Christmas Season

During this Christmas season we spend a lot of time with friends and family eating and celebrating and in the midst of it all it's easy to forget those who are most in need. After spending almost a quarter of this year in developing nations I'm compelled to think about the less fortunate. I am truly overwhelmed with gratitude and I consider how blessed I am. I have a loving family with whom I go to church to commemorate the birth of Christ and what does that mean. It means that God so loved the world that he gave the gift of his Son. My challenge is how to respond and give back to the world in gratitude for all that I have been given?

Networking Meeting

The CHE networking meeting was absolutely wonderful. People from 15 organizations and even different countries were represented. These were people with years of experience in both national and international wholistic development.

Topics included the value of collaboration, empowering practitioners and project assessment tools and training for who relate to story telling far more than written language and lecturing.

Some of the things I learned about included Asset based programs as opposed to Needs based programs; making better use of the resources available as opposed to, "filling a need" with resources that are not available. Also we work towards interdependence not independence. Independence is a Western world value.

It was such a great privilege for me to interact with this amazing group of people and tremendously encouraging to know that as we work together with the shared values of CHE we will one day see an interdependent world caring for people at all levels.

If you would like to learn more about CHE you can go to www.cheintl.org.

Living Life Boldly

A few weeks ago I was sitting in a room in northern India with Pastors and Leaders of NGO’s living and working in some of the most volatile places in the world. Each shared about how they were helping the people of their community learn life skills that are forever changing the lives of the people and leading them to a better future. In some of the communities they have seen much success where children are being educated, families have food to eat, roofs over their head, and jobs to go to. They are learning skills for preventing disease and they are seeing the effects as the death rates decrease and wellness increases. They are learning moral values and neighbor is coming alongside neighbor to help one another when in need. Other leaders just starting out looked for encouragement and advice knowing the long road that lie ahead. The work these men and women are doing in their communities is impressive, then add where they are and it becomes even more remarkable. These leaders and their communities face unspeakable persecution and their very lives are in constant threat of harm. We saw a glimpse of how devastating lives being lost and threatened are when we watched the news of the attacks in Mumbai India this week. I hold the men and women I met in India in High regard. They are living life boldly and making a difference in the lives of those around them.

Who or what do you live for? How do you affect the people in your community? What obstacles are in your way?

AOM

Now that we've returned from being away for almost two months, we want to be sure that people understand what we were doing. Well, working with Pastors, Evangelist and leaders of NGO's (Non Government Organizations)- we were helping them tell their stories, developing strategies to better serve people and connecting with people using Community Health Education practices to educate and empower people to better their communities.

Arthur was just one of these people. Cindie has shared extensively about him and his ministry in previous blog entries. I want to share pictures of our time with him.

Community Health Consultation

What an amazing group of people! The stories and examples of meeting people’s needs wholistically was inspiring. Health workers and church leaders from all over Southern Asia came together to learn and to share their experiences with Community Health Education. Some programs were thriving and had seen hundreds of people’s lives impacted in positive ways; people who are overcoming the stigmas of being HIV positive; people who were once struggling to feed their family are now investing in others; people who couldn’t read or right are now finding jobs. It was wonderful.

Over the course of the week we addressed many issues pertaining to the development of wholistic health programs and what to do when confronted with resistance and persecution from people and organizations who may misunderstand the purpose or intent of helping people with their physical, emotional, economic and spiritual needs.

Some of the stories included family members being murdered, Christian workers being raped, homes and churches being burned down while government officials and police officers stood by without intervening. Most of the persecutions and protests had political overtones and were sparked and fanned into full pandemonium by religious zealots whose positions were being challenged. The need for reconciliation between religions, races, creeds and colors is paramount, but where do we begin?

As an outsider I learned a lot about national identity and religious identity and what it means for different people. It’s made me think about the DNA of my own country and what things I identify with as a U.S. citizen. Who am I? What does it mean to be an American, an Indian, a Pakistani, a Nepali? Spiritually I identify myself as a Christian but does that mean to my Sri Lankan friend?

I’ve come to realize more now than ever that my identity as an American or as a Christian comes with a price. To some I am an invader, a perverse corrupter of Eastern beliefs and values; to others a shimmering light of hope. How often do we consider people’s perceptions of us based on our nationality, our religion or the color of our skin? In some circumstances, it may be a matter of life or death? What are you willing to die for; your country, your faith, your race? What really matters?

Fair Trade - New Life

Making the most of every day! This is a life slogan but it is even more increasingly urgent when you know that their are opportunities that are very fleeting. While here in India we're investigating the whole notion of supporting artisans in order to better their lives here in India as well as use their skills and products as a way of telling their stories back in the U.S. Well, we visited two NGO's that were doing just that; serving as distributors of art and handicrafts from artisans throughout India. Their vision was to provide materials, business advice and the vehicle to sell their products. We spent the afternoon learning about the entire process and how this is one way to provide economic development for many marginalized people, particularly women. So, what do you think? Purchasing something hand made by someone who's livelyhood depends on it for someone who probably doesn't need anything anyway. It's little gestures like this that can make a world of difference.

A Puddle of Water

Here in New Delhi India I have found the food a tasty delight, the people at our hotel friendly and kind, and we have come into contact with many others that are rich in character and wonderful to be around.  One thing about India that has not been so positive is the amount of dust in the air.  The streets and everything else are covered with it.  We can feel it on our skin and in our lungs and sinus' when we breath.   I have felt annoyed by the amount of dust and also very thankful for the hot showers that are available to me to get clean.  The other day I was walking down the street carefully looking down as to not to step into any of the small puddles of water here and there along the road, when my eyes came upon a man that was sitting  on the edge of the sidewalk next to one of the puddles.   My heart broke when I realized that he was filling his hands with the dirty sidewalk puddle water and lifting it up to his face to wash with it.  Here was a man who also felt he wanted to be clean and all he had to wash his face with was a dirty puddle of water at the side of the road. 

