Doi Saket 1A, B, C and the Early Childhood Home -- December Update

The little kids playing with some balloons.

New shirt!

Where there's a campfire, there will be boys sitting around it.

Food preparation.

Laying down for a post-meal nap.

Playing a game that translates roughly as "climbing a greased bamboo trunk for money."

Christmas dance.

More presents!

Need a break from the sun!

Handing out candy canes.

Part of a Christmas play.

Doi Saket 1 Early Childhood Center -- December 2011 Update

Enjoying lunch together outside! 

Playing with a few of his favorite things!

Enjoying her favorite meal. 

Catching a quick nap in the main room.

Doi Saket 1C -- December 2011 Update

Playing games outside of the home.

Doi Saket 1B -- December 2011 Update

The girls study the Bible together.

Enjoying the town together!

Putting on a big worship show!

Doi Saket 1A -- December 2011 Update

Studying with friends.

Just another day hanging from the monkey bars.

Enjoying worship music together!

Thailand [Fall 2011 Update]

Celebrating October birthdays in Doi Saket 1.

Making Christmas cards in the Early Childhood Center. 

Students from Hot Springs work on English homework together.

A praise and worship songwriting sing-off brought the Thailand homes together.

Kids from Doi Saket 1 perform in the sing-off.

Doi Saket 3 performs their song.

Doi Saket 4 sings together for the other homes.

Another group from Doi Saket 1.

Doi Saket 2 delivers their best performance.

A well-coordinated performance!

Learning to cook at Hot Springs.

Some of the older girls from Doi Saket 1 singing at a village church.

Doi Saket 1 [Fall 2011 Update]

The kids took pictures for Christmas!

Doi Saket 1 -- Summer 2011 Update

 The boys from Doi Saket 1A say hello while holding a picture of a sponsor.

The kids from Doi Saket 1A see who can catch the most falling leaves. Just another relaxing afternoon in the Doi Saket 1D nursery!The girls of Doi Saket 1C enjoy noodles for supper.The girls love their comics at Doi Saket 1B.Completing homework near the end of the school term in Doi Saket 1C.Taking a rest while waiting for lunch at Doi Saket 1C.

Doi Saket 1 -- May update

Doi Saket 1 home has recently undergone a major transformation. In the future, this post will be split into four, representing the four new homes that have been made from the one big home. 

Asia's Hope Thailand Director Tutu Bee poses with some of the boys from DS1.

All the kids pitch in on the chores.

Each of these homes are now single-family dwellings, with their own kitchens and dining areas.

 

All of our kids love to wear their traditional tribal garb.

A note of thanks from our first college graduate!

We received this letter from Jinda, who came to live at our Doi Saket 1 children's home at age 17. She has 11 siblings, and came from a destitute family who could not care for even their basic needs. She is the very first of many, many success stories we will be able to share with you over the next few years. Thank you for your prayers and support for Jinda and all of the kids at Asia's Hope!

Dear Asia's Hope supporters,

First of all I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your faithful support for me since the beginning until now. You have made it possible for me to complete my studies in university to help prepare me for my future. I have received my Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics. And for this, I am eternally grateful! I will always remember your love and continue to pray for you. 

It is with great regret that I have nothing to give you in return. I just recently married and my husband and I have moved to Bangkok. I believe that God has led us both to this decision allowing us to be life partners to serve Him. Please pray for me and my family. I am attaching a photo of the two of us. 

My husband is also from the Hmong tribe and from a Christian family. He has also completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities. 

Again thank you for investing your resources in me and encouraging me in my life pursuits! May God bless you and your family! 

Sincerely, 

Jinda Wongnapasawan 

Doi Saket 1 transformation

Thanks to the hard work of our Thai staff and the generosity of Chets Creek Church in Jacksonville, Florida, we've successfully transitioned Doi Saket 1 from a single facility with 80 kids to 4 separate homes with about 20 kids each.

This required significant strategic planning and a large financial commitment. Over the past few months, we've repurposed existing buildings and added new bathrooms, kitchens, dividing walls and furnishings -- all with the goal of providing each child at DS1 the benefits of a nuclear family.

The new homes -- tentatively named DS1a, b, c and d -- are now up an running, and the kids are beginning what we pray will be a short transition to their new, smaller family. Instead of eating together with all the other kids in one big room, each family now cooks their own meals, enjoyed in their own dining room.

All of the staff and kids are thankful for the many, many sponsors and donors who continue to look out for their best interest.

The girls do some cleaning up around the new bathroom facilities at their home.These girls enjoy a snack in their brand new kitchen and dining room.The kids are thankful for their new, well-equipped kitchen.The kids pose at the dinner table in their new dining hall.

