
Our relationship with this country began in 2002 when ‘Rebecca’ (a believer who lived there) visited us in Hong Kong.
She came to see what we do, hoping to return home to help the people whom she saw everyday struggling with drug addiction and alcohol abuse.
Ten years later, we finally moved here to join her in bringing His hope to the hopeless.

The story so far
In the intervening years we made several visits to get a better sense of the place, as well as to pray and ask God to show us what our role here should be. Every time we went, we were shocked by what we saw.
We heard many stories of people trying to break free from addiction by being chained up for days in the sun, and of others who were beaten with guns.
Since we have been living here, we have yet to meet a family in which there is not one person addicted to either drugs or alcohol.

Our house
A team of five of our Hong Kong men came in April 2012 to help us renovate Rebecca’s home so that addicts might be able to come and live there. Our first man came to live with us at the beginning of May 2012: he is still here today.
And now, our house is full of life, with eleven men and an unprecedented four helpers! (Usually we have two or three, with only one permanent; all of which keeps us open-hearted and open-handed to welcome new people and bless others to leave and go onto other places).
As well as people coming to live with us, we have done a number of trips around our hometown and across the whole state. On local trips, we visit people we’ve met, go on prayer walks and ask God for new encounters.

The train tracks
One of the places we regularly visit is near the train station. It’s an extremely poor and dark area, where drugs and locally brewed alcohol are readily available. The illegal alcohol is very rough and damaging to the body. The only leisure activity is watching violent movies, and there is very little hope or light.
Before Christopher came to live with us, he lived near the train station. The first time he went back to visit, none of his old friends could believe how healthy he looked. Many came and asked what had happened, and how he had been so dramatically changed. Some asked how they could change too.
Now, five of our men are from that area; either his friends or brothers. When they go back to visit to tell their stories of hope and life, they hear the same words called after them as they walk along the tracks: “How handsome you’ve become! Don’t come back! Keep going…!”

Prayer driving
Another trip, a four-day prayer drive, took us into the heart of our state, over and around many hills and valleys until we reached the border. We stopped at various strategic points along the way, asking forgiveness, breaking curses and speaking blessing, particularly over the history of tribal warrior head hunting, (after a successful raid, hunters would put the heads of their defeated enemy inside a log drum then beat the drum in celebration.)
At the border village, in Jesus’ name, we closed the doors to all trafficking of drugs, guns and people. We met the village chief and told him our stories of freedom. The British people on the team asked forgiveness on behalf of their ancestors for bringing opium to his village.
Over the following weeks we noticed a significant increase in the number of news reports of people caught trafficking drugs and guns.

THE HOUSE: HEALINGS, FREEDOM AND NEW LIFE
Since our first man arrived, we have seen many wonderful physical and emotional healings. We have also been delighted to see our brothers beginning to care for the new guys as they arrive. As they are touched and healed, they learn to care for others in ways that they had never done before. Many could never have imagined that God could use them in such special ways to help others.
We have seen Father heal our guys in such exciting and unimaginable ways. Some experienced very little difficulty coming off drugs; others have been healed of aches, pains and itches. We are sure there are many miracles of healing that we don’t even know about!

The future
Our home is now completely full, with two of us sleeping on the floor and more coming. Our plan is to build a new house so that many more have the chance to meet Jesus and be set free in a safe and loving environment.
His provision over these years has been extraordinary. We have never once been without. We have been provided for and kept safe in every possible way. Our prayer is always that He will give us enough so that we can give some away.
Even our ground is being healed. Over the last few months, we have been growing vegetables on land where we were told nothing would grow.