Light For Shan

Lots has been going on

2011-09-08T09:14:00.000-07:00

This blog has not been updated for a while but a lot has been happening. In August we had a team from the Covenant Chapel and a good time was had by all.

Some good friends of our ministry thought that the Shan kids would like to play basketball. Well, we had never seen them play basketball but since they were willing to provide a basketball court we thought that it would be interesting to see their response.

Here is their response:

Testimony from Elphia

2011-04-11T18:49:00.000-07:00

I was here in Maesai in 2007 for my 1st mission trip to Northern Thailand. That time, Samuel Lim, a fellow Singaporean, was the missionary coordinating and sharing the Shan work in Maesai. I remembered him sharing something that striked my heart. He shared about giving his firstfruits to the Lord. He just finished from National Service in Singapore and was seeking the Lord for the will of his life. So he wanted to give his firstfruits, his youth, to the Lord for His work n His purpose. He planned to come for 3 months ST mission and God has other plans for him. In all, he stayed for about 4 years or so. I was challenged and started to ask questions about my faith and my obedience. Here I met a fellow Singaporean, who's so much different from the youth I know back home. Different in his priorities in life, his obedience, his sacrifice, his love for the Lord. What am I doing with my youth, my life? Am I truly seeking Him? Am I contented to serve my Lord within my comfort zone? If the Lord to put a burden on me, will I be obedient to follow?

I started praying and asking God to reveal His plans to me. I started preparing myself spiritually, emotionally and started to reading the Word of God more. I see how the Lord opens the way for me. In 2007 and 2008, God blesses me with 2 promotions at work. Which is a miracle cos it's not common to have a promotion back to back. Financially, I became more secured and started to save more money. I started to get my church n friends to pray for me. And I told my family and my church my plans to serve Him in the mission field for 2 years.

Consent from my mother was what I thought the most difficult and impossible. I was ready to even resign from my job as a teacher in Singapore. My mother was very unwilling to let me go to Northern Thailand all by myself at first. But God softened her heart. She saw my determination and eventually gave me her blessings. I took a 2-years-No-Pay-Leave to come serve as a Volunteer English teacher in Thailand. It's another impossible request made possible only by the hands of God. I wrote in to the ministry to apply for leave stating clearly n truthfully that the purpose of my leave is to serve God in mission in Thailand. It was approved! My principal from school told me that it's rare for the ministry to approve such excerptionally leave reason. So I knew immediately God is paving the way for me.

As I am writing this, I am concluding my service here in Maesai. In my heart, there's many mixed emotions. God has been so good to me these past 20 months. I have learnt so many valuable lessons from Him. Some of the lessons are not so pleasant but each one of them helps me to grow more in Him and my heart fulls n overpours with thanksgiving and gratitude.

I will take home with me every single precious memories, experiences, the smiling faces of the people here. I thank God for His faithfulness, His love, His comfort. Being my best friend and the Father I missed.

Lord Jesus. I love you. And I thank you. I want to follow you for the rest of my life. Thank you for your love and giving me my identity in you. I am a beloved child of God. You are my Lord, my Father, my Saviour. May every living creature on this earth praise and give honour to you and your Name. Amen.

In Christ, elphia

Youth Camp "End of Age"

2011-04-06T06:56:00.001-07:00

The night before our 6th Shan Youth Camp, Maesai experienced a 6.7 Ricter scale earthquake. The epicentre was about 56km away from Maesai, in Myanmar. We could feel the houses and the earth beneath us shaking violently. The aftershocks of it could even be felt even 5 days after. We were supposed to receive 5 shan youths from Myanmar to join us in this camp but because of the earthquake, the borderpass between Maesai(Thailand) and Tachilek(Myanmar) was closed the next day and the damages in Myanmar was more severe so the youths couldn't join us.

