GIS Art Students Minister to Burmese Refugees
Early one morning, 19 students and adults squeezed into two vehicles and tied their supplies on the roofs for a trek to NW Thailand. On the way to Chiang Dao, at Limestone Waterfall they read scripture and spiritually prepared for a day of children’s ministry.
“We learned that Burma’s genocide destroys from the outside, with loss of land, jobs and relatives. But it also destroys people inside. Many Burmese refugee parents feel hopeless and turn to drugs or alcohol, which hurts their families,” teacher Sharon Wade said.
Two students were especially excited to see again small ones they remembered, children who were previously attacked with a machete and fire by their drunken father, but were now with their mother. Everyone was asked to pray for the family’s safety.
“Our students were a wonderful example of Christ’s love in action. They held the children, played with and taught them,” Wade said. “This was our first Art ministry, and we thank staff and parents for their generous support at our auction. It paid for the whole trip, bought art supplies to leave at Genesis Home and gave Pastor Suria money for the children’s schooling.”
The teens’ gift that day was joy—both given and received—when they taught 24 homeless children to use watercolors, to express their feelings and focus on something peaceful.
Genesis Home consists of four bamboo huts. Lisu Pastor Suria and his family have a heavy heart to help these Palang Burmese families. Thailand’s 93 displaced Palang children are orphaned, abandoned, sick with AIDS or come from abusive alcoholic families.
“One of the main GIS Art Department goals is to find how we can use our creative talents to glorify God. We went to bless and were blessed in return!” Wade said.
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