Faces, Voices, Hearts - Suradet and Yupa Share Their Stories at NFF's Variety Show - November 20

Just spent a joyful hour with these two amazing human beings this morning.

They are, of course, Pastors Suradet and Yupa, parents and directors at New Family Foundation, loving on and raising up 27 at risk and orphan children in a happy little place called Hot Springs (45 km east of Chiang Mai, Thailand).  

We always have a lot to chat about, and we could hang out all day, truth be told.  But the purpose of this particular Zoom call was to plan out the part of our upcoming fundraising event where they get to tell a little bit of their story.  What could possibly lead two young church planters, with two kids of their own and a whole lot to do in a given day already, to welcome other children into their family?  

That's what you'll find out on Friday, November 20.

The night will be filled with music and fun, plus some great Thai coffee and yummy desserts.  We'll take a few minutes to describe some of the truly inspiring life stories of our New Family Foundation children, and hear (live on Zoom if I get my way with this) from Suradet and Yupa directly.

We are launching off UNICEF's designation of November 20 as WORLD CHILDREN'S DAY, and presenting our current need of funds towards building a new home on different property.

Our goal for the evening is to raise $90,000.00 in donations and pledges in order to move us forward into the final stages of gathering the rest of what we need to complete the project.  These are big goals, but we are cheerfully optimistic.  Some exciting developments have been happening already...which is another thing you'll find out about at the event.

We would love to have you join us!

Please let us know you're coming by linking to the Invitation and Registration form here.

If you live too far away, or otherwise can't make it out in person, but still want to donate specifically to this project, you can head over to Highview Community Church Giving page, select the drop down "Regions Beyond - Thailand" and designate your gift to "Home."

Thank you, as always, for all who already partner with us in this beautiful opportunity to make such a difference for good in the lives of our kids!!!

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

World Children's Day - Friday, November 20

 

This is your invitation to our first ever

World Children's Day

Variety Show Fundraiser

Friday, November 20, 2026

7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

at

Highview Community Church

295 Highview Drive

KIT ON N2N 2K7

Raising funds toward building a new home for 

at-risk and orphan children in Northern Thailand.

A night of music and fun and amazing desserts!

Thai coffee for sale!

No admission fee 

but we will be accepting donations and pledges.

To understand more why we need to move 

check out "The Why of It".

For more information and to let us know you're coming

check out the Invitation and Registration form here.

Or check out the QR code below.

World Children's Day is sponsored by UNICEF.

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

You Know the Garage Sale is a Success When....

 

You know the Garage Sale is a Success When....

• So many people donate so generously!!!  Thank you to all our donors!

• The weather cooperates so beautifully.  A little cool at first, but sunny and calm enough for us to be outdoors, which is always a bonus for attracting customers.

• Volunteers eagerly sign up for both the cleaning and pricing day AND the day of the sale, working hard and cooperating as a top notch Team!!  Thank you Sharon, Bruce, Nick, Norma, Ann, Linda, Verna, Ken, Zachary, Abby, Betty Ann, Adele, Ana and Derek.

• The neighbourhood stops by to check it out.  It was so great to chat with all of you.  Thanks so much for supporting our efforts.  Hope you join us on a Sunday morning some time.
• We achieve our fundraising goal!  Which was $1,000.00.  Fun fact:  First tally came in at $1001.55!!!  And while more has come in since then, and more will be received in the coming days as we check out possibilities for some specialty items donated, we are just so happy that New Family Foundation's Student Fund can receive this badly needed income.

And just a reminder of what this is really all about.  Here are the young women who are currently studying in post secondar education.  Bell, Chalon, Da and Tae.

All of whom say a huge thank you for your love and support from half a world away!!!  Not one of them takes this for granted.  They are all working very hard to achieve their best potential, taking their studies seriously, and continuing to grow into responsible adults.  Don't worry.  I know each of them personally, and they also know how to have some fun.  

If you're curious....

