Volunteers

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You are invited to come and help us "reach out" to the Karen people.

If you have a heart for missions, love children and youth, want to spend some time in a tropical jungle-like environment and partake in worships that are a small foretaste of heaven. Let us tell you a little about this place.

This is a children's home, yet it looks more like a boarding school; about 50-70 of our 230 children are calling this place their home - they have no other place to call home. They come mostly from Buddhist Animist backgrounds. We have children from birth to 22 years old.

The Karen children and youth are, in general, more polite and respectful than youth from America. They have great respect for their elders, they avoid conflict and are peaceable, yet they are independent with strong personalities. As a people they laugh a lot, are easy going and very affectionate, and there is a clear separation between boys and girls in public settings, yet they interact with each other in a friendly and natural way.

When you first arrive you will most likely be appalled at the lack of hygiene - the spitting and casual treatment of body waste, but you will also find that a cleaner group of people is hard to find; bathing and scrubbing of both ones person and belongings are a daily ritual that might be enjoyed as many times as able.

In our area the people are still dressing in their traditional hand-woven clothing, they are colorful and modest. You will find both women and men in skirts, the men would never appear in the woman's garment, there is a clear distinction between the dress of men and women that at first sight might not be noticed. Even our young male students are proud to wear the traditional men's skirt.

The Thai pop culture is slowly sneaking in its ugly face, those students and adults having spent any time in the refugee camps show the signs of trying to fit into the movie-style fashions.

We, as a children's home and learning center, have taken a firm stand against the current of fashion and pop culture creeping into the Karen culture with great speed. We don't allow movies, music with a drum beat, or clothing displaying movie stars and slogans. The girls are encouraged to wear modest skirts and blouses. Jewelry of all kinds is not allowed.

The Karen tie what is called "devil strings" on their children which they wear as a protection against evil spirits throughout their lives, this is normally a very dirty piece of string tied around the wrists, ankles, waist, neck or in the ears - we cut these strings when they come to live here.

Video games and drugs, alcohol, tobacco and betel nut etc. are not allowed on the property. We are also only serving vegetarian food on the premises. We expect our volunteers to be an example to the students and staff in their conduct and appearance, showing a Christian witness at all times. Volunteers are expected to abide by these guidelines.

The property is still very much "under construction" meaning that the buildings and grounds are still being worked on.

The Karen normally throw all their garbage in the river or creek. They let garbage accumulate and seldom have proper bathrooms in their homes. They remove the grass from around their buildings and sweep the dirt each day, keeping things neat, but this custom is not a happy arrangement in the long rainy season. We are trying to educate those living here to burn garbage, to recycle, to keep the grass around the buildings, and in general to keep things neat and orderly. Unfortunately, we find that it is hard to change everything at once.

This little description gives you in a nutshell, what it is like here. We need people who would be willing to uphold the standards we have set for the children's home - Learning center, who would like to help in making a difference in these young peoples lives' for Christ.

At this time we have need for people to teach English, builders, childcare, kindergarten, health, sewing, computer, gardening and groundskeepers. Someone is also needed to help with the medical to help teach medical skills, preferably also someone to teach natural treatments, massage and herbs.

Many of our older students have a desire to go back to their villages in Burma and serve their people, sharing Jesus with them. Some want to become pastors, evangelists, Bible teachers, and others want to be medics, nurses and even doctors - serving their own. We want to help their dreams come true. This year Maria has a team of 8 students whom she has trained - it is a great success and they have been a real blessing as helpers in the "clinic" on the porch.

It is our prayer that you will ask yourself: What can I do to give my best to the Master?