The New Life Center: Past, Present and Future

Dear Friends,

As the holidays approach, I am thinking of you, wondering what you are doing, what holiday parties and concerts are planned. I hope you are taking time to enjoy all the Christmas preparations. It was such fun to spend Christmas with my family last year. That makes it even harder to be away from them this year.

Our new facility is opened with great joy

It was a cool, glorious Saturday in November. Everyone had put forth their best to prepare for this day, and everything was finally in order. Invitations had been handmade and sent. Gardens had been weeded, and the lawn mown. Party favors had been carefully tied with handmade cards. Tables and chairs had been delivered. Lighting had been mounted. An enormous photo board took up half a wall to display the history of the New Life Center. Cakes had been delivered. A guest book had been laid out. Flowers had been arranged. Worship songs had been prepared by the New Life Center worship team from our Chiang Rai branch. Food had been chosen and the caterers were on hand. Last minute decorations were being strewn throughout the property. The sound system was being set up. Murmers and giggles of anticipation rippled among the New Life Center girls.

Meanwhile, at our new facility across town, in the village of San Sai, a reception was going on. The house had been given a new water system, a new coat of paint, a new parking lot, and new landscaping. Forty special friends of the New Life Center came out for the four o'clock ribbon cutting. The NLC board of directors and members of the Rotary Club were there. Jan van den Bosch, a long time friend and supporter of the New Life Center had flown in from Holland to be with us. Even Lauran Bethell, former director of the New Life Center, had flown in from Prague to be there. The ribbon cutting went off beautifully, and it was a time of real celebration. The new house represented the present work of the New Life Center. The ministry is healthy, vital and growing as we continue to reach out and meet the needs of tribal women and girls who are victimized by or at-risk for labor exploitation in all of its varied forms.

Celebrating 20 years of New Life with Lauren Bethell

After the reception, the group drove across town to the New Life Center facility in the Suan Dock area to join the six o'clock festivities there. Excitement grew as over 250 people started pouring in to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the ministry of the New Life Center. The catered candle-lit buffet dinner in the garden was a grand success. After dinner, we moved over to the staging area. Karen Smith graciously welcomed everyone. Lauran Bethell delivered a heart-touching message about how the New Life Center came to be and brought greetings from founders, Paul and Elaine Lewis. Current residents sang and did several dance performances. Former residents came and shared about how their lives had been changed because of the opportunities they received at the New Life Center.

I was deeply moved to hear how these women and others like them had gone on to become leaders and business owners in their communities, honoring God through their accomplishments. After the ceremonies, we all enjoyed a piece of chocolate cake to top off the night. The whole evening was a beautiful celebration of the rich past of the New Life Center. In fact, when I go to work each day, I am often deeply aware of that amazing past. I feel like I am walking in some very big footsteps of the spiritual giants who have gone before me. It is a piece of Christ's ministry in which I am proud to participate.

Hard to imagine that anything could top off Saturday's festivities, but Sunday was even better! After a good night's sleep, the residents and staff from both the Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai branches headed out to the local Mae Sah Waterfall. About 120 of us hiked up through the forest to the 5th level of the falls. There we had a lovely worship service and baptism. Staff led us in some hearty singing. Peggy Schmidt, a volunteer at the New Life Center, shared a spirited sermon. And one of the residents shared her testimony of how she had come to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Then the whole group went down into the river. There was a perfect shallow area where everyone could gather around and watch in water that was mid-calf deep. Closer to the falls, the water got deeper, so that's where Lauran Bethell and I headed.

Lauran and Kit baptized new believers and those with new life and their supporters celebrate in the waterfall of baptism

The gathered group had to sing loudly to be heard over the thunder of the falls. Then together, Lauran and I baptized 24 girls who had decided to give their lives to Jesus Christ! After the baptisms, we celebrated the Lord's Supper together and then had lunch - fried chicken and sticky rice. What a joy and a privilege to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of these young people. As I looked at them, I thought to myself...These young people are our future. They have all kinds of hopes and dreams, with their whole lives ahead to accomplish them. And even when they will leave us in the coming months and years, I pray that they will still carry a small piece of the love they experienced at the New Life Center in their hearts. We will always claim them as ours. Their successes are in some small way, also ours. And the lives they touch are the legacy we pass on to the next generation.

As we go into the Christmas season this year, I want to thank each and every person who has generously given to support my work and the ministry of the New Life Center. You are a part of these miracles, too. And I pray that you will share in our gratitude by offering a special prayer for these 24 young women who have chosen to believe in Jesus, and just been baptized. Finally, if you have not given this year, I want to invite you to make a special year end gift to help support this work. Your support has a real impact on real people's lives.

Many blessings to you,

Kit

kitripley@pobox.com