My parents had 3 children, 2 sons and 1 daughter. I was the middle child. My brothers and I loved to play and go exploring together. Sometimes we argued, but we always loved each other and were very close. After our parents divorced, my father moved away to Bangkok (he went to live with his relatives there.) My older brother became a soldier (he did not want to, but he was drafted to serve for 2 years). My mom, my brother and I moved to Pattaya, but I didn’t stay in Pattaya for long. My mother was unable to work and take care of us, so my brother and I moved back to our hometown, Khon Kaen. There we were able to rent a room for just me and my brother, I was 16 and he was 13.
It was important for my mom to make money to support us. Sometimes she would have to ask my dad to help and send money for us to go to school. My mom had to make money to pay for all of our living expenses. When I moved to Khon Kaen with my younger brother, I tried to find work to help my mom with paying for everything. I took care of my younger brother and I worked part time selling fried chicken and orange juice at the market. I would make about $5-6/day.
I applied for all the school scholarships I could find, and I took out student loans to finish high school and to go to university to study Thai Language.
While I was in university, I was involved with many clubs and activities and volunteering, which helped me to get a scholarship. Because I completed all of my credits in 3.5 years, I was able to do a Work and Travel program for my last semester. I went to America for 5 months. This program was for students to go and work part-time and to learn about American culture. I went to Destin, Florida and worked at McDonalds.
After I came back to Thailand, I moved back to Pattaya to live with my mom and to work in property management at a condo. I worked 6 days a week, but I asked for every Sunday off so I could go to church. On Sundays I would go to church for worship and serve God by doing activities with the youth. I would be at church from the morning until the evening every Sunday. I met David and Allie at the church where we would do lessons and activities for the teenagers together. I worked at the condo for 2 years before David and Allie invited me to work with them. Then I quit my job to go work with Thailand Now.
I thank God for finding me. I know that I always had God’s grace in my life. Even though I haven’t been a Christian my whole life, I believe God chose me long ago. Through elementary and high school I went to a Catholic school. I was able to make friends who were Christian. I had the opportunity to go to church many times. When I went to University, I met my boyfriend, Run, who is a Christian (we are still together). I went to church with him and learned about God through Run’s life. After we had been together for 2 years, I decided to devote my life to Jesus.
Right after I became a Christian, my family was not accepting of it. My whole family was Buddhist, and in Thailand, almost all Thai people are Buddhist. Buddhist people follow the teachings of Siddhartha, Karma, and they have to make merit so they can come back in a better life, and to help their ancestors get to a better place. When we would go to the temple to make merit, we would buy snacks and bring money for the monks and make offerings to the idols in the temple. But once I was a Christian, my family could see that I was different, and they weren’t happy that I wouldn’t go to the Buddhist temple with them anymore. But this was not an obstacle for me with my belief in God. Because I stand firm in my belief in God (and I can be stubborn).
In all the time that I have known God, I am always discovering more and more how good God is. I thank God that he has prepared a way for me to come and serve God with this ministry and at church (and wherever else he will lead me to serve). Recently, my mom has come to know God and accept Him. I believe that everyone in my family will see God’s goodness in my life. All of them see the love and care from David and Allie and all of my church family. I believe that my family will come to believe in God. God has not stopped working in my life. I am just the first one in my family that He has called.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has a heart for helping our brothers and sisters, and the children here in Thailand. God bless you all.
If you feel led by the Lord to support this mission, you can donate by check or online.
1. Send a check to:
Thailand NOW
P.O. Box 56
Mannsville, KY 42758
OR
2. Give online at https://thailandnow.org/donate/
