Thailand Promo 2009 from laura parker on Vimeo.

And the country of Thailand cries out for that Love loudly, very loudly.  Thailand is a Buddhist country, with over 95% of its population praying at temples and lighting candles to golden statues.   The sex industry has a firm and ugly grip on the nation, where there are literally millions involved in prostitution.  Some sources claim that the sex industry brings in up to 14% of the entire GNP for the country, and it is fed by both the locals and the host of tourists who frequent the country for its gorgeous beaches, exotic beauty, and inexpensive accommodations.  The truly tragic statistic about Thailand’s sex industry is that 35% of those involved are children, under the age of 18.  Statistically speaking, 1 in every 3 prostitutes is a child.  Typically, these children are either sold by their families because of extreme poverty or because of a lack of understanding about what they are being taken to do.  Unfortunately, human trafficking in this part of the world is rampant.

In addition to the grip of Buddhism and the sex industry, Thailand is a country to which refugees flee.  Neighboring it to the West is the country of Myanmar, where Burmese people are being persecuted unjustly and horrifically.  These refugees seek a new home in Thailand, but are often faced with extreme poverty, racial discrimination, and the dangers of human trafficking. 

Thailand is much more than an exotic vacation spot.  Beneath the white sand beaches, the tropical fruit, and the lovely people, a country’s heart cries out for justice for its women, protection for its children, and hope for its people.

Why Mentorship?     Jesus Himself told his followers to make disciples– to lead others in living and thinking like Christ.  If we look at the life of Jesus, we can see how He chose to do just that–  He gathered a small group of willing hearts around him.  These twelve disciples did life with Jesus.  They ate with him, they slept beside him, they watched him handle intense situations and broken people.  They saw how He loved others and got to listen to His explanations of hard teachings.  They were on the inner circle in His earthly ministry and had a box-seat to the miraculous. 

Obviously, we at Destined Traveler are by no means claiming to be the spittin’ image of Jesus Himself, but we do see the value of allowing a young adult to walk closely alongside an older Christian in ministry and in life.  We also recognize the power of a small group of individuals who are all pursuing the same spiritual goals and the dynamic energy that a group like that can create.  With over 12 years of experience in ministry, both in the United States and in other countries, we recognize that the classroom of another culture can oftentimes be one of the most powerful for spiritual transformation.  When young people get out of their comfort zones, they are challenged to grow in their faith in ways that are difficult to experience within the borders of  normal life.  Students will be given the space to study God’s word, practice the spiritual disciplines (meditation, prayer, silence, etc.), engage in various outlets of Christian service and ministry, learn from sound Biblical teaching, enjoy one-on-one discipleship with an older Christian, taste true community within the team, observe what normal life is like for a Jesus-loving missionary family, practice loving and living in a foreign culture, evaluate their God-given gifts and their God-directed futures, and get a bigger glimpse of God’s heart for the world.  

 The Details?  The mentorship program will begin (hopefully) in September of 2010.  We will host teams of no more than 12 young people, ages 18-24.  The Fall program will begin in September and finish at the end of November.  Students will have a required reading list to prepare for the trip, as well as an intensive interview process before acceptance into the program.  If you are interested or would like more information, contact Matt Parker (co-director, Joy to the World Foundation, Thailand) at coloradoparkers@gmail.com.

Imagine your 10 year-old nephew, your own daughter, or the first graders at your local school. 

Imagine.  Now imagine those same defenseless children being sold into prostitution because of extreme poverty or because of deception.   In the country of Thailand, as in much of Southeast Asia, the sex industry is a driving economic force.  Sadly, current statistics report that up to 35% of those involved in this industry are under the age of 18.  And while the statistics are  incomprehensible,  don’t just think of the facts.  Place that child you know in the same position thousands of children find themselves in in quieter corners of the globe.   When you picture your own son who plays soccer or your neighbor’s little girl who sells you cookies every year, suddenly a foggy fact becomes a sickening reality.     

Rescuing Them.  It has been found that one of the best ways to combat child prostitution in countries like Thailand is to fight it pre-emptively.  Once a child gets sold into the sex industry, it is very difficult for them to be rescued from that situation.  However, there has been great success in identifying girls who would become likely targets for human trafficking and rescuing them from their poverty before the industry captures them.  This is the goal and strategy of Breanna’s House of Joy, which currently is a place of refuge for almost 50 impoverished girls from the hill tribes of Thailand.

James tells us in the first chapter of his book in the Bible, “Pure and undefiled religion is this:  to care for the orphan and the widow, and to remain uncorrupted by this world.”  Time and time again in the Bible, we are admonished to look out for the weak, to care for the poor, to love the needy, to fight for the defenseless, and to give homes to the orphans.  This sanctuary in a Thai jungle serves as a conduit to do just that.

The Girls at Breanna's House of Joy Orphanage, 2009

Breanna’s House of Joy was established four years ago about 10 minutes outside of the second largest city in Thailand, Chiang Mai.  It’s blue-roof peeks over jungle and rice fields and house nearly 50 girls.  These young girls find refuge at this orphanage because they have been identified as girls that are at great risk for human trafficking into the Thailand’s rampant sex industry.  These girls either have no parents, are unwanted by their families, or come from extreme poverty.  They receive a quality education, safe housing, and teaching about Jesus and His wild love for each of them. 

In the Heart of  a Child. Breanna’s House is a picture of  the beauty arising from the ashes.  Several years ago, literally halfway around the worldfrom the Thai jungle  in the mountains of the USA, a twelve-year-old girl was killed tragically in a car accident.  This young girl, Breanna, had a tender heart for Asian orphans, and her parents founded Breanna’s House of Joy in her honor.  Today, nearly 50 dark-skinned girls giggle and play under a plaque that bears Breanna’s name and smile.

The Plaque Remembering Breanna at the Orphanage

L - R: Betty (Lu's wife), Ryan (supporter from the States), Matt (future co-director), Pastor Lu (current director)

 

 Details.  Currently, the girls are cared for practically by five nationals.  These adults are Christians who serve with humility and love the girls greatly.  The direction for the orphanage on site will be overseen by Pastor Lu, a Burmese pastor actively involved in working with the refugees in Myanmar, and Matt Parker, an American moving to Thailand in 2010 with his family.  There is a guest house on site which can sleep up to 15 individuals, and the orphanage itself is nestled in the jungle about 20 minutes outside of the bustling city of Chiang Mai.

The Future.  We have several projects on hand for Breanna’s House of Joy.  We would like to develop a trade skill for the girls, so that they can each be equipped with the necessary tools to successfully break the cycle of poverty.  Transitional housing also needs to be developed as a way to integrate the girls safely into their own culture after they graduate from the orphanage at 18.  Another task at hand is the development of a secondary and sustainable source of incomefor the orphanage.  In order to maintain and grow, Breanna’s House needs more than just the donations of generous people.  The first project up will be the creation of a fish pond on the existing property, which will serve as both a food and an income source.  As always, the grounds need to be maintained and improved.  And, of course, the girls need to be loved and encouraged.