Time With Esther

 

One of the important things we wanted to do on this trip was spend a bit of time with Esther Weatherall.

Sunday night provided just that opportunity, first with a Shabu hot pot style restaurant meal, then with a little stroll through Chiang Mai's famous Walking Market inside the old city walls.  Bonus:  We were able to pick up Bell at her university dorm, and it made for a happy little group.  [For those who know Ken and his eating preferences, yes, he was able to find enough favourable things to dump into the mix.  No squid though, thank you very much.]

There is for me a sense of something coming full circle in the fact that Esther is now here in Thailand serving as a full time missionary with YWAM Chiang Mai.  In fact, back in 2008, when Highview was all new to this "Regions Beyond" thing, I met with a supervisor named Charlie McCordick who was assigned to help me with a 'Missions Elective' during my post grad studies.  And this is exactly what he said to me.  That we'd know we were really a sending missionary church when....When someone from Highview would choose to make global work their vocation.  

And here we are.

Esther's story of her introduction to and continuing development towards what she's doing today is hers to tell.  I'll just mention here that it was a first visit to Hot Springs that got the ball rolling.  I've had a front row seat to that growth for almost the whole way, lesser recently as she has branched out way beyond the ministry of New Family Foundation and has forged her own relationships of mentorship and ministry partners.  Still, it's a very rewarding thing to watch God do something over a long haul period of time, from Esther celebrating her 18th birthday on this first trip, to her emergence as a capable adult with lots to offer.  It's exciting to imagine what God has in store for her in the future.

If you are interested in connecting with Esther, to find out more and contribute to her ministry, you can check out Charitable Impact.  Or check out her specific work with YWAM at Bahn Dem Rak.

Blessings and strength and joy for your journey, Esther!

Rev. Ruth Anne Breithaupt, MDiv.

Canadian Representative/Missionary in Residence

New Family Foundation/Highview Community Church

The mission of New Family Foundation is to

provide a loving home for at-risk and 

orphaned children in Northern Thailand to

help them achieve their best potential in 

education, vocation and service to society.

New Family Foundation

                                            

     https://www.hcckw.ca                                                                    https://www.adventive.ca

If I Was an Orphan...

 

We have peacocks!

This was a new feature at Hot Springs, seen by us for the first time on our last visit in November.  

I should clarify that these are wild birds who have just felt safe and comfortable to hang around with us on the grounds.  There's five at my last count.  Looks like two males with the long tail feathers, and three females with the shorter plumage.  They are nonchalant about it all, just strolling on by.  Or jumping up onto the various levels of rooves we have here.

And just as I was writing this, I heard the great crash of the landing, went outside to chat him up, and asked politely if he would show me his splendor.  And just like that he complied.  I'm not kidding.

I'll admit I didn't realize how loud peacocks could be.  Not just the huge noise when they land on the rooves, but their call.  Haunting, piercing, undeniably confident.

Even so, we all seem quite pleased with them.  Like we have a small flock of our own exotic pets, but not really.  And they are quite comfortable with us.  Not aggressive in any way, but happy to stroll on by with only a yard or two between.  The children find them fascinating.  They were the ones who dragged me out to see the peacock who had managed to get himself all the way up on the cross at the front of the church building, just as dusk was setting in.    

Other slightly exotic beauties welcome this early Sunday morning.  Vibrant paper flowers.  Children happily doing chores in the shadows of the rising sun.

I find a great contentment in these first hours of this Lord's day.  Before the church members gather.  Before we sing vibrant songs in Thai, and hear a message of encouragement and hope from Pastor Suradet.  Before we eat lunch together.  And before the sacredness of a Sunday afternoon nap.

We also have plans to take Esther to supper tonight, picking up Bell from university on our way.  And a little market trip is tucked into the evening as well.  I'm making a list of what I'd like to bring back for the Sponsors.  And a few more English prizes for the kids.  And maybe some of that wonderful all-purpose oil they have that's really nice behind the ears, for me. 

Next week I will make yet another attempt to preach in Thai.  But not this morning.  This morning there is time to just be, and let it be, and knowing it is deeply wonderful just to be.   

I think that if I was an orphan....

Rev. Ruth Anne Breithaupt, MDiv.

Canadian Representative/Missionary in Residence

New Family Foundation/Highview Community Church

The mission of New Family Foundation is to

provide a loving home for at-risk and 

orphaned children in Northern Thailand to

help them achieve their best potential in 

education, vocation and service to society.

