Flood Relief Cleaning Packs Project Extended

When we had used all of the funding that was provided for our flood relief project, we thought that we wouldn’t be able to help any other flood victims.  However, several more donations arrived, so both Lutheran Hour Ministries and LCMS World Relief and Human Care decided to send additional funds.  This gave us the opportunity to assist another 1,000 families.

On Saturday January 28 our Lutheran Hour Ministries Thailand (LHMT) staff and two volunteers took 400 flood relief cleaning packs to Sinsamut Community in Thanyaburi District in Patumthani Province.  When we distributed the flood relief packs in the past, the residents gathered together and we gave them the packs in one place.  This time we had to do it a different way.  Because it was close to the time for the election of the new community committees, the community chairman decided to not have the residents meet in a large group.  He was afraid that it might seem like he was trying to affect the election.

Instead, he asked our LHMT staff to deliver the packs individually to each house.  Although this meant a lot of extra work for our staff, it also provided a good chance to spend a few minutes talking with the residents in their homes.  Throughout the morning we delivered 310 flood relief packs to people who owned their homes.

Another 90 families were renting their houses, so they were not eligible to vote in the community elections.  These families collected their flood relief packs later from the community committee.  Although we had to do things differently, the day turned out very well.  We were able to interact more personally with many people and they all appreciated our help very much.

On Sunday afternoon, January 29, the LHMT director, LHMT staff and LCMS missionaries traveled to Sainoi District in Nonthaburi Province.  This area is quite far from any big city.  It’s mostly a lowland farming area, so it took much longer for the flood water to recede.  Many of the residents are orchid farmers.  Almost all of their orchids were destroyed or badly damaged in the floods.  The financial loss to their families and community was very great.

We distributed 570 flood relief cleaning packs to 4 small villages.  We gave 170 packs to Village #8, Village #9 and Village #11.  In Village #12 we delivered 60 packs.  The people in these villages were very surprised that anyone would still be helping flood victims in January.  Because their farms were some of the last to become dry, they thought they wouldn’t receive any help.

Most of the residents are afraid that the water will come again this year, so they are not starting their farming again.  They don’t want to make the large financial investment necessary to get their farms operating again, if they will lose everything in the coming rainy season.  The LHMT director plans to make follow-up contacts with the village chairmen in the coming months to find out how they’re doing.

After delivering 570 cleaning packs, we still have 30 packs left.  So we plan to deliver those packs to the churches where some of our staff attend to help their members who suffered from the flooding.  Our thanks to LCMS World Relief and Human Care and the Lutheran Hour Ministries headquarters in St. Louis for providing the funding for this project.  We thank God for the opportunity to help another 1,000 families.

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Project to Help Flood Victims is Completed

We distributed 2,100 Flood Relief Packs through this project

The original goal of the Flood Relief Packs Project was to provide 2,000 families, who suffered because of the floods, with rice, instant noodles, sardines, cooking oil, fish sauce, salt, sugar, medicine, a flashlight and batteries.  Although modifications had to be made, the project has been completed successfully.

After the first 1,000 packs were prepared and delivered to flood victims in several communities, the water began receding.  The time for cleaning homes and businesses was beginning, so the project team decided to make a change for the remaining packs.  Cleaning supplies were purchased and another 1,000 packs were assembled.

The houses in Ruam Gua Community in Tawee Wattana District in Bangkok had been flooded for 4 months.  When our team arrived there on December 22, the area finally was dry and the residents were beginning the big task of throwing out destroyed furniture and personal items, sweeping away trash and trying to remove the mold from the floors and walls of their homes.  They were very happy that we could provide Flood Relief Packs of cleaning supplies to all 672 families in their area.  The packs contained a pail, a brush, 3 sponges with cleaning pads, a container of cleaning liquid, 2 bottles of mosquito repellant, 2 pair of rubber gloves, a dozen cloth masks, 3 cleaning cloths and a container of skin balm.

On December 26 our team traveled to Tahan Bok Community and distributed cleaning packs to 300 families. The remaining 28 packs were given to the victims in the neighborhood around our Lutheran Hour Ministries Thailand office, who had been volunteering to help us with this project.

After delivering all 1,000 cleaning packs, we had some project money left. So we purchased more cleaning supplies and were able to deliver an extra 100 packs to more victims in Tahan Bok Community.

Our thanks to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, the Lutheran Hour Ministries headquarters in St. Louis and the Garuna Foundation for providing the funding for this project.  We thank God for the opportunity to help a total of 2,100 families who suffered from the flooding.

We’re happy that this project made it possible for us to get to know a number of our neighbors, who very generously volunteered their time and energy to help us assemble and distribute the Flood Relief Packs.  In the weeks ahead we look forward to following up with some of the communities we helped.

We also want to thank all of you, who donated money to this project and who have been praying for us and the Thai people affected by the worst flooding in Thailand in more than 50 years.  We very much appreciate your support and partnership in our ministry.