We were pretty worried that because of the earthquake, the parents would not allow their children to join us for the camp or whether was it safe enough for us to continue the camp. We prayed and commited our worries and concerns to God, knowing that His Hands are in this matter. By faith, we pressed on for the camp. Praise the Lord! We had about 50 youths turned up for the camp. 80% of them are non-Christians. Though we could feel the aftershocks during the camp as we slept, God kept us safe. But nonetheless, some of the youths were still feeling jittery.

The camp theme was "End of Age" And the Earthquake experience we just had the day before the youth camp and the recent Japan Tsunami and the war in Libya made the message more urgent and real for all of us. (Matt 26:7)

May God continues to speak to each and every of the youth of the urgency of the message.

And that all will turn away from our wilful ways and to Him.

Camp Group Picture

The Champion performance on the last night of the Youth Camp. The boys formed their own band and performed a song. Team-building game.

Let me tell you what to do.... listen to me.

Ploy: Move it this way...

Sang: this way? which way????? I can't see your way!!!! Left or right????

Measuring every drop of the water!

something funny must have had happened!

Bible Quiz Challange. You can only answer the question if you score the highest points!

Praise and Worship

Workshop 1: Girls versus Boys Debate

Games IC: Sandra, Stephen and Elphia...

P.S: I am not asking for help... but demonstrating how the game is played.

Victory!

Yellow Group having their Quiet Time with P' Motu!

Skit by the Swiss and the Thais... One of the highlights of the finale night.

We give praise and honor to our Lord for His providence, protection and overseeing the 6th annual Shan youth Camp. We pray to meet again and be encouraged in our faith and walk in the next youth camp!

Team Alaska flew 26 hours to reach us here in Maesai to bless us with their joy and their love!

2011-04-06T06:17:00.000-07:00

On the 17th to 20th of March, a team of 8 from Alaska, USA, paid us a visit and ran a 2 day English Camp for the Shan migrant kids. They were from the sending church of the Harris, based in Chiangmai and the Harris came up with the team and coordinated the programme together with Team Maesai.

Despite the wet cold and gloomy week, God blessed us with the sun and great weather during the 2 day English camp! That's the 1st gift we and the team received joyfully when we woke up in the morning of 18th March to a bright sunny day! Thank you Father God!

The team taught the children English vocabulary and shared the Gospel using the "wordless book" and also taught the children to make friendship bands, hair-ribbons, designed their own Tshirts and played lots of fun games! Hip Hip Hooray! All the children with the Team Alaska and their own designed Tshirts! Colleen and the kids. The Team Alaska were requested to sign on the Tshirts of the children!

Jesus Loves "Tan"

Jesus Loves Likit!

Loves Awe

Doing evaluation! What do you like most in the past 2 days English Camp?

Language barrier? No worries! Just draw them out!! Creative!

Bounce the Balls!!!!

Peter's giving instructions!

Team Alaska, making up 4 adults and 4 youths from age 15 to 19, leaving the States for the 1st time! Very encouraged to hear them share and praying to come back to visit.

We hope to see you guys soon too!

Keep us and the ministry in prayers!

Eye Clinic for the Shan

2011-04-06T06:07:00.000-07:00

On the 16th of March, a team from Canada came by our Shan Development Centre and blessed the people around the centre with free eyesight check and spectacles!

Abt 50 people queued and had their eyes checked in the short 3 hours.

Thank You Lord once again for sending Your people and Your resources to bless the people here in Maesai.

Mae Fah Luang's here to teach, play n have fun!

2011-01-27T19:29:00.000-08:00

On the 15th and 16th January, 20 students from the Mae Fah Luang University came to our Shan Development centre to run 2-days workshop for our kids. The Year 1 students found out about the Green Mountain Foundation and our work through the internet and wanted to work with the children here. The students came from the InfoTechnology faculty and during the 2-days workshop, they taught the kids IT, English and simple stuff.

Self Introduction time to break ice with the kids, followed by games and songs.

English Lesson

Crossword puzzles make our eyes crossed!

Nitty nimble fingers at work.

The MFL students playing games in small groups.

IT lesson. Using Webcam.

Pose for the picture!

