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.