I have to admit, I'm very impressed with women right now. I know that probably sounds like something you'd expect me to say given that I serve with AB Women's Ministries, but I'm guessing I would feel this way right now regardless. We spent yesterday (Thursday the 14th) visiting the New Life Center here in Chiang Mai. Karen Smith gave us an excellent overview of the situation here in Thailand with tribal people and labor exploitation/trafficking. She then explained the work of the New Life Center. Although I've read about the New Life Center over the years, there's nothing like sitting right there on the campus while hearing about their work.
Kit Ripley took us on a tour of the income-generating workshop (handicrafts) and explained their new ministry of using art therapy with the residents. As she pointed out some of the artwork on the walls and described what the artists had shared with her about their work, I was touched by how little opportunity any of the girls had ever been given to truly express themselves, to learn how gifted and talented they were, and how little self-worth they had ever felt. But far from feeling overwhelmed by the tragedy, I felt lifted by hope. Watching Karen and Kit's faces as they described their work and talked about the girls and young women--the residents of New Life Center are in very good hands!
Later in the afternoon we visited the Siloam Bible Institute, formerly known as the Karen Baptist Bible Institute. We met Jinda, the president of Thailand Karen Baptist Women's Union, and Yuleybey, the general secretary--they shared with us the wide scope of work that the women's union does. There are 10 associations on the Thailand Karen Baptist convention, and each association has a woman who is assigned to work with the churches there. These 10 women attend semi-annual trainings at the KBWU office at Siloam for as long as they're in their roles--they then train women who are in leadership in local congregation's women's ministries. Their system is much like our own in AB Women's Ministries.
Jinda took us to the construction site of where they're building the new women's department offices and training facilities--they have received a little over a million baht in donations so far, and need about 3 million baht (or about $100,000) to finish. The churches are working hard to raise the necessary funds and the KBWU itself sells traditional handicrafts and Karen clothing to help support itself and generate the funds for the building.
Before we left, we were treated to a song performed by the students of Siloam--the harmonies were just beautiful. These students will graduate and go on to help lead existing and plant new Karen Baptist churches in Thailand.
Finally, we were hosted by Pat and Lamont Brown for a pizza dinner in their home, which also included Karen and Kit, as well as Kim Brown (who we'll be traveling to see today). That was a welcome "down-time" after a long week.
Back to being impressed by women. Not only have we met and seen the ministries of Annie Dieselberg, Karen Smith, Kit Ripley, and now Kim Brown--but we have also met the women who worked in the governmental and NGO offices in Bangkok on behalf of refugees--and we have seen the many strong Karen women who have taken on significant leadership roles in their community to work towards the betterment of their people. These are women of faith and hope--and truly women of strength. They have wisdom and the willingness to work in partnership with many others, and most importantly, they have joy in their ministries. I am inspired by them.
I have written more about the women's work here in Thailand in the AB Women's Ministries blog for my trip at thailandreflections.blogspot.com--although not for today's trip because I only get so much computer time and this is it! But I am privileged to be on this journey--and to be getting to know my journey-mates better. As always, dinnertime conversations often prove to be the most valuable as those of us who are working with Karen in our home churches are sharing stories and ideas; and as we put our heads together as denominational staff persons to try to understand God's leading in knowing how ABCUSA can best serve our new Karen brothers and sisters in Christ. May God continue to be with us on this trip--opening our eyes and sending us whatever messages God needs us to hear!
Kit Ripley took us on a tour of the income-generating workshop (handicrafts) and explained their new ministry of using art therapy with the residents. As she pointed out some of the artwork on the walls and described what the artists had shared with her about their work, I was touched by how little opportunity any of the girls had ever been given to truly express themselves, to learn how gifted and talented they were, and how little self-worth they had ever felt. But far from feeling overwhelmed by the tragedy, I felt lifted by hope. Watching Karen and Kit's faces as they described their work and talked about the girls and young women--the residents of New Life Center are in very good hands!
Later in the afternoon we visited the Siloam Bible Institute, formerly known as the Karen Baptist Bible Institute. We met Jinda, the president of Thailand Karen Baptist Women's Union, and Yuleybey, the general secretary--they shared with us the wide scope of work that the women's union does. There are 10 associations on the Thailand Karen Baptist convention, and each association has a woman who is assigned to work with the churches there. These 10 women attend semi-annual trainings at the KBWU office at Siloam for as long as they're in their roles--they then train women who are in leadership in local congregation's women's ministries. Their system is much like our own in AB Women's Ministries.
Jinda took us to the construction site of where they're building the new women's department offices and training facilities--they have received a little over a million baht in donations so far, and need about 3 million baht (or about $100,000) to finish. The churches are working hard to raise the necessary funds and the KBWU itself sells traditional handicrafts and Karen clothing to help support itself and generate the funds for the building.
Before we left, we were treated to a song performed by the students of Siloam--the harmonies were just beautiful. These students will graduate and go on to help lead existing and plant new Karen Baptist churches in Thailand.
Finally, we were hosted by Pat and Lamont Brown for a pizza dinner in their home, which also included Karen and Kit, as well as Kim Brown (who we'll be traveling to see today). That was a welcome "down-time" after a long week.
Back to being impressed by women. Not only have we met and seen the ministries of Annie Dieselberg, Karen Smith, Kit Ripley, and now Kim Brown--but we have also met the women who worked in the governmental and NGO offices in Bangkok on behalf of refugees--and we have seen the many strong Karen women who have taken on significant leadership roles in their community to work towards the betterment of their people. These are women of faith and hope--and truly women of strength. They have wisdom and the willingness to work in partnership with many others, and most importantly, they have joy in their ministries. I am inspired by them.
I have written more about the women's work here in Thailand in the AB Women's Ministries blog for my trip at thailandreflections.blogspot.com--although not for today's trip because I only get so much computer time and this is it! But I am privileged to be on this journey--and to be getting to know my journey-mates better. As always, dinnertime conversations often prove to be the most valuable as those of us who are working with Karen in our home churches are sharing stories and ideas; and as we put our heads together as denominational staff persons to try to understand God's leading in knowing how ABCUSA can best serve our new Karen brothers and sisters in Christ. May God continue to be with us on this trip--opening our eyes and sending us whatever messages God needs us to hear!
