Outreach
Welcome to the Isaiah 61 Project , known as the Mighty Oak Tree Foundation, in Northern Thailand. Outreach is an important goal which is accomplished through our Mighty Oak Tree Staff and children , Good News Church, and the teams visiting Thailand on a yearly basis.
Our yearly visits since 2001, to Thailand, have given us, our teams, and our Isaiah 61 Project children and youth many opportunities for outreach ministries. I will high light a few of these exciting experiences for you.
Let’s start with our beginning year, 2001 – 2005. We made four visits during this time frame and each year we taught English as a Second Subject from the Primary to the Secondary levels. Each team accompanying Carolyn and Ab Hudson taught in the Christian and State schools as well. Our relationships with the school staff and students grew greatly during this period. In 2005, Carolyn taught workshops to the teachers. Carolyn also visited and lectured at the School for the Blind in Chiang Mai in 2004.
2007 marks the year that we provided the funds for the building of a new home for a family living just outside of Fang, Northern Thailand. At the time, we were supporting their son, Bas for education and as we visited we realized that their existing tiny Thai home of bamboo and thatched grass roof was in very bad shape. There was a large hole in the middle of the main floor, several plastic bags hung to catch rain because of a very leaky roof , no water supply and a little hibachi, outside on the ground and a few old pots were used for preparation of their meals. During the rainy season, this family had no shelter from the rain and their situation was greatly increased because Bas’ mom is blind. This family was in a desperate need for help. With the help of Canadian Sponsors, Good News Church members, YWAM mission teams, and our own Isaiah 61 staff, we were able to see a safe house erected for them, with a common room, two bedrooms, bathroom, and outdoor kitchen. It was such a blessing to help this very poor family
In 2008, we had the blessing of bringing over beautiful home- made blankets made by ladies in Peterborough Fellowship. We were able to donate them to a children’s Orphanage , Home of Joy, in Chiang Mai. What a delight to see these kids choose their special blanket for their beds.
We also visited Akha and Pelong Hill-tribe villages in Fang area to distribute medicine and food among the people. For all of us this visit was life changing. We had such a deep desire to replace the emptiness we saw in their eyes with “the hope of Jesus” . The food they enjoy receiving is noodles and sardines. The medicines were over the counter medications for flu and cold symptoms, diarrheal, stomach ailments, general aches and pains. It was a moment filled with much emotion as the Akha people hurried to find a spot in the line-up so they could receive the food from the back of a truck.
Another outreach destination was a trip to Mae Sot and a visit to Migrant Workers’ homes and schools and also a visit to the largest Refugee camp of Burmese people in Thailand. We had the privilege of visiting an orphanage in the refugee camp, hearing the children sing and worship and buying blankets for them to ward off the cold during the cold nights. We also stopped at the local market and filled the back of our van with vegetables and fruit for the orphanage. These love gifts meant so much to them but our rewards were much, much, greater as we listened to their stories and observed the “love” that the orphanage directors and staff had for these children who had lost everything, even their parents and family during the brutal battles and civil warfare in Burma before they escaped to Thailand.
In 2009, we were able to visit with our Canadian Team, the Akha and Pelong villages once again to distribute medicines and food, but because of excellent relationship building and growth in Evangelism we were able to do a baby wellness clinic in the Pelong village and distribute some baby blankets as well as have one of our pastors preach the word of God. It was a wonderful day filled with God’s goodness as we saw people healed of illnesses and set free. On the faces of these villagers we could see the “joy of the Lord Jesus” Praise God.In Pattaya, we participated in an outreach with the YWAM director , Lee Ann Sidebottom, of the Slum Ministries. In her visits each week she spends time with health care issues; i.e. cleaning and medicating sores, cutting fingernails, treating heads for lice and general first aid care, praise and worship especially action songs, teaching a bible story and having it dramatized, and snacks. This was very revealing as little kids came out of their shacks to sit on the tarpaulin in the middle of field to receive “the love of Jesus”. There are over 2000 slum dwellers in Pattaya. Learning about her work and participating in a very small way to the activities of one of her “normal days” was life changing for all of us.
We were very thankful to receive a generous donation of home-made quilts from a ladies group in Kincardine, Ontario. They were taken to Fang and given to our elderly grandparents within the Isaiah 61 Project. It was such a joy to see the faces of these dear people, many of whom have suffered strokes and other illnesses. They were so happy to receive these gifts from us. Thank you ladies, for your generous donation and “labour of love” for our Thai people. Most of these recipients are the only family the children have and struggle a great deal to provide for even the basis needs of the family.
Almost every year, we have visited another YWAM ministry in Pattaya called the “Tamar Centre”. Pattaya is a place of such spiritual darkness, where profits are made from sex trafficking. We walk the streets and participate in a prayer walk, hear about the “light” of the Tamar Centre, and rejoice in the stories of “transformed lives” told to us by the girls. The Tamar Centre provides alternative work for these girls and provides them with the spiritual knowledge and educational training needed to change their lives and their future. This is always an emotional experience for us. Seeing the plight of thousands of young girls, boys, and children is devastating. It communicates to our teams why we are led to do the ministry of the Isaiah 61 Project in Northern Thailand. Our hope is that we can save these children from this dark destiny by providing educational sponsorship and development projects giving these families hope for the future.
Our youth groups have done many visits to hill tribe villages, other Christian churches, and schools. They are able to witness for Christ through their testimonies, skits, worship, and dance. It is so wonderful to see and encourage them to reach out to the Thai people, in the name of Jesus. Many of our youth and children are becoming spiritually strong and committed to “making a difference within Thailand”.
2010 marked our first visit to 3 new Hill-tribe villages where Pastor Enoch is called to serve. The people were from the Ahka, Lahu, and Karen tribal groups. It was wonderful to witness the growth of Christianity in these villages and the breaking of religious barriers which have for generations kept them in complete bondage to Animist and Buddhist beliefs. We were able to give them food, medications, and small gifts of money to the pastors in each village. Hope is taking root in these villages. Praise God!
