wfn.org | AIDS, Economic Problems Pose Challenges to Mission in Thailand

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

31-January-2000 
00048 
 
    AIDS, Economic Problems Pose Challenges 
    to Mission in Thailand 
 
    A missionary letter from Nancy Curry 
    PC(USA) mission volunteer in Thailand 
 
CHIANG MAI, Thailand - I am coming to the end of my two years of volunteer 
service here.  I have felt like a welcomed partner to their society as I 
taught with the Thai teachers at Suebnathitam and worked with the staff at 
McKean Rehabilitation Center. 
 
    At Suebnithitam, the enrollment has increased.  Many of the students 
could not attend any school without financial aid.  St. Luke's Presbyterian 
Church in Amarillo, Texas, established a scholarship fund for middle school 
students who have good citizenship and scholastic ability to allow them to 
remain in class.  St. Luke's and University Presbyterian Church in San 
Antonio, Texas, helped establish an English room with story books, song 
tapes, furniture and teaching aids to improve the skills of all the 
students.  As contact with the global community expands, the students will 
increasingly need English to enter the work force of Chiang Mai. 
 
    There have been many parental deaths due to AIDS in my two years here. 
These students no longer have financial or emotional support.  Their care 
falls on elderly grandparents or relatives with families of their own.  The 
economic situation forces the older students to drop out of school if there 
is no scholarship assistance. 
 
    Currently the main classroom building is receiving a much-needed 
renovation with funds from the Church of Christ in Thailand [the PC(USA) 
partner church in the country].  Some of the older students are helping in 
this.  Most of our rice and vegetable crops have done well.  We had two new 
calves.  There are always chickens and eggs.  The students enjoy "hands on" 
projects. 
 
    McKean Rehabilitation Center celebrated its 90th anniversary in 1998. 
Ground was broken for a new outpatient clinic conveniently located on the 
main road.  This clinic, along with a pharmacy, was opened in December.  A 
Thai physician and a full-time Thai chaplain were added to the staff last 
May.  My English conversation class was opened to all staff.  Being in a 
world-renowned leprosy research center, English skills are a major need of 
the administrative staff and department supervisors. 
 
    As I leave my assignment, I request your continued prayer for the 
students and teachers at Suebnathitam and for the staff and patients of 
McKean.  Foremost, continue to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters 
in Burma, Laos, Malaysia and Indonesia.  The violence against the church 
seldom reaches the Western press. 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  This note sent by Office of News Services, 
  Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
  to the World Faith News list <wfn-news@wfn.org>.
  For additional information about this news story,
  call 502-569-5493 or send e-mail to PCUSA.News@pcusa.org

  On the web:  http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/

  If you have a question about this mailing list, 
  send queries to wfn@wfn.org