New Family Foundation

                                            

     https://www.hcckw.ca                                                                    https://www.adventive.ca

Happy First Day Things

Oh the first day!  Could not have been better!  Sorry if it's hard to hear about for Canadian friends right now, but the weather is ideal, warm but not humid, and cool enough at night for blankets.  Not missing the snow, just sayin.'

After a decent sleep and a great breakfast (as always), we had a relaxed time around the table setting up meetings and laying out the plan for the best use of our time here.  It was the perfect combination of just being really glad to be all together in the same room (rare for this Ministry Team), and being all proactive and intentional about the exciting things we hope to cover while we're here.  Such a great way to start the day!  

A bit more unpacking, some time preparing the lesson part of tonight's even worship time, a badly-needed jet-lag-induced afternoon coma nap, then supper.  Then....yay for evening worship!!

Just to go back a bit.  The adventures of our getting here I've already described in a Facebook post (25/01/20), so I won't go into the details here.  Enough to say that I now know what happens when you miss your connecting flight, and it isn't the catastrophe I'd always imagined.  At least it wasn't for us this time.  Basically, it amounted to a 5 hour extension of an already very long travel day (Ken estimates about 30 hours door to door), which meant we had to delay our "Yay we're here!' first night together at evening worship" hooplah by one day.

But obviously, so worth the wait.

This time out, we did not ask Sponsors for the usual packet.  If you're not a Sponsor, what that is, is a standard-sized zipped pouch that can be filled with little treats, similar to how you might stuff a stocking.  This provides a very personal way for the Children to connect with their individual Sponsor, especially when it includes little notes and pictures.  But it's actually only been 66 days since my last trip, and we do not ever want to over-extend the good graces of our Sponsors.

Not to worry.  There was still something special to give to each child for this first night together, thanks to the generosity of two separate not-Sponsors-but-very-supportive friends who provided the funds to allow us to bring a little something.

This broader connection, beyond those who faithfully provide for our kids each month, is equally important to us.  And it makes it all happen, to be honest.  And also, I really want our children to know that it's large community of love that comes their way.  You have to know that for our kids to feel seen and loved and supported is absolutely HUGE when they have already experienced so much that can make anyone wonder about their worth.  Tribal discrimination, and loss of a parent due to death or abandonment is part of the story of every one of the little souls God brings to us.  These tangible gifts carry so much more meaning than simply just a 'treat.'  That they have people half a world away that are sincerely interested in them is nothing short of amazing in their eyes.

There was also an exciting reveal of two brand new puzzles!!  Lots of excitement about that!!

After it was all done, we were escorted back to the guest house by the ones eager to carry our bags and Bibles.  Quick good night hugs all around, and wishes for sweet dreams.  

Lukmee provided hand made bracelets for both Ken and I, all matchy-matchy.  Aw.

And now, we are doing our best to stay up until 9 p.m. so to help with the whole 12 hour difference thing.  The evening is cooling off, so it should be good for another snuggy blanket night.

I do not take any of this for granted.   Every trip brings the wonder that we get to do this with these beautiful humans; that God somehow saw fit to bring me here in the first place, and has kept writing a story I could never have imagined for myself.  In fact, it's beyond all I could ever have asked or imagined, sort of like how Ephesians 3:20-21 says it could be.

Tomorrow we head over to the property and get right down into drawing up the building plans and making all the lists of who we need to connect with.  Can't wait.  

So, happy first day to us!

Grateful.

Rev. Ruth Anne Breithaupt, MDiv.

Canadian Representative/Missionary in Residence

New Family Foundation/Highview Community Church

The mission of New Family Foundation is to

provide a loving home for at-risk and 

orphaned children in Northern Thailand to

help them achieve their best potential in 

education, vocation and service to society.

New Family Foundation

                                            

     https://www.hcckw.ca                                                                    https://www.adventive.ca

Countdown

Ken and Suradet pacing out possible building sites 

on the new property (August 2023).

It's hard to believe but I just checked the calendar again and, yup.  In just ten days Ken and I will get on the plane to head back over to Thailand for a very strategic visit at Hot Springs.

For Ken it will be a span of about 2 years and six months since he was last there (for our 45th anniversary).

For me, it will be a matter of 66 days.