What's the joke? Why the laughs??

Now we all know Nom looks best in Afro!!!

Last hour before saying goodbye, til we meet again.
The MFL singing a song of blessing to the kids.

Paa Chalor thanking the team on behalf of the Green Mountain Foundation.

Children's Day

2011-01-27T18:51:00.000-08:00

January 8th is Children's Day in Thailand. On the 7th January, the Thai government school, NJ, invited us to help prepare 2 items for the Grade 1 and Grade 2 class during Children's Day celebration.
We put up 2 performaces and one of them we use a Christian song that we put up during the Christmas celebration. It's about our Lord Jesus Christ, coming to the world in a manger and dying for us. The children sang and danced to the songs. Many parents were there at the clebration too. We were very excited to be able to share the good news of Jesus through the performance. Praise the Lord for such an opportunity to sow His seeds in a public place.

Children queuing up before the start of the celebration.

This is a Grade 2 performance. Most of them are kids from our after-school programme in NJ village.

The children singing to the song and Thai teachers helping us to encourage the children to sing Louder! Ken is playing the song.

This is the Jesus' song performed by Grade 1.

On the 9th January, we also had a small celebration at our new centre in NJ. I am teaching the song "Jesus Loves All Little Children". Then we have games and gifts exchanges.

The children were supposed to burst the balloon and retrieved a number to collect their presents. They loved it!

We witnessed a miracle. Let me share this with u. At the end of the session, we had a small children's day gift for each of the children. We didn't expect a big turn up and had abt 40 odd gifts left over. We thought we had abt 40+ gifts. We gave out some in the morning to the Sunday School children.

We had the kids lined up to give out the gift. Then we saw the long line of children. Some of the children came in halfway. Some of them heard the laughter n the songs n came in to join us for the 1st time. Ken commented that we might not have enough for every kid. What should we do? My 1st immediate response was "give to those who came early for the programme". Then immediately after that, I heard a voice that say, "Jesus can use 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread to feed 5000. He can do that now too." I told Ken about it and by faith, we just gave each child a pack. And not surprising, every child got a pack and we have 2 left over which I walked out to the street and gave them away to 2 children. Jesus taught us an important lesson that day. He is our Jehovah Jireh and we need to trust in Him. Praise the Lord!

Jesus said "Let the littlechildren come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." matthew 19: 14.

Jesus loves all little children

All the children of the World.

Red and Yellow, Black and White.

They are precious in His Sight.

Jesus loves all little children of the World.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

2010-12-27T19:48:00.000-08:00

Hohoho! Merry Christmas!
Greetings to All faithful prayer warriors from the Maesai Shan Team!

Updates Updates!
This year, we held all our Christmas outreaches in the Shan Development Centre! Our Kids Christmas programme, youth party and Adults outreach all in the Centre. A total of more than 200 Shan people, young and old came and celebrated Christmas with us! With dances and songs put up by our students, youths and a team from Elphia's church in Singapore, we shared the message of Christ, being born into this world to save us from our sins and eternal death and to fulfil the promises in the Bible.

Paa Chalor addressing the parents and the children.

SuanLuang girls putting up 3 dances for the programme.

Maesai Shan team with Team BPGC Singapore (in Reds)

Youths presenting a song about the birth of Jesus during the youth party.

Shan dance put up by the NamJam village girls.

Christmas dance and "Joy to the World" by NamJam kids.

Youth Party on the evening of 18th Dec. A team from Chalor's central Thailand church came to celebrate and share the message.

Christmas dance by NamJam kids on Sunday Adults outreach service. We tried to allow as many children to dance and perform in one item as possible. Because many parents came to watch their children perform.

Bible Verse for the Outreach

Luke 2:11 "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord"

Team BPGC Singapore putting up a dance and a skit.

Maesai Shan Team putting up a magic show that explains though man has fallen, Jesus Christ was born, has borne our sins and paid for them and that we are all free in Him.