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Another 500 Families Receive Flood Relief Packs

We're thankful to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, Lutheran Hour Ministries and the Garuna Foundation for funding this project

After some delays in getting supplies for the second distribution of Flood Relief Packs, we were able to help flood victims in two more communities on Saturday, December 10.  Once again the Lutheran Hour Ministries Thailand (LHMT) director and staff are very thankful for the large number of volunteers who came on Friday, December 9 to help prepare the packs.  Even with so much help, it still took about five hours to place all of the items into another 500 packs.

Because there was still quite a lot of water in their area, the residents of Ladpladuk community in Bangbuathong District had to come out to the main road to receive their packs from us Saturday morning.  Even the big trucks that the Royal Thai Army so generously provided weren’t able to drive all the way into their village.  Although they had received donations from the King’s Pack, the provincial government and the Thai Red Cross during the past few months, they still were in need of help.  In spite of the fact that we caused a small traffic jam because we had to distribute the packs along the main road, we were able to help 200 families.

After lunch our team traveled to Bangpood Village at Wat Goo.  After giving Flood Relief Packs to 263 families, the community leader gave us a short tour of the neighborhood.  We were very impressed by the long ribbon of wooden walkways they had built and by the huge dike of sandbags that ran through the area.  Bangpood Village had definitely been hit hard by the floods.  Not only did the water level reach nearly 2 meters (more than 6½ feet), but their homes were flooded for 4 months.  Just recently were they able to walk on dry ground again, even though some water still remains in low-lying areas and in the ground floor of some houses.

After spending some time together, the community leader asked the LHMT director to return to Bangpood community with her staff to conduct some special activities on Children’s Day in January 2012.  We thank God that we were able to provide Flood Relief Packs to the residents and for the invitation to do ministry among them on Children’s Day.  We look forward to seeing them again.

We still had 147 Flood Relief Packs left, so we decided to help two other groups of flood victims.  Some of our LHMT staff, Concordia Into Light Lutheran Church members, students in the English classes at the church and other families in the neighborhood surrounding our LHMT office are still recovering from the floods.  We are providing 47 packs for those families.

Just across the road from our LHMT office and the church/English center is a stand for motorcycle taxis.  While the roads were flooded, the motorcycle taxi drivers weren’t able to use their motorcycles.  Some of them were without any income until the roads were dry again.  Others earned a little money by walking through the flooded streets, pulling small boats that were carrying a few people and some supplies.

Our LHMT staff identified motorcycle taxi drivers whose homes were damaged in the floods.  We gave Flood Relief Packs to the families of 100 of those motorcycle taxi drivers.

We’re very grateful to LCMS World Relief, Lutheran Hour Ministries and the Garuna Foundation for donating the funding for this project.  We also want to thank the LCMS missionaries, Concordia Welfare and Education Foundation Thailand director and staff, Concordia Into Light Lutheran Church members and people from the shops near our LHMT office for volunteering their time and energy to help assemble and distribute the Flood Relief Packs.

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Flood Victims Appreciate Receiving Flood Relief Packs

Our team worked well together assembling the flood relief packs

On Saturday, November 26 we packed the first 500 bags for the Flood Relief Packs.  About 12 people helped, including Mrs. Gunya NaThalang (our Lutheran Hour Ministries Asia Counselor), our Lutheran Hour Ministries Thailand (LHMT) staff, our 2 LCMS long term volunteers, several members of Concordia Into Light Lutheran Church, a few students from the English classes and some neighbors who run shops near our LHMT office.

Most of the people in that group also helped deliver 390 packs to flood victims on Sunday, November 27.  With the generous free assistance of 2 big Royal Thai Army trucks we were able to carry our team and packs to three locations.  The community leader we worked with did a very good job of organizing the distribution in each place, so that every family that was supposed to receive a pack got one with no problem.

Our first stop was at Wat Baw School, where we gave packs to the families of 50 teachers who were victims of the floods.

Next we went to Village 5 in Bang Ta Nai sub-district in Pak Kret District that has been under water for more than two months.  The water there is still nearly 120 centimeters (4 feet) deep.  The people had to come to the meeting point in small boats to collect their packs.  We helped 220 families there.

Then we went to Village 4 in Bang Ta Nai sub-district, where we gave packs to 120 families.

Some of the people told us that they had received some help before, but they got only individual box lunches and small packs with just a few items inside.  They had never been given packs with so many helpful things, as they received from us.  On Monday the local organizer, Teacher Wanwalee, called to thank us and to tell us that many people had contacted her and said how much they appreciated the Flood Relief Packs and that they enjoyed meeting our team.

Everyone on our team had a good time working together and giving our time and energy to help these flood victims.  Spending the day working together was a good opportunity for us to continue getting to know our neighbors better.

They all said that they’re eager to help us again when we receive the supplies for the next 500 Flood Relief Packs.

Next week we will go to Lad Pla Duk community in Bang Bua Tong district to distribute the rest of the packs that we were able to purchase for the first phase of the Flood Relief Packs project.

We are experiencing some delays in ordering the supplies for the next 500 packs, but we pray that we’ll be able to distribute those soon.

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Holistic Project Blesses More Students Than Expected

552 students of Muang Samutsongkhram School are very happy to receive gift packs

Although the original Bright Teeth and Happy Feet project was completed in May 2011, an additional 780 students in 3 schools have been added to the project.  Because of discounted prices on the cost of the gift pack items, the size of the project could be more than doubled. 

