Nupo Refugee Camp
by David Jacobson SOC Director
The school at this camp proved to be very, very challenging right from the very start. For only after three days from its initiation, the team had to return to Mae La Camp as the Thai army required them to do so.
So having begun the school in May, the team had to return to Mae La; but could return to Nupo on the 29th of June. So with a sad heart and with much cost financially, they left Nupo to fulfill the requests of the army officials.
When they returned, however, things had changed much. Many of the first time students were unable to attend this time. The team was very upset and felt like turning back. But they knew that had been praying for a long time over this school and it was over six long, hard hours of jungle driving to return to the other camp and very costly.
So, primarily due to the amount of prayer involved to date, the team decided to remain. And God spoke to one of the leaders that, "all things are for His glory and He will continue what He has started," (Isa. 48:11) by that faith the team went on and began the second school.
Wanting to do their best, they realized that the task ahead was beyond their strength, so the team committed their lives into His hand and knelt before Him. Before they began, they were led to go to various huts in the camp to pray for the families and fellowship with them and invite them to attend the school. They prayed with everyone knowing that unless God touched the hearts, no one would come.
So they began their first day with only four students; but it multiplied into twenty quickly by the grace of God. Some couldn't attend full time but they came as they could. God gave fifteen full time students, however. Both groups received both spiritual and physical blessings during this school.
The trainers themselves felt as though they were students as well and expressed the following: This 3rd time for him to study the whole school was such a blessing as the 1st and 2nd schools were like crossing the Dead Sea with Moses. But this time it was like crossing over the River Jordan with Joshua. "I received a new Word from the Lord, a new prayer partner, and new miracle experiences like the following: The person who loaned them the loud speakers the first time, refused to let them use now. Their TV was small with little volume.
The team leader complained to the Lord, "God you know we can't do this without speakers and yet why didn't you touch that man's heart?" Then, suddenly, the power went out which resulted in a man coming to prepare a generator for the team. We told him of our need for a speaker and he, who was an unbeliever and even a drunkard, went to his house and took his very large and loud speakers and gave them to us to use. Then I realized why God didn't touch the first man's heart and I begged for forgiveness. God can use every kind of person including an unbelieving drunkard. To Him be the glory. Amen!!!"
Then we were tested with a financial problem. So we decided to reduce everyone's food for the day to meet the need. But one of the students somehow received and gave 1000 baht and there was enough food for everyone.
One of the sisters attending the school had a heart condition and felt she needed to go to the hospital; but after prayer, the Lord touched her and she was healed. A young boy who was hospitalized was instantly healed after prayer; while two more people were healed of heart conditions.
Over six churches heard the teaching and revival broke out in the camp. "Many belierers and pastors cried and confessed their sinsand were reconciled again when we laid hands on them and prayed. God used the team as His instrument in the camp. Many families received us and another pastor who was backslidden confessed his sin and repented again and the Holy Spirit began to move in him.
A Roman Catholic man gave his heart to Christ; while other "religious" Christians were born again and welcomed us to do more SOC training at Nupo Camp.
During breaks from the school, the team would go share in houses, preach the gospel in the camp, testify, and worship God with all while God gave them great favor. In addition, the children from the local orphanage who had attended the school before came and were a great example to all, even the team, in prayer, obedience, discipline and punctuality.
May God bless our pastors how started this S"OC training, all the sponsors, and all the brothers and sisters who were praying for us from the very first time and continued in prayer till the finish. Please pray for us that we could have more SOC training at Nupo and the other camps.
To God be the glory and honor!!! Amen.
It was Sunday, Graduation Day. All were excited; but that wouldn't take place till later after three church services. The excitement was at such a level that the monsoon intense rains were hardly even noticed. What a day this would be!!!
After the Sunday services, it was time for the graduation. The graduates were excited and wanted to give their testimonies, but this wasn't the only miracle that afternoon. Immediately after the closing of the ceremony, a young woman approached me asking if I would pray for her to have faith. As we shared, we learned that she had never received Christ; so after sharing the gospel with her she prayed to receive Christ into her life.
Perhaps the greatest impact that the school has on anyone is that it brings life. This was vitally demonstrated at the graduation as one of the young mothers gave the following testimony:
"My whole life was hopeless and filled with depression before I attended this SOC training because I found out that I was pregnant and my first child was still young and I had the operation (caesarian section) when I gave birth to my first child. So when I found out that I was pregnant, I couldn't even dare to go on with my life and couldn't accept the pregnancy also. So I thought to abort that child. (She even began taking meds that would cause the baby to abort) But God sent me to this training and through the SOC lessons first revealed my absence of giing the tithe to God. Then He told me that I was really wrong to abort the child that He gave. I knew that He was talking to me directly.
So from that day I decided to accept His blessing, the child, with a joyful heart. During the training I have seen and learned things that I didn't know about such as faith, prayer, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, and all of them were such a great encouragement for myh life. He revealed my unforginveness and I repented before Him. I had the experience that God is the living God and I really heard His word. God bless all the Pastors and the evangelist from the SOC." Naw Hwae Man
Finally after the testimonies and handing out of the graduation certificates, we laid hands on the students and prayed over them.
Testimonies:
1. "I was really encouraged by this SOC training. I found out that I need the power of the blood, the guidance of the Holy Spirit and more prayer in my life. Not only that, I've realized that I've been a dead religious Christina for my whole life and I really need the life of God that is Christ.
During the training, I heard one of the evangelists testify that he and his wife had prayed to have a son for two years. She finally became pregnant but had to have a caesarian section before the due date to give birth. But he prayed and trusted in God like Abraham did and God answered his prayer and both mother and child survived. He said that he prayed with his church and when they pray together God answered. In the scripture, it says when two or three believers agree and pray together in Jesus' name, God will be among us and answer our prayer.
And then I learned about the precious Blood of Christ and its power. By the power of His Blood, our sins were washed away and even our physical bodies were free from the sickness. So I prayed to God that He would heal my tumor and my faithful God really healed by tumor. Hallelujah! To Him be glorify! Amen."
2. "In this training I've learned about: the foundation of Christ, the House of God, the Light of Life, and the Almighty Blood. Through these lessons, I now know that Jesus has conquered the devil. We need to accept Jesus Christ in our life and do His will by praying and reading His word. Not only that, our self desire must die daily and we must live our life by the Holy Spirit every day. And we have to give His money, the tithe, back to Him. Now I am living the life that is totally depending on Him, my God. Thank you." Daw Kyu Thaw
3. "I received much strength for my spiritual life. I learned that : We are to be the light and the testimony of God, and be strong in praying and be the overcomer, and to avoid the path that is not His will but to walk in His will, and to fulfill His purpose that He planned for me before the world began. To God be the Glory! In Jesus' name." Zam Thian Cin
4. "I've realized that I had many mistakes and weaknesses and I needed to start to serve God by attending this SOC training. I knew that I was good at nothing and knew I couldn't try to do good things so I committed myself to God and I knew that God is love and He will use me someday. I've come to know that God won't accept me unless I abide in Christ. Through the lessons, I found out and felt deeply that I was valued by God. God wants me to be like Christ and He wants me to be the testimony of Christ.
So I pray strongly that He would use me and I would be one of His sons who pleases Him. And I welcome the Holy Spirit to be my guide.
I want to attend life this training for many times because I know that I have to eat more for my spiritual life to become stronger and stronger. May God use me in His will and May God bless you all.
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