Thailand Mission Awareness Tour

Students from Maranatha Christian School in Victoria have been participating in Mission Awareness tours (now twice a year) to Thailand since 2000, and another contingent is preparing for the mid year tour in June. Preparations include monthly team meetings where we learn more about the people we will work and spend time with, get to know our team members, learn about the Thai culture and Thai food, and develop our mastery of the Thai language. Students are fundraising throughout the year to raise the funds needed for their airfares. We would certainly appreciate your prayers as we work towards sharing God’s love with the kids and people of Thailand later this year.
 
 

The team spends the majority of their time in Chiang Mai, working with different organisations:

1. The Agape Orphanage for children with HIV/AIDS. We allocate each of our students with a Thai child and they spend quality time together over the two weeks. We also take the children on outings and run craft and sporting programmes for them.

2. McKean Rehabilitation Centre, a former leprosy hospital which is now integrating leprosy sufferers with all other patients. We offer our practical services to do whatever hands on work they need help with. This can be in the form of painting, landscaping, craft work, or even taking the elderly patients out for a walk.

3. Zoe's Home for children rescued from human trafficking, slave labour, and sex trade industry. We join them for their worship times, play some soccer with their kids, and visit their home to catch a vision of the work being done.

4. Christians Concerned For Burma - a group providing supplies, support and encouragement to the displaced refugees from Burma, who have been forced to flee from their own villages.

5. New Life Centre - a home fo hill tribe girls who have been rescued from human trafficking and abusive situations. These girls are taught life skills, occupational skills, given an education and can return to their villages with dignity and income earning potential.

6. Other foster homes, relief organisations and international groups all based in Chiang Mai.

Two trip members have written about their experiences.
  Erika Lapinskas writes… 
Click Here

 		 And from Lousie Beveridge…
Click Here

 		  
The trip gives students the chance to experience another culture and country over a 2-3 week duration, working with mission organisations and local Thai people in the spreading of the gospel. Maranatha staff fully support the tour, volunteering to give up their Christmas holidays (or part of Term 2 for the mid year trip) to assist in the running of the trip. The emphasis for this sort of trip has come from staff with missionary backgrounds and contacts already in Thailand, desiring to give our students a clearer understanding of how great God is and how fortunate we are to be in a country like Australia.

We would value your prayers and support as we undertake this life-changing experience.
   
Further information can be obtained from:
 

Graeme Smith,
c/- Maranatha Christian School,
Reema Boulevard,
Endeavour Hills,
Victoria, 3802.

Ph (03) 9709 7222
Mob. 0433 170958
Email: gsmith@maranatha.vic.edu.au