Cornerstone Chapel Hadyai

Letter from the Lee Family...

Greetings from Hadyai!

Trip to Pattani & Yala, the unrest provinces – July 10-11

 On Thursday 10 July I drove to Yala province. There were a lot of check points with many equipment to check for bombs. I went to visit a church elder, Mr. Kasem, and his family at his tailor shop. We had lunch together. He told me that he would travel to Pattani province & Betong town on different weekends to teach and encourage the churches there. I went there wanting to encourage him & his family but at the same time his courage & perseverance also encouraged me. I plan to invite him to come and share at our church sometime. About 6-8 women from Yala church are coming to attend the Women’s Conference.

After Yala, I continued on to Pattani province. Most of the big hotels were occupied with meetings, seminars and conferences. I had to go and stay in a small hotel. There were a lot of soldiers guarding those big hotels. A few months ago a bomb went off in front of one of the biggest hotels in Pattani. Some of the churches in Pattani are struggling. No pastors to care for the sheep. Please pray for them.

On the way back I stopped at a university in Pattani to visit their library to look for information for my dissertation. I didn’t get to meet the professors but got their phone numbers. There was a book fair. Some Muslim students were at the booth. I bought some of their books and had an opportunity to talk to them.

South's rebel leader announces end to separatism

 Today on a military TV channel a self-proclaim spokesman of eleven 'underground' separatist groups announced a ceasefire in the three southernmost provinces, ending secessionist movement in the Malay-speaking region.

Speaking through a translator, the spokesman announced an end to all violent attacks and separatist activities in the Muslim-majority region. He added that any armed groups resisting the order would be considered renegades and could be eliminated. 'We want to see peace and stability in the region. All forms of attacks has come to an end,' the spokesman said. Names of the leaders were unknown.

For more information, please visit the following websites.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/17/national/national_30078330.php

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/17/national/national_30078331.php

http://www.bangkokpost.com/

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=128911

Some have expressed doubt over the announcement of ceasefire by a little known group of southern insurgent group. They said it could not be so far verified whether insurgent groups in the deep South would halt attacks following the ceasefire by the all underground movement group. Only time will tell.

One soldier was severely injured when patrol unit was ambushed by insurgents two and a half hours after a group claiming to be their leaders announced a truce on TVs.

We pray that this will be the beginning of the peace process in the three southernmost provinces. There have been so much violence and sufferings. Over 3,000 people (civilians as well as militants) have died since January 2004. May the Lord of peace be made known among His peoples.

Thank you for your continued prayers. May the Lord bless & guide you as you serve Him.

May the Lord bless you & yours abundantly.
 
Simon & Elizabeth