Helping those in need

Baby Bags

They are the littlest and the neediest. Babies deserve the best of care. Those born into a poor family in a mountain village often don’t get it. It’s not that they aren’t loved and wanted. A family who has no money just can’t easily buy the things babies need. Some things considered necessities in the West aren’t available, and aren’t missed. They manage without cribs, bathtubs, strollers, etc. But they do need to be dressed warmly when the weather is cold as it sometimes gets in the mountains.

Jesus had a heart for babies, and we do, too. We show it by giving the gift of “baby bags” to new mothers in the villages. These bags contain some of the necessities to make the babies’ entrance to the world easier. We pack a blanket, a few diapers, socks, a hat, and an outfit of clothing. That wouldn’t be much for a baby born in the U.S., but it may be enough to make a big difference for a hill tribe baby.

Medicine

Those hill tribe people who have a citizen’s ID have access to free medical care – if they can get to the doctor. Transportation is an issue for many, particularly those who live in the most remote spots. Even if they can manage to travel, there is the language difficulty. Not all the villagers speak Thai, especially the older ones. Even with the best-case scenario – a clinic is near and they have a grandchild or someone who can interpret for them – they often have to wait all day or longer to see the doctor. Usually, diagnostic tests aren’t available and they go home with a bag of pills that often don’t address the underlying cause of their distress.

For those without an ID, medical care becomes next to impossible. Even the simplest over-the-counter meds are out of reach for many. Jesus showed compassion on the sick, and we want to show them His heart. We put together bags of medicine, mostly over the counter meds. Since we aren’t doctors and can’t prescribe medicine. We buy things like Paracetamol for pain, toothache medicine, Band-Aids (called plasters here), antibacterial ointment for wounds, throat lozenges, etc. We are able to get them in bulk at a discount pharmacy at wholesale prices. We bring the big boxes of meds home and bag them up. All the staff and the children help put the bags together. Moses gives them out, one to each church family, when he is preaching in a village. We also send home a bag with each preacher who comes to preachers’ training. It would seem a small thing to Americans, but to people who have nothing, it becomes a big thing indeed.

What about serious illnesses that require professional medical care or even hospitalization? We are not doctors and don’t attempt to diagnose or treat anything more than superficial illnesses and injuries. If something more is necessary, we help any way we can. We have often provided transportation to the hospital and have helped with hospital bills.

Jesus cared for those who were hurting. We do, too. We can’t do miracles and heal people, but we can help relieve their suffering. It’s our privilege!

Hats

Excited children pushed and shoved to get to the head of the line. Susan and her helpers calmed the storm and made the children line up in an orderly way. We were handing out hats and the children were eager to get them.

The tradition started more than a decade ago when as newly-arrived missionaries Paul and Susan visited the villages as guests during Thanksgiving. It’s a season here, not a day. The pastors get together and work out a schedule for the celebrations. All the churches show up to visit whichever church is hosting the special service and meal that week. We are always invited and go whenever possible.

It started with a single crocheted hat, which was received by a child with joy. Other children gathered around with hopeful expressions, and Susan saw she would need to make a lot more hats. And she did. She lost track of the number, but gave out hats in the hundreds over the course of a decade. Thousands of hats have blessed the mountain children during the chilly “cold season” months.

At first Susan made all of them. When knitters and crocheters in America saw the pictures of the children proudly modeling their hats, they offered to help. Mailing them to Thailand turned out to be prohibitively expensive as it was necessary to pay customs on the hats as well as pricey postage. To avoid this problem, we brought back hats when we made yearly visits to the U.S. When visitors came, we always asked if they could bring some to us in their luggage.

The Covid years put a halt to that plan. We bought inexpensive hats and filled in the gaps with those. They are one-size-fits-all so that makes distribution easier. No fitting to individual heads required. Susan still makes hats, and so do friends in America. We order the inexpensive ones, too, but they always prefer the handmade ones.

Hats are another of the small things which make a big difference to a needy child. Anyone who would like to help with this project can contact Susan for a pattern. (See contact page) She will be happy to arrange a way to get them here. Donations for hats can also be given through regular channels with a note “for hats.” We will see that the children get them.

Special Gifts of Clothes and Shoes

Occasionally we will receive gifts of clothing and shoes to be distributed in the mountains. Like other physical donations, it is difficult to get them here. We can arrange pickup and distribution from those donating in Thailand, but mailing from foreign countries has not proved to be feasible.

We can, however, arrange a limited amount of space in suitcases of guests. Seamstresses may also be interested in a group that provided us with a suitcase full of clothes for children. https://www.princesspillowcaseproject.org is the address. There are probably several others, but this one sent an amazing suitcase-full of much needed clothes to us recently. They sent it epacked in an older suitcase which did not need to be returned. People visiting Thailand can bring two suitcases each at no extra charge and often need only one for a short stay. We will be glad to help get them here and distribute them to the children.

Disaster Relief

Floods, fires, mudslide, storms – they happen everywhere. When people are without any kind of insurance and have the smallest of incomes, the disasters become insurmountable. That is our opportunity to help those overwhelmed with catastrophes.

The mission had a long history of helping those in need before the Grace and Peace Baptist Church was established. Often, the mission support help provide for rebuilding houses and church buildings after fires and damaging storms.

The church wasn’t yet officially established when disaster struck in our area. Torrential rains led to flooding and damage to the new dam. Many were left homeless and in need. Wichai contacted the local authorities to see how we could help. That led to a big shopping trip and donations to the mobile food kitchen. They provided food to the displaced people and to the rescue workers.

When floods washed away most of the village where the Bible school we help support was built, we had another opportunity to help. We also helped the pastors who had taken in children because their home villages were in an area ravaged by war. The flooding made caring for these little refugees from the fighting doubly difficult. Money for food and clean water helped keep them going.

It’s often a problem that people who have a heart to help can’t always be sure that their donations actually help the people for whom they are intended. We give 100% of the donated money to people we actually know and trust to distribute to those in need. Any donations designated for a specific cause will reach those who need it.