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Matt and Audrey Pound

Mien Tribe Special Performance at Faithful Heart
A Cute Christmas Elf!

Sharing hope---even an introduction and prayer in Thai!

A special music piece at Mien Mission Church

Sarah, Hannah, and Paula (left to right) taking pictures for me at FHF Christmas

Faithful Heart Family celebrating together


Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!  

Fair warning, this post is overloaded (much like our entire month of December).  But we loved December 2016, and hope you will enjoy catching up with us on all that has been happening in Thailand.  We would love to hear from you too!  There is something difficult about being apart at Christmas from so many excellent and worthy hobbits (aka: friends and friends like you!).

I have been thinking more about what makes society as a whole function as I observe a very different, yet very similar society here in Thailand.  As a Christian, I am convinced the relative peace and happiness of life for so many is the result of God's kind influence, in thousands and maybe millions of different ways.  That doesn't mean that everything good in God's world has a sticker on it, clearly identifying it as "Christian" like a overcautious bookstore.  What it does mean, is that anywhere we find goodness, faithfulness, fairness, and plain-old, work well done, we are getting glimpses of God's good influence.  We can and should praise it, wherever we find it, whether it professes to be Christian or not, because it is good and all good eventually leads back to God (who is the source of all good).  And this is where I come to my theory on the fabric of society:

What holds society together is the faithfulness of ordinary people.

Community Service Project with FHF

Sweat Equity in our neighborhood

The Thai people are incredible farmers--check out those grapes!

And some serious mountain lettuce!  Mary, Anne--what do you think? 

My boots kept filling with water...from my sweat.

It is the farmer who plants, waters, and harvests quality food for people to eat.  It is the lady in the market who shows up every day, works hard to make sure her fruit and vegetables are fresh and well presented and charges fair prices, so people have access to the food the farmer grew.   It is the construction worker who does the work right, doesn't cut corners or inflate charges.  The teacher who invests in their students no matter how much they get paid or thanked.  It is the mechanic who does honest, quality work at reasonable prices.

My favorite mechanic, who also happens to be my Grandpa, passed away just before Christmas (You can read his obituary here) .  I love my Grandpa for many reasons.  I love him because he would sit me on his lap and tell me war stories from when he was a paratrooper in World War II.  I love him because he secretly gave me a propane torch when I was 12, and would have given me an old parachute, if my mom hadn't stopped him.  I love him because he taught me to walk on my hands and loved to hear my stories of cliff jumping and general wildness.  We were two of a kind and we understood each other in a way others just couldn't.

Arlie Miller (aka Grandpa)

But I also admire and try to imitate my Grandpa.  I admire him because he never refused to help someone who needed his help.  I admire him because he cared for a brother who robbed him. Because he lovingly cared for his wife who suffered from MS for over 30 years.  Because he discovered that happiness has nothing to do with how much you have, but how much you give.

For 93 years my Grandpa was faithful.

He was a faithful worker, a faithful husband, a faithful father, a faithful friend, and a faithful neighbor.  My heart aches as I write this, but his death is no tragedy, it is the triumph of a life well lived.  A saint he was not, but a good man--no one can deny.  I will weep because I love and miss the man.  But I am defiant because he ran a good race, he finished it well, and he kept his faith---he loved his God and his neighbor well.  Ellwood City, Pennsylvania lost some of it's 'glue' this Christmas.  'A faithful man who can find?'  We found one and now we lost one.

Audrey and some ladies at a retreat

Kingdom of God Church Retreat

Trying out a few jokes in Thai---mixed results 

KOG Friends

As we celebrate Christmas here with our kids, I remember that most of God's work, maybe even His best work, goes largely unnoticed.  That means I need to lose the secret desire to be noticed and applauded (a very real, unfortunate part of my heart) and do like my Grandpa: be faithful in today.  A friend I respect who has lived in Thailand for 30 years told me last week when people ask him how running an auto shop makes the world a better place--he says,

"Well, their are 16 men who work here who are becoming better men, and that is no small thing."  

Sixteen men who will never sell their daughters to prostitution.  Sixteen men who are learning to love their wives, encourage their kids, and always do their repair work with excellence and honesty.  The future fabric of a peaceful and prosperous Thai society.

When I look at our kids at Faithful Heart, I am reminded of a sobering and exciting reality: they have incredible potential for good or evil.  Just as everyone of us does.  We work and celebrate, not that everyone of them may be famous, but that every one of them might be faithful--to God and their neighbors.  That whatever they do, and wherever they live, they will strengthen the good fabric of whatever society they are a part of.

