LAY KLO YAW — CHILDRENS HOME AND LEARNING CENTER

We have over 260 children. Some of them are orphans, some are abandoned, and others are in need of food and education due to severe poverty. Their ages vary from 5-22. Some of the older youth are in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade, as they never had access to education before. We opted to call this place a “children’s home” rather than orphanage because we want the children to feel like they are no longer orphans – they are part of a large, loving family. This decision was also because not all of the children are abandoned or orphans.

At this point, we call our school a learning center, rather than a school, due to Thai law. It is difficult to obtain permission to run a school, and with permission comes many restrictions and regulations. We are in the process of creating a vocational learning center with a work-study program.

Our students plant gardens, tend the orchards, cook, weave, sew and do a lot of the building needed for the school. This way they will be equipped to make a living in the future and be a blessing to those around them. Reaping the fruit from the labor of their own hands is giving them satisfaction and happiness.

The vocational training program includes learning skills in how to care for the sick—skills such as basic hygiene, simple nursing, hydrotherapy, massage, and natural treatments. Of course, there is an academic program at the school too. Music is a large part of the children’s lives. They love to sing, and the morning and evening worships are like a foretaste of heaven. Our hope is that an army of young people will be trained to serve and bring healing to their own people.

Many of the children have been baptized, even though most of the parents are Buddhist and the others are Pentecostal or Baptist. They often face persecution and are disowned when they make a commitment for Christ. Some have even been threatened to be killed. (We share some of their stories HERE.)

As for the school’s future, we don’t know what it will be. Will it ultimately be called a school? A learning center ? Outside forces would like to decide, but God is the deciding force. Remembering how He has been faithful to this school in the past, we can be optimistic while the unknown unfolds.

Please pray that we all will be faithful going about our fathers business.