(from a recent email) Hello friends and family — It’s Thao Bang again!  I hope you guys had a wonderful 4th of July and that you’re all doing well :)

 

First and foremost, I want to thank all of you who have been my support in the last year (or more, for some of you).  Your prayers, words of encouragement, and love has really blessed me in ways that I cannot describe in this email.  My vocabulary bank is not big enough to express to you how deeply thankful I am for all that you are and how God has used you help me grow further in my relationship with Jesus.  And trust me, it has been a bumpy road in the last several months, and I know I could not have grown to be who I am today in God without your friendship.  

 

Prayer Request:
As you know, I will be leaving on a short term missions trip this summer from July 16 to August 2 to Saigon, Vietnam – Less than a week!  As I am spiritually and physically preparing myself for this trip, I come to realize that there are challenges, such as learning to work together as a team.  Through our differences and unique personalities, God is surely teaching our team how to work together in love.  Some other challenges include greater and deeper intimacy with Him in the midst of uncertainties and a recent broken car, which I must say… God hooked me up w/ a great mechanic who gave me an affordable quote!  And Praise God ’cause I now have a working car!

 

Financial Need:
The greatest challenge thus far is in the area of finance!  Before I forget, I must say that I am truly grateful for those that have chosen to partner with me financially and/or prayerfully in this trip!  Thank you, thank you.  However, I am less than a week away and I am coming short of my goal.  I have raised about $1,500 so far (I need to raise $2500 to cover our plane ticket, lodging, and food).  I still need raise about $1000 to cover the rest of my expenses and as a team, we are about $5300 short of our goal.  Please consider partnering with me financially — if half of you give $20, I will reach my goal.  Or, if each you decide to give  $50, the Vietnam Team will be fully funded.  Please pray and see if God leads you to support me financially.  I know our economy is not doing well, so please do not feel like you have to give.  I am ever so thankful for your prayers and friendship.


About the Orphanage in Vietnam:

  • Currently, the caretakers and volunteers are women.  We are asking and praying that God will raise up male caretakers to help take care of the orphans as well, so they have both male and female figures to look up to.
  • The orphans are provided with education, food, and clothes.  What they are lacking is a place big enough to house them.  A piece of land was recently bought in Vietnam for these orphans and the plan is to build a 2 or 3 story building to house them.  However, funding is needed in order to see this project executed.  Please prayerfully consider supporting this project financially.

For updates, how to pray for me, make an online donation via paypal:
http://vietnamwiththao.wordpress.com


You can make checks to:
Vietnamese Assembly of God
memo: “Thao Bang mission trip” to support me.
memo: “orphanage” to support the orphanage.

 

Mail to:
email me for the address /// thaobang [at] gmail [dot] com

Again, I’m leaving in less than a week! So my need is a bit time sensitive! Danke Schoen (Thank you in German)!

 

Cheers,
Thao Bang