How often we focus on the negatives, like the dust, and lose site of how blessed we are, like having access to clean water to wash the dirt off our face.   What do you take for granted?   Do you let the "dust" in your life overshadow the good? 

I saw your pain...

One day we were walking through an AKHA village in China where the people are not Christian. We were with 2 of the Pastors that Arthur is mentoring and supporting and we were on our way to the home of a friend of theirs where we would have tea. As we walked by one of the homes Arthur stopped and went over to an old woman that was sitting on some logs in front of her house. Tim and I also stopped and waited while the 2 Pastors went on ahead to our destination. We watched as Arthur sat with the women and talked with her in AKHA. The woman began to cry and Arthur took her hand and asked her if he could pray for her. She sobbed as he prayed and afterward expressed her gratitude to him as they sat a bit more and talked. She was overwhelmed by her sorrow but also encouraged by Arthurs support and prayers. Later Arthur told us that her husband had passed away and just weeks before her only son also died. She is alone to care for her daughters and grandchildren and overwhelmed by the stress that is upon her. She herself is old and not in the best of health. She was so grateful for the kindness and love that Arthur showed her.

I think of how Arthur noticed this woman sitting there and how he stopped to speak with her. When we left he told me… “if we are going to serve God we need to notice people and their pain.” Do you notice people when you walk by them, or in the busyness of life do you pass by those in need?

A BIG Vision

Arthur has many hopes for his AKHA people and hopes to break the cycle of physical and spiritual poverty that has held them down.  Through his ministry he is reacting out to other AKHA Pastors and coming along side them and connecting them to one another, providing training, and encouragement so together their impact can be that much greater.  Arthur is also looking for ways to create sustainable income in order to fund his ministry.  One way he plans to do this is by purchasing a piece of land where he can grow fruit, raise fish, pigs, and other animals, and also hold training classes for Pastors and future leaders.  There is no doubt in our mind that once Arthur is able to purchase the land he will utilize it to its fullest.  Now it is a matter of raising the funds to buy the land.   

This land is vital to Arthurs plan to create sustainable income to fund his ministry and raising the money such a huge endeavor.  How do you react when faced with big and vital challenges?  Do you look to God and trust he will provide a way? 

Here are a few pictures of the land Arthur wants to buy.  There are already some fruit trees planted in on the property, some nice space to raise animals, and a good road for easy access for those coming for training.

 

Arthur. and then I found Jesus

Arthur’s family is Christian but when Arthur was in the Buddhist temple he learned the ways of the Buddhists and served in the temple with the others and he drifted away from his Christian faith.  While Arthur was attending the University he met the man that translated the bible into the AKHA language.  This changed his life and it was during this time that Arthur found God and committed the rest of his life to serving Jesus and helping the AKHA people.    Arthur had many questions for God as to why he allowed him to be at the Buddhists temple for so many years.  Shortly after college Arthur left Thailand and went to serve for two years in China.  It was during this time that God answered his question.  Daily Arthur used the things he had learned at the temple to talk to those in China about how Christianity was different from Buddhism.  If Arthur had not been at the temple he never would have had the knowledge or the in road to speak into the lives of the people he came into contact with.  Nor would he have been able to share the gospel with them as affectively.   

What things have happened in your life that you struggle to understand why God allowed them to happen?  In what ways might God use your experiences to help others? 

 

 

Arthur. A gifted teacher

Arthur has great vision and hope for the AKHA people and his faith in Jesus is the foundation for everything in his life.  I had the pleasure of spending time with Arthur and getting to watch him up close interact with people and use the gifts God has blessed him with.  As a part of Arthur’s ministry he supports 10 other AKHA pastors.  We traveled to several of the villages to meet with these pastors and see the work they are doing in there villages.  I watched as Arthur offered these men encouragement, financial contributions, prayer and fellowship as well as training and guidance as he disciples them.   Arthur is a gifted teacher and was asked to provide the message one Sunday at one of the village churches we attended.  Although the message was in the AKHA language the expressive and interactive manor in which he taught captured our attention.  Afterward I told Arthur how much I enjoyed his teaching and he told me that when he teaches he is not just teaching for the people attending the church, but also for the Pastors to show them examples of how to be creative and engage their congregations.    

I think of how Arthur uses his gift of teaching not just to teach through his words, but as a model to other teachers on how to be a better teacher.  How could you do a better job of using your gifts to impact others?  

 

The right to an education.

A long time ago Arthur’s father, thus his family, obtained Thai citizenship.   This is a big deal because it is expensive to get Thai citizenship and without it people are restricted to live, work, receive medical care, and go to school in the district in which they are registered.    This is very limiting on multiple levels.  In regards to education it is available to everyone through grade school.  Further education requires uniforms, books, and fees which limits access to higher education to marginalized people groups.  This makes it difficult for the AKHA to better their circumstances and break the cycle of poverty within their people group.  Arthur was able to receive a high school education because he lived and served at a Buddhist temple.   Although being away from his family was difficult the education he received opened up doors for him to later attend the University.   This providing opportunity’s for a future he would have never had otherwise.  (This is also when Arthur decided to give his life to Christ, but I will tell that story later.  J )

The lack of opportunity and restrictions on the AKHA people are why Arthur hopes to build a bible school which would provide a college education and a career path for many AKHA youth.    

So often we take our ability to move freely through the country to get a job, our access to health care, and our opportunity for education for granted.  We may look at what is available to us and want something different, something better, but the truth is that something is available.  I look at people like the AKHA where they are stuck with little to no options.    How are you using the opportunities that are available to you?      

