com; Skype: m_e_cons  

I

magine living in a picturesque fishing village, surrounded by friends and family, with a view of spectacular sunsets every evening and enough fish to catch to keep you in need of nothing. Your home is on a strip on land with the river on one side and the open sea on the other. You are the king of your castle and the sole provider for your family.

 

And then one day, the sky opens and the wind blows.  A storm that you think was just another typical tropical storm. There was no news of anything sinister on the horizon.  No reports of any destruction to be prepared for.

 

Night falls and the sky is inky black. And the waves begin to come.  Bigger waves than you have ever known before.  The open sea crosses the delta and the village and joins the river on the other side. The path it takes is directly through your little home and the homes of your friends and family. The waves rob you of all your possessions and many of those you love. The sea that had given you all that you needed, now has taken everything away from you. All of your things, all your nets, even your boat…are gone in an instant.  

 

When morning comes, your wife and 3 children are with you and you are thankful. So many of your friends have lost their families as well as all they own.  You sit in the front yard of your empty home and look around you.  Trees down, boats run aground and smashed into the houses of your friends.  Your children ask you, “Daddy, what about school? Will we go to school today?” But the school building is gone, and you realize that the waves have also robbed your children of their future and their hope.

 

So you humbly wait for someone to come and help you. You, who were once the strong leader of your family, providing all the things that they needed. You are now reduced to a half naked, rain soaked man, waiting for someone to give you a cup of drinking water, a bag of rice.  Someone to come and give you the hope that things will be better one day. That you will one day be a man again.

MYANMARBURMA UPDATE

Even though the disaster in Myanmar happened over 2 months ago and is not much in the news now, there are still great needs there and a long term relief effort is underway through ReachGlobal. ReachGlobal is the International Mission of the EFCA.  Since the cyclone, the sole focus of Michael’s ministry there has changed.  Reach Global has appointed Michael as the Regional Director for Myanmar and a lot of his ministry focus is now on disaster relief in the delta. He went to HK for an emergency meeting with the leadership of ReachGlobal and our partners in Myanmar to discuss strategies and the best way to help with this crisis.  Michael is working with RG associates and partners to help them coordinate and distribute funds and relief. If you are interested in finding out more about how you can help, go to TouchGlobal’s website  www.touchglobal.org and click on the Myanmar Cyclone. There you will find updated stories and field reports. TouchGlobal is the compassion arm of Reach Global.

 

In June, two our Myanmar partners, Chhuana and his wife Lunpi, came to visit us in Chiang Mai to have a break and to give us reports about the work, as well discuss the administrative side of the work.  We really enjoyed having them in our home for about 5 days and are very impressed with their compassion and commitment.

BTCP/LEADERHSIP TRAINING

Drew (taller than Dad now), Dad, Chhuana & Lunpi

Michael continues to be involved with a lot of teaching and training.  In May, he conducted a seminar for a group of Burmese church planters on the boarder of Thailand and Myanmar in a town called Mae Sai. The subjects taught were Theology of the Church, Church Administration, and principles of church planting.

The following week in Chiang Mai, he had another training session with a large group of the Lahu pastors and students. This was also on Church Theology and Church Administration. He also was involved in a KAIROS mission mobilization seminar with the Santisuk Church in Bangkok. Immediately after the seminar a group of about 8 young people Thai people went to Myanmar to help with the relief effort. Now that’s mobilization at its best!!!

While he was home in American in March and April, he had a great time re-connecting with local pastors at the New England conference for the Evangelical Free Church. He was able to share our vision for Agape and for the work we are doing here in S.E. Asia.

 FAMILY NEWS

As far as our family goes, we are all healthy and staying busy.  Karis is working at daycare center in Connecticut while staying with Michael’s sister and her family.  Drew, Cana and Seth are all enjoying their summer break and spending a lot of time at the local pool.  They have also all been helping Ellen with a large painting project at Agape and she has really appreciated the help. 

 

Please continue to keep us in your prayers:

 

·        Please pray for the Agape Home. Right now they are in a financial crisis and need more sponsors for the children as well as money to run the day to day operations.

·        Pray for wisdom for Michael as he mentors, coaches and trains leaders in Asia.

·        Pray for the survivors and their needs today and tomorrow.

·        Pray for God’s provision of resources through His Church to meet those needs.

·        Pray for our ministry partners on the ground in Myanmar to be a bold witness in word and deed.

·        Pray for Michael and his upcoming ministry opportunities:

-         Mobile Seminary Training every Tuesday and Thursday nights in Chiang Mai (ongoing).

-         July 3-Aug. 10^th—Trip to MyanmarBurma: please pray I can get a visa

-          July 20—Preaching at the Chiang Mai Christian Fellowship International Church

-         Aug. 21-23—Leadership Training in Karen Villiage (Maewe Villiage)

-         Aug 17—Preaching at the Chiang Mai Christian Fellowship International Church

-         Sept 8-12—Leadership Training in Naan Province

-         Sept. 22-26—Leadership Training at Om Goi Bible College

-         Oct 18-20—Training in Karen Village (Phongsa Valley)

-         November 16-22—Leadership Training in Yangon (Tentative)

-         December     6-8—Leadership Training in Karen Village (Huaydeua Village)

-         Month of December Christmas Celebrations and Outreach

 

We are so thankful for you and your faithful prayers for us.  These are difficult times in Myanmar and for the people there. Thank you for keeping the whole country in your prayers. 

 

May God continue to bless you as you have blessed us!

 

We love you,

   

The Conserva Family