your own Moken child

Each one of these children is a person created in God's image.  Each one of them has a story to tell.  If you could meet them one by one, their story would prick your heart.  What makes our life  story any different from theirs?  A lot!!! What makes us deserve a life that is much easier than theirs?

We want to give each one a better opportunity at being educated and better health. We want you to know them too.

Over the past 5 years, our home has been funded by faith, month by month with people giving to a general fund. Some months the needs are met and others they are not.  Because each child is so unique to us, we are moving into more of a sponsorship funding.  This past week, I spent quite a bit of time working on a personal profile of each child and made these card to send back with Mike to the USA.  It was fun to interview each of the children about their background,  interest, likes, and dreams for the future.  They loved having their pictures taken too.

Our desire is for each child to have their own family, or Bible Study Group, or class that sponsors them. Our monthly  amounts are more because they cover all of their physical needs.  Other organizations with smaller amounts use it to run a Saturday program for the children- not their housing, food, school tuition, etc.

Each of these children have a dream for the future.  Most of them just want to be able to go to school and get an education.  Some of them have dreams of a career to help others.  One wants to be a doctor.  If they stay on the islands, none of these dreams will come true.  They cannot get a full education on the island. The school only goes to 6th grade and even the elementary grades do not give an adequate education.  If you are interested in sponsoring one of these children please let us know of your interest and we can talk further.  It can be a shared project with someone else if you can't cover the full cost.  We only hope that you could meet your child someday and they could express their gratefulness to you. In the meantime, we'll give you one of these cards to pray for your child and make them a part of your family!

Here is a little more info from the back of their card: 

The Ranong Children’s Home was opened after the tsunami hit Thailand in 2004. The majority of the children are from families of Moken Sea Gypsies.  The parents are out at sea a lot and the remote island villages do not have adequate schools.  These children are either orphans, or have parents who do not care for them nor help them to go to school.  The Ranong Children’s Home teaches them about God and His love along with helping them to develop physically, socially, intellectually and spiritually.  If you would like to support a child, you can meet their needs of food, housing, electricity, water, school tuition, school uniforms, transportation, and medical needs by giving $130/month.  Please notify us, if you are interested in sponsoring a child at: mikejudy@ji-net.com and we will give you more information.  You can also give directly at this website: https://give.cru.org/2879764

Contrasting Churches

Church last Sunday on Koh Chang was a world away from church this morning in Chiang Mai and  an even further contrast to a huge church that Mike will be attending in the USA today.

Today I sat in comfortable air-conditioning with a sound system.  Last week, the church on the island had no electricity, therefore no AC nor even a fan and it was very very hot.

Today I worshiped in English. Last week it was the Moken language. In fact, the message was given by Mike in the Thai language and then translated from Thai into the Moken language by one of the Moken ladies who knows both languages.

Today, I drove my car on smooth paved roads.  Last week we boated for two hours to get to church.

Today, everyone came in some sort of a motorized vehicle. Last week, there was not one motorized vehicle in the village.  They all walked.

Today, I used my English Bible.  Last week, the majority just listened to God's word in the Moken language, but a few had a Thai Bible.

Today the children went to their age appropriate classes.  Last week, the children stayed in the adult church, except for when they sang a special song, and then played outside the church door on the steps.

Today, most of us wore something comfortable or casual and kept our shoes on.  Last week, they wore their best and took their shoes off at the door.

Today after church, I went to a restaurant where each individual had their own plate of food.  Last week, we provided lunch  that was cooked in huge pots and served community style.

Today my meal was a routine Sunday lunch. .  Last week, their simple bowl of noodles that was given to them was most likely the biggest meal they had eaten all week.

Today my food was served on a plate.  Last week, they brought their own bowl as is typical each time they are served a meal.

Today we prayed to and worshiped the "One and Only True God of the Universe" that understands our English.  Last week we prayed to and  worshiped the very same "One and Only True God of the Universe" that understands the hearts and minds and language of the Moken and Thai people just as well.

Today, we came home after church.  Last week, Mali and I visited some of the homes where the children from camp had relatives.

Today I had to drive myself home.  Last week, we had a driver or "Captain Sawat" to take us back home.

The two hour trip back is always a great time of reflection for us.  We are so thankful to see the progress of the body of believers, and always thinking of how to help and encourage them more. The contrast between our worlds in Chiang Mai and Ranong and the USA give us much to be thankful and grateful for and the privilege to live in each of these worlds.It never gets old to me to think about believers all over the world from many tribes and tongues all worshiping the same God who understands each of us so intimately in spite of all the cultural and language differences.  I'm thankful for the reminder in Philippians 2:9-11, "that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord."

a long short week

Woa.... no blog posts for a week??? It's been a short week full of no time for blogging.  A week of being on the islands, at the Ranong Children's Home in southern Thailand, 2 days in Bangkok that felt like 2 weeks, just 2 days to get Mike ready for a trip to the USA,  family Christmas shopping, Christmas gift wrapping, new Bible study group, appointments with staff and friends in Chiang Mai, spending time with Mali (our house guest)  and then a very sad good-bye to Mike! I'm so happy for  him, knowing that he  will get to hold and cuddle the new grand babies.  He is actually meeting baby Ellanora for the first time.    But I will admit it's very hard too! The separation never gets easier, as much as some people might think!

