“I am special, I am loved and I belong!”

Birthdays are not usually celebrated in the communities of Thailand. A child is often only reminded of how much pain his/her mom endured during childbirth.

The kids, who come to The River Kid's Club, learn to know that they do not have to feel guilty about being born. Instead, they discover that their birth was planned by God and definitely worth celebrating! 

YES! At The River, we celebrate birthdays BIG time and always make them a wonderful surprise event! Birthdays of kids born within any given three months are grouped together and a BIG PARTY is thrown.

The hall is decorated with lots of colourful balloons and streamers. Lots of party food is prepared, gifts are wrapped and fun games and other activities creatively planned. 

As the kids arrive, a surprise party awaits them!

Everyone sings “Happy Birthday” in both English and Thai. The worries of everyday life are momentarily forgotten as the lights are lowered and the candle-lit cake arrives! The birthday girls and boys are cheered on as they blow the candles and cut the cake! Then the joy of receiving a present!

Last Saturday at The River, it happened all over again!

The seed planted in a child's heart:

 "I am loved, I am special 

... I belong!”

For some kids, this is their very first birthday party ever and they will certainly never forget it!

The River Cafe

The River Cafe - the connecting place in the community is now ONE YEAR OLD! 

Since the birth of the vision for a “connecting place” in the market place, much has happened! 


The barren shell of a shophouse has been transformed into a beautiful cafe!  Patience has been learnt through training of staff, working on systems and trialling various recipe options for the menu. Some tears have been shed, but the joy of creating,  getting to know one another, and the passion for reaching people continues to make us determined to press on! Expertly prepared drinks, home-made style cakes and savouries, as well as ice cream sundaes are now served to a growing number of both Thai and Westerners. Our trading times are during office hours, but we have now also started opening on Friday nights.  


The DNA of the cafe is becoming clearer: The River Cafe is unique! Customers are drawn to the warm and relaxed atmosphere created by dedicated men and women, who love God and love people! The delightful mix of both English and Thai languages can be heard, as the regular customers and the new ones enjoy connecting with one another in this new “home away from home”.

The second floor is used for small meetings and language classes.

The above photo of our team members is now featured on our billboard advertising Conversational English Classes.

Future looks very exciting! 


Lots of young people will learn new skills in various areas of hospitality. They are also being trained in character and come to discover that they were placed on this earth to fulfil their destiny in God!


It is absolutely AWESOME to walk with God!


Thank you for your continued support!

WITCHDOCTOR FINDS FREEDOM!

For a witchdoctor, the spirit world is more real that the world he sees with his natural eyes. Every moment of his existence revolves around spirits. He acts as a go-between for the villagers and the spirits. He calls on the spirits for advise and guidance. He seeks for ways to appease the spirits, which very often requires animal sacrifices to be furnished by the troubled souls seeking the witchdoctor's help. The witchdoctor also declares curses on people deemed to deserve suffering - even death.

Nights are difficult for the witchdoctor and his followers. The spirit realm is real and it does not rest. Fear and tormented thoughts are a norm in the villages. They know no other way to live.

The River Team made contact with the Village of White Sand.  The Team is committed to praying for freedom for the people of the mountains, while they also "go out, seeking for the Lost". Because of this commitment,  relationships were formed with the villagers...and then one day.... the witchdoctor's eyes were opened!  February 2012 marked the time when The Good News truly reached the Village of White Sand! The witchdoctor  walked through the “door” to salvation and freedom in Jesus Christ! Eight villagers followed him in making this decision. They all are amazed in experiencing restful sleep for the first time in their lives! Other villages are now in the process of changing their allegiance to the living God!

Keep praying for the Lost to be found!

The Rescue House at The River

The River Kid’s House became a reality last week!

Last week, Cassie, our Aussie volunteer, Ittiphon, Bohae and their two children, moved into our just completed Rescue House at The River. Isaac, our building trainer, together with countless other people, worked hard in transforming the wall-less shelter on the River property into a functional house with 5 bedrooms, kitchen and 2 showers and 3 toilets! 

Last Sunday we celebrated the “new family”, which now also includes recently rescued Ganya (10,), Fon (12) and Nat (13)! For the very first time in their lives, these three girls get to experience the warmth and safety of a REAL HOME!

 

 

So many people have given encouragement, time and financial help towards this project. The River Team thanks you for your ongoing commitment in supporting our work!

English Opens University Doors!

Last Saturday, an enthusiastic group of 7 Aussie volunteers in The River Team responded to a request from the Northern University (located in Hangdong) to assist in making a one-day English Camp for the students a great success! The volunteers prepared excellent teaching materials, each person responsible for teaching a marathon of 10 classes in one day!

These kinds of opportunities are hugely exciting! The River Team is working together with the local leaders - in this case the English Department of a university - to meet a FELT NEED of students being able to communicate with native English speakers! 

We absolutely love it, because these opportunities open doors to connecting with more people!

Assistant Professor Dr Anchalee expressed her sincere thanks to us, The River Team, for our continued commitment to the youth of Thailand.

Doors are open. We need more volunteers!

Pray for many more to respond to......

 THE CALL!

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER!

Gig is a beautiful young lady from the Karen Tribe. Her home is in “8 km Village”, about 2 hrs drive from Hangdong towards the Myanmar border. The River Team has been working in her village for several years. Gig was one of the first villagers to receive salvation. She is now a member of our River Team and together we have been earnestly praying for God to set these people free from spirit worship! Last week the much longed for phone call came: “Daughter, your father and the rest of the family have decided to follow Jesus!” God has answers prayer!

This leaves only a few families in the “8 km village” to make the same decision! Please keep praying and believing with us!

SET FREE!

My name is Miriam. I was born into a Christian Karen home.

Mum left me in the care of my grandparents when I was 8 years old. I felt rejected and deeply hurt. I seized every opportunity I could to stay away from home, to hang out with friends, who lived life-styles far from godly values. Before long, I became attached to a young man, who began to control my life.  I did anything and everything he wanted me to do. I felt totally trapped, both emotionally and physically. I felt dirty and unworthy. There was nothing more for me in this life, except to please my boyfriend. Then he dumped me, leaving me completely heart-broken. I locked myself in a room, pretending to study for university entrance exams. In reality, I could not concentrate at all and consequently failed my exams and was disqualified from entering university. I felt like a total loser. I had shamed my family. I was not even smart enough to study at university. 

My life changed when I came to the River! I entered university part-time studying to become a teacher. I am involved in the work of the River Team in the communities and tutor young three girls rescued from abusive situations.

The road to healing takes times, but I know that I have been set free from many bondages and I have great hope for the future! God is so good to me!