 

 

Meet Arthur

One of the main reasons Tim and I came to Thailand was to work with our friend and IGN partner Naruethep (Arthur) Teerawutroj. Arthur is a Thai national and a gifted teacher and Pastor. We have had the privilege to come along side him in his dream to help all AKHA people.

Arthur was born in Northern Thailand in a small Akha hill tribe village outside Chiang Rai. He is the fourth child in a family of 5 kids. Arthur has 2 older brothers, an older sister and a younger brother. Arthur’s family was not originally from Thailand. His Grandmother came over from Burma. Arthur’s mother was born in Thailand, as were all of her children. Although none of them are sure exactly how old they are or what month or day they were born. The children were not born in hospitals and Arthur’s mother can only remember things like “it was harvest time” “the weather was rainy” things like that. Arthur’s family was poor, like so many of the AKHA families are. Finding ways to make a living are difficult and most AKHA are not educated past grade school. Like so many of the tribal people, Arthur’s father worked in the opium trade. Opium was used for medicinal purposes among the tribesmen but because of its addictive nature it ruined the lives of many, including Arthur’s father. When Arthur was 9 opium took his fathers life. After his fathers death Arthur’s mom was faced with trying to feed and care for 5 children and herself. Knowing that she would not be able to adequately care for her children, or afford to educate them, she decided to send Arthur and his younger brother, who they call Art, away to be educated and cared for. Arthur was sent to a Buddhist temple and Art was sent to a youth hostel to be raised. While at the temple Arthur would visit his mother and older siblings once a year, sometimes twice. I cannot imagine how difficult it was for Arthur and his brother to have lost their father and to be sent away from their family. How difficult it would also be for his mom and older siblings to lose two more family members by having to send them away. It would not be until adulthood that the family would truly reunite. This is common in AKHA families. They are poor and have limited means for income. When things get hard children are sent away, sometime they are sent to temples or youth hostels like Arthur and his brother were, sometimes they are sent to the city’s to make a living and they end up in drugs and prostitution and other times desperate family members sell them to human trafficking rings for less than $100.

Being confronted with a situation like this is beyond what most of us will ever have to face. Life is full of challenges and we can either make the most of the opportunities we do have or wallow in the circumstances of our situations. What do you do when life sends you unexpected challenges? Do you make the best of it and learn and grow from the challenges?

Laos Akha Village Three

This was one of the poorest villages that we went to. We walked quite some distance to get there. Once we arrive the kids didn't quite know what to think of us but once I showed them themselves on the display of my digital camera I gathered quite a crowd. We didn't stay long. We didn't even see any adults to speak of. It was mid-day the entire village was out in the fields gathering rice. When you think of the power of real community, child care probably doesn't come to mind but that's what happened in this village. In face the little girl draped in the black garment, washing clothes with a hose had a tiny little baby wrapped up on her back. How does your community help you with your life's responsibilities?

Laos Akha Village One

This was quite a trip, literally! We traveled down a long, bumpy dirt road, over a bridge through rice fields and across a river (that we stalled out in) to reach this very remote village. When we arrived there were two health care workers giving shots for worms and vitamins to the children. Cindie and I wandered around the village and the children ran from us. One child was so panicked that his mother had to drag him over to us to show us that we were not ghosts. I don't think he ever believed because he continued to wail.

By chance we came across the chief making some rice whiskey. He showed us and explained the process in sign language. It was fascinating. Did we try any you ask, of course we did and it would have made better paint remover than an after dinner aperitif.

We were invited to have a meal with them so they killed the fatted calf (so to speak) and we sat down with the village leadership and the health care workers. We listened to their stories and shared a little of ours but on the whole we felt humbled to be invited into these people's lives and tried our best watch, listen and learn.

Did you know that only 20% of human communication is verbal. What are ways you can improve the way you communicate love and compassion to people you meet everyday, even if they don't speak your language?

Trip through Laos to China

Laos and China are spectacularly beautiful countries. Laos had very little urban development; mostly rice fields and mountains.

What would you Do?

What if you, a Christian, lived peacefully in a town for many years with people of different religious backgrounds? What if outsiders came in and convinced your neighbors that Christians should not be allowed in your town any longer. What would you do if your neighbors persecuted you and your fellow Christian friends? When police and government officials arrived they supported those persecuting you and insisted you deny Christ and turn away from Christianity. What if you saw your Pastor repeatedly beaten near death and a loved Christian neighbor killed? Would you stand firm in your faith? Would you stay in the town or move to another?
One of the Pastors we spent time with here in Thailand experienced just this scenario. To read more about the amazing story CLICK HERE.

Hill Tribe People

Laos Akha Tribe - Thanksgiving

After traveling for some time down a dusty, bumpy two-track we finally arrived at a very poor Akha village. It was late afternoon and despite the children running away from us (most of our pictures were taken without looking through the viewfinder)we were warmly invited to celebrate an Akha thanksgiving meal. We sat around a small round table, starting the meal by eating the first rice harvested this season. We were humbled by their hospitality and I was offered the very coveted chicken head.
What is the key to becoming a gracious guest? I think in my experience it's been letting my host know how much I deeply appreciate (if you can't outright enjoy) what you are offered. What would you do if you were offered the best of something that you might consider something disgusting?

Laos Dancers

AKHA Hill Tribe Villages

We had the amazing experience of going to Laos. Tim and I knew little to nothing about Laos, other than it being under communist rule, and we were not sure what to expect but we did not expect what we experienced. The landscape was breathtaking,the food was incredibly good, and the people were a delight. We did not see any material wealth, roads were horrible, it was dusty and accommodation's were rustic, but what lacked in creature comforts was made up in generosity, kindness, and hospitality. We also felt VERY safe and felt our persons and our belongings were secure the entire time we were in Laos. We found there were many tourists in Laos, which we also did not expect. We feel blessed to have gotten to experience the people and places of Laos.