Our kids handing out presents to ill children at a local hospital--so fun to be a part of!

The girls are in the Christmas spirit!

Some happy and surprised kids and their family members

So much room for kindness at your local hospital---just ask who needs a visit--you can do this!

Ezra brings such joy and delight, and with so little effort on his part!  (Remember you too are a child of a Father who delights just because you are here!)  We are so glad Ezra is part of our family.  We attended at least 5 large Christmas celebrations this year.  One at Faithful Heart, one at our International Church, another on Christmas day, another with my parents (and some friends who had no family here), and lastly at a Thai church on Christmas day, where I had been asked to speak.  Our joy was deep, even as we missed our family and friends celebrating in the US.

Shirley and Pring doing serious wrapping!

Audrey, Ezra, and Eva in the mountains

Beautiful Poppies (not for drug use) ;)

Stunning!

Mong and Nice, some of our incredible staff parents at Faithful Heart and Ezra's buddies

Dad time rocks!
We have a ridiculous number of wonderful people in our lives who love us so well.  Thank you to all of you who send cards, emails, gifts, and words of encouragement.  We love you and you have no idea how far even a quick email goes towards lifting our spirits (welcome anytime!!).  We are so thankful for you.  

Take heart and take hope this season.
  
God not only loves you, He came to rescue you from all that destroys us.  
Anyone who would die for you without you even asking is worth getting to know. 

 You are so loved!  

We love you too!

Matt, Audrey, & "Fuzzy Ez"




Thai number 9, to honor the deceased King, Rama the 9th

2:47 AM 1 comments
Greetings from Thailand!  

The weather has turned cold, almost below 70 degrees! (sorry for those of you trapped in snow and ice).  I have been working for a while with one of our college students Tiida to make a short 5 minute video about what Faithful Heart Foundation does here in Thailand and I wanted to share it with you.  You may remember my earlier blog post about Tiida's incredible story. It is stories like Tiida's that we love to be a part of here with children in need. 

I will let Tiida tell you her story herself:


Thank you for being a part of these stories!  If you would like to get involved in rescuing children and building families, please let me know!  

Peace and hope to you this season!

Love,

Matt, Audrey, & Ezra
8:40 PM No comments
Our morning walks take much longer because everyone of our Thai neighbors wants to hold Ezra! And we have to walk backward to save Ezra from sun in the eyes :)

 I remember reading somewhere that we should spend less time listening to ourselves (all those anxious fearful thoughts running through our heads) and more time talking to ourselves (reminding ourselves what is true despite how we feel at that moment).  This little epistle (letter) is me trying to creatively practice that in writing.  Hopefully it will give you some insight to our daily struggles and how you can pray for and encourage us.


To the brother, sister, and baby who are in Thailand,
Peace be with you.

I know it seems like things aren't often way you might have them, but that is no cause for sadness or frustration.  Remember that Jesus' way is never through manipulating circumstances to our own ends.  Rather we do each day's duty and entrust the result to better hands than our own.  It is a sacred thing to have power to choose, but rejoice always because greater forces than us are at work, and the greatest force in all the universe is also the greatest Good.

Remember that kindness is far more important than people think---so make sure you are always kind, to everyone everywhere.  Don't let impatience lead you to treat people poorly.  Would God treat you that way?  Of course not!  He runs the universe, but has time to hear your words.  So you too, take time to hear the words of others.  Give them your full attention because God works far more through people and relationships than tasks and schedules.
 
Shout Out to Mike and Carol Platner for helping Barnabas go to college--he is a good young man.

George Family visiting Kingdom of God Church!

Stop measuring your life and progress with rulers God never gave you.  Those measuring sticks with make a mess of your work and lives.  The way God crafts his work is on a whole different plane.  He doesn't measure by how much or how many, only by love.  So work on loving him and loving everyone you meet, for that is what it means to be his people.  Don't measure yourself with the person next to you.  That has nothing to do with you---unless he needs your help or love--then it has everything to do with you!  Focus on becoming who God made you to be and helping others do the same.  

My beloved, don't be afraid of anything except that you should do wrong.  Don't be afraid of not having enough money, or of making a mistake, so long as you are seeking what is good.  Your Father is a better retirement fund than you could ever hope for.  Don't put your faith in the gifts of God, but in God himself.  How would you feel if your son trusted the piggy bank you gave him, more than you?  Stop worrying about what people think; it is enough to walk with your one and only Master. Join hands with anyone who wants to do good--for all good is from God.  Refuse to join hands with anyone to do evil.     

