Story from Child Soldier

My name is Sam Nap. I have five brothers and sisters in our family. My father is farmer but he has also soldier in our UWSA military. I am the third in our family and one of my brothers is attending military training in our Wa army and one of my brothers is dead in the army.In our village we have no school, no rights and very difficult situation. All the peoples are joining the army. We don’t have another choice.

In our village we have no Sunday school and only one pastor we have. One month our family income is about 1,000 Baht we have. This money is not enough for our family we don’t have other business.

I am praying everyday for my future. I don’t want to join in the military for Child Soldier. Also my parents are want to send out from my village.

One day our local pastor and my parent are sending us to Maesai. Firstly I am not happy, because I can not speak Burmese and Thai.

The first day in our school class room, I am crying. Because our classmate of children are very young. Some are 5 years and some are 6 years old. I am 13 years old and start from grade one.

Another day I am not crying and I known my situation in our village. In that time many missionary are come to our school and teach us to many things.

When they come to our school they tell about the story of Jesus and they bring some of the cloths and snacks for us. Now I am happy in Maesai.

Story from Micro Savings Program

My name is Nardaw and Lahu ethnic from Myanmar. I have family with one child. I am come from Myanmar for working in Thailand. Now I have been to Thailand almost 10 years. Last 10 years I am working for many restaurants and markets for migrant workers. In last 10 years I have no money to save and no housing and nothing.

In 2009 of June, our pastor from Maesai Grace International Church have a meeting with us and he sharing about his vision to migrant worker and then we set up to start the micro credit and savings program in our migrant community. When we start first we have only 13 members and now we increasing 67 members in this program.

We are saving 300 Baht in every month. Now I have saved in the program about 5,200 Baht for the 17 months. In the same time I am starting small business program with my own money in the morning market in Maesai. Some time I need more money to investment for my small shop and I can loan some money from this program and I am return small money to the savings program. Now I am very happy with my shop and my family. Because every day all my sale money is becoming my own money. Before that I am working in the restaurant one month I have only 3,500 Baht. For one day is about 120 Baht. Now I got one day about 200 baht sometime 300 or 400 Baht. All the money is my money and every month I give to my tithes to the church and also every Sunday I am attending to the church.

In the future I want to make a big shop and after that I want to buy housing for our family. I don’t worry about that because I want to save more money and I can borrow some money from the saving program. However my feeling is joy and happy with my family and my small shop and develop for our financial and also our spiritual are developed.

Verse of the Week

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4

Meetings for Teacher and Parents Association

Every school year our coordinator for teacher and parent association is made a schedule for the gathering. It is purpose to establish better communication between parents and teachers. Since children are different at home and in school, both the parent and teacher gain in understanding the child and can, therefore be more effective in helping him or her. The teacher may be very surprised to learn that what she thought was a humorous way of dealing with the child was actually making the child feel belittled. The parent may learn that the teacher feels the child is not giving school his best effort. The teacher may learn that the child is distracted because the family is going through a difficult time. Of course, many parents are pleasantly surprised to hear how much better behaved the child is in school than at home.

Project Activities on Sep-Oct 2010

During the September and October is very busy with Pastor's Conference in Chiang Mai from 13-16 September organize by Grace Mission. For the second gathering meeting is Tearfund Inspired Individual Program from 23-26 September and the last is Consultation for Asia Pacific Integral Mission organize by Micah Network International in Cha Am. Thanks You Lord for this opportunities and we have many new friends from different countries and diferent organizations.