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Thursday 14 July 2011

THAILAND PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

There are three projects we're giving serious consideration towards as we move into our next steps. Here's the third one:

# 3: Community Development

The hill tribes of Thailand make up 2% of the population. These people have for generations lived and cultivated crops in the upland and highland areas, growing upland rice and other subsistence crops. However it is these areas where more and more land is being officially designated as forest reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Government policies are forcing many hill tribes to use alternative methods of farming and/or move to other designated areas that are not well suited for traditional agriculture. Because of these policies, lack of citizenship, and other external pressures, hill tribes often do not have the same opportunities as other Thai nationals, therefore making it difficult for hill tribes to alleviate themselves from poverty.

Many of these villages are without running water, sanitation, school, or medical clinics. It is estimated that Hill tribe families in the most marginalized areas in Thailand have an annual income as low as $80USD!

As a result of their extreme poverty and lack of citizenship, these people are often preyed upon by those who would purchase their children to supply the sex trade (usually resulting from a debt that cannot be paid). They are also enticed into growing opium for drug cartels/gangs as a way of surviving.


History Of Partnership
Since 1990 the Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP) has assisted hill tribe people to cope with the many changes that have taken place in their livelihoods. This has predominantly been through small projects providing special assistance with the construction of drinking water and irrigation systems, delivery and management of tree crops for subsistence farming and income generation, fish farming, establishing a Fair-Trade International Coffee Cooperative, self-help groups, and assisting Lahu hostels in areas of capacity building and sustainability. To date, in addition to aiding minority groups in Thailand, ITDP is assisting other countries in the region. More than 250 villages and 6 tribal groups have received assistance from ITDP.

Beneficiaries
Hill Tribes: The term hill tribe designates ethnic minorities most of whom live in the remote upland and highland areas of the north and western part of the country. The hill tribes were traditional opium users, which aggravated the problem of their attachment to opium poppy cultivation. Even today the hill tribes still constitute a considerable part of the drug abuse population in Thailand, with an ever-increasing trend to turn to heroin and other drugs as opium becomes less and less available. Hill tribes want alternative ways of generating income and better opportunities to enter Thai society in a more sustainable way just as other Thais are able to achieve.

ITDP will assist villagers according to needs, not religion, gender, social status, or tribe. It is difficult to say which villages will be selected. Villagers that need assistance with activities will convey their request each year to the project management committee (PMC) of each project.

Key People
Leadership Profile

Mike and Becky Mann have been providing support to the hill tribe villages in Northern Thailand and surrounding regions since 1990. Mike is from America and is a global consultant for rural development. He serves as director of Integrated Tribal Development Program in Thailand, in addition to consulting around the world. Becky Mann helps tribal farmers and women's groups, and works with parents of special needs children. She also works with Integrated Tribal Development, helping to market Thai coffee. They have four children, Richard, Melanie, Ryan and Robert.


What We Like About The Partnership
ITDP wants to put Christian love into action and works very hard at trying to meet the needs of the disadvantaged/resource-poor in a holistic way. They provide this for everyone, regardless of their faith.

All the team that works alongside Mike and Becky Mann are all from the Hill Tribes themselves.

ITDP insist on local villages active participation in the project in a way that creates long-term ownership of the project and for the villages to be investing in their own futures.

As a church, we have a commitment for holistic community development. There is the possibility for short-term trips to assist in the water projects, building a school, running kids programs, and providing necessary medical attention. The exposure is a healthy part of our own discipleship.

The project brings the gospel together in word and action through both community development and the planting of a church in the village. It is a dynamic and effective model that fits with our local approach. Of the 5 different villages we visited, between 30-50% of the villages had converted from animism to Christianity within these past ten years.

There is the opportunity for the wider Mt Albert community to participate in community development. For instance, funding for the water projects could come from Christmas in Rocket Park with those who install the water supplies paying for their own trip.

The potential partnership

We want to work in a cluster of villages that are without running water, sanitation, school, or medical clinics. Over a five year period, we want to assist in a holistic way that involves several factors:

a. Provide Clean water, Sanitation and Training
There is a triangle of three basic aspects that lay a foundation for relationships to be built. This involves running clean water, sanitation and training. Each family in the village works alongside us in the establishment of these.