No, $1000.00 does not cover all the costs for four university students for one year.  In total we need $6,500.00 to cover both tuition and housing fees.  Of course, that's a far lesser amount than university costs in Canada, but it's still significant for us.  We rely on the generous donations of individuals and organizations who believe in the education of young women around the world.  And also on other fundraising events.  

If you are so inclined, you can donate through Highview Community Church and following the instructions for various ways of giving.  If your donation is specifically for our Student Fund please indicate "Students" when prompted.

Again, thank you to all who participated in any way 

in our happily successful fund raiser this weekend!!!!!!!

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

Fashion Show!!!

 

I LOVE it when a plan comes together, better than imagined!

Okay, some context here would be helpful.

Every time I visit Hot Springs, I am invited to 'encourage' the children through lessons taken from the Bible.  (By the way, I love the emphasis on that, from Suradet.  "Encourage," not correct or rebuke or even teach.  Just sayin'.)

This visit we focused on Colossians 3:12-17 where Paul describes 'putting on' various virtues, employing the metaphor of getting dressed.  As usual, I provided a little something for the children to keep, one to represent each lesson.  This time, they all received a bag of some sort, with their name on a tag.  Then, as each lesson progress, something to put into that bag, knowing that at the end, we would have a Fashion Show where all these items would be showcased.  Bracelets, socks, pins, funky glasses, bandaids, a bandana and even a moustache.

The last night I was there, it all came together.

We took the time to get ready.

It was so much fun to see how creative the kids were with the way they chose to wear certain items.  Bandaids could become an eye patch.  Bandanas can become hats or arm bands, even flowing off of belts.

Our Bible School students, here for a month of field placement, got in on the action.  Sanu and Colour were really into things, suggesting crazy placement for the moustache.  

But after this flurry of creativity, we were ready!!  A bit of instruction for walking down a runway.  Music cued.  All lined up.  Here we go!!! 

[To view video see NFFs Facebook Page]

The background giggles, silliness and fun is what makes this such a success to me.  Our kids come from such serious circumstances.  To see them engage in such frivolity, to be relaxed and confident enough to add their own twirls, backward walks, swagger and joy; this represents so much more than just a singular crazy time with Ahjahn Ruth.  These can be breakthrough moments for children who must learn again what it means to be safe enough to have fun.  

There's another video from that night.  But you'll have to wait for it.  I want to show it at our World Children's Day Dessert and Variety Show happening at Highview (Kitchener) on Friday, November 20th.  For those not in the general proximity, I'll post it after that event.  But, just a teaser.  They sing "You Are My Sunshine" while still all decked out in their fashion show bling.

It's just priceless.  

Thank you again for those who donated the bags for this.  And also every single Sponsor.  And also every single person who donates, prays, volunteers at fundraisers, and every way you support the growth and development of these up and coming stars.  

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

Full Circle Moments

 

In 2008 I met with an academic supervisor who would oversee a missions elective I had bravely (or naively) undertaken while working on my MDiv.  I was planning to lead a team of 7 on a short term missions trip to Southeast Asia to check out what God was doing there, particularly with at risk and orphan children.  This was my first cross-cultural experience.  

At the time, the church I pastored had zero global initiatives.  We were relatively young as a faith community, and completely focused on making a difference in our own backyard.  So the supervisor was quite excited to be part of what could and definitely did become a defining moment for both Highview and myself, in terms of mission, vision and strategy.

I'll get to the picture of Esther in a second, because she's what comes next.  Or came next.  Eventually.  All in good time.

Because, the supervisor said something that day that I remember very clearly.  He said that we would know that our global ministry as a church had come to a solid level of maturity and fruition when someone from among us would be called to go serve in a far away place full time.

Yes, this is where Esther comes in.

Esther was able to come visit us at Hot Springs because she is currently serving with YWAM at a unique and well-named ministry in Chiang Mai called Bahn Dem Rak (House full of Love).  She grew up at Highview, came along with me for a one-on-one trip the year she turned 18, and has spent much of her young adult life preparing for and serving in various contexts in Thailand.  

Esther's story is hers to tell, and I highly recommend that you check out her blog here.

