Pua Mission Trip Dec 2019

14 GBC members, including Pastor Eugene Low's family, headed to Pua, Thailand to conduct the quarterly English camp at Kathy's Home from 6-9 December, 2019. Pastor Eugene Low reflects on the first time trip for the Lows. 


It is always encouraging to see what God is doing in the world to spread the fame of his name. I’m therefore grateful for the opportunity to travel to Pua with Claire and our two boys, Zachary and Iain. Having heard much about Mak and Narola’s ministry in northern Thailand, we enjoyed being able to witness the work firsthand. It was good to observe this faithful couple ‘in their element’, lovingly serving the children at Kathy’s Home. 

At the English camp, Claire and I taught a class comprising three girls from the home: Thanika (14), Nicharee (14) and Natchariya (12). They were enthusiastic and keen to learn, which made our classes a joy. We helped them with reading, vocabulary and grammar. And, to add some variety, we also included some games during our lessons. We played Scrabble, word searches and charades with the girls, who took well to learning through play. 

Besides teaching English, we also had the opportunity to talk to the girls about Jesus. With the help of an online Thai translation of Two Ways to Live, Claire and I were able to engage the girls in a conversation about the gospel. It was heartening that we could build on the work done by Mak and Narola at the home. 

Meanwhile, Zachary assisted Karen Lenn with her class. He and Iain enjoyed getting to know the children at the home. Although they spoke different languages, they all found plenty of common ground through playing games like basketball, football and Uno. Zachary and Iain appreciated being exposed to life and ministry in a different culture. It was a good learning experience and they are looking forward to visiting Pua again soon! 

We also had the opportunity to visit a local church in the Hmong village at Maesanan. Pastor Suchat, who used to be a resident at Kathy’s Home, now leads the church. I was encouraged by how God is raising up local church leaders through Mak and Narola’s ministry. Not only does the home provide a good educational environment for these children, it also creates a platform for the proclamation of the gospel and the display of Christ’s love. 

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(Front row L-R): Chung Cheong, Kathleen, (Narola Sanglir), Claire, Racquel, Iain, Kim Song, William, Zachary, Karen, Kit Wan
(Back row L-R): Eugene, Joey, (Mak Sanglir), Soo Hee and Siew Kim. 

The team comprised 14 members. We were delighted to have Ps Eugene’s family joined us, it was refreshing to have two young children (Zachary and Iain) joining the team and the children at Kathy’s Home naturally related very well with them. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we had two members pull out of the trip at the last minute, else we would have a 16-member team (a record!). Nonetheless, we were thankful that the team managed to cope with the sudden reshuffle of teachers. 

Travel and Weather

Thank God for journey mercies, especially for protecting William, Karen, CC and Kathleen as they journeyed between Chiang Mai and Pua. We were also grateful for the uneventful travel between Singapore and Pua for the rest of the team, with some members of the team travelling earlier to Bangkok before congregating at Don Mueang for the flight to Nan. 

The temperature dipped to a low of 5-8 degree Celcius at night! A couple of us underestimated how the temperature would plunge to this low and did not bring proper warm clothing. Thankfully, the resort provided extra fleece blankets upon request. 

Morning Devotion and Sermon

CC and Ps Eugene led the morning devotion for the weekend and William walked through the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:5-15 with the children on Sunday. 

English Camp

As with previous camps, we conducted one class on Friday, three classes on Saturday and two classes on Sunday.

Due to the cold weather, a number of classes were conducted outdoor under the sun, a very welcomed change from the usual hot and humid classrooms! Ps Eugene, Claire and Iain took one class while Zachary assisted Karen in her class. The children at Kathy’s Home took to Zachary and Iain very well, and they even played Uno together between classes.

Karen made a few tubs of ice-cream in Beacon Hall and brought them to Pua to share with the children after breaking camp. It was very well received, and so were the Toblerone bars that Siew Kim aka ‘Uncle Chocolate’ would bring for every camp.

The children also gave a surprise song item singing "Thankful" – a children's song for Thanksgiving and every other day of the year; written by Shawna Belt Edwards.

Visit to Maesanan Village

The Lows together with CC and Kathleen headed to Maesanan on Sunday where Ps Eugene gave his exhortation to the Hmong believers during the worship. Zachary and Iain had a rocking good time sitting at the back of the van as they journeyed between Pua and Maesanan (according to Claire, it was their favourite part of the trip)!

Thanksgiving and Prayers

  • Kathy’s Home will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary when Team Singapore makes its next quarterly trip from 6-9 March, 2020. Many past residents are expected to make their way to Pua to commemorate God's goodness, so it will be an exciting time of catching up with those who have graduated and celebrating God’s mighty work in Kathy’s Home and the lives of the children.

  • We praise the Lord for His faithfulness and for providing Mak and Narola with the faith, love, wisdom, strength and perseverance needed to care and shepherd the children at Kathy’s Home. Do continue to pray for the children (past and present) that wherever they are, they will continue to draw near to God and that the seed sown will bear much fruit. 

  • We give thanks for Nokton and Moi who are newly married and are now labouring alongside Mak and Narola. Do continue to pray for them that they will adapt well, that their love for the children and the children’s love for them will grow and that they will be a great help to Mak and Narola. 

  • Do pray for Supakit who will be taking tests and undergoing interviews in Chiang Mai in Jan/Feb 2020 as he applies to study Medicine in college. 

  • We thank God for journey mercies, especially for protecting William, Karen, CC and Kathleen as they journeyed between Chiang Mai and Pua. 

  • We give thanks for the Lows, especially Zachary and Iain who injected much energy and liveliness to the team and were able to relate very well with the children at Kathy’s Home. 

  • We thank God for giving us the love, time and resources to partner with Mak and Narola in this ministry and for the beautiful time of fellowship and encouragement each time we visit Pua.

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