Summer is here!

Our weather in Florida is hot.  Spring jumped quickly into very hot days but nights and early mornings are nice and sometimes we have a thunderstorm.   We have a drought from few hurricanes around last year and few expected again this year.    

Our work continues in Asia with additional girls added to almost every safe house for a record high at this time.   They just had a big gospel meeting in Nepal and our girls from several safe houses attended and participated in a Bible Bowl quiz.   

I am looking forward to having help with the secretarial work in a couple of weeks.   Carole Booker has been a supporter for many years, going all the way back to our days in China.  Since we began the Save Asian Souls' ministry, she's traveled each summer to safe houses in Nepal, Laos and Thailand to spend two weeks at a particular safe house to teach Bible and English to the girls.  She will be retiring from her teaching profession at Westbury Christian School in Houston, TX in about two weeks.   She plans to begin working with me, first taking over the reports and work associated with Nepal where we care for approximately 240 girls.  Each year, she raises almost $5,000 to provide a new outfit of clothing for each of the girls in Nepal so she has a very special interest and love for these girls.

One of our girls in Nepal had an appendectomy over the weekend.  Considering that over 600 girls have come through either our sewing school or public school classes since we began this work in 2015, we have had a very small percentage requiring a hospital visit.  We have not had any accidents or deaths but one girl does have a very serious and inoperable heart condition.  We care for one young girl who is deaf but she is doing quite well.

Ronald and Gigi will be returning in June to begin travels to congregations to report about our progress and theirs at their Philippine orphanage (Casa Esperanza of Angels on Facebook).   They will come visit up the first week in October before returning to the Philippines again.  A group of Christians from Greenville, TX are traveling next week to CEA to conduct a VBS as they did last year.  The children are excited about this special event. It is a great sacrifice and expense for this group to do this for the children.  Pray for them to have a safe and good trip.  

A personal update:   In regard to my sprained and fractured foot, it's been a difficult situation.  After wearing a boot for 9 weeks and the X-ray showing the bone had healed, I started walking carefully in a supportive shoe but pain continued when I walked.   In fact, I had some pain in both feet adjusting to normal conditions.  I was able to find shoes last week at DSW that give me total comfort when walking.  After almost 3 months, it is so good to be able to walk without pain.    

Ron continues his daily exercise programs (going to L. A. Fitness on his Silver Sneaker benefits with Medicare) and swimming in our condo pool.   He liked to go swimming early in the mornings.  Most residents in our complex have returned north and the pool is free of swimmers most of the day.

The exercise helps him continue to be mobile so he can completely take care of himself.  Ron's cardiologist gave him a follow up visit last week in regard to a mitral valve done by the Mayo Clinic about 15 years ago. The Dr. said he'd see him again in a year.  At our age, that is good news when a doctor says that.   

I will be 88 next Sunday. I never expected to live this long and I surely did not expect to still be working 6 hours a day.  To keep the work caught up, I need to work 8 hours a day but I quit early to spend time with Ron.  The work is always there when I get up the next morning.     

We are blessed and we thank God for the opportunity to do this work and to have the health to continue doing what we are doing. We are thankful for the many people who support our work and encourage us in so many different ways.

Thank you for your prayers for all of us and the girls and children we care for.   May God bless you all!

New girl in Chiang Mai, Thailand

This little girl was just taken into our care on April 3, 2026.   Here is what our house father reported:

She was abandoned by her mother when she was very young. Her mother remarried and moved away with her new husband, so the girl had been living with her grandparents ever since.

      Where she lived.  

Her mother does not own any land, but she had promised that once she earned some wages, she would share some money with her daughter. However, recently the mother has not been working much, leaving the girl with nothing to eat. She had to go to the neighbors’ house to ask for food. The neighbors could not bear to see her situation any longer, so they contacted us to ask for help. When we went to pick her up, we saw with our own eyes how truly poor and deprived she was.  

Nasor, the neighbor, felt sorry for her and called us to come and see if we could help her.  Patcharaphon told us that she really wants to live here. She said she wants to have enough food to eat and hopes for a better future. On our way back home, we noticed how cheerful she was. She adapted to everyone very well. Even though she is a Lahu hill-tribe girl, she speaks Thai very clearly.