Rainy season should be ending real soon, and the temperatures are starting to drop just a little which will bring a long awaited  relief! I'm thankful for a few chances to get out of the cities lately and take in the beauty of Thai countryside.  The rice patties right now are lush and green,  demonstrating beautiful scenes of Thai rural life. This picture hardly portrays the beauty we've enjoyed!

Moken Kids Kamp, 2013.... Special Day

Friday was called "Special Day" at the camp this year.  In the afternoon, we took the whole gang (70 people) to one of the Ranong natural hot spring parks.  The children had so much fun!  Moken babies learn to swim sometimes before they walk because of growing up on the ocean- so the children  feel very 'at home" in the water.

See those little bodies behind that waterfall?  I couldn't even count how many were back there giggling and screaming!

It was such a fun outing for them to play with each other from the different islands along with the TCCC staff team from Ram University.

Mali and Kew

Back at the home, we had more activities and another coloring contest. Dinner was a special BBQ of whole fish, squid, and other meats.

A Christian business from Bangkok donated a stuffed animal for every child, which they got to choose themselves.  They were thrilled and so excited to have their very own "tukata"!

One last meal together (bai pot krapoaw) and then it was time to say good-bye.

I have no doubt that this was one of the best camps that we've ever had for the children and they enjoyed it so much and learned  much in the short time together.

Some of the children are not Christians, but the majority of them have a deep love for God and expressed it through their singing, praying and sharing throughout our time together.

By dividing the group up into teams, they learned a lot from each other.  Each team had older kids, younger kids, TCCC staff, Moken kids, Thai kids, kids from town, and kids from the Moken villages.  Mali and I, especially enjoyed these two little guys, Kew and Klaa. They both smiled non-stop! 

And then just like that, after the good-byes and hugs, they were gone.  Riding off in their boat back to their islands.  We are thankful for the success of this camp and the results that we could see on the kids faces. What a privilege to pour into their lives once again!

New Life in Christ- Camp Theme 2013

It was a great theme this year teaching the children about our "NEW LIFE IN CHRIST". 

They loved the matching camp t-shirts they got for the camp.  They were left-overs from another adult camp and huge on some of them- but they loved them none-the less!

They were so attentive to each talk, soaking in all they could grasp about God's love for them.

Having one of our university staff teams lead the kids turned out to be a great idea.  Our staff know how to run a fun and great camp full of learning.  This is Fai teaching them how to have their own Quiet Times.

The older children from the kids home even asked if our staff could share with them how they became Christians and listened so intently as they shared.

To go with the "New Life in Christ" theme, we learned about metamorphosis and made some crafts about worms turning into butterfly's.

Simple coloring is one of their favorite activities and they are very good at it.

Even the oldest teenage boys participated in everything. 

Butterfly rings made from magazines. 

A big shout out to this team who poured a lot of energy and time into the camp for the kids and loved on them all day everyday!  The children will never forget you and are already asking when you can come back again!

Ranong Kids Kamp-October 2013

The first two days of Kids Kamp this year have been a huge success.  32 children came in from the two islands to join the 28 children in the home and with the staff helping out, we have some 70+ people at camp this year. 

Our TCCC staff team from RamkhamhaengUniveristy in Bangkok planned the camp this year and the children have enjoyed so much having them as staff for the camp.  They are relating to the kids so well and the kids really look up to them  a lot. 

Starting out with shoulder  rubs for their neighbors, from the long journey to camp. 

The camp is being held this year at the Ranong Kids Home.  We just closed in what use to be a boat repair shop, made it into a multipurpose room, and this is the first time to use it. Somsak and Uan, the dorm parents are doing all the cooking and the food is great. This is the children lining up for the first meal. Mali, on the right, our house guest  for this month is enjoying the children and has a lot to take in. 

That is a lot of cooking for 70+ people at every meal, but the island children (especially) are really enjoying the full meals. 

Getting to know their small groups that we break into for many of our activities.

The children have loved every game so much and  I can't explain the enthusiasm from all of them.

There is so much laughter in the air ever since the camp started.  Wish you could hear it!

Snack time was fresh fruit from the market which was a special treat for them. 

I've been in charge of the crafts and they've been a big hit, which makes me happy.  It doesn't take much to bring them joy and they are so creative. They have not disappointed us at all in all their creations.

So thankful for these first days so far and the chance to love on these kids, and pour into their lives for just a few days through camp this year. I'm most excited about what they are learning concerning their relationship to God from our TCCC staff who are loving on them so well.