Even though they're from different tribes -- Lisu, Lahu, Akha, Hmong, Karen -- these sisters are part of one family.These boys appreciate their new bedroom!These boys, dressed in traditional Karen tribe shirts, are happy to be a part of a diverse, loving family.

Thailand kids enjoy Chiang Mai Toyride

Thanks to the generosity of the planners and participants of the Chiang Mai Toyride, all of our kids under the age of 12 -- more than 80 in all -- were treated to a fantastic day of games, toys and even country music!

We appreciate all of the efforts that went into organizing this wonderful day of fun.

Doi Saket 1 Thailand Summer '10 update

Kids from Doi Saket 1 enjoy swimming at a local pool

Boys from DS1 enjoy playing "Takraw," a popular and difficult sport that has been described as a mix between soccer and volleyball.The kindergarten and preschool kids prepare a special song for church.

The girls enjoy hanging out on the porch in front of their home.The high school kids play and sing for a Sunday morning service

The middle and high school boys love playing soccer on the large field at the back of our DS1 property. The new security wall -- provided by funds raised by Asia's Hope Canada -- can be seen in the background.

Gemstone project

Thanks to the ingenuity of our staff and the generosity of donors from Canada, we recently opened our first ever gemstone-cutting vocational training program for our older kids in Northern Thailand.

We already offer weaving, silversmithing and other training, and believe that this will provide the children in this program with skills that will provide them access to well-paying, high-skill jobs in the future.

As the kids' skills improve, we may make some of their products available for sale to reinvest in their education and to make the program available to more of our children.

Christmas at Doi Saket 1

Christmas is always fun -- imagine it with dozens of brothers and sisters! The kids at Doi Saket 1 and the Early Childhood Center gathered together for performances, presents, games and special meals.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!

In Thailand, families celebrate Father's Day on the King's Birthday, December 5.

Each year, all of the kids at Asia's Hope gather to celebrate and thank God for their new dads and all of the male staff at the orphan homes. This kind of celebration is always very meaningful for the kids, who have faced so much loss in their young lives.

After the celebration service, kids from each of the individual homes gathered in groups to enjoy a special picnic lunch of sticky rice and grilled chicken -- a favorite among the children. Boys from Doi Saket 1 are pictured above.

Doi Saket 2

Doi Saket 3

Doi Saket 4

At the service, recently rescued baby Nit received a biblical name, Abagail. Pictured here are Tee (nit's caregiver), Nit and ministry advisor Mike Flinchum.

Children from the Early Childhood Center hang out around the front gate of their house.

Doi Saket 1 and Early Childhood Center -- November 2009

The boys pose, proud of the new "hoodies" provided by a friend of ministry advisors Mike and Deb Flinchum.

The girls pose in front of their dorm.

Some of the younger kids enjoy a rare treat -- a night out at a restaurant.

Some of the kids from the Early Childhood Center enjoy chatting via Skype with former intern Ashley Barnhill. 

Kids from the Early Childhood Center pose for a picture.

Doi Saket 1 -- July 2009

The kids enjoy a beautiful water fountain show on an evening outing.

The girls sing a song of worship at a Sunday morning service.

Some of the girls pose together in the large yard in the middle of the Doi Saket 1 campus.

The older kids sing together at church.

The student-run worship band is a highlight of every church service.

Country Director Tutu Bee poses with some of the kids in the beautiful garden at Doi Saket 1.

Doi Saket Thailand May Update

Update provided by Asia's Hope Thailand intern, Ashley Barnhill.

Throughout the last few months, I’ve been collecting new pictures of all of our kids and staff. Early May, after church, many of the staff got together for a group picture. Praise God for the hard-working staff that He’s provided for Asia’s Hope and please remember to pray for them often.

Dob and Ying joined our staff early this month after just recently getting married near the Karen village of Om Koi (see last update). They are doing a great job with the kids and are already expecting their first child!

Birdy, a Bible college student and Asia's Hope orphan, helping prepare shots.

Jeran - Home 2

Thilapha - Home 2

All of the kids from Home 1, 2, 3 and Hot Springs were given another round of immunizations before school started again.

Rachinee and Muntri from Home 3 recited almost 5 minutes of memory verses on an awards night for all of the orphans. 

 

Things are going great up at the widow’s farm in Wiang Pa Pao. Several trees full of ripe lychee greet you as you pull in. They just finished planting several acres of crops, including corn. The widows' house is progressing and Tutu will soon be taking several of the older kids up to help lay brick and get it finished. The widow’s continue weaving bags and shirts and several visitors have taken many items home recently to help sell for the widows in the U.S. and Canada.

