Annie Dieselberg, American Baptist missionary serving in Bangkok writes: Floods have been affecting Thailand for the last three months and the water, which now covers one-third of Thailand, has finally converged to surround Bangkok and demand passageway to the great ocean. … All efforts to control and hold back the water have failed and one community after another is inundated with 2-3 meters of polluted water. Sandbags have been placed somewhat strategically here and there but the images we see on the news mock these attempts as futile and suggest that a sandbag is of little more use than a pocket of sand at the seaside. …

According to a local paper, The Nation, these floods, which are the worst in 50 years, have inundated over 1000 manufacturing plants in the industrial areas and created immediate unemployment for more than 600,000 workers. More than a million Thais have lost their homes under water - some for over a month already. Over 340 people have already lost their lives. Resentment is high as the apparent goal of the government to protect inner Bangkok is not sitting well with the outer ring residents and businesses.

Thai people are resourceful, overall good-natured, and amazingly resilient but this is wearing down even the best of Thai “Jai Yen” (cool heart) values. The panic and fear has led to reactive solutions such as parking on elevated expressways or breaking down other’s flood barriers to equalize the suffering. … Food supplies are running out and the factories that have daily delivered for our consumption are now underwater or inaccessible.

 … We have watched our neighbors to the north become inundated and now we have joined the ranks of people who are taking precautions. Four of our women live in areas already flooded and have evacuated and many more live in high-risk areas. If the government’s plan to control the dikes and water flow through the canals doesn't work then the flood water may come straight through the heart of Bangkok. NightLight has begun to move furniture, electronic equipment, jewelry, and perishable goods to the top floors of our buildings. Last Friday we distributed packages of canned goods and Mama noodles to the women and staff. This week we have prepared our outreach center to receive any of our employees and their families who need to evacuate. A trip to the stores for supplies to assist evacuees returned with only a few bags of rice. We watch and wait and wonder who will be next …

We stand on the brink of an opportunity to impact Thailand with the love of Christ. It is a time of devastation and grief but we have good news and we are here for such a time as this. Will you join us in prayer and support?

·        Pray for Anne and Jeff and their family serving in Bangkok.

·        Pray for all our American Baptist missionaries (and their families) serving in Thailand: Kim Brown, Scott and Tan Coats, Chuck and Ruth Fox (presently in U.S.), Lea Lindero, Mike and Becky Mann, Jan and Larry Martin (presently in U.S.), Kit Ripley, Karen Smith.