More Shan Kids Camp Photos

2010-11-02T21:29:00.000-07:00

Pass the string across! String themthru our shirts... Next comes cheerios and ice!
Playing Blocker! You can't touch me!

Joey imitating a boy who's frozen for the "play Dead" game. He's so good! He was one of the last few kids who didn't move at all.

We have workshops in the afternoon to teach English.

This is the younger group. From age 10 and below.

Find "K"!!!!

Arunee and Tyson teaching the older group. 10 and above.

Shan Kids' Camp 2010 "The Right Way"

2010-11-02T20:28:00.000-07:00

Praise the Lord and shout joys of thanksgiving to Him always.

We have just wrapped up yearly anxiously-anticipated-by-all Shan Kids' Camp. As usual, I am having the post-camp blues. "Sigh.... we wish the camp was longer..." overheard by some of us. That echoed my feelings too.

This year's camp was held at the Shan Development Centre on the 23rd to 25th October.

Many of the Shan youths came down to help out the camp as camp facilitators and helpers this year. We had at least 3 youth helpers in each team. Ken made the youth do many silly dances and punishments and the youth sportingly played up their roles and brought laughs to the faces of many.

About 80 kids turned up for the camp this year.

The theme for this year's Kids Camp is "The Right Way"

Camp Picture on the last day of Camp.NamJam Girls doing a traditional Shan Dance to commerce the start of the Shan Kids' Camp

More dances presented after Lunch by NamJam Children.

We are not taking an afternoon nap. We are playing a game called Pretending to be "Dead". The helpers will go ard making them laugh but they r supposed to stay frozen. It is one of their fav games in this camp.

Rocks Paper Scissors! Splash your leader if u win!

Art and Craft Activities during the Camp. Thanks to The Fongs Family for preaparing the craft.

Posing with their crafts!

As the Months Rolled By

2010-10-05T04:53:00.000-07:00

The primary cause for global warming is probably due to the fact that the earth is getting closer to the sun, and that would explain why days and weeks and months fly by at such a rapid pace. Maybe I am wrong but it would help to explain why this blog has not been updated in ages.

Here at a glance is what has happened since April.A new school year began in May, with a few new students in the vocational school program.

The number of kids in Namjam increased as well.
May helped teach English to the Vocational school students during her Summer break.

Meanwhile a new generation of artistic scholars are emerging in the Linchi Orchard.

In July we were saddened by the death of Loong La. He was the Shan community leader who welcomed us to begin our work in the Suan Luang neighborhood. Many hundreds attended his funeral.Several of the youth in our program helped with the funeral wearing their traditional Shan costumes.
In late July we had an excellent team come from Elphia's church in Singapore. They spent time with both the children and youth and even organized a mini one day camp in Mae Sai.

They also organized an Special English Program at Nam Jam school. It is evident that the kids in that school are really making progress in their English studies. The regular Thai teaching staff make our teams welcome and everyone benefits.

Then came August and our first Mother's Day celebration in the new meeting hall at the Shan Family Center.

Advance to Victory!

2010-04-12T07:21:00.000-07:00

Who's calling? Must be Paa Chalor calling for a meeting for the staff
Happy shot

Dancing hairy legs!

Nom accepted Christ during the camp! Praise the Lord. Pray that this young life will continue to grow strong and steady in Christ.

Catch the falling ball!

Whose toilet broke down? Why so many fingers on the pipe?

Doing the Gorilla Dance! Who's the Gorilla-est???

Playing Human Bowling Pins. But where's the ball?

Thank God for youth camp this year. Instead of having a speaker for the whole camp, we invited different speakers to come and share about how through knowing God and believing in Him, they had advanced into Victory. A new gift of life after old "self" death! Made only possible by Christ.

Prayer for the coming Youth Camp

2010-03-12T02:06:00.000-08:00

Most schools in Thailand are now having their end of year school holidays. We will once again make use of the holiday break to run a Shan Youth camp. We will be holding the Youth Camp at Bethel Bible Seminary on the 26th March to 29th March. It is a 4 days 3 nights stay in camp. The camp theme is "Advance in Victory".