When Faith Overcomes Fear: A Story from Rehu

 

Rehu is a place surrounded by dense forest near the Chitwan jungle in the southern part of Chitwan, Nepal. It is a land of natural beauty, but also a place filled with danger. We had the opportunity to serve there and share the Gospel, and by God’s grace, many people believed and were baptized. It was a joyful and meaningful time, even in the midst of hardship.

Life in Rehu was never easy. Wild animals such as tigers, elephants, and bears often came near the village, creating constant fear. The jungle was under the protection of the army, and many times they warned the villagers to leave for their own safety because of both wild animals and smugglers. The people were surrounded by danger from every side, yet they had nowhere else to go. Being poor, they could not simply leave and start a new life elsewhere.

About six months ago, the government finally provided them with a new place to live, called Chisa Pani. The villagers were relocated, and it brought hope into their lives. At last, they had a place they could call their own, a place that was safer for their families.

However, even in this new beginning, challenges remained. The army warned them that they should not build any church building in this new location. For the believers, this was painful, but it did not stop their faith. Every Sunday, they gather together to worship God. They set up a simple blue tent outside as their place of worship, and as soon as the service ends, they quickly take it down, fearing the authorities.

Even with fear in their hearts, their faith remains strong. They do not complain. Instead, they feel blessed that they are still able to come together, sing, pray, and worship the Lord. Their love for God is greater than their fear.

Their story is a powerful reminder that true faith does not depend on buildings or comfort. It lives in the hearts of people who trust God in every situation. Let us remember them and keep them in our prayers—that God will protect them, strengthen them, and one day provide them the freedom to worship Him without fear.

 Sagar Khati

A New Life Journey

 

Kareshma Chepang (#583)

She once lived with her family in a very remote mountain area of Nepal. Life there was extremely difficult. One of their biggest struggles was getting drinking water. From their home, the family had to walk nearly three hours just to collect water.

Before, there was a small water source about an hour away from their home. However, after the devastating 2015 Nepal Earthquake, a landslide covered that small fountain, and the family lost their nearest source of water. Their daily life became even more painful and exhausting.

Because of these hardships, the family eventually moved to Bhalumara in search of a better life. Kareshma’s father worked as a daily wage laborer. Some days he found work and could bring food home, but many days he returned empty-handed. The family often struggled just to eat.

During a church preaching program, our ministry team met this family and saw the difficult situation they were living in. Their hearts were moved with compassion. The SAS Team decided to help Kareshma by bringing her into the Safe House where she could receive shelter, food, education, and loving care.

Kareshma’s family was deeply grateful. They felt relieved and thankful that the SAS team and her sponsor were willing to carry some of their heavy burdens by helping their daughter have a better future.

While living in the Safe House, Kareshma faithfully attended Bible studies. As she learned more about God’s Word, her heart began to change. She started thinking deeply about faith, forgiveness, and a new life in Christ.

After nine months of studying the Bible, Kareshma made a life-changing decision.  On March 8, 2026, she was baptized for the remission of her sins. On that beautiful day, she publicly declared her faith and became our beloved sister in Christ.

Kareshma is very thankful to her sponsor for walking with her through this beautiful journey. With a grateful heart, she says she will continually pray for her sponsor who helped make this transformation possible.

Today, Kareshma’s life is a testimony of hope, faith, and new beginnings. From a life of hardship in the mountains to a new life in Christ, her story reminds us that God’s love can change any life.

By: Sagar Khati, Director of Save Asian Souls' safe houses in Nepal

Spotlight on safe house in Udon Thani, Thailand

Ron and I spent 6 months in Thailand in 2023 getting this old house renovated for a safe house for girls.   TG, our present housemother, met us up at the airport and assisted us the entire time we were there.   After remodeling got to the point where we could live in the housemother's room, we moved into the house while the rest of the construction was being done.   We could not have done it with TG's help. It was our last trip to Thailand. 