This will be the shortest turnaround for me ever since I started traveling back and forth in 2008.  I even just left all my summer clothes there because I wouldn't be needing them over the winter in Canada, and I was going to be back again so soon, so why bother?   It certainly has made for a more intensive Christmas season than usual, given the preparation work on Sermons and Bible Lessons, and all the other logistics of just getting there.

Ken and Saichom (August 2023)

But it's important and strategic, and the timing is part of that.  With the arrival of the long awaited land deed we are now clear to put into action all the plans we've had in the wings to build our new facility.  While Ken normally holds down the fort at home, we had always said that when we were ready for this part, he would return and help us work through some of the construction particulars, leading us to all work together with Thai engineers and contractors.

To be clear, we're still at the beginning of things in some ways.  While we've had a site plan for quite some time, more detail needs to be added, and the specifics need to be decided.  All of this is really, really hard to do on line and off site, like, literally a half a world away off site.  Especially with language and measurement challenges, in that some Thai measurements are exactly the same as Western specifications.  

And then there's the fundraising piece, which is huge, and needs careful discernment and collaboration, the likes of which are also difficult to come to consensus with when everyone's not in the room.

So strategic and important....and such a huge treat for me to have Ken with me this time!!!

We travel well together, so that's fun.  And honestly, it just makes me love him all the more when I see him connecting with the kids.

Reading time!  

Paw Ken adds so many sound effects!

We'll be commissioned at Highview on Sunday, January 18th, and we've asked if our daughter, Kristyn would do the honours.  Delightfully, she's said yes!

Sponsors will not be sending along packages this time.  Instead, we have a newer kind of Valentine Surprise that we'll work out while we're there.  An extra, separate email has been sent out for this, so Sponsors, watch for that.

Over the next two Sundays I will have a box set up at Highview for anyone who would like to contribute to a small outing for the children while Ken and I are there.

And also, we will meet up with Esther Weatherall, Highview's own on-the-ground full time missionary working with YWAM in Chiang Mai.  

And of course, just to spend the time with the kids and with Suradet and Yupa and other staff members....it's like being with family and so good for the soul.

Excited and grateful and curious and motivated and eager and almost ready.

Rev. Ruth Anne Breithaupt, MDiv.

Canadian Representative/Missionary in Residence

New Family Foundation/Highview Community Church

The mission of New Family Foundation is to

provide a loving home for at-risk and 

orphaned children in Northern Thailand to

help them achieve their best potential in 

education, vocation and service to society.

New Family Foundation

                                            

     https://www.hcckw.ca                                                                    https://www.adventive.ca

The Nativity, by The Children of Hot Springs

Everyone says...

สุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาส!

"Sooksan wan Christmas!"

Merry Christmas!

With joy we send greetings to celebrate the wondrous story of the Incarnation.  

God with us!

I write these words following yet another round of tragic news globally.  Another religiously targeted attack, this time on a beach in Australia.  Another school shooting in the US.  Resurging border skirmishes between Thailand and Cambodia.  And wars with no end as fragile ceasefires seem unable to hold back the hate. 

 

Puts me in mind of the carol set to words written by poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Johnny Reid)   In the third verse there is a similar lament that is perhaps on the hearts of many this season.

And in despair I bowed my head

"There is no peace on earth," I said

For hate is strong, and mocks the song of

Peace on Earth, good will to men."

And if we stopped there, we'd have to agree.  We might shrink back and lower our gaze to the mess.  But I like what television personality and outspoken Catholic Christian Steven Colbert has to say about this.  "Everyone has the obligation to push back on the temptation to despair"  (emphasis added).

Longfellow likewise.  He ends the poem-turned-carol with words that lift us up and out to focus on a hope bigger than ourselves.

Then peeled the bells more loud and deep

"God is not dead nor doth He sleep

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail

With peace on Earth, good will to men!"

The irony is not lost on me.  The very fact that each of you, in some way, have participated in bringing the peace of God to bear against the despair of poverty- vulnerable children is indeed an enormous part of putting these words into measurable action.  The wrong is indeed failing in the lives of our kids who now have a chance to rise above what would otherwise have mocked their possibilities.  

And for this we earnestly pray for God's prevailing blessing on your own lives, whatever it is that may be tempting you to despair right now.  May you experience a Christmas season full of kindness, grace, redemption, and peace, and a New Year that rings out loud and deep with hope.

Gratefully, and always, glad to partner with you.

Ruth Anne

Click here for a full video of the Hot Springs Christmas Pageant.

