Orphan's Promise - Thailand
Walk 12 Miles in Their Shoes
CBN.com –
Christian Pastor Teerasawn wanted to help the children live closer to their school. That was the beginning of Rakprakun, a loving Christian children’s home, nestled in the mountains of northern Thailand, and now supported by CBN’s Orphan’s Promise. The 13 children who live there during the school term are well cared for in a supportive Christian environment, and are able to get a quality education at a school roughly 500 yards away.
Rakprakun had meager beginnings. The children were sleeping on hard wooden floors with no lights or electricity connected to the home. The tiny bamboo kitchen/dining hall was falling apart and the thatched rood had large holes plugged up with plastic bags. The roof was in danger of collapsing from the fast approaching monsoon rains.
Pastor Teerasawn contacted Terry Meeuwsen, director of Orphan’s Promise (OP), about the needs and struggles of Rakprakun Children’s Home. As a result, beds, mattresses, pillows, blankets and linen were provided to the home. The children no longer have to sleep on the hard cold floor. To help the children excel even further in their well-rounded education, OP provided two computers, a printer, educational software, three guitars and sports uniforms. Electricity was connected and lights were fitted so that the children no longer rely on candlelight to do their homework at night.
Rakprakun also desperately needed a new kitchen/dining hall and staff quarters. In early 2009, OP sponsored construction of a new building. The buildings were completed and ready for use on May 24, 2009. What a blessing the children and staff now experience as they have ample room to prepare and eat meals without getting wet. They also enjoy fresh food and cold drinks from a new refrigerator.
The staff appreciates their new facilities. They see that these improvements create greater opportunities to show God’s love and provision to more disadvantaged children in the region.
One of the children, 10-year-old Ball, expressed his thanks at the opening of the new facilities: “I am really grateful to be here,” he said. “I didn’t have a chance to study before, and it was difficult in the beginning. Now, I am very happy because I can get a good education and we have guitars, computers, beds and a new kitchen. Thank you so much.”
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