Yohan and Angie will be coming from Chiangmai to help out in the camp. We will be having 5 Singaporeans over to facilitate the camp with us. We are still recruiting 4 camp facilitators to lead the 4 colour teams. We are praying for about 60~80 campers to join us in this camp.

Please continue to remember us in prayers.

Pray that God will prepare and pave the ways for the youths to come to the camp.
Pray that God will prepare the hearts of the Shan youths who are coming that they will be open to the Word and Teaching of our Lord and that they will experience God and be touched by Him.
Pray for the Unity of the Spirit of the committee team and camp facilitators.
Pray for a servanthood heart for the staff and camp committee. That we will be a good testimony of Christ and that we will build lasting relationships with the campers.
Pray for the presence of the Lord to be with us.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and support for us in Maesai.

May God Bless you and your family.

Christmas in Maesai

2010-01-08T06:46:00.000-08:00

The Christmas Team
Guests listened intently at the sermon.

The youths helping to give away Christmas gifts for the adults.

Christmas Skit by SL kids

NJ kids dancing away

SL kids dancing away

Our guests on Christmas Sunday Service. Most of them are the kids we ministering to in SL and NJ.

YiXin sharing her Testimony in Thai!

Playing the game "Roll double". When u roll double, u have to put on the shirt, jeans and christmas hat and eat a chocolate before the next person rolls a double. Lots of fun!

Gifts exchange!

Singapore team putting up a skit on "Umbrella and Rainy Day" There's only one way to use an umbrella. One Way to our Father in Heaven.

The NamJam Village Girls dancing to "Mot Tang Chi Wit"

Angels for Christmas!
The Singapore Team put up a skit on the Shepherds and Wise Men.

"My Top is going to come off if u guys keep tugging it so hard!"

Playing the colours game. When the game IC called out a colour, u got to point to something of that colour.

The girls tiedup their hair, put on a little make-up and wore their best clothes for the Christmas dance.

Guess what's the colour being called out now???

Grp pix with Teachers, kids and us at the Nursery.

At the nursery playing games and doing Art and Craft to share the Christmas joy with 83 Shans and Akhas kids aged between 3~6 years old.

November Updates...

2009-12-08T16:38:00.000-08:00

We have a new pavilion "Salaa" at the Shan Family Development Centre.

It's quite a spacious area with 2 toilets at the back.

The youths came over last Saturday afternoon and we had a fun time painting the new Salaa.

Here's the end results of 4 hours of painting.

We did a quite a decent job yeah!

We will probably have our Christmas programme this year in this new pavilion. Stay tune for more Christmas programmes updates... will try to post soon.

You can pray for us.

On the 15th December, we will have a Christmas programme incollabration with FLC school, Chiangrai to run a Christmas programme in Nam Cham School.

On the 18th December morning, we are going to a nursery in Nam Jam to bring Christmas joy to 83 kids. They never have a Christmas programme before. 80% of the kids are Shans and the remaining Akhas.
On the 18th December in the evening, we will have a Christmas party for the Youths at Baan Catherine's.

On the 19th December in the morning, we will have Christmas celebration for the Kids at Suan Luang Village.

On the 20th December in the morning, we are inviting parents to church. We will be having Christmas Service and performance by the kids, youths and Singapore Mission Team at the Shan Church.

Keep the ministry in prayers. We are inviting the parents to the Shan Church Christmas Service.

Here's some pictures of the kids practising their Christmas dances.
Enjoy!

True Friend

2009-10-19T03:05:00.000-07:00

The Theme for our 2009 Children's Camp was True Friend.
We had the usual crowd plus some new folks.
Kids totaled about 120 and helpers numbered 30 more.

Johan was a great MC until his voice gave out o nthe 3rd morning. His one request for next year is that we get a new amplifier.

Chalor gave Johan 5 good reasons why he should agree with her ideas.

