Understand The Times was founded 22 years ago. This past year may well be the most significant we have experienced in terms of seeing God’s provision and direction. We have been amazed how the Lord has brought ministry partners onboard from around the world assisting us to reach our goal to share the Gospel internationally by assisting widows and orphans in need in the name of Christ in memory of our son Bryce Oakland (1974 – 2001).

While we are still active in monitoring the news and sending out warnings regarding the apostasy that is characteristic of our time. The major thrust of the ministry of Understand The Times is to connect those who donate towards the vision God has given us with those who are in great need. Understand The Times sends out a regular Weekly News in Review Newsletter to keep our readers up to date on how current events can be understood from a biblical perspective. Subscribers from over 130 countries around the world have signed up for this free service.

Following are the items that show the progress that was made towards our goal during the 2012 year:

• ·     Bryce Homes around the world have been expanded from one country to four, from five homes to twenty-three. We are now assisting over 200 people (caretakers, widows and orphans) in Myanmar, Kenya, South Africa and the Philippines who are part of the Bryce Homes International Program.
   

• ·     In each country we are working with pastors and church leaders who are responsibly distributing the donated funds we receive from faithful donors around the world. These donated funds are sent to Understand The Times either by check or money order or electronically by Paypal and by credit card billing.  Progress reports from each country are posted on our website at www.understandthetimes.org under the headings of UTT Missions. This heading is broken down into Myanmar, Kenya, South Africa and the Philippines.
   

• ·     This past year we built six new homes for widows – five in Kenya and one in Durban, South Africa. At present we have raised additional resources to build three more badly needed homes in Kenya. It is our goal to build at least two more. You can read about this project at:

http://www.understandthetimes.org/nhkenya.shtml

• ·     In August of this past year while I was visiting Manila and the Bryce Homes there, the city was deluged by a typhoon. I experienced this disaster first hand. Because of the reports that were sent out, over $4000 was raised from our mailing list to assist our families to recover from the disaster. All of the children in these Bryce Homes are now attending school and being given food and clothes to make their lives easier.
   

• ·    Understand The Times continued to support a feeding program for children in one of the slum areas of Manila. The children are receiving food twice a week handed out by a volunteer staff based at a church. Many of these children attend Sunday School and have brought their parents to church who have now become Christians.
   

• ·     Understand The Times financially assists a weekly ministry that reaches out to prisoners at the high security prison in Manila. These funds provide for Bibles and some of the basic needs for prisoners, many who are incarcerated for life. Last January Mike Miller and myself were able to speak at the prison and share the gospel with a number of prisoners.
   

• ·     This past year I have been able to personally visit the Bryce Homes in Myanmar, Philippines, Kenya and South Africa to see first-hand how the programs are working, as well as to encourage the families and the leaders. We have been able to provide food, clothing, funds for education and Christian education as well as medical care.
   

• ·     Understand The Times is supporting a small Bible School in Myanmar where men are being trained to be disciples and sent out to share the gospel of Jesus Christ amongst the Buddhist community. You can find out more about this ministry at:

http://www.understandthetimes.org/mdp.shtml#0

• ·     A number of these students still need support for their accommodation and study. If you are interested in supporting one of these students and their needs please see:

http://www.understandthetimes.org/mdp.shtml#2

• ·     If you have not already done so, please look at our page located at our Understand The Times web site to see photographs of all 29 Bryce Homes around the world. In a few weeks we will be adding two more homes in South Africa.

http://www.understandthetimes.org/bhipictures.shtml

If you have been a supporter of the ministry of Understand The Times financially or prayerfully this past year, we appreciate your contribution. If you feel led to do so, please send this report to others who you think would be interested in ministering to poor and needy Christians around the world. As God leads and provides we will continue to add more Bryce Homes in more places to bring honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.