L to R: Dow (Tipanee), Paleupa, Sai (Natiga), Tua Lek, Jam (Pawinee), Jo

The nursery kids got all dressed up one day and sang and danced for church. They all remain healthy for the most part.  The older four, Jam, Jojo, Paleupa, and Tua Lek just graduated to “big kids school.” Joci, her brother Eric, (two short-term interns here) and I threw a congratulations party for them last Saturday, playing games, eating cake, and giving gifts. They were so excited!

 Short term intern, Eric Biddle, with the nursery kids during the party.

 The four graduates!

Samaporn and Muntri - Home 3

Home 3

Phi Pha - Home 3

A group from Campus Crusade came to have an English camp with the kids the week before school started. The kids had a blast playing games, learning English, and doing fun crafts. The staff from Campus Crusade took the kids swimming one day and topped of the week with a special meal and a great night of ice cream, fireworks and sparklers (above).

Short term intern, Jocelyn Biddle, with Galia and Mai from Home 3

While Joci and Eric were in town, Tutu decided to hold a big concert for all the kids. Us three interns, Tutu’s sons, some of the staff, and some friends all put on a concert of love songs, fun songs, and worship songs for the kids while they ate cookies and drank Coke.

Tutu, her son David, and us three interns headed to a prison about 2 and a half hours away with another group involved in prison ministry. We sang songs, shared testimonies, and shared from the Word of God together. Please pray for God to continue to work in prisons throughout Thailand.

Prison ministry in Pa Yao

Boys from Home 2 and 3 waiting for haricuts.

Several volunteers came this Saturday to cut the kids hair. They were cutting all morning!

Jutamat, Home 1, getting her hair cut.

Girls from all 3 homes waiting for their turn.

Now that the kids are back in school, I’m working with the girls again on Saturday afternoon, teaching English songs and cooking. Today we learned “How Great is Our God” in English and made a Devil’s Food cake. The girls did a GREAT job reading the recipe, making the cake, and learning the song!

Supawadee, Jinda, and Ahrunya with the cake they made with the rest of the girls :)

Please keep praying for continual protection for our children from physical, spiritual and emotional enemies as they attack. Being here for almost 10 months now and living with the kids, I haven't gotten close to seeing the end of God's grace in these kid's lives. Everyday you can see God's awesome provisions and grace in these kids lives. He truly loves them unconditionally. Thank you immensely for your prayers and financial support. 

Doi Saket Thailand April Update

Update provided by Asia's Hope Thailand Intern, Ashley Barnhill

Throughout the beginning of this month, many of our students continued studying Thai and English during the week in hopes of them getting caught up with their classmates. They’re progress is evident and it’s a blessing to be able to see their minds working and to see these children being invested in and challenged to work harder and reach a goal that before coming, would have been completely out of reach.

Their coloring and cutting skills of the kids at Home 3 have even gotten much better!

After a fourth complete month of being here, our Home 3 kids are doing excellent. The staff is incredible and really emphasizes the importance of God’s Word. Before every meal, all the children recite Bible verses and pray together, all led by one of the kids.

Also pictured is Jojo with his watermelon, enjoying a safe home at Asia’s Hope. Jojo’s father used to beat him, so when he was told that some of the kids were going to visit the villages, he said he didn’t want to go. He wanted to stay with his new dad, Ajarn Boone.

One day early April, we took all of the kids that were here to the Chiang Mai Zoo. The kids loved it and had a great time.

After the zoo, we took all the kids to a local waterfall to have lunch together and play. All the kids were fast asleep on the way home after such a long morning and afternoon.

This month, Dob and Ying, an engaged couple who have been helping out at Home 2, were married up in the Karen village of Om Koi. They will be joining our staff soon at Home 2.

In mid-April, Thailand celebrates the festival of Songkran. The festival is celebrated over 3 days by people throwing water, sometimes ice cold, on one another all day everyday. We took our kids out on the first day to join the fun. They had a great time, but were pretty tired by time we returned.

The kids in the nursery home are all healthy and happy, which is such a blessing after a long battle with re-occuring sickness, especially with Tee Noi and Sai for several months after they came. They have personalities like you wouldn’t believe! The kids love to color and are getting better each time!

Rachel from Home 2 just moved with her new care-taker to live in the baby house as well. A welcome addition. She’s walking and babbling now!

We have some different activities for the kids to do to fill their time before school starts, such as language study, learning dances, art and new songs as well as some chores around the orphanage. They are all adjusting well coming back. Their first Sunday back, after church, we had an Easter egg hunt for all of the kids and they all searched for hard-boiled eggs to eat for lunch. They enjoyed it so much. (Easter hunt).

Please pray for:

• Health of the children and adjustments as they enter new grades and, some of them, new schools
• Safety and protection for our children and staff
• Continued encouragement of the staff as they work hard to care for and to guide the children who have experienced extreme hardships and loss