Mae Sai

With a local Thai ID or Myanmar ID, local residents can enter Thailand or Myanmar through the Mae Sai border. Myanmar residents can stay in Thailand for up to one week per entry. They work in Thailand on jobs that Thai people do not want to do. Even during COVID, they still came to work to feed their families. In front of the border, small stores line both sides of the street, selling cloth, street food, jewelry, and various other goods made in China.

Many Akha Chinese people live in Mae Sai, and near the border there is one large Chinese church that preaches in Mandarin. Senior Akha may not understand it. Therefore, Pastor Zhang wants to start a church that preaches in Akha. This will especially benefit people who speak only Akha, as well as those who have recently fled Myanmar due to poverty and civil conflicts/wars. The rent for a gathering place in Mae Sai is higher than in other places because it is near the border markets, so the price of everything is higher. Another issue is the lack of support from other local churches, which fear that their current members may leave to attend the new church.

Pray that the timing and manner of the church planting in Mae Sai will be fully under the sovereignty of God; that difficult churches can work together rather than worry about competition; and that Pastor Zhang will have strength, peace, and joy while waiting for God’s will to be revealed and fulfilled. In the next two days, we will hold a children's camp, provide medical treatment, and conduct a Sunday service in Xing Wang village. Please also pray for these two days. Thank you!