Have you ever done something, gone somewhere, met someone and had preconceived notions of what to expect. In those situations did you react to your surroundings according to your expectations or did you suspend your judgment and let the situation reveal itself on its own accord?

Wat Rong Khun

This is Wat (or Temple) Rong Khun, designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat
who started the project in 1977 and financed it as a gift and offering
to Buddha. It is filled with all kinds of symbolism. There is a
bridge you cross over which represents crossing over from the cycle of
birth to the, "Home of Buddha" or "Enlightenment". There are arms of
people reaching out from hell under the bridge which represent the
mind of suffering and impurity. The white represents Buddha's purity.
There are elephants which represent earth, a swan who's wings represent
wind and a lion whose mane represents fire: Earth, Wind and Fire.
That would be a great name for a funk band.

Burmese Citiscape

IGN Blog Articles "In the bordertown of Masai, Thailand there is a lookout point with a tower alongside of a Buddhist Temple. This peak is just south of the Burmese border and gives you some spectacular views of the Burmese landscape. The scorpion is a sign of power and historically have been numerous in this part of the world."

Burmese Temple

After passing by to see  the  orphanages our Thai associate supports
just over the Burmese border we stopped by the local Buddhist temple which was a pretty amazing sight.

Jiang Jai Sai Village

Sompong's thoughts on Community

Jaing Jai Sai Church

One of the Pastors that Arthur supports is Joe. Joe has lived in the Jaing Jai Sai Village for the past year, the village itself is only 7 years old. There are 42 families in the village and 53 families that attend Joe's church. Some come from outside the village in neighboring areas. The church is small, too small to hold all of the people who want to attend and the church is also difficult to get to. The only way in is up a steep stone staircase in the side of the mountain. The elderly have a difficult time getting to the building. There is a piece of land in the village that they are going to use to build a bigger church and the community is looking forward to that. Joe also spends each night of the week training the teenagers of the church and village different skills. One night for music training, another to teach leadership of the children's ministry, another for bible studies. Joe even teaches a class in reading and writing of the AKHA language. AKHA has traditionally been only spoken but not so long ago a westerner introduced the alphabet to them and put their language into writing. Now more and more Pastors like Joe and Joesep from Paka Samatkri Village, are teaching the youth to read and write in AKHA. Over the last four months Joe has been training the youth and now he has begun releasing different responsibilities to them. Some lead the children's programs, others the music ministry, and other's lead bible studies. Joe is only 29 years old but he is respected in his community.

Joe is using skills, talents and training he has to impact the lives of those in his community. In what ways can you use your skills to contribute to your community.

Arthur's Village

Arthur's Village has been around for 45 years and is far more established that many of the villages we have been in. When building a home from bamboo the structure will only last for so many years. Every 3 years the roofs on the bamboo homes must be replaced. Since Tim was in Arthur's village last, which was 4 years ago, the bamboo homes have started to be replaced with cement buildings. Cement costs more up front but in the long run money is saved from not having to replace the roof every 3 years and repair the main structure. Being a more established community they have found ways to bring some steady income into the community. Many bring in income by selling AKHA handicrafts along the road of their AKHA village, selling souvenirs outside the nearby Queens palace and the gardens, or just cutting costs by growing their own vegetables, fruit, and raising their own animals for meat. I asked Arthur if his family grew everything or if they went to the grocery store for some things. He said everything was either grown, hand made, or traded from neighbors. What a different life from our own.

Thoughts on Giving & Receiving

Child Hostel

Today on our way back to Chiang Rai we made a stop on the way to meet a friend of Arthur's and one of the people Arthur supports in his minsitry. His friend is the Chairman of the village he lives in so he represents his village at the government meetings. During the meetings he noticed that when discussing those least educated the AKHA were of the highest percent, when talking about those with drup problems again the AKHA were most involved, even those most at risk for falling prey to the sex trade were also the AKHA. This bothered the Chairman very much. He is also from the AKHA tribe and his heart went out to his people and he was determined to help them however he could. He had some land, and a little money so he started a Child Hotel. He built 2 dorms made out of bamboo, one for girls and one for boys. 48 kids live here. They are kids without parents to care for them and kids at risk to be sold into the sex trade. Here they come and live, receive meals, attend the nearby school, and while there the Chairman also teaches them a vocation. Fishing, raising pigs, cows, ducks and other animals are among the skills he trains them in. His hope is that by giving them a good start, an education through high school and some skills, perhaps these children can begin to break the trends and give the AKHA new hope and better futures. The need is great and space and money are limited. The Chairman wants to build 2 more dorms on his land, another for boys and another for girls. He asked for prayers for the needed resources to build the dorms and run the program.

I am struck how this ordinary man saw something in his daily life that he thought was unjust. He did not just say what a shame someone should do something about that. Instead he took the initiative and did something about it himself. Not only that but he did it with what he had. The dorms sit directly next to his house. He shares everything he has with these kids and he wants to do more. How many times have you thought something was wrong or unfair or should be changed. How often did you point to other people and say they should do something about that. In what ways can you act to make the situation better?

Village Life

When we arrived in Paka Samatkri we had no idea that there would be two funerals, a water buffalo sacrifice, a village celebration (which included eating the buffalo) and yet another Akha tradition - AwooBaloo (or something along those lines) which intailed a mostly naked man marching around the village trying to touch people with a large phalic object. (You could pacify him with a small charitable donation). Women were said to get pregnant and men would be cursed if touched by the... uhh, well, were touched. A great evening of entertainment.

It was the Shaman's mother who died (of natural causes) so there was quite a lot of pomp and circumstance around the whole event. The mourners went to the hospital to retrieve the body, brought it back to the village (many kilometers away) only to realize that they brought home the wrong body. Oops, it was back to the hospital to bring home the queen mother. Friday morning, the village water buffalo was sacrificed (that was something else - maybe another blog) and Friday afternoon it was a giant barbeque. Saturday we marched down to the cemetary, paid our respects while the poor villagers had to undergo a great feat of engineering to get the body down the steep embankment and into the ground. It was all quite incredible.

