Our vision trip to Thailand last October was to pretty much to re-establish GrX's partnership with SDRF (Sustainable Development Research Foundation) and see the continued and new projects that was being done in Thailand.
Our first day we stayed in Bangkok and visited Elite, (the English and SAT prep school), SDRF's for-profit organization that funds some of their projects.
Our 2nd day we headed to Nan (northwest of Bangkok, rural mountain village) to see the new projects that were being headed up. SDRF is going to build a Center for Development (which will include staff housing, educational center, dorms for leadership dev. students, and agricultural research warehouse). Rob, Steve, Jeff and I actually hiked up (in boots to protect ourselves from the leeches!) to the mountaintop that SDRF purchased to build the center. Nearby, a new school is also going to built (donated by two business men from so cal). I believe they broke ground last month.
The next day, we headed to Udon Thani to visit the free English school and met with the board of directors at SDRF's hq to re-establish our partnership with SRDF. We listened to SDRF's vision and where they were headed. And how we could partner with them ( i.e. projects in Nan). And I spoke with Jim and Nujon about where they needed me for my missions trip next year.
We headed back to Bangkok that evening and met up with SDRF's free agent, Sebastian Huynh. He told us about the work that he was doing in Bangkok. Mainly,to raise awareness to ex pats about SDRF's work, leadership development, and building connections all over the countries and bordering countries.
I believe before we came, Pastor Steve (who is championing the cause in Thailand) thought about focusing our partnership in Nan, but as we heard and saw what SDRF is doing all over Thailand, we realized all the projects were connected and there is need all over Thailand. Including Phuket (south Thailand) where a woman with AIDS (my team built her bathroom two years ago) has accepted Christ and started a new ministry in Phuket with the help of SDRF. There's amazing work being done through SDRF and God is really there.
~ Update from 01-07-08
Pastor Rob spoke with Jim Gustafson, fomer missions coordinator at Newsong and missionary to Thailand. Cindy Lu, Gaby Tran, Jeff Liao, Jackie Gu and Pastor Rob are planning to spend four days in Thailand this October looking at transformational development projects in Udon Thani and Nan for longer term partnership.
Possibilities are helping start a University south of Nan or a rural leadership development center. We're interested in Nan as a series of church plants in the area has brought over 400 Thai people to Christ and they are active in these churches.
~Update from 07-15-07
