News Jan 09.
GIVE KIDS HOPE.
“Giving kids hope and a future!”
In 2008 God was GREAT!
2008 was an amazing year for us here in the far north of Thailand where we live and work with the Lahu people, a disadvantaged “Hilltribe People”.
Our main focus is the children and to give them a “Hope and a Future” through education, emergency accommodation, food, health care and most importantly LOVE.
We have now been working with these people and their kids for almost 3 years and are starting to see REAL change in the lives of all of them. One of the most important changes is the parents attitude to having their kids educated, previously this was not a priority to them but now through our project “The Hope Preschool” the parents are beginning to see that the only way for their kids to break free from the “Poverty Cycle”, is through EDUCATION”.
The Hope Preschool.
The Hope Preschool has been open now for 12 months and cares for 25 children, with 40 kids expected in 2009. We provide the children with FREE education, healthcare, daily hot lunch, daily milk, love and the special care that all children deserve.
The children play, sing “action” songs, learn Thai & English, draw, paint and do all the things you would expect your kids to do in a “western” preschool. The difference is that in Hilltribe villages these facilities are not provide by the Thai government as they are in Thai villages because Hilltribe people are classed as “second class” citizens.
We are watching the children grow from shy, fearful, tearful kids into confident, eager to learn little joys. Parents, who were reluctant to bring their kids because of the fear of not knowing why we would want to help their kids, now not only bring the kids but have spread the word to all the other parents in the village.
Not only does it help the parents by preparing their kids for the village Government school, it also allows the parents to go into the mountains to collect food without having to carry the little ones with them or one parent having to stay at home thus reducing the daily food collection for them to eat.
The village Government school is also rejoicing because it usually takes them half a year just to train the kids to come, sit and have lunch and an afternoon sleep. Not only do we do this for them but we also start the kids learning the basics earlier so they have a head start when they get to the “big” school.
The Hope Preschool, Building Project.
The Preschool building project is nearing completion, should be done by the end of March this year. God really blessed the project in the last three months of 2008, He supplied the finances require to complete the building, thank you God and thank you Bible Fellowship Church, Vancouver, Canada; Calvary Chapel, Mira Mesa, San Diego, California. USA; Craig & Natalie Hosie, Australia; my home church, Heritage of Faith Christian Church, Gold Coast, Australia and the many people who helped us with this project,
BLESS YOU BIG!
In 2008 God was GREAT!
2008 was an amazing year for us here in the far north of Thailand where we live and work with the Lahu people, a disadvantaged “Hilltribe People”.
Our main focus is the children and to give them a “Hope and a Future” through education, emergency accommodation, food, health care and most importantly LOVE.
We have now been working with these people and their kids for almost 3 years and are starting to see REAL change in the lives of all of them. One of the most important changes is the parents attitude to having their kids educated, previously this was not a priority to them but now through our project “The Hope Preschool” the parents are beginning to see that the only way for their kids to break free from the “Poverty Cycle”, is through EDUCATION”.
The Hope Preschool.
The Hope Preschool has been open now for 12 months and cares for 25 children, with 40 kids expected in 2009. We provide the children with FREE education, healthcare, daily hot lunch, daily milk, love and the special care that all children deserve.
The children play, sing “action” songs, learn Thai & English, draw, paint and do all the things you would expect your kids to do in a “western” preschool. The difference is that in Hilltribe villages these facilities are not provide by the Thai government as they are in Thai villages because Hilltribe people are classed as “second class” citizens.
We are watching the children grow from shy, fearful, tearful kids into confident, eager to learn little joys. Parents, who were reluctant to bring their kids because of the fear of not knowing why we would want to help their kids, now not only bring the kids but have spread the word to all the other parents in the village.
Not only does it help the parents by preparing their kids for the village Government school, it also allows the parents to go into the mountains to collect food without having to carry the little ones with them or one parent having to stay at home thus reducing the daily food collection for them to eat.
The village Government school is also rejoicing because it usually takes them half a year just to train the kids to come, sit and have lunch and an afternoon sleep. Not only do we do this for them but we also start the kids learning the basics earlier so they have a head start when they get to the “big” school.
The Hope Preschool, Building Project.
The Preschool building project is nearing completion, should be done by the end of March this year. God really blessed the project in the last three months of 2008, He supplied the finances require to complete the building, thank you God and thank you Bible Fellowship Church, Vancouver, Canada; Calvary Chapel, Mira Mesa, San Diego, California. USA; Craig & Natalie Hosie, Australia; my home church, Heritage of Faith Christian Church, Gold Coast, Australia and the many people who helped us with this project,
BLESS YOU BIG!
Child Development Projects.
The Hope Preschool is only one of the Child Development Projects of Frontrow Ministries (Stephen & Sammy Darby), we do many things that help to Give Kids a Hope & a Future.
In 2009 God will Blow our Minds!
As God expands our vision of “Giving Kids Hope”, He has already been speaking to us about starting a children's home in 2009, there are many orphans or young girls that are at great risk in this and surrounding villages. God has provided us with a small house and block of land where we can begin that is located in a nearby town with the necessary infrastructure.
Unfortunately young girls are still being sold off to predators in the “child sex trade”, it is crucial that we identify these kids so we can save them from this horrific fate and give them a safe living environment.
This is the next project that should keep us busy for a while and we will keep you updated as the vision unfolds, as we know many of you will want to help us to help these kids.
In 2009 God will Blow our Minds!
As God expands our vision of “Giving Kids Hope”, He has already been speaking to us about starting a children's home in 2009, there are many orphans or young girls that are at great risk in this and surrounding villages. God has provided us with a small house and block of land where we can begin that is located in a nearby town with the necessary infrastructure.
Unfortunately young girls are still being sold off to predators in the “child sex trade”, it is crucial that we identify these kids so we can save them from this horrific fate and give them a safe living environment.
This is the next project that should keep us busy for a while and we will keep you updated as the vision unfolds, as we know many of you will want to help us to help these kids.
The Family!
In 2008 our family more than doubled in size, with the birth of our son Matthew and the rescuing of Sammy’s sister and her son who were deserted and left destitute by her unfaithful husband.
Matthew is now 6 months old and weighs 8kgs, he is still on mother’s milk but eats everything including rice (naturally), fruit, veges and much more but no chili’s yet. He is a major attraction wherever we go because of his fair skin which really is not the “norm” here in Thailand (of course, the fact that he is handsome like his father also stands out). Sammy is an awesome mother to Matthew as she is to all our “adopted” kids from the preschool and village.
Sammy’s sister, Nartor and her 8 year old son Ice have settled in well with us. She is a blessing to Sammy helping with Matthew and also cooking lunches for the preschool kids. Ice is a delight who we have seen change from a very frightened, fragile little boy into a strong, healthy and confident lad.
We are expecting Nartor and Ice to become a part of the team that establishes the Hope Children’s Home in 2009.
If you would like to help support Nartor & Ice, please contact us and we will tell you how you can help.
Thank You.
We would like to thank you for your prayers, love and partnership in giving these kids a hope & a future.
Bless you BIG!
Stephen, Sammy & Matthew Darby