Northern Thailand Travels

Paka Samatkri Hosts

Giving and Receiving gifts

While here in Thailand people have been so kind and generous. We recently visited the AKHA Hill Tribe Village of Paka Samatkri. We were welcomed into Pastor Joesep’s home with welcome arms. The house is attached to the church and there are also two interns, both in their first year of bible college, that work with the youth at the church and live in a room at the back of the house. The interns also prepare the meals and clean up. They have been so hospitable and a joy to be around. Pastor Joesep gave his bed to Tim to sleep in and Pastor Arthur, Pastor Joesep, and Pastor Morpokoo who are all with us here too are sleeping on the floor in the living space of the house. In the back room the 2 young intern girls were sleeping in one small bed. They also gave up their bed and offered it to me while they sleep on the floor in the room. They are so giving and are doing everything they can to make us feel welcome and comfortable. I often struggle with being served the way we are by them, and others. I feel so blessed to have all I have and want to serve them, and feel like I should not be served by them. Then I need to be reminded that just as I feel joy when serving others, so do others feel joy in serving me. To not allow them to serve me would be selfish and depriving them of the joy they have in serving. Also it would be an insult to them. They are offering me what they have to give and for me not to accept it would be rude and hurtful. It is important to both serve and let others serve you. How do you serve others? How do others serve you? Can you both give and receive gifts of service with others? Blessings, Cindie

Thai Temples

Chiangmai Christian Fellowship

Tim Dunham is a man doing great things here in Thailand for God. Chiangmai Christian Fellowship is the name of the church Tim is Head Pastor of and "The Family Connection Foundation" was started as the churches arm to reach out to help their neighbors here in Thailand. Among the programs in the foundation is the Ban San Rak Children's Home. This is no ordinary orphanage. With Ban San Rak only 6 to 8 children are placed in each home and every home has at least 3 caregivers. The congregation of the church also provides needed community support including acting in the role of big brothers/sisters and Aunts/Uncles. Many of the children being helped through the program are from state institutions where there are 50 kids to every one caregiver, and many others are high risk kids for human trafficking. This is just one of the programs that the church foundation is getting involved and making a difference in the lives the people in there community. For more information on Chiangmai Christian Fellowship and The Family Connection Foundation you can check out their websites. This is a church truly doing their part to be the hands and feet of God here in Thailand.

Does your church have programs that extend a hand of support into your community? If so how are you assisting the effort? If not, is their anything you can do to help start programs or rally your neighbors to assist those in need around you.

CHE in Thailand

Where to begin... Tim and I have met so many incredible people over the last few days each doing wonderful things for God in Thailand. Last night Tim, Arthur, and I met up with David and Debbie Crist. They are a couple here in Chaing Mai working as Area Coordinators for LifeWind and sharing the CHE strategy of wholistic community development with the people of Thailand. David invited us to attend a CHE training class that was taking place today. There we met many more incredible people, both Nationals and Expats, all working towards doing wholistic ministry. Among them were Stefan who Tim wrote about earlier, Joshua who is a national of the Lahu tribe that is making sure the Lahu receive scripture and other Christian lessons in their own language. We also met Thirapong Wandee also a Thai national that is working as a CHE Facilitator and helping the Thai people learn to identify, process, and solve their own issues instead of looking to others to do it for them, and we met Tim Dunham who is a pastor of a church here in Chaing Mai called Chaing Mai Christian Fellowship. Tim shared that when he was first asked to start the church he said "only if it is a full functioning church that is taking action in the community." Everyone agreed and the Chaing Mai Christian Fellowship started and from the church a foundation was started to do ministry, with accountability, in Thailand. The church is truly a church of action and life change is evident. CHE has become a big part of how they are working in the communities. I am posting a video of one of the women, Sompong Sriwichai, who now works for the church's foundation. She was sooooo excited about the work they are doing and the CHE process. Hear what she has to say in her own words... check out the video.

Meet Stefan

Today we were invited to join a CHE (Community Health Evangelism) training.  We met some amazing people; Stefan was one of them. Cindie and I were transfixed by his story as he asked us for prayer because his life was being threatened.  Recently, he discovered that the children of one of the families he was visiting were being prostituted by other family members.  We were horrified, but he assured us that this is not an uncommon practice.  Poverty and desperation lead many parents to escape to drugs, alcohol, prostitution or even commit atrocities that most of us cannot even imagine.  Please pray for Stefan and his wife Tina as they are in a fight for justice and even their lives.  To learn more about their work in Thailand go to http://www.khamsiri.org/

CHE Training in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Thailand Temples

After applying for visas to China this afternoon Arthur wanted us to experience a little bit of Chiang Mai and the Thai Culture so he took us to the local botanical gardens and to severar Thai Buddest Temples. Chiang Mai's first temple or Wat, was founded in 1296; today there are over 300. People are obviously deeply devoted to Buddah and bring flowers, burn insence and candles as they say their prayers. How do you express your devotion to God?

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

Chaing Mai Markets

While here in Chaing Mai we have seen serveral exensive Markets. One is there all the time and it is geared more towards the tourists. It is called the "Night Market" and they start setting it before noon and then it runs to about 10:00 at night. There is another market called the "Sunday Market". We went last night and were surprised at the sheer number of people there, mostly Thai. They had everything from clothing items, to home decorations, to paintings, to jewelry all hand made. Here are a few pictures:

Chaing Mai

Tim and I have successfully met up with Arthur here in Chaing Mai. We will attend church together tonight with Arthur. Tuesday we will head out to Chaing Rai and stay with Arthur's brother before heading out to a few of the Akha Hill Tribes outside Chaing Rai. Sorry no pictures yet, so far we have just been running around and have not had much opportunity to get any photo's.

