2 orphans show me how to be thankful
This is Asif and Banoo. They were orphaned a year ago when an earthquake hit Pakistan, killing 80,000 people, including their parents. 20,000 children like them were orphaned and live in tents. They have little to eat. With winter coming, they are poorly prepared to face the cold.
A year and a half ago, the Lord had me begin a correspondence with a couple of pastors in Pakistan, Emmanuel and Hanif. I didn’t understand why at the time, but have kept up the correspondence. After the earthquake, Emmanuel sent me information about how to help earthquake victims like these two children.
Whatever else God may be intending in my relationship with Emmanuel, this Thanksgiving, Asif and Banoo have reminded me of how much I’ve got. I’m thankful for my beautiful wife, Karen, and my children, Talia, Seth, Estie, Emily and Leah, all home (3 from college) to eat turkey today. I’m thankful for my parents, who are still alive, and after retiring, took on a second career helping the poor in Kenya. I’m thankful for so many of you reading this who love Jesus and understand his love for the poor. You’ve enriched my life immeasurably.
And I’m thankful for enough spare change in our bank account to be able to provide Asif and Banoo with some food and a blanket (thanks to the help of Emmanuel and his father, Sadiq Sarfraz). They’ve helped me realize that I have a much greater ability to give than they have a need for my giving.
[ feel free to write me and I’ll put you in touch with Emmanuel and any number of orphans.]
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DEAR SETH BARNES AND FAMILY
I HOPE ALL IS GOING WELL BY THE GRACE OF GOD
GREETING IN THE WOUNDERFUL NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FROM PAKISTAN
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME IN YOUR SERVICE FROM LAHORE,
I AM 35 YEARS OLD, HAVE FAMILY WITH 4 CHILDREN AND GOD SERVING ME AS
PASTOR ( THE LORD JESUS’ DISCIPLES. MERCY CHURCH)I WOULD LIKE JION YOU
AND LEARN THROUGH YOUR MINISTRY, ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE BLESSFUL FOR
THE BODY OF CHRIST, AND CHURCH OF PAKISTAN. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND
DEFEND ALL YOUR WORKE.
I THANK GOD FOR YOUR AND I ASK THAT GOD WILL BLESS YOU IN WAYS THAT YOU
HAVE NEVER DREAMED.
I AM THANKFUL THAT YOU TOOK THE TIME TO WRITE ME. I WOULD LOVE TO JOUIN
WITH YOU THE GREAT WORK THAT GOD HAS INSTORE FOR US.
SO I DO STAND WITH YOU NOW IN SPIRIT.
I AM HAPPY TO INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE RECENTLY STARTED THE
http://WWW.SCHOOLOFCHRISTINTERNATIONAL.COM HERE IN LAHORE. ITS OPENING CEREMONY WAS
HELD
ON 13-FEB-2006.
CURRENTLY WE ARE HAVING OPPROXCMATELY 10-12 STUDENTS AND THAY ARE BEING
TAUGHT THROUGH (DVDS AND VCDS).
AND WE WISH THAT IF YOU CAN PROVIDE ANY HELPFUL MATERIAL IN THIS
REGRD, WE SHALL BE HIGHLY GRATEFUL.
I HOPE IT WILL BLESS BLESSFUL FOR THS BODY OF CHRIST AND CHURCH OF
PAKISTAN
YOUR SERVANT IN CHRIST,
REV. JAVEDYOUNUS
H # 13 OUT FALL RD U.V.A.S. LAHORE
P.C # 54000
PAKISTAN