The 3 not so little pigs were well fed by Moses, the prodigal son.

Seven gray hairs were needed for the scavenger hunt. There was only one donor for all four teams.

Noah seems to have made a new friend. The children and youth got on really well with each other. Almost all the team counselors were Shan youth who grew up in the program themselves.

Our new property had ample room for sports and games.

B-boy performances have become a standard feature in the camps.

The girls had a beauty pageant competition. But beauty alone could not guarantee victory.

The question they had to answer was, "How do you choose a good friend?"

Arts and crafts provided by Mrs. Saipin Ng were very popular.

Good bye for now.

Covenant Chapel Team 2009

2009-07-22T07:07:00.000-07:00

2008 and 2009 might be a time of economic turmoil, but the light for the Lord continues to shine through each and every part of world. May our Father continue on to bless the Green Mountain Foundation at Mae Sai. May our Lord also bring more of the Shan people to His Kingdom.

"So that all may know"

Shan children in Orchard

2009-05-16T05:23:00.000-07:00

This is a video clip about the work.

Here is a sample of Shan girls dancing to a traditional Shan tune. The lyrics were written by a Shan Christian in another province.

Shan Youth

2009-03-31T07:06:00.000-07:00

In the good old days (10-15 years ago) the cultural implements that were indicative of young Shan men who migrated to Thailand looking for work were, the Shan language, tattoos, bitter tea, cheap cigars and not an ounce of body fat. The Shan youth now growing up in a multicultural environment like Mae Sai share none of these cultural similarities. Those who have lived for more than a few years in Thailand speak Thai with their friends, wear their caps, sideways, often have a pierced ear, and now some even wear glasses with blank lenses because that makes them look like Korean movie stars. While some learn traditional Shan dance, many are becoming adept at break dancing as it is taught in the Thai schools they attend. Cultures change and youth will always be the targets of the promoters of change. In all of these changes how many will dare to ask the terrifying question, "Who am I?" For if all of the cultural implements that identify them are borrowed from other cultures and countries will they be able to recognize their own personal worth? Who will make the effort to befriend them and lead them to the place where they can recognize themselves as being created in the image of God and created for greater purposes than simply to imitate the latest models of what the "modern Asian youth" is supposed to be?

Catching up on recent history

2008-10-30T06:45:00.000-07:00

The Shan Fellowship of Mae Sai has been meeting for the past few months at the Shan Family Development Center right in the midst of a Shan neighborhood in Mae Sai. We are now in the process of purchasing the land. In the future we hope to use it for a variety of activities including teaching Thai and English, producing useful literature, organizing seminars and workshops, and teaching children how to use computers. The property is big enough to use for retreats and Vacation Bible Schools as well.

Recently a sign was put up in front of the Center and the next Sunday a lady in the neighborhood came with ten Shan kids. She had on her own gathered the kids together to help them with school work and teach them Bible verses. It is so encouraging to know that someone else is already beginning to reach out with the Good News in this community. We do hope we can help each other more closely in the future.

At the end of September the youth workers said good bye as they have to go away for further studies. So the young people wished them well with a song. Now an intern is helping with the work but suitable long term workers are needed for the future.

From Oct. 17 to 19 about 100 Shan kids attended the Shan Vacation Bible School. October iswhen Thai schools have their mid-year break. This year the Shan youth proved to be a big help as they served in the role of Junior Counselors and did an excellent job.

Wednesday Prayer Meeting

2008-09-24T21:53:00.000-07:00

"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." - Matthew 18:19-20

The weekly Wednesday prayer meeting was first held in the house of one of the youth believer who gladly opened her house for fellowship in the evenings. For about half a year, Christian youth gathered for prayers for their families and friends and to share and encourage one another with how God is constantly working in their lives.

Today, prayer meetings are held in the house of a couple serving the Shan youth believers. The couple teaches God's word to the believers and have the youth rostered into leading worship and also to share about how God has been working in their lives through answered prayers or their devotional time with God. We thank God for the opportunity to allow these believers to have a form of fellowship and encouragement in the middle of the week. We also thank the Lord for the growth in faith of these youth as we see them eagerly desiring the Word of God and also seeing them willing to serve in every capacity they can.

