News

From Attitude To Gratitude
ALO Update Vol 16 No 4

Baan Rom Yen, Chiang Kham, Thailand — Ten years ago relatives sent a little boy to a newly opened home for orphans, House of Grace (Baan Rom Yen). It was a difficult transition for seven-year-old Thong. He knew no one, and many things at this new home were dif­ferent from his own village. The thing he noticed most was that the people prayed before meals. Thong didn’t know who God was or if He was real. Mostly, the abandoned boy struggled with anger and discouragement. He couldn’t understand why his relatives had decided to give him away—while keeping his brothers.

Gradually, God began to reveal Himself to Thong. The young boy saw that God was real and made a commit­ment to Him in prayer. Still, his pain and anger remained.

But recently, everything changed. In September 2007, during a worship service at church, Thong tearfully went to the front, his hands raised in wor­ship. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and heard God speak to him directly. From that day on, Thong’s attitude was transformed. Missionary Carol Feigleson asked him what God had said to change him so completely. Thong responded: God said that He had given many gifts to me and wanted me to use them for His glory and to proclaim Him to others—that I needed to leave behind my sorrows and hurts from the past and that I needed Him to be completely in charge of my life.”

Like a modern-day Joseph, Thong’s life has been under God’s guidance and care all along. Thong finally real­izes that God’s hand is upon him, and what others intended for “evil,” God intended for good.

“I used to be angry and want to hurt my younger brothers,” Thong admitted. “Now I just feel great love for them and don’t want to hurt them anymore.”

Thong is thankful for what he is learning and for the home God has given him at House of Grace. He has learned to see and embrace God’s lead­ing and His call.