Today at lunch Arthur, Tim and I bumped into 3 people that are here in Chaing Mai volunteering at a nearby orphanage that houses children from the hill tribes. They were commenting on how many of the children in the orphanage were sent there because there parents could not afford to take care of them. These kids can only stay in the orphanage until they are 18 and then for most, unless educated, it means a life on the street, prostitution, drugs, and no real opportunity for a future. If you ask them what they want most they say education. For them education means a chance for a better life. When we shared with them that Arthur was one of those hill tribe kids who's parents could not afford to care for him, and how Arthur not only graduated college but also attends graduate school, they were encouraged. They invited Arthur to speak to the children to encourage them and give them hope. Most of the children feel there is not a lot of hope and Arthur is a living example of the hope that comes from Jesus Christ, and against all odds succeeding and living a life of purpose and provision. Today Arthur lives his life to serve God and to help the people of his Akha tribe. Is there anyone who could be encouraged by your story? What obstacles have you overcome that could help someone else to succeed in an area that appears to be a no win situation?

Welcome to Thailand

It was not so long ago I was writing to you all from the Dominican Republic. How quickly time passes and now I am writing from Thailand. I reflect on the days proceeding our departure for Thailand as my niece Mackenzie watched Tim and my every move wanting to do what we did, eat what we ate, be like us. Saying goodbye was tough, but Kenzie knew where we were going and why. We were going to Thailand to help people who are in need. I think about the kind of influence my actions have on Kenzie, how a 5 year old is learning from watching those around her. Influence is a powerful thing. I think of this trip to Thailand, how we will be working with Pastors and facilitating to help them create sustainable opportunities so they can change the course of their entire village. How coming along side these leaders can influence many many lives. Who in your life do you influence? What kinds of choices will you make today that may influence a choice another makes?
Blessings, Cindie

Leaving for Thailand

How quickly time has past. I cannot believe that we leave this week to got to Thailand. We are so excited about the work we are going to do there. In Thailand we will be working with IGN partner Pastor Naruethep (Arthur) Teerawutroj. Arthur is a national and from the AKHA tribe. The AKHA are a people group that are without a country of their own. They live primarily within the 5 countries of Thailand, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), China, and Vietnam. Because no country claims them they lack opportunities for education, health benefits, and are suppressed by the government so they lack opportunity as well. Arthur has a great vision to lead his people to a life with Christ as well as to educate them, provide for their physical needs, emotional needs, and teach them skills so they can support themselves and their communities. Arthur has many programs but he also has a network of Pastors (all AKHA) he supports, trains, encourages, and works alongside. Currently funds for Arthur's ministry come through donations as well as he has a pig farm and an orchard. Much of the financial and administrative burden for the ministry falls on Arthur and he is looking for a more sustainable way to support and grow his ministry. While I, and a colleague, are in Thailand we will be utilizing the training we recently had in wholistic community development to help Arthur assess his ministry, the funds he has, the villages and Pastors he supports, etc. and see what he can do to best utilize the resources available, both dollars and people, and help him to identify what he can delegate to the Village Leaders, Pastors and their communities. Also, evaluating options for creating jobs and income. While there I will also be meeting with people from the organization called “LifeWind International”. We hope to connect LifeWind, and other organizations who have good wholistic strategies for community development and training materials, to Arthur so he will have ongoing support and encouragement. We (IGN) believe that it is important to have the leaders take ownership in each of the communities and a goal will be to facilitate to help Arthur empower and educate them so they can not only sustain the ministry but take their communities to the next level. Please keep us and the work we are doing in Thailand in your prayers. We are excited about all that is ahead, and know God will use us in great ways in Thailand, but we also struggled greatly with making the decision to go on this trip or not. Financially this is a challenging time and although we can see the HUGE potential for sustainable life change in the lives of those we will train and work with, concern about our own issues hangs over our head. We are trusting Jesus and lay everything at his feet. Please pray for us in all we do and pray for those we influence and affect along the way. Blessings! Cindie

Chicago Speaking Engagment

Cindie and Tim from IGN will be speaking along with Michele and Brent Gambrel who recently participated in a trip to the Dominican Republic. We will be at Mayfair Presbyterian Church in Chicago at both the 10:00 am Traditional service as well as the 11:30 Contemporary service. Please come join us and share in our recent trip to the Dominican Republic.

Mayfair Presbyterian Church
4358 W. Ainslie
Chicago, IL 60630

Speaking Engagement

IGN will be speaking at Our Lady of Peace Church tomorrow Wed. September 17th from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm. The discussion will be on "Finding Purpose... Impacting Lives". We will meet in the church basement, light refreshments will be served. We look forward to seeing you there. The address is:

Our Lady Of Peace
701 Plainfield Rd.
Darien, IL 60561

Poverty Facts and Stats

Poverty Facts and Stats

* by Anup Shah
* This Page Last Updated Wednesday, September 03, 2008
http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats.