We have Scripture memorization, so whenever a youth is ready with a verse they have memorized, they can approach any youth worker to be tested.

We appreciate your prayers for this group of believers, that as they continue to be devoted to the fellowship and to God's Word, their faith will be strengthened; that as they continue to come together to worship and praise God, they will enjoy the favor of all the people. And may the Lord add to their number daily those who were being saved.

Hold Unswervingly

2008-09-10T21:55:00.000-07:00

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Hebrews 10:23-25

This was the theme verse for the 3 day retreat we had for the Shan Christian Youth. It was a really good time of bonding with games, bible quizzes and meals together. During the retreat, we were able to have workshops on:

Devotion: Why it is important for us to develop a habit of reading the bible and praying. How we should go about doing our devotions. Every morning during the retreat, we had devotions surrounding the theme.

Evangelism: Why it is important as Christians. And how we can be more active in evangelism through the different ways of sharing God's love. We also took a morning to go to the big market in Mae Sai to give our tracts.

Every evening, we had the Shan Pastor to come and share with us. We were also able to have a session of 'Question & Answer' on the issues and struggles the Shan youths face in their daily lives. Mostly with regards to Shan animistic beliefs, spirit worship & buddhism. It was a good time for the youths to learn and know what the Bible teaches.

Praise the Lord for the enriching time where the youths were encouraged to hold fast to their faith and put their hope in God. Continue to keep them in prayers as they seek to grow in their walk with God.

Team from CT

2008-08-12T00:49:00.000-07:00

This is the short term mission team US Connecticut. They were serving with us from the 15th - 25th July. Although it was a short trip, considering the time taken by them in travelling to and back from the US. They contributed so much to the ministry, and we were greatly blessed by their attitude in serving.

They organised a 3 day Bible Camp for the children at Village Nam Jam themed "Olympic Camp"

The team also helped teach in a 2 day Combined Schools English Camp. Which consists of a total of 4 schools from 4 different villages.

For more pictures of the events above, please visit our Picture Gallery.

Thai Language Class

2008-07-27T21:54:00.000-07:00

This is the Thai Language Class we have on every Tuesday and Friday for Shan Adults. The class starts from 7pm - 8pm because all of them have to work till 5pm. Some of these adults are parents of children in our scholarship program. Many are from the village in Nam Jam. Most of these Shan have no education background, they do not know a word of Thai. For some, its their first time holding a pencil and writing.

Pray with us that through these Thai Language classes, we are able to educate the Shan as they work in Thailand, to know at least basic Thai. Which will go a long way in helping them when they go to the market or travel around in the village. And that through these classes, we are able to build relationships with them and share to them about the the Love of Christ.

We have been very impressed with their attitude in learning.

An average of 27 adults attend the Thai Language Class.
We pray together for them before the start of each class.

There are some Thai words that Shan find it hard to pronounce.
It is always funny as they try to make the right sound.

Always attentive during class

Ever willing to learn and write

Class writing the new Thai Letters learnt

Deep in concentration
as we give them a spelling test on the Thai letters learnt

On A Sunday Morning...

2008-07-12T22:59:00.000-07:00

We have moved our Sunday Fellowship to the Shan Development Center. There, we have our usual Shan Youth and Adult Fellowship. And also the Shan Children Sunday School.

Youth & Adult Fellowship

Praise & Worship

The youths are rostered to lead worship each Sunday

Some of the guys listening attentively to the sermon

This month the Shan youth & adults
are studying on the book of Ephesians.

Shan Children Sunday School

Singing praise songs with actions!

Listening to Bible Stories

Children doing crafts & coloring

Youth serving the children lunch
(Those who refuse to be in line will eat last...)

One Body, Many Parts
Some help in serving, some help in preparing the food.
Still others, help in finishing up the food!

