Recent Pictures from the Sanchez's: Pictures
From: Ricky & Karen Sanchez [mailto:sierrasanchez@hotmail.com]
Sent: January 23, 2009 9:22 PM
Subject: The Return to Thailand
Dear Friends;
Many of you know that Ricky blew out his knee cap 3 days before we flew back to Thailand. Once we arrived, he flew to Chiang Mai to help finalize our new Thai MB Foundation the next day. Praise God, we are officially a legal conference now! This is a huge breakthrough and one that our friend Joe, a lawyer (pictured below) helped us secure through much prayer! Below you see Ricky's work permit, our first official move with our new foundation.
After the Foundation trip, Ricky had an MRI which showed he has a ruptured tendon (jumper's knee). After another trip to the Khmu tribe on the Mekong River for more ministry and business, he came home to find a surgeon.
Our team then had a great time of meeting with Randy and Paul from our Lead Team for a few days, and we were excited to begin to plan and pray about the future for our three families and church planting strategy for Thailand.
Next came Ricky's surgery in Bangkok where Andy stayed with him and provided tender care for Ricky...great male bonding! :) We praise God for a safe surgery and for all of you who have prayed and facebooked Ricky to encourage him! Our whole team took very good care of us all!
In December we sent out an email about a need we had at our orphanage for funds, and we were speechless to see how many people responded and made the Abundant Life Home their special family Christmas project. We watched as God moved many people to walk-in checks to our office to make sure we made our deadline!
We give glory to God that FAR OVER the amount we needed came in! Thank you for responding and giving so generously! I am convinced that God moves in a special way on behalf of the orphan, and that God will continue to draw many Thai people to Himself through these children.
The reunion with the A.L.H. kids was sweeter than I had even imagined. Lots of hugs and kisses and tears, and then at the Ang Sila Church, they all sang a special song to welcome us home. It seems like God hand-picked THE most special children in the country to send to us. :)
Taay, the house mom of the girl's home, told me how her 9 year old son had begged her for a bike for Christmas. At the Ang Sila Church Christmas Outreach, there were 300-400 people that showed up to try and win a draw for one bike. It was the last draw of the night, and Taay kept telling "Ton" to pray. Taay herself laughs as she admits that she didn't really think he had a chance of winning...because of course the end of the story is that HE WON THE BIKE!
Ton was a happy boy that night with a new bike, but Taay was forever changed as she saw the love of the Father for her young son, and saw that He would always look after her son and her even as she serves the Lord full time as a mom to our 6 girls.
Last week, Ricky and I were invited by our Khmu friend, Pastor Phonekeo, to go to a secret meeting up north, and meet several of the pastor's who had been imprisoned in a near by nation for their faith. It was like being on sacred ground as they all piled out of their Tuk Tuk's and entered the meeting room. We cried as we listened to them tell their stories. They used their time in prison to share the gospel with their fellow inmates, and many gave their hearts to Christ. I found myself just wanting to keep shaking their hands...hoping some of their courage would be imparted to me somehow. Meeting these men was one of the greatest honors we have had in our lives.
Please pray for the persecuted church in SE Asia, and for these dear brothers who still experience some physical pain because of the intense conditions in prison.
Honored to be back in Asia,
Karen and Ricky and girls
Ricky & Karen Sanchez Sierra, Tassanee, McKenna and Aree Home Address: P.O. Box 25 Bang Saen, Chonburi Thailand 20130 Phone #'s: home-38-715-046 Ricky's cell (66) 86-139-2787 (*New "8" before the 6) Karen's cell(66) 89-521-5434 (*New "8" before the 9) (If calling from Thailand add a 0 before # and dial direct w/no 66 which is the country code for long distance callers only!)