TG decided to became our house mother but finding girls to live there was a slow process.   Until word gets out that the safe house is a good situation for girls, parents and grandparents are reluctant to let their girls come there to live.    

Below is a picture of TG with her girls at the first of the year. as they celebrated the holidays. 

 

The girls seem very happy and are doing well.   

The girls are dressed beautifully for services at church.  They regularly learn the Bible in lessons with TG and brothers from the church of Christ where they attend services every Sunday.    

She has recently added more girls.  Their pictures are below. 

Remember TG and her girls in your prayers.

Spring is here!

Our temperature has been lower than in Alabama and Georgia.  We cannot complain even with low mornings in the 50's and afternoons in the 70's.   There has been a strong breeze with blue skies but not  even a single cloud.   Everyone loves this time of the year in Florida before the hot summer and the hurricane season arrives.

I was able to transition from the protective boot to a supportive shoe for my foot that was injured 9 weeks ago.  It still does not feel quite right but I will be cautious for a while long and not use it unnecessarily.  It needs some time to stretch and return to normal, but I think it will be okay.

Ron and I celebrated our 68th wedding anniversary last Saturday.    Leigh Ann went with us to a seafood restaurant in Tarpon Springs, a seaside town about 10 miles north of Dunedin.   It was a beautiful day and we walked a few blocks after lunch to enjoy a special ice cream treat.  I told Ron we have to hang in 2 more years to reach the 70th.   Sounds like a good goal for a milestone year.

Two of our girls in a safe house in Nepal were baptized a couple of weeks ago.  As soon as I get more information about them, I will post their pictures.   We are pleased that the 320 + girls in our care in Nepal, Laos, Thailand and the Philippines are being taught the Bible and many of them are accepting Christ as their savior.    They come from backgrounds of Hindu, Buddhist, Catholic and "ghost religions" that are traditional in rural Laos.   I think the backward worship of some tribals is a family tradition without it being a taught religion.  You can imagine having known only these teaching in your youth and how hard it might be to accept the Bible as God's true word.    We are proud of each heart that turns from a pagan upbringing to belief in the Word of God.

Ron changed doctors because the Neurologist we have been seeing is in St. Pete.   It is getting to be more traffic and a longer drive than we want for the future.    The new doctor is like an old-fashioned family doctor.   He knows a lot about Parkinson's Disease and spends time with a patient explaining and answering questions.   I wonder if he actually has Parkinson's Disease himself.   He is old and slow but as long as he is in practice, we will see how well Ron can work with him for medical care.

Ronald and Gigi are leaving the U.S. next week to return to their orphanage in the Philippines.  The school term changed and the children have summer vacation earlier this year.   The same group of Christians from Greenville,  TX are traveling to conduct a VBS for them the last of May.   Ronald and Gigi will be busy with activities for the children but when they return to school again, they will come back to the U.S. to give progress reports to their supporters and to our SAS supporters and sponsors also.   This two-month trip they are winding down was planned for Ronald's surgery and time of rest.  At an orphanage, the work is 24/7 and there are no breaks so they really needed some R & R.   They still kept in touch with their workers every day handling problems. in addition to preparing the newsletter and planning a schedule of activities for the children's summer vacation.    

We hope everyone has a good spring and summer and stays in good health.   We are always thankful for our good days and pray for the well-being of our family members, friends and co-workers in Christ's kingdom.  

May God bless you and be with you in coming days.

From Rejection to Redemption:

The Unbreakable Story of Ganga Praja - Nepal 

Ganga Praja’s life began with rejection even before she was born.  

While she was still in her mother’s womb, her mother married another man. Ganga’s biological father had refused to marry her mother and had already abandoned them. When the new husband discovered that the child in her womb was not his, he became deeply unhappy. The couple even decided to end the pregnancy through abortion, but it was already too late.

After Ganga was born, the situation became even more heartbreaking. Both her mother and the man she married reportedly tried to bury the newborn baby alive. What stopped them that day, no one knows. But somehow, the tiny life of Ganga was spared.

Even though she survived, she grew up in a home without love. The man who raised her never accepted her as his daughter and never showed her any affection or care.