Joy helping us do an Angel Tree for Christmas for our children at our international church

Take a close look...Joy's twin sister Jeep got married!
Ezra likes Thai Weddings too!

Pii Chuum our newest house father making friends with Ezra!

Don’t be in a hurry.  Your Father isn’t, so you don’t need to be either.  Not “but’s” about it.  Do you see Jesus wringing his hands in anxiety and stress that things weren’t happening quickly enough?  Of course not.  You are not merely God’s tool, you are His son or daughter.  He loves you extravagantly!  And not just you, but every one of His children whom He knit together in their mother’s womb.  Just think about how you feel about your son!  Don’t let others put a false urgency in you.  We do not save people from God, but with God.  He isn’t so interested in what He can get out of you, as who He can help you become.  Don’t be discouraged.  If you become consumed with your own circumstances, how will you help those who are consumed in theirs?  If you are feeling down, go help lift someone else up.  

Stand up and dust yourself off.  You are free to seek the welfare of others---God Himself will see to yours!  How much happier are those who give than those who get!  Don’t be distracted or divided by words or politics or labels.  Trees are known by their fruit and so are people.  So focus on bearing the fruit of love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self control in your life.  Don’t despise the day of small things; our part is to worry about the kind of fruit.  Jesus will see to the quantity of fruit. 

Dad and Ezra outvoting Mom for scooter riding privileges...Mom doesn't support the election results

One cute baby, one burp cloth and walah...Captain Fuzzy!
 Now to Him who takes exceedingly great delight in restoring broken lives; may your brokenness be transformed into the healing of the nations, 
for your joy, their joy, and God’s joy! 

Amen (let it be so).
Dad reading Jean Vanier and Ezra smiling for Mom

Parenting is really hard work, but how can you not smile at this face?

More updates on some exciting things that are happening here next time!

Thank you for your love, prayers, and support!  
Matt & Audrey & Ezra

"Maybe people will think I am always this well behaved..."  -Ezra

10:07 PM No comments
Hello from Thailand!

I want to share with you a message and invitation from our Director at Faithful Heart Foundation.  And remember this Sunday is World Orphan Day!  Thank you for investing in these young lives!

Hello dear friends,

It’s coming soon. World “Orphan Day” is celebrated each year on the 2nd Monday in November. In churches, “Orphan Sunday” will be on the 13th.  On that day, people all over the world will take time to recognize our obligation to help orphan children. Christians are called to, “Defend the fatherless… care for the child who has no family… visit orphans in their distress”.

Faithful Heart Foundation urgently needs sponsors for each of these four boys in our newHome of Light. We need people who will commit to donate some amount each month to help each of these boys—even a modest amount can help. Pick one of these little guys, and start sending a gift donation for him each month. What better time could there be than Orphan Sunday?



“God, who lives in his sacred Temple, cares for orphans and protects widows. He gives the lonely a home to live in” (Psalm 68:5)


“Lord, because I am poor and helpless, please remember me. You are my helper and savior. My God, do not wait.”  (Psalm 40:17)


“Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them.”  (2 Timothy 4:16)


“The LORD your God is with you; the mighty One will save you. He will rejoice over you. You will rest in his love; he will sing and be joyful about you." (Zeph 3:17)


This poster shows all of our house parents, office staff, and volunteers who are dedicated to “reach and rescue” poor orphans and provide them a loving Christian family home. All of us have recently embarked on a program of individual spiritual growth. We want to become more and more like Christ. Please pray that God will bless us to reflect his graceful-love and peaceful-mercy in all our thoughts, words, and deeds with the children and the people of Thailand. “Let me add this, dear brothers: You already know how to please God in your daily living, for you know the commands we gave you from the Lord Jesus himself. Now we beg you--yes, we demand of you…that you live more and more closely to that ideal. For God wants you to be holy and pure…”  (1 Thess 4:1-4)


Here you see Tiida, one of our College Dorm students, helping Nice, house mother at Home of Faith to drape black & white cloth at our office gate, to show respect for the passing of Thai King Bhumibol. This type of display is expected for at-least a month or more. (In the background you can see a man on a motorcycle herding cattle down our street.) “Show respect for all people: Love the brothers and sisters of God's family, respect God, honor the king.”  (1 Pet 2:17)


Grace and peaceful joy to you in Christ,
7:45 PM No comments
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Matt, Audrey, Ezra & Sienna Pound
Faithful Heart Foundation
Chiang Mai, Thailand

RESCUE A CHILD. BUILD A FAMILY.

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