The picture above is of our one of our “adopted daughters” (Pachu) and two girls from the northern part of our country. These two girls are for sale.

Yes, you read it right, they are for sale!

To make a long story short, their mother, who recently remarried, was told by her new husband to get rid of the girls. And, if she didn’t he would kill all three of them. So, she is going from village to village trying to sell them off to the first buyer, apparently to people she knows.

Unfortunately, this is one of the many sad realities of this part of the world. I thought I would take a moment and share a few thoughts on this tragic happening that is so prevalent in this part of the world.

In Southeast Asia and elsewhere, “the scourge of human trafficking,” sometimes called “modern slavery,” affects some 40 million men, women, and children around the world – and the vast majority of them are found in this part of the world.

According to the United Nations, during a three-year time period, more than 60 percent of identified victims of human trafficking were trafficked for sexual exploitation. Again, according to the United Nations, forced marriages of young women and young girls are rampant in the Mekong region of Southeast Asia. By the way, my wife and I live about 200 yards from the Mekong River.

All that, to say this: please keep the poor women and children in this part of the world in your prayers. Not only for their souls but for their physical safety!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE POOR, NEEDY, AND HELPLESS CHILDREN IN SOUTHEAST ASIA!

It’s always a special blessing to have friends from the States visit with us, but it was an extra special blessing to have our longtime friends and faithful supporters, Pat and Maria Culley, from California, spend a week with us. They were able to sit in on all six of our English classes (the students loved the Culley’s), our School of Ministry classes, attend our Sunday and Midweek services, our Tuesday Team Meeting, and, of course, a lot of great food and fellowship.

The Culley’s are the epitome of how a Christian couple ought to retire and live the last quarter of their lives. They are faithfully serving and giving at their home church, and I believe they personally support 20 missionaries. After leaving us, they headed to Cambodia to be with our team there and then off to Dubai to spend a week with a Filipino missionary. They have been to so many countries visiting and encouraging missionaries.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE CULLEY’S AND THAT GOD WOULD RAISE UP MANY MORE OLDER COUPLES LIKE THEM IN OUR CHURCHES!   

Our Thursday and Saturday ministry in a village about 30 minutes from the capital city is growing leaps and bounds. Both Thursday and Saturday are geared primarily towards teens and children, and on Saturday we teach both English and the Bible, but we are even seeing some adults attend our Thursday evening Bible study.

On Thursday evenings, I have been teaching on the Beatitudes from the Gospel of Matthew. I am grateful for our workers. Jui, Lamphan, Pachu, Tabby, and Denise (my wife) who have such a heart for the young people and go the second mile in ministering to them. It has also been a blessing to get quite a few of the teenagers involved with serving!

PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL RAISE UP MANY OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE FAITHFUL SERVANTS IN THE HARVEST FIELDS OF THIS COUNTRY AND BEYOND! 

It was a blessing to have our brother T.J. Slayman preach for us on two consecutive Sundays.  As we have mentioned in previous updates, our theme for 2019 is “Pursuing Christ and Christlikeness.” T.J. taught on the importance of winning the battle for the mind if we are going to pursue Christ and a Christlike life.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SUNDAY SERVICES AND FOR OUR FOLKS TO CATCH THE VISION OF LOVING JESUS AND LIVING A HOLY LIFE!

About three weeks ago Kong went to a wedding in his village and had the opportunity to see a long lost friend named Sia. Before he left the wedding reception, he had the opportunity to lead Sia to Christ.

PLEASE PRAY FOR SIA’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH!

My wife had another activity at our house with one of her English classes. They all enjoyed the food and had a lot of fun playing UNO. It was a great night of bonding for the ladies.

PLEASE PRAY FOR MEI, NUT, BANOY, AND BEE TO COME TO A SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST! 

It was a special blessing to have a few of the young men from a Bible College in Thailand visit with us in our School of Ministry. Three of the four are actually from our country but started attending Bible school in Thailand before we opened up a school here. They are all great guys with a heart for the Lord and for their people. It was a joy having them with us!

PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO CONTINUE TO GROW IN THEIR FAITH AND BE USED BY GOD TO REACH THEIR PEOPLE!

Denise and I want to thank you for your continued prayers and financial support over the past six years. As I say often, we couldn’t be here and do what the Lord has led us to do without your prayers and financial support!

Johnny and Denise Esposito

ONE ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUEST, CAN YOU PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR YOUTH CONFERENCE TO BE CONDUCTED IN APRIL?

“While Christians choose to spend their lives fulfilling the American dream instead of giving their lives to proclaiming the kingdom of God, literally billions in need of the Gospel remain in the dark.”