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Pua Mission Trip -- Dec 2017

10 GBC members conducted the quarterly English Camp at Kathy's Home in Pua from 1-4 Dec 2017. They also visited the House of Hope – a dormitory for Hmong students under The Firm Foundation – which is about 20mins away at Thawangpha. Read the trip report to find out more.

The Team

The team comprised 10 members. Other than the regulars of Ngiam Siew Kim, Beh Soo Hee, Kiew Won Lee, June Kiew, William and Karen Lenn, we welcome back Agnes Ng who had spent three months in Kathy’s Home two years ago and is now back for university break, Becky Wong on her 4th trip and the newcomers: Kathleen and Chung Cheong Lee.

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Travel

The travel has to be well coordinated as there are four travel arrangements by the team members – Won Lee, June and Becky flew on Air Asia on Friday morning from the new T4 to meet Agnes in Don Muang Airport to take the domestic flight to Nan. They were met on arrival at Nan Airport by Siew Kim, Karen, William, Kathleen and Chung Cheong who had arrived from Beacon Hall, Chiang Mai in their hired van. The full team assembled in Opp Kaew Resort where Beh was awaiting us, having arrived earlier in the day.  

The team returned in two groups – Beh and Becky took the Monday morning flight from Nan to Bangkok and transit to Singapore while the rest of the team went to visit Beacon Hall in Chiang Mai.

Morning Devotion and Sermon

Saturday’s morning devotion verses by Won Lee were from John 14:14-21 and Psalm 23:1-4. These verses assured us that we can place our trust in God who will be with us in times of trials and troubles. He recounted the story of a friend who had an encounter with Jesus during his hospitalisation. From this episode, his friend learnt that Jesus is not only our personal Messiah and Saviour but also a Comforter in his critical situation. 

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Agnes led Sunday’s morning devotion with the story of Jesus raising Lazarus to life from John 11, emphasising the importance of patience in abiding with God’s plan which do not follow our expected timeline.

For Sunday's message, William preached from Psalm 1 that we should not associate with the ungodly and wicked. Instead we should imbibe the values from the bible and keep God’s commands in our minds and hearts. We have to exercise care and patience to reach our life goals, like the gardener who has to wait for the trees to grow and fruit. 

English Classes

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We have to do some last minute reshuffling of the class timing as we learnt that a number of high school students had been informed by their school a day prior to the camp to return for classes on Saturday. 

Sunday’s End of Camp Sharing

pua-dec-17-4We were heartened by the students’ sharing at the end of the camp. Some of them made a special effort to speak in English. Nutcha was observed practising her English speech prior to her sharing. Our English lessons must be bearing fruits as the children laughed heartily during the funny parts of Pirapon’s English composition during his recitation.

We are encouraged to see the children especially the girls from the more impoverished villages who are really driven and motivated to learn. It is delightful to see them greeting the team on our arrival and speaking to us in English after the classes.

 

Visit to House of Hope in Thawangpha

At the end of the camp on Sunday afternoon we left for the House of Hope which is about 20mins away at Thawangpha. Like Kathy’s Home, the House of Hope is a dormitory for Hmong students under the umbrella of The Firm Foundation. We met up with some Australians and a former student of William who have been supporting this Home’s rebuilding programme. Like the older KH students, some of the Grade 12 students we spoke to aspired to go to university. We were pleasantly surprised to meet two girls in this Home who are sisters of Yuwadee and Krairirk at KH. This Home with its more rudimentary buildings reminded us of the early days of Kathy’s Home.

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Social Media

Please check out Kathy’s Home Facebook for more photos!

We give thanks to our Lord for:

  • Mak, Narola and the house parents.
  • growth of the children; Beh observed that the boys’ dormitory is much tidier than before.
  • Won Lee’s dedication and leadership in planning the quarterly trips as well as writing the trip report.
  • safe journeys for the entire year. The trips are getting more complicated with different travel plans and we are thankful for the journey mercies and generous provision of the Lord.
  • pouring out of His grace and strength to sustain us and the children.

Please pray:

  • that the children, especially those who are graduating will finish well. Pray for wisdom for the graduating students to choose the university and career path to advance in, and most importantly, that they will continue to draw near to and grow in the Lord.
  • the two boys – Anon and Goguson – who have left the home.
  • God’s provision for the operating costs of the home.
  • that we will continue to abide in Him as we journey together.

 

Next Trip

2-5 March 2018 which will be Vacation Bible School