Many people may be exchanging cards and gifts of love this month--and I wanted to share with you a song written by Khun Ahdat, the house father at the House of Love.Being with children who are HIV infected gives new meaning to true love, as over the years I have seen God's love transform and encourage.Here is Ahdat's song:

AIDS took my parents away and left me alone in this world.

When I am hurt sad or lonely, I look for someone who will love

and listen to me but there is no one.

Then I found love and care from God who always listens to me and

never abandons me.

Praise the Lord our Father who has the power to heal.

May God help and heal the people who suffer from AIDS.

May God's love fulfill the lives of all the orphans.

In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.

House of Blessing Daycare Center:Much is happening, as we had one of our excellent teachers leave, and we have been told by the landlord that the daycare must move (this will be the 5th move in 5 years!).We do praise God that we have found another tribal teacher, and a new location—but please be praying for the children as this makes for a lot of changes in their lives.

Needing to move the daycare again serves as a reminder for continued prayer for our building fund.When we build, we hope to use the new House of Love (HOL) to also accommodate the daycare in the daytime when the HOL kids are at Thai school.

Youth Center:We praise God for the funding we have had for the past 4 years, and the ministry that has developed amongst the tribal youth in Chiang Mai.Please be praying for new funding sources for this valuable work.

House of Love:It's graduation time here in Chiang Mai!We praise God for the 3 kindergarteners, Nueng, Song and Noi, who will graduate on Feb. 23.We also have 2 HOL students who will graduate from 9th grade and go on to vocational training.Please be praying for Ahjai and Mui Lii as they make significant choices in these next few weeks.

As we mentioned last month, the Health Project for Tribal People has started the evaluation process.We praise God for some of the results we have already seen, and ask that you continue to pray for the process.Besides gathering quantitative data for evaluating our materials and information learned, the health teams are also gathering stories from some of the AIDS orphans that we support in tribal villages.Pictured below is what one boy drew and said about how he felt when he found out he was HIV-positive, and what he is feeling now.The tribal Christians who work for the HPTP are making a difference in northern Thailand!

This was when I found that I was affected by AIDS. I thought my life was terrible.I was afraid of being sick, afraid of my friends, afraid I wouldn't have any friends, afraid they'd desert me.This was painful, and made me think so much, until I cried.Like I had no one to give me moral support.No one to give me advice.I had no hope.

This picture is like my life today, because now I don't worry so much.The Project has come to help me get better in my present life.It's given me advice and improved my life, because no one says bad things about me and all of my friends are good to me.It's like the rain falling on a tree, providing water and sprouting leaves, like the feeling of life.

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