Hilltop Baptist Missions, Inc.

Ministries: Thailand

Dear Friends,

What a blessing to be able to report to you once again. Since our last letter much has happened. We have almost reached our goal in finances to build our new girls dorm. With the cost of everything going up not only in America, but here in Thailand it will take more then our original estimate of $8,000. But now we believe that cost will be closer to $10,000. We are right at $7,000 now and need an additional $3,000.

This new dorm is greatly needed, we have taken in four more children two girls and two boys. The two new girls are sleeping on pallets on the floor because we do not have the room for additional beds in the old dorm. This now makes a total of 14 children at Hilltop Children's Home. I had told Bro. Sutin to not accept any more kids this year, but then the Lord convicted me, and had to remind me this was not my work but His. He brought two familiar passages to my mind: Phil 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." and also I Pet. 5:7 "Casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you." I had to get back with Bro. Sutin and tell him to take these four children.

April 11th: I had to have a stint put in my heart; back in 1986 I had a heart attack that left me with two arteries one on each side of my heart 100% blocked. They caught this one early enough to put in a stint. I called the lady that gets our tickets from my hospital bed, and told her to start working on getting us back home to Thailand. I have three waiting to be baptized, two of our boys and the Pastors wife. I asked Bro. Sutin why he did not go ahead and baptize them, but he told me they all wanted to wait on Pappaw so he could do it.

Rice has gone from $29 for a 50 Ib bag to $48 and our kids were eating three bags a month. Diesel fuel which we burn in our vehicles is now $4.42 a gallon. I know things are hard now in America, but if God lays upon your heart to help with the Children's Home I know He will bless you for it. I am asking for no support for our personal needs, yet God knows we need it, but right now the kids need it much more. $1.00 will feed a child for a day including school lunch. $2.50 a day will take care of all their needs. Every penny you give to the ministry goes to take care of the children.

Remember this: Souls are being saved, young and old lives changed, and it's all because of your faithful support each month.

Keep us in your prayers as we serve together.

The Barlow's
Jim & Ppyllis

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P.O. Box 1210, Joshua, Texas 76058

Phone 817-925-1034

www.ryhanashcraft.org

June/July, 2008

Dear Pastor, Church, and Friends,

What a wonderful opportunity and privilege to report that God continues to work in our lives and through our ministry every day! It’s becoming difficult to express all the blessings God has showered on us in one prayer letter! The Fourth of July is always a special time, and this one was no exception. We took part in the first Independence Day Celebration at People’s Baptist Church in Forth Worth. That Sunday, the adults celebrated with patriotic music, special speakers, and a grocery give-away, while I performed gospel magic in the children’s service. After I gave the invitation, seven precious people celebrated an independence of a different kind - independence from hell and an invitation to Heaven! We didn’t have any fireworks at church that day, but I bet there was a great show in Heaven.

God blessed us again when two churches took us on for support in June. While presenting our ministry at one these churches, I shared a little of my testimony. I told how God had placed a specific calling on my life, but like Jonah, I ran the other way. Eventually, God, with a little help from my Dad, brought me back to where He wanted me. I asked the congregation, “How can you quit, when it’s not about you? It’s about God.” I had no idea that there was a man attending the service who’d been running from God for two years. It was a beautiful sight to see this man kneel at the altar after the invitation and stand up to his pastor’s embrace. Please pray with us as our brother in Christ continues to move toward God’s will in his life.

Although Lauren and I are not in Central America, it is extremely important to us to see souls saved. We make a constant effort to share the gospel wherever we are by handing out tracts, participating in church events, and talking to others about Christ. As a nurse, Lauren reaches out to her patients by sharing her testimony and praying with them. God has called us to the Spanish speaking people of Central America, but that isn’t stopping us from being missionaries to the people around us every day.

We know that you are praying for us as we reach our mission field, and we would like you to know that we are also praying for you as you reach out to yours. Weather it be your church, the office, or a missions trip to Central America, we all have the ability to impact others for Christ.

In Christ,

Rhyan Ashcraft