1. Almost half the world — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day.

2. 95% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.Source 1


3. More than 80 percent of the world’s population lives in countries where income differentials are widening.Source 2

4. The poorest 40 percent of the world’s population accounts for 5 percent of global income. The richest 20 percent accounts for three-quarters of world income.Source 3


5. According to UNICEF, 26,500-30,000 children die each day due to poverty. And they “die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world. Being meek and weak in life makes these dying multitudes even more invisible in death.”Source 4


6. Around 27-28 percent of all children in developing countries are estimated to be underweight or stunted. The two regions that account for the bulk of the deficit are South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

7. If current trends continue, the Millennium Development Goals target of halving the proportion of underweight children will be missed by 30 million children, largely because of slow progress in Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.Source 5


8. Based on enrollment data, about 72 million children of primary school age in the developing world were not in school in 2005; 57 per cent of them were girls. And these are regarded as optimistic numbers.Source 6


9. Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.Source 7


10. Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen.Source 8


11. Infectious diseases continue to blight the lives of the poor across the world. An estimated 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, with 3 million deaths in 2004. Every year there are 350–500 million cases of malaria, with 1 million fatalities: Africa accounts for 90 percent of malarial deaths and African children account for over 80 percent of malaria victims worldwide.Source 9


Water problems affect half of humanity:
* Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation.
* Almost two in three people lacking access to clean water survive on less than $2 a day, with one in three living on less than $1 a day.
* More than 660 million people without sanitation live on less than $2 a day, and more than 385 million on less than $1 a day.
* Access to piped water into the household averages about 85% for the wealthiest 20% of the population, compared with 25% for the poorest 20%.
* 1.8 billion people who have access to a water source within 1 kilometre, but not in their house or yard, consume around 20 litres per day. In the United Kingdom the average person uses more than 50 litres of water a day flushing toilets (where average daily water usage is about 150 liters a day. The highest average water use in the world is in the US, at 600 liters day.)
* Some 1.8 million child deaths each year as a result of diarrhoea
* The loss of 443 million school days each year from water-related illness.
* Close to half of all people in developing countries suffering at any given time from a health problem caused by water and sanitation deficits.
* Millions of women spending several hours a day collecting water.
* To these human costs can be added the massive economic waste associated with the water and sanitation deficit.… The costs associated with health spending, productivity losses and labour diversions … are greatest in some of the poorest countries. Sub-Saharan Africa loses about 5% of GDP, or some $28.4 billion annually, a figure that exceeds total aid flows and debt relief to the region in 2003.Source 10


Number of children in the world
2.2 billion
Number in poverty
1 billion (every second child)
Shelter, safe water and health

For the 1.9 billion children from the developing world, there are:
* 640 million without adequate shelter (1 in 3)
* 400 million with no access to safe water (1 in 5)
* 270 million with no access to health services (1 in 7)
Children out of education worldwide
121 million
Survival for children

Worldwide,
* 10.6 million died in 2003 before they reached the age of 5 (same as children population in France, Germany, Greece and Italy)
* 1.4 million die each year from lack of access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation
Health of children

Worldwide,
* 2.2 million children die each year because they are not immunized
* 15 million children orphaned due to HIV/AIDS (similar to the total children population in Germany or United Kingdom)

Source 11


12. Rural areas account for three in every four people living on less than US$1 a day and a similar share of the world population suffering from malnutrition. However, urbanization is not synonymous with human progress. Urban slum growth is outpacing urban growth by a wide margin.Source 12


13. Approximately half the world’s population now live in cities and towns. In 2005, one out of three urban dwellers (approximately 1 billion people) was living in slum conditions.Source 13


14. In developing countries some 2.5 billion people are forced to rely on biomass—fuelwood, charcoal and animal dung—to meet their energy needs for cooking. In sub-Saharan Africa, over 80 percent of the population depends on traditional biomass for cooking, as do over half of the populations of India and China.Source 14


15. Indoor air pollution resulting from the use of solid fuels [by poorer segments of society] is a major killer. It claims the lives of 1.5 million people each year, more than half of them below the age of five: that is 4000 deaths a day. To put this number in context, it exceeds total deaths from malaria and rivals the number of deaths from tuberculosis.Source 15


16. In 2005, the wealthiest 20% of the world accounted for 76.6% of total private consumption. The poorest fifth just 1.5%:

17. The poorest 10% accounted for just 0.5% and the wealthiest 10% accounted for 59% of all the consumption:

Source 16


1.6 billion people — a quarter of humanity — live without electricity:

Breaking that down further:
Number of people living without electricityRegion Millions without electricity
South Asia 706
Sub-Saharan Africa 547
East Asia 224
Other 101


18. The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the 41 Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (567 million people) is less than the wealth of the world’s 7 richest people combined.Source 18


19. World gross domestic product (world population approximately 6.5 billion) in 2006 was $48.2 trillion in 2006.
* The world’s wealthiest countries (approximately 1 billion people) accounted for $36.6 trillion dollars (76%).
* The world’s billionaires — just 497 people (approximately 0.000008% of the world’s population) — were worth $3.5 trillion (over 7% of world GDP).
* Low income countries (2.4 billion people) accounted for just $1.6 trillion of GDP (3.3%)
* Middle income countries (3 billion people) made up the rest of GDP at just over $10 trillion (20.7%).Source 19


20. The world’s low income countries (2.4 billion people) account for just 2.4% of world exportsSource 20


21. The total wealth of the top 8.3 million people around the world “rose 8.2 percent to $30.8 trillion in 2004, giving them control of nearly a quarter of the world’s financial assets.”

22. In other words, about 0.13% of the world’s population controlled 25% of the world’s financial assets in 2004.Source 21


23. For every $1 in aid a developing country receives, over $25 is spent on debt repayment.Source 22


24. 51 percent of the world’s 100 hundred wealthiest bodies are corporations.Source 23


25. The wealthiest nation on Earth has the widest gap between rich and poor of any industrialized nation.Source 24


26. The poorer the country, the more likely it is that debt repayments are being extracted directly from people who neither contracted the loans nor received any of the money.Source 25


27. In 1960, the 20% of the world’s people in the richest countries had 30 times the income of the poorest 20% — in 1997, 74 times as much.Source 26


28. An analysis of long-term trends shows the distance between the richest and poorest countries was about:
* 3 to 1 in 1820
* 11 to 1 in 1913
* 35 to 1 in 1950
* 44 to 1 in 1973
* 72 to 1 in 1992Source 27