# clean water provided for each village in the cluster
We would fund-raise to provide for each village over the five years (likely through Christmas in Rocket Park). A short term trip can work with local villages to install the water (eg digging trenches, pouring concrete). Such projects would be led by experienced staff from ITDP (Inter-tribal development program) who have established over 250 water projects so far. The cost to supply clean water for a village of 60-300 people is $USD 5,500.

[# sanitation for villages/ cost per unit / short term trip to help
Similar to above, following the provision of clean water, we would provide sanitation in each village at a cost of $USD 4,400 per village.

[# training re water/sanitation]
ITDP provides training to maximize and extend the above. Training would continue over these five years.

b. Childrens’ Programs/ Medical Help

As well as hands on digging trenches/laying foundations etc (similar to our weekend of service), short-term trips can include:
- Children’s Bible Programs to begin getting the gospel out in word as well as action.
- Medical assistance to people that have no current medical help.

c. Build a school for up to grade 6.

The children in these villages have no formal education. We would like to see a school built that would enable students from the cluster of villages to study up to grade 6. This would involve laying a foundation for a school in our fourth year and seeking to provide assistance, where possible, in the operational cost of the school. The anticipated cost of the school building is USD $60,000.

In addition, we can also arrange child sponsorships through this new school or through Mo Ho Jo school (one of the schools at another village we saw that still have 30 children needing sponsorship).


d. Begin Micro-Enterprise Loans

Through providing loans for the villages to purchase coffee plants, they villages can begin producing a good income that returns back into the development of their own homes and village. This coffee is where we get our La Mai coffee from.

For something different at Christmas, birthdays, Mothers/Fathers Days, we could provide opportunity for people to buy shares in water wells, and coffee plants for these Hill-Tribe people.

Tuesday 12 July 2011

THAILAND PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

There are three projects we're giving serious consideration towards as we move into our next steps. Here's the second one.

# 2: Rahab Ministries

Internationally, prostitution and trafficking of Asian women and children is increasing. It is the third largest and fastest growing criminal industry in the world and one of the most urgent human rights issues today. About 5,000 women work each night in the sex tourism industry of Patpong, an area specifically established for Western sex tourism. Rahab Ministries is situated in the middle of this red light area and rescues girls from prostitution in the bars of Bangkok and helps rehabilitate them through training and education. Many girls are sold into the sex trade at age 10 to 12 years by their parents and are required to send earnings home to support their family.

Rahab Ministries has an excellent record of working on the streets and through a hair salon. About 800 girls have been assisted to leave the “trade since the inception of the ministry. They have now moved into prevention work in north Thailand where they are working in schools educating and warning young girls.

History Of Partnership
Rahab Ministries began in Bangkok in April 1989 when two Thai and two foreign women met to share their desire to help girls working in prostitution. Rahab Ministries continues to grow under a strong leadership team of Thai staff and foreign volunteers.

Rahab Ministries has three objectives:
• To share the love of Jesus Christ through friendship evangelism and social concern.
• To provide practical help and emotional support to girls working in prostitution.
• To provide opportunities for education, vocational training and alternative employment.

These objectives are met through:
Bar Visitation:
Each week the outreach team visits different bars in Patpong seeking to make contacts through friendship evangelism. As they build relationships they are able to tell the women about Rahab and what support and new opportunities they can offer them.

Rahab Bazaar:
Rahab Bazaar was set up both as an income generation programme and to offer alternative employment to women choosing to leave the bars. Making jewellery at Rahab enables the women to make something beautiful out of their lives that have been ugly and hard. It is also a time to build new relationships. All their jewellery is made to a high standard using only the best materials.

Rahab House:
Any women who choose to stop working in the bars at Patpong are offered alternative accommodation at Rahab House. It is run on Christian values and provides a family atmosphere and support as the women regain confidence in themselves. Some families are reunited as children who have been back in the villages come to live with their mothers.

Discipleship and Training:
One of the Directors provides pastoral care to all the women at Rahab. Three times a week she runs a Bible study and offers counselling, discipleship and healing ministry with others on the team. Twice a week English classes are taught at Rahab. These classes are also open to any bar girls wishing to attend.


