Apr 6, 2022 Stolen Money Leads to God

What? I’m short 500 Baht? thought Khun Richa as she flipped frantically through her wallet. She recounted her money. 1300, 1400, 1500… she was sure she had 2000 Baht. Richa thought about her family’s bills and the extra expenses that had come up and let out a long sigh. Please God, if you’re there, we need your help.

Richa’s family had a Buddhist background as most Thais, but they didn’t really practice besides the major holidays. The pandemic has taken a toll on Thailand’s economy, impacting work, school, and so many other areas in life. Sometimes Richa would feel overwhelmed. She could see her two sons were being impacted too. They were less focused on their studies, and it seemed like they wanted to escape more on their cell phones or go gaming with their friends. She was worried they were becoming addicted to games, but Richa did not want to become a nagging mother. She started to pray that God would help her and her family.

Ok boys it’s getting late. Please go get ready for bed, and I will help clean up, Richa said to them one evening. After finishing the dishes, she cleared the table and started putting their books and bags together. Her heart stopped as she saw an internet cafŽ receipt in her son’s pencil caseÑfor 500 Baht.

That night Richa prayed silently with a heavy heart over her sons. She was so hurt and sad; she never thought they would steal money from her. As she lay in bed praying and thinking, she remembered a woman she met at one of her favorite vegetarian restaurants. Achara had told Richa about a good Christian school in Chiang Mai, and they had exchanged phone numbers. Richa decided she would call Achara the next morning.

Richa and Achara made plans to meet up that Saturday. Richa found out later that Achara is a gospel worker. Looking back, Richa recalls, At that time, I didn’t totally believe in God yet. I was praying, I was searching, but I didn’t know that God would answer in such personal ways. On the day Richa met the Achara, she was so grateful for a friend to confide in with all the stress she was suffering. Richa cried while she told Achara about her sons, and the challenges her family was facing. After talking, they prayed together, and Richa felt like a burden had been lifted from her heart. Achara invited Richa to join the worship service next Sabbath, and Richa agreed to go.

After that first visit, I decided to attend worship every Sabbath, shared Richa. I started to feel like I wanted to know God more. Because when I prayed, He answered. Richa and her sons started studying the Bible with Achara. They began to pray together as a family too. Since I’ve been studying the Bible, I can feel that God has changed my mind in positive ways, said Richa, He made me humble, He healed my soul, and has made me stronger.

Praise God! On February 22, 2022, Richa and her two sons were baptized. I’m so thankful to Pastor Pada who gave me a Bible. I am blessed every time I read the Scriptures, because if we study God’s word, He will help us grow in His righteous ways. His word will keep keep us from straying into paths of sin. This is my testimony of how the Lord changed and blessed my life greatly. I hope my story can encourage and bless those around me.

Will you continue to pray for people seeking God’s truth in Thailand? Please pray that every single Bible from QHM would transform a life like Richa’s.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4:18-19

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