Mission Trip to Thailand
Dear Friends and Family:
As we started our wedded life together, we were faced with a beautiful opportunity to serve the Lord and our fellow man. In cooperation with the International Ministries, the American Baptist Churches and the Lahu Baptist Convention in Thailand, a cross-cultural mission team traveled from Los Angeles to a small Lahu village in northern Thailand this fall to assist villagers in constructing a potable water system. The goal was to lay approximately 1 1/2 kilometers of PVC piping to bring water from a clean source in the hills above the village through a filter and into a large concrete holding tank. From the tank, piping would bring the water to faucets throughout the village. This will make it possible for the villagers to access clean water for drinking, cooking and washing without having to carry it from a local stream that is contaminated.
This project took two weeks, and will transform the daily lives and health of this small community. It is part of an ongoing development program of the Baptist community in Thailand. The project has a history of over eight years of successful water system installations throughout northern Thailand in both Christian and non-Christian villages among Lahu, Karen and Akha tribal peoples. Part of the success of this development project is attributed to the involvement of each community and the funding and construction of the systems in partnership with churches in the U.S. and around the world.
In addition, there is an ongoing system of education and follow-up visits that keep the filtration systems and holding tanks in good working order and repair. We were pleased to be sponsored by our church, First Baptist Church of San Diego, and to work in partnership with other Christians to positively impact the health and daily life of the Thai village people. We were very excited to have the opportunity to work alongside our partners to share the Gospel through a children's outreach ministry while we were in the village. This enabled the villagers, by utilizing local interest in western visitors, to reach out to neighboring non-Christian villages and invite their children to the programs we shared with them.
Since we lived in the homes of villagers while we are there, we had a rich opportunity to learn first hand about the culture of the Lahu people. We want to learn from and serve with our Christian sisters and brothers. We felt a strong calling to be part of this mission. Even though we continue to face uncertain times this was an opportunity to work and minister together to enrich our faith and our love. Your support, whether through donation or prayer, was instrumental in seeing us through this extraordinary experience.
Thank you and may God Bless you all!
Click on any of the following pages to see
the rest of the story:
Plane trip Patpong - Rahab Ministry Golden Triangle Resort Rimkok Resort
Buddhist Temples Boat Trip to Village Kok-noi Ban Klang Village
Project - Laying Pipe Project - Water Tank Project - Filter Tank Project - Faucets
Project Complete Animal Sightings Children's Ministry Sports