Key People
Leadership Profile

Chanaprai Wangkhampha (Prai) is the manager of the Rahab Bazaar, which is both an income generation project and provides new work and skills for women leaving the bars. She oversees the production, sales and distribution of all Rahab products. She is also involved in researching and developing new products for the women to make by hand and sell not only in Thailand but all over the world. In addition she provides support and encouragement to all of the staff at Rahab. Her wisdom and strong faith are an integral part of the leadership team. Prai lives at Rahab house with her husband Piya, and daughter, Play.

Susitorn Niwetrangsan is the on-site pastor of Rahab Ministries. She oversees the Bible teaching, discipling, prayer and worship at Rahab. Susitorn's vital role involves discipling each of the women who come through the programme as well as providing support and encouragement to all the staff at Rahab.

Alex and Sarah van Meygaarden are long term volunteers from New Zealand. Alex was a secondary school teacher in New Zealand before joining Rahab Ministries in Thailand. Alex's main responsibility at Rahab is office management and responding to incoming emails. Alex is also the general handyman at the office in Patpong and Rahab House.

Sarah's background is in mental health nursing and she holds a counselling degree. Sarah is part of the outreach team and is responsible for prayer bulletins, newsletters and all communication for Rahab Bazaar. Both Alex and Sarah are house parents at Rahab House and enjoy being part of the Rahab family.

Vision And Annual Strategy
Approx. 30 girls use the centre each day.

Counselling and teaching are given on practical matters such as safe sex, health, nutrition, STDs and AIDS, childcare and budgeting.

A Sponsorship Programme enables girls to leave the bars and engage in vocational training or further education. Some children of bar girls are sponsored to attend school. Girls are helped to find other employment.

Prevention Programme – Some young girls ‘at risk’ of entering prostitution are sponsored to continue schooling or vocational training. Suitable employment is found for others.

Income Generation – A jewellery business provides girls wishing to leave prostitution with a source of alternative income.

International prostitution and international trafficking of Asian girls and children is increasing. Worldwide, 4 million girls and 1 million children are trafficked into the sex industry every year. Rahab Ministries is increasingly involved in advocacy and generating awareness of this phenomenon, especially among Christians in the West.


What We Like About The Partnership
This is a vibrant ministry meeting the desperate needs of vulnerable people.
It has solid local leadership. We also like their approach to disciple the girls to look beyond themselves through the adoption of a refugee village on the Burmese border and their help for them to become active members in a local church. We are also currently involved through Lai Mai Coffee.

Our Potential Approach
1. The ministry would benefit from a short-term trip of people with particular skill sets, or people helping from back in Auckland in various ways:
- produce videos
- photography
- web help
- skilled trades people

2. Promoting and Selling Lai Mai Coffee as a way to support this ministry.

3. Promotion of the jewelry made through Rahab. We can do this through our yourplace website and special functions. It may be that somebody wants to pick this up in a bigger way. 100% of profits going back into Rahab ministries.

Real "Life Change" Stories

Kat’s Story
I come from a family that was very poor. My mother had five children and only my sister and I had the same father. As soon as, or just before, each child was born the fathers left home. Because of jealousy and strife in our family, mainly with my older sister and her husband who were very lazy and told lies about me, I was told to leave home. I left and found work in a factory but some time later my sister borrowed money from my friend then gambled and borrowed from others and her debts mounted up. She was in trouble with the police. For my mother’s sake I agreed to pay off the debts.

I came to Bangkok and worked in a sewing factory but the pay was not enough to be able to repay enough each month. My friend was wanting her money back so I decided to work in the bars but was unhappy with that kind of work. I became friends with one man and lived with him for a few years but when I became pregnant, my boyfriend wanted to end the relationship saying the child wasn’t his. He didn’t want another child as his ex-wife had four children.

About that time I met up with people from Rahab Ministries who brought me to Rahab Home and helped me. I want to be a good mother and we are happy here. I thank God who has given me a family who care about me where I’ve found real love and friendship.