Group photo of the youths involved in making
Sunday lunch for everyone in Church.
Usually the Pastor's wife is in charge of preparing lunch.
But because she is away this month,
the youths have volunteered to prepare lunch.
We thank the Lord for this great opportunity for the youths to serve the church!

Team BPGC

2008-07-10T09:44:00.000-07:00

The mission team from Bukit Panjang Gospel Chapel, Singapore, consist of 3 people. They came from the 10th - 17th June. They taught English in Nam Jam Elementary School, led games, crafts and bible stories during our weekend Bible Club.

Elphia

Liang Fa

Magdalene

The kids enjoyed themselves. Especially so when they can meet new friends from another country. They also enjoyed the simple games and crafts that the team taught. You can see more pictures at our gallery page. We thank the Lord once again for these willing hearts to come and bless the Shan children and youth.

The Usual Sunday Morning Crowd

2008-06-28T01:00:00.000-07:00

Most of these Shan kids walked about a mile to come to Sunday School. The first contact they had with the Gospel was mid week after-school English and Thai lessons and Saturday morning Bible clubs. Short term teams and individual volunteers from Thailand and other countries have helped the full time workers in reaching out to these children and youths.

Shan Family Development Center

2008-06-08T23:48:00.000-07:00

Size of Land: 2,000 Square Meter
Cost of Land: 2.2 Million Baht
Funds Raised: 1 Million Baht (last update June 2008)

We have signed a contract to buy the land along with a deposit of 200,000Baht in June 2008. We are praying that we can fully pay for the land by the end of September 2008.

Vision for the Center
During the past seven years in Mae Sai we have been renting various pieces of property for children and youth ministry and literature production. During these years the Shan population in Mae Sai has been increasing, and the town itself has become more of a center for the wider Shan community.

Therefore we are seeking to purchase a 2000 square meter piece of land with a house on it in order to establish a permanent Shan Family Development Center. The main purpose of the Center is not to draw together all the ministries and house them under one roof. For if we do that, we are limiting our growth to the perimeter of that one land. Our objective is two fold.

We want to unify our main resources in one place for the purpose of education, training and providing continual support for the various programs of existing ministries in the different villages.
We want to see the Center acting as a place for the equipping and empowering of locals for continual expansion of the ministry to reach more Shan, expanding our reach into new areas of ministry.

Through this Center, we seek to provide better quality long term assistance to Shan students whom we are helping and also be able to organize programs related to health and child rearing to benefit parents as well. As opportunities increase for ministry in Burma it will be possible to organize seminars to help Christians from across the border to establish children's and youth programs there as well.

Students At Vocational School

2008-05-21T01:29:00.000-07:00

This is the first batch of Shan students from our ministry program in Mae Sai, many of these youths have been in our program for about 6 years and are now moving into the city Chiang Rai for their further studies in Vocational School. We thank the Lord for His providence through Christians who are seeing these youths into school through their generous support financially.

Since all of them have to move from their villages into the city for studies, Chalor has set up a house to have them all stay together under her guidance and supervision. This arrangement has eased the worries of all their parents. The parents have since build trust and confidence with our ministry program and thus are more than willing to know that we will take responsibility of their children while they study in the city.

The house where the girls are staying is a stone throw away from where Neel & Chalor are residing. This makes it easier for Chalor to oversee the youths. Chalor had a meeting with the girls and explained the house rules which are fairly strict but not excessive. Three infractions means that they will be removed from the scholarship program and the house. Chalor will also have weekly Bible study with them.

Continue to keep this aspect of ministry in prayers, as it is a first step for us to see the first batch of students progressing in their education.
- Pray for wisdom to lead and guide them as we provide care and encouragement to them as guardians.
- Pray that this will open up an opportunity for us to get to know the youths better individually.
- Pray that plans for weekly bible study with the youths will benefit them.

2008-04-03T15:12:00.000-07:00

Shan Kids at a Christmas party (their first ever.)