Let's just say that, eighteen years later, it's so amazing to have watched what God has done for Highview, and for Esther.  It's a wild and beautiful sense of what it means to be part of something far bigger than our own little contexts.  The world is a big and wondrous place, with God's fingerprints all over it.

It was great timing too, this visit, and Esther being able to come for worship service on Sunday.  Specifically, she was able to interpret for me as we took a moment at the end of the service to mark the 10th anniversary of the loss of a beloved son, Bee, and prayed over Ahjahn Suradet, Yupa, Bell and Gramma Sangwan.  Not only has Esther become proficient in Thai, but she also knew Bee, loves the family, and could interpret with sensitivity and sincerity.  

We also had a fun (and extremely HOT) photo shoot out at the new property, getting ready for something special coming up in Kitchener on Friday, November 20, 2026!  Stay tuned.  You'll be hearing a lot about it very soon.

Truth be told, we do a lot of ministry without ever knowing that it's making a difference.  For most of us, we just stay faithful and trust that God is taking what we offer and doing something bigger than what we can see.  So when there's a little glimpse of something coming full circle, that's just golden.  

Two days left here.  That's all.  I'd say it went fast because it was only two weeks this time, but, that year I stayed for three months?  

That went fast too.

Women's AND Family Self Defence Seminar - Saturday, October 17, 2026

 

We are so grateful for the opportunity to partner with Karate for Christ 

in this first-ever (for NFF) event.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2026

9 a.m. to 12 noon

Calvary Church

9 Conway Drive KIT 

Cost: $40

Teen girls free when accompanied by an adult.

To Register go to

Karate For Christ Women's

ALSO

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2026

1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

Calvary Church

9 Conway Drive KIT 

Cost: $35.00

To Register go to

Karate for Christ Family

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

                                            

Joyful Noisy Belonging

 

Psalm 100

"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness;

come before Him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God.

It is He who made us, and we are His,

we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving

and His courts with praise;

give thanks to Him and praise His name.

For the LORD is good and His love endures forever;

His faithfulness continues through all the generations."

Take a quick look at the up and coming guitarist in the picture above.  Notice, he's not plugged in.  The amplification of the other instruments and also the vocalists in this happy Sunday morning's Worship Team will drown him out completely for the majority of the music.  But he's up there, doing his thing with energy and joy.

He's the grandson of one of Hot Spring Church's newest members, a brand new Christian woman who has coming into this community of faith just recently, bringing along her young grandson. (I'll ask about his name for later.)  When it is time for the music to begin, he runs up with beaming face, and puts the guitar strap over his shoulder and stands ready, like he's been doing this his whole life. Like he belongs.  

It's a first step in training to become a full fledged member of the Worship Team.

He's not the only one in training.

Left to right, our vocalists for this morning are Wanmai, Beemai, Lukmee and Darin.  Bell, now 21, used to be one of the little girls, but she is our Worship Leader this morning.

Moses is on the drums, and Saichom is on bass guitar.  Pi O, behind the girls above, is really the only adult leader on the whole Team, not counting Bell of course.

Worship is vibrant, and expressive, rehearsed but not too polished.  The sound reflects the limitations of our equipment here, and also the sincerity of our hearts to come together to be reminded of the goodness of our God.

I love this.  

Thirty years ago, I cut my ministry teeth during a time when we sincerely wanted to bring every effort to our worship with what we felt was a gospel-inspired value we called 'excellence.'  And I still believe that's a good base from which we can be sure we are truly offering our best.  But somewhere along the way, if we're not careful, it's easy to lose sight of another gospel-inspired value, something we might call 'inclusive participation.'  A place where a joyful noise is just as much part of worship as anything else.  

Later our lunch together will involve other ways of serving, according to what God has given us.  

Folks gathered around the table, sharing in what has been prepared, and some treats that have been brought to round out the meal.

I absolutely adore worshipping with these beautiful souls, my community of faith here in Thailand.  So much to sing about.  So much to be thankful for.  So much to learn.

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