Jan’s Story
When I was still a baby my parents separated and I was left with someone else to be cared for. I never knew my mother. Later at the age of 8 I met my father, then at 12 went to live with him and his wife who had two sons. They were spiteful and mean to me and when I complained to my father he was not interested and growled at me. I felt he did not love or care about me so I ran away and wandered the streets looking for work.

No one wanted to employ me as I was young but a street restaurant gave me food and a bed and I washed dishes until the son tried to molest me and I was sent away. On the streets again a gang of youths tried to get hold of me but I got away by stabbing one of them. The next morning the police arrested me and I was sent to a government home until 18. On leaving there I tried again to find work wandering the streets until hungry and exhausted I sat down on the pavement and cried. Finally a woman befriended me taking me to her place and was kind to me.

This woman who worked in the bars was very kind and showed me love. Some time later she became infected with HIV and I cared for her until she died. She taught me a lot with good advice to help me. The other women in the bars were very caring. When I met up with Rahab I was pregnant and they helped me leave the bars and showed me real love. I have come to know Jesus and have found new life. I really appreciate what God has done for me and my baby girl through Rahab.

Tuesday 5 July 2011

THAILAND PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

# 1: Church Planting

Thailand
Population: 62.8 million
Life Expectancy: 70.6 years
GDP: US$2990 per capita
Unemployed: 2.1%
25.2% earn less than US$2 per day

Thai Buddhists are very unreached! The percentage of Christians among them is less than 1% and there are still 215 large towns and districts with no church. In addition there are 3,830 villages and communities that still do not have a single Christian believer. This means that millions of Thais still have no access to the gospel. They have no chance to hear about Jesus because there is very little chance they will ever meet a Christian believer.

Muang Thong church is having an effective harvest in church-planting movements among Buddhist people groups in Thailand and Laos. In this past year, they have baptized 1000 people and begun 75 churches (many of which include 2-3 house churches).

It is a strategy development, equipping, resource and deployment centre for evangelism, church-planting and discipling the least-reached Buddhist people groups in Thailand and its neighbouring countries.

One aspect of the work the church planting does is ongoing training and encouragement for church planters. They have started running monthly training events where they bring these church planters together for two days every month. Most Thai church planters have come out of Buddhism and have no Bible knowledge so are unable to teach the Bible well in the churches they are planting. During this short two day training course they are taught some Bible lessons which they can then go and share with the people they are working with. The idea is that those people then teach others and so the training multiplies. Their aim is to continue to build and develop Thai trainers to train church planters, to help Thai Christians evangelise their relatives and start house churches, and to support and train those who successfully plant house churches.

Beneficiaries
Our involvement would involve covering the costs of transportation, materials and trainer expenses. Usually between 25-40 church planters come to each training event. However, the number of people who benefit from these church planters being trained is unknown as when they go back to their community the Bible knowledge they've learnt keeps spreading and lives are changed.

What We Like About The Partnership

1) Our exploration team benefited greatly by hearing the stories and observing the enthusiasm within this team. They have a contribution to make to us from their spirituality and enthusiasm.
2) This church has seen the huge spiritual need in Thailand and is doing something positive to equip people to reach out to others with the good news of Christ. The ongoing training for church planters and children's workers is not only beneficial but essential and it is great to see them strengthening and encouraging new believers.
3) The church planters themselves are Thai people.

Vision And Annual Strategy
The mission of the Muang Thong church is to make a significant contribution to the fulfillment of the Great Commission by facilitating church planting movements among specific least-reached Buddhist people groups in Thailand and its neighbouring countries.
Their strategy involves:
1) Integration - evangelism, discipleship and mercy that lifts communities
2) Partnership - with the whole Body of Christ in Thailand and beyond
3) Mobilisation - helping Thai partners take responsibility for their own people
4) Training - equipping Thai partners to do the work of the ministry
5) Movements - reaching whole families rather than extracting individual believers

Annual Budget
The amount required for 2010/11 to fund the monthly training events for church planters is USD $2,100.

Our Potential Commitment

• Have John/Nok at Mt Albert Baptist for two Sundays at the end of 2011/beginning of 2012 for others to hear their stories (obviously this will depend on their availability and Brighthope’s perspective of what is most helpful for the mission)
• Provide financial support of a 2 year period, followed by a review of this commitment for the future.