Rev. Ruth Anne Breithaupt, MDiv.

Canadian Representative/Missionary in Residence

New Family Foundation/Highview Community Church

The mission of New Family Foundation is to

provide a loving home for at-risk and 

orphaned children in Northern Thailand to

help them achieve their best potential in 

education, vocation and service to society.

New Family Foundation

                                            

     https://www.hcckw.ca                                                                    https://www.adventive.ca

 

Mini Christmas Market

Clearance Sale

Sundays, December 14 and 21

at 

Highview Community Church

295 Highview Drive KIT ON N2N 2K7

(following morning service)

Coffee...Pashminas....Bags and Purses

plus much more

all priced to go

(making room for new stock to be brought back to Canada in the New Year)

Also

Gift Certificates

$20.00

donations towards School Fees.

Makes a great stocking stuffer for those who appreciate 

the meaning of gifts like this.

All proceeds towards general operations of New Family Foundation.

Interact available.

 

Rev. Ruth Anne Breithaupt, MDiv.

Canadian Representative/Missionary in Residence

New Family Foundation/Highview Community Church

The mission of New Family Foundation is to

provide a loving home for at-risk and 

orphaned children in Northern Thailand to

help them achieve their best potential in 

education, vocation and service to society.

New Family Foundation

                                            

     https://www.hcckw.ca                                                                    https://www.adventive.ca

The Why of It - Moving Forward on Property Development

Anyone who's visited Hot Springs will tell you it's a place of beauty.

Gardens are generous.  

Sunrises mystical.  

Flowers exuberant.  

We have goats and chickens too.

We even have peacocks now!  Not our own exactly, just a sauntering little flock of four wild birds that grace us with their stunning display as they calmly forage on the grounds.

Our little space is nestled away from the road where it's relatively quiet. There's a decent outdoor kitchen and eating space.  A large meeting room.  Kids can play and grow, safe and happy.

So why move?

We are currently situated on un-deeded land which is not technically in compliance with Thai law regarding children’s welfare homes.  This is the land where the Korean Methodist denomination planted a church about twenty years ago.  At that time, Suradet and Yupa, the founding pastors, soon discovered a match between some of the space they now had on the property and the pressing requests of Hill Tribe families to help them care for their children.

Today we are a registered Foundation with the Thai government who is aware of our situation and has allowed us to remain on our current property...for now.  There is the expectation that we will continue to work toward compliance.  Which is exactly what we are doing.

And then there's the indoor spaces.

The boys' bunks.  Clean, with fans and added ventilation.

But small and low, with only one window.

Concrete walls make it hard to hang pictures or otherwise decorate.

White ceiling, tile floor, and fresh coat of paint all helps.

This room was originally meant for basement storage.

True, most of life happens outdoors when you live in a place that's perpetually summer, more or less.  But we do have to sleep somewhere, and study somewhere.  And it's in the indoor spaces that we are most aware of how much the existing buildings on the current property have been 'retrofitted.'

We can do better for our children.

Over the next little while we will be busy bringing our cite plan and building blueprints up to standard so that we can both present them to Thai contractors, and show them to all of you!  It's a tedious, careful process requiring interpretation necessary both in language and construction stipulations.  A trip is in the works for January so Ken and I can both be there to sit down and map this out in real time right there on the new property, with all the pertinent people present.  

This open space is ready, excavated in anticipation of our next steps,

thanks to some of you who have already joined in the vision.

We invite you to dream with us.

While construction costs, like everything right now, are somewhat fluid, we estimate that we will need a total of $500,000.00 to complete all components of our New Home.  We have retained a decent amount of seed money raised in the fall of 2023 which will help propel our efforts forward.  Professional fundraising consultation is in the works.  It's all coming together.

More pictures and exciting possibilities to follow.

For now, if you are so inclined, it's not too soon to make your investment in our future home.

Donate at donations@hcckw.ca marked "Property" Or

Contact me at rabreithaupt@hcckw.ca for more information.

 Rev. Ruth Anne Breithaupt, MDiv.

Canadian Representative/Missionary in Residence

New Family Foundation/Highview Community Church

The mission of New Family Foundation is to

provide a loving home for at-risk and 

orphaned children in Northern Thailand to

help them achieve their best potential in 

education, vocation and service to society.

New Family Foundation

                                            

     https://www.hcckw.ca                                                                    https://www.adventive.ca