When Ganga was only four years old, a tragic accident happened because of her mother’s carelessness. She was badly burned. The burns affected several parts of her small body—her ear, stomach, head, and hand. Even today, the scars remain as silent witnesses of the pain she endured as a child.

Life became even more difficult when Ganga turned eight years old. The man who raised her sold her to a wealthy family to work as a house servant. Instead of receiving kindness, she was treated harshly. She was forced to do heavy work far beyond what a child should do. She even had to wash the undergarments of the house owner.

If she made even the smallest mistake, she was punished severely. Sometimes she was forced to sleep outside the house at night. For a young child, those days were filled with fear, exhaustion, and loneliness.

After enduring this suffering for about a year, Ganga gathered the courage to escape. She ran away and returned to her own home, hoping perhaps to find comfort or protection. But sadly, she still did not receive love or mercy from her family.

Instead, she was sent to care for the family’s livestock. When she asked for food because she was hungry, her mother responded cruelly. On one occasion, her mother even put tobacco into her mouth instead of giving her food.

Feeling completely rejected and unwanted, Ganga ran away once again.

During this difficult time, she met a man named Mahindra Chaudhary who showed her some kindness. He allowed her to stay in his home, gave her food, and helped her attend school. For the first time in her life, Ganga experienced a small glimpse of care.

However, Mahindra’s wife treated her harshly. Despite the difficulties, Ganga continued her studies and managed to complete Grade 5. One day, when she accidentally broke a glass, she was beaten badly. The daily mistreatment became unbearable. Eventually, she called her brother and returned home again.

She then stayed with her brother and his family, but even there the environment was not peaceful or supportive.

Later, she went to Kathmandu with a relative who promised to care for her. Unfortunately, that promise was not kept. Instead of helping her, the relative placed her as a servant in another house.

At first, the family treated her kindly, but over time the situation changed. She was forced to work very hard, given little food, and often abused. One day, the house owner even tried to behave inappropriately toward her. Terrified and determined to protect herself, Ganga ran away once again. 

This time she stayed with a friend of her mother for some time. During that period, she came across an awareness program organized by the SAS team. That moment would become a turning point in her life.

Through this program, Ganga came to stay at the BIG Safe House in Narayangarh. For the first time in her life, she began to experience safety, care, and hope.

With the help of the SAS team and the love of her sponsor, Ganga’s life slowly began to change. She received proper food, clothing, and education. As she started eating regularly and living in a healthy environment, her body also began to recover and become stronger.

Ganga received tailoring training under the guidance of Mira Khati, with direction from Lokendra and Ranjit. She learned diligently and worked very hard to build a better future.

During this time, Ganga also made an important spiritual decision. She was baptized for the remission of her sins and became a faithful believer. She never missed Sunday worship and continued to grow in her faith.  

After completing her training, she was provided with sewing machines so she could begin her own small business. This opportunity changed her life. Sister Carole Booker encouraged her greatly and even visited her shop in her village to support her.   

A few years later, Ganga got married and was blessed with a daughter. However, life again brought some difficulties. Her business faced financial struggles, and she went through a very hard period.

In that difficult time, she reached out to Sister Pat for help. Seeing her sincerity and determination, Brother Ron and Sister Pat decided to support her again. They helped her with new fabrics and resources to restart and expand her business

With perseverance and renewed support, Ganga’s business began to grow successfully. She eventually opened her own shop in the local market called Bandara Bazar.

Today, Ganga Praja is doing very well. She runs her own business and provides for her family. Her daughter now studies in a boarding school, and Ganga is able to give her child the opportunities she never had.  

Looking back on her life, Ganga is deeply thankful. She expresses her heartfelt gratitude to the SAS team, Sister Pat, Brother Ron, and especially her sponsor who supported her during her darkest days.

From a child who was rejected, abused, and forgotten, Ganga Praja has become a woman of strength, faith, and hope. Her story is a powerful reminder that even the most broken beginnings can be transformed when compassion, support, and faith come together.

                      By: Sagar Khati, Director of SAS safe houses in Nepal