29. “Approximately 790 million people in the developing world are still chronically undernourished, almost two-thirds of whom reside in Asia and the Pacific.”Source 28


30. For economic growth and almost all of the other indicators, the last 20 years [of the current form of globalization, from 1980 - 2000] have shown a very clear decline in progress as compared with the previous two decades [1960 - 1980]. For each indicator, countries were divided into five roughly equal groups, according to what level the countries had achieved by the start of the period (1960 or 1980). Among the findings:
* Growth: The fall in economic growth rates was most pronounced and across the board for all groups or countries.
* Life Expectancy: Progress in life expectancy was also reduced for 4 out of the 5 groups of countries, with the exception of the highest group (life expectancy 69-76 years).
* Infant and Child Mortality: Progress in reducing infant mortality was also considerably slower during the period of globalization (1980-1998) than over the previous two decades.
* Education and literacy: Progress in education also slowed during the period of globalization.Source 29


31. A mere 12 percent of the world’s population uses 85 percent of its water, and these 12 percent do not live in the Third World.Source 30

On the Road

We are back in the US and things are busy. Everything went great with our travels home from the Dominican Republic. We are in Northern Michigan now and will be here for the next few weeks. We left the DR the day before hurricane Faye hit the island so we were not affected by the storms that have been hitting Haiti and the Dominican Republic over the last few weeks. We do not believe our partners received any damage as well but we have not heard from them all since our return. Strange thing happened… we managed to not have any major issues while abroad but last Saturday, here in Michigan, Tim was bit by a spider. By Sunday he had a fever, was feeling achy, headache, he had tension in his chest and was feeling weak. On Monday he noticed that several red marks were moving up his arm from the spot the spider had bit him. Turns out he has blood poisoning. He is being treated with antibiotics and feeling much better but please pray for his continued and complete recovery.

Now that we are back our focus has shifted to speaking to groups and individuals about the work we are doing as well as prepare for Thailand and India. We will be speaking on Wed. Sept 17th from 7:30pm to 9:00 pm in the church Hall at Our Lady of Peace Church in Darien Illinois. The title of our presentation is “Finding Purpose… Impacting Lives”. Then on Sunday Sept. 28th Tim, my sister Michele, her husband Brent, and I will be speaking at both the 10:00 am and the 11:30am service at Mayfair Presbyterian church in Chicago IL. We will be sharing stories and pictures of our recent trip to the Dominican Republic. We are working on setting up a few other speaking engagements as well and if anyone else is interested in having us speak to their small group, neighborhood, or other gathering let us know and we can set up a time. We will be in Thailand starting on Oct. 2nd. Please check our blog as we will be keeping our progress updated throughout our work and travels in Thailand as well as India. Many Blessings from IGN to you!

D.R. Slideshow Week 5

It hard to believe that our week with the team has come and gone already. What an amazing time it was. We were able to install all of the toilets and sinks at the school, clear out all of the building materials that were being safe-guarded in in the school, build shelving to organize and store school supplies and go through dozens of boxes and bags of donated items that have long been stored away because of the lack of man power to organize and inventory these items.

We had a great time as a team, working and playing with the children of the community, helping Sofia and Rafael get organized and growing in our own understanding of development and relief. I think an important lesson was seeing the difference between empowering people and creating a culture of dependence.

What does it mean to help people help themselves? If we give handouts instead of a hand up the expectation that we set steal people's dignity and replaces it with dependency. How are we giving people the tools to overcome the challenges in their lives. Are we taking the easy road of giving to those in need to satisfy our our sense of duty or are we willing to take the long hard road of relationship development and empowerment? Who are you investing in?

D.R. Slide Show Week 4

D.R. Slideshow Week 3

It has been a wonderful experience – of course, as expected, some challenges along the way. We’ve met some great people who share our desire to help the marginalized and are doing wonderful things. In fact we’re finding more and more ways to collaborate with people and organizations who complement the work that we are doing.

Farwell to the Team

What an incredible week... How quickly the week flew by and I cannot believe the team is gone. We met a lot of people, did so many things, and built wonderful relationships. Sofia and the kids at the school were so excited when the team came to work with them on Friday. There must have been 100 people at the school for the team youth project. Interacting with the kids and showing them how to do something new was rewarding to both the kids and the team. The kids were so proud of what they did and could not wait to show Sofia their wonderful creations. What a difference Sofia is making in their lives. For many of these kids Sofia's influence means the difference between making good choices or bad choices. When bad choices are made grace, forgiveness, and support in making better choices are available to them. I watch the 10 to 16 year old kids and how they teeter on a line between a good path and one that is not. Having Sofia believe in them and hold them accountable is a priceless gift that provides them with an opportunity for a future they may not have without her. She is always available, always open to give whatever she has for another, and always there to go the extra mile for others. Sofia and her family are poor in finances but truly rich in the things that matter. Thank you Sofia for loving others despite your own circumstances, you daily change lives for the better. How are you living each day? How do your daily actions effect others? How are you impacting your community? If you moved away tomorrow, would the community you live in feel an impact?

D.R. Slideshow Week 2

D.R. Slideshow Week 1

Working in the DR

The team has been working hard to help get the school ready to start. The toilets and sinks are in. The school has been cleaned and painted and is ready to go. Electricity is left but we had a chance to meet with an electrician and get a quote while we were here. The team also spent time organizing all of the donations here at Sofia’s. Shelves were made and items were sorted, stacked, put in bins, labeled, and neatly given a place to make it easy for the kids to see what is there and for Sofia to find what she needs to give away.

We can’t believe the team leaves tomorrow. How fast the time went. Everyone fell in love with the kids and Sofia, Rafael, and Moses. We will miss them and pray God continues to bless them, ARRAS, all the children and the people of Hato Mayor. Blessings from IGN!