On June 17, 2011 the Lutheran Hour Ministries Thailand (LHMT) staff traveled to Muang Samutsongkhram School in Samutsongkhram Province to distribute gift packs to 552 students.  All of the students got 2 toothbrushes, 2 tubes of toothpaste, 1 plastic cup, 2 pair of socks and a Christian children’s magazine. 

A local dentist volunteered to teach the students how to brush their teeth properly and Pastor Gongpop Poochan from Jaisamarn Samutsongkhram Church prayed for the students.  Pastor Gongpop will also help with follow-up visits to the school.  The school will provide time for the students to brush their teeth after lunch every day and to help make teeth brushing a normal part of the daily routine of the students.

The 147 students at Wang Yao School in Suphanburi Province were excited to receive their Bright Teeth and Happy Feet gift packs from the LHMT staff on June 23, 2011.  A local dentist used hand puppets to do an object lesson about the causes of tooth problems and the correct way to brush teeth. 

Pastor Chumpon Khumpanyam from PornthaweeChurchshared God’s love with the students and prayed for them at the end of the morning program.  After the program Wilai Gorgae, a Primary 6 student told the LHMT team and church team, “Thank you for bringing the gifts to us. This gift will be very helpful for me.”  Primary 5 student, Saharat Garnpakdee, said, “Thank you for the gift.  I will use this gift to keep my teeth healthy.”

The 81 students at Baan Lawa Wang Kuai School really enjoyed singing songs about brushing their teeth and a song about God’s love before they received their gift packs.  Later Dentist Pranee Prateeptong from Suphanburi Province Public Health Department explained to the students how and why to take good care of their teeth and Pastor Chumpon again shared God’s love with the students and closed the program with prayer. 

Somsak Bungongta

Somsak Bungongta, a Primary 6 student told the LHMT team, “Before I had only one pair of socks.  Now I received two more.  Thank you very much!”

Teacher Gittiya Nongluck thanked the teams and invited them to come back again.  Dentist Pranee Prateeptong also enjoyed being part of the project team.

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Bright Teeth and Happy Feet Project is a Success

All 643 students received free gift packs

Through the gift of some special funding Lutheran Hour Ministries Thailand (LHMT) was able to do a project to help school children in Guiburi District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.  With the title of “Bright Teeth and Happy Feet” the project focused on a need that the LHMT director and staff discovered during the Christmas school outreach in December 2010. They learned that some schools weren’t having the students brush their teeth after lunch, because the schools didn’t have enough money in their budgets to provide toothbrushes, toothpaste and cups for the students. 

From May 25-27 the LHMT director and some staff visited 7 schools in Guiburi District.  They took with them gift packs for each of the 643 students.  The packs contained 2 toothbrushes, 2 tubes of toothpaste, 1 plastic cup, a pamphlet that explained why it’s so important for the students to brush their teeth every day and a Christian pamphlet.  Every student also received a paper model of teeth, so that they could practice how to brush properly. 

School uniforms include socks, because a lot of bacteria can be picked up by the children’s feet.  That’s especially important in rural areas like Guiburi District.  During the Christmas school outreach program, the LHMT director also noticed that many students didn’t wear socks or their socks had big holes in them.  So, the gift packs also included 3 pair of socks for each child.

Pastor Wichian organized the program very well

The LHMT team was assisted by Pastor Wichian Rakkhanto from Guiburi Full Gospel Church and some of his church members and several dentists volunteered to teach the students the proper techniques for brushing their teeth.  Pastor Wichian and his church members made all of the arrangements for doing the project at all of the schools and for the dentists to help.  Pastor Wichian also invited the students to visit his church on Saturday mornings to attend free lessons to learn how to play the guitar, drums and keyboard and he closed each program with prayer.

At each school the LHMT staff led the students in some fun activities and singing songs about the importance of brushing their teeth.  They also sang a Christian song about God’s love.  The students were very happy to get the gift packs and really enjoyed the activities and singing.  It was a good way for them to have fun while learning important information about taking care of their teeth.

All of the school principals agreed to provide time and supervision for the students to brush their teeth after lunch at school every day.  Pastor Wichian and the dentists plan to visit the schools 1-2 times each month to see if the students continue to brush their teeth after lunch.  It’s also a good opportunity for him to build relationships with the principals, teachers and some students, because he is very interested in sharing the Gospel in as many schools as possible.

Included in the regular curriculum is a class about some of the different religions.  Several school principals invited Pastor Wichian to teach the section about Christianity.   This will give him an excellent chance to be involved in the schools and to share God’s love through his teaching, as well as through his actions.

Because the LHMT director was able to purchase the supplies for the gift packs at a greater discount than expected, some of the money for the project wasn’t spent on the 7 schools in Guiburi District.  As a bonus, the LHMT staff plans to repeat this project for an additional 774 students at 1 school inSamut Songkhram Provinceand 2 schools in Suphanburi Province in June.

We thank God that everything went so smoothly with this project and that we’ll be able to help more than twice the number of students than we expected. 

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