Mission Thailand: Waves of Grace

Khok Kloi, PHANG NGA, Thailand, October, 2005 – An effort to restore post-tsunami hope and prosperity to the people of the Phang Nga region of Thailand is opening doors to share the Gospel in this predominantly Buddhist nation.

In the Phang Nga region of Thailand, still recovering from the devastating effects of the December 26, 2004 tsunami, the Gospel message is reaching people through the efforts of the Sahathai Kok Kloi Lutheran Church. With support from Lutheran Hour Ministries, Thailand, Pastor Suchart Choojit and his congregation are inviting fishermen who lost their boats and livelihoods to the tsunami to join with them to build new boats for themselves and other fishermen in the community. The result is an opportunity to connect hearts and minds first, then connect non-believers with the saving Grace of Jesus Christ.

Twelve volunteers from Concordia Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, spent 10 October days in Thailand immersed in this ministry effort, building fishing boats, building friendships, and encouraging the Lutheran pastors who are ministering to tsunami survivors. Team members include: Pastor Kevin Wendt, Andrew Wendt, Cody Kohn, Peter Norder, Gary Penner, Shawn Davis, Ellen Mann, Jane Ensley, Dave Ensley, Dave Schaller, Glenn Borchers and Cassie Flandermeyer. (The team blogged the trip in words and pictures at www.concordiachurch.org.)

“We built boats in Kok Kloi by day, stayed in Thaimaung by night, and our hearts were broken for the Thai people at places like Nam Kim fishing village and the Khao Lac resort area,” said team member Gary Penner. More than 60 percent of the villagers at Nam Kim were killed by a series of four 30-foot waves. While reconstruction of the area tourist resorts is well under way, scenes of destruction still abound.

Tsunami killed 250,000 people in Southeast Asia, India and parts of Africa. More than 8,000 people were killed in Thailand alone. The disaster destroyed thousands of fishing boats, the primary source of income for most families in the Phang Nga region.

“It was unthinkable that this could happen,” Thai fisherman Prayoon Srinak said through an interpreter. Two of his cousins were killed by the tsunami. Prayoon applied for government assistance to replace his boat, but after several months, heard nothing. “I had no hope,” he said. “I tried many ways with no answer ‘yes.’

Prayoon now has boat and a message he is eager to share with people around the world: “Jesus is the Lord! Because I have received, I want to help others to be happy too. Thank you to all who come and are helping us. If you just do nothing but be here, it means a lot to us,” he said.

Almost six months after the tsunami, fishermen were still unable to find work to support themselves. “I worked on rubber tree plantations for a few months, but earn only 200 Bhat (US$5) per day,” said Thai fisherman Somsak Pungkue. Fishing brings in 600-800 Bhat per day ($US 15-20). Somsak is a Buddhist, but can’t really explain what he believes. In Thailand, where the king is required to be Buddhist, the religion is more like a patriotic duty – a way of life or a cultural expectation handed down from generation to generation. Pastor Suchart and others at the church do not overtly presented the Gospel of Christ to men like Somsak, but are relying first on engaging him and others with their actions and love before discussing more in-depth spiritual matters. Even so, Somsak says being associated with the church and getting his new fishing boat “gives me life and hope once again.”

With the help of a 5-kilowatt generator and sweat equity by members of the congregation and the fishermen who would receive boats, the first ten boats were finished in four weeks in July. The Fort Wayne team assisted with completion of two more boats in October, and the local fishermen were already working on eight more. A second US team was scheduled to be on-site in late November or December.

“We worked side-by-side with the fishermen to build new boats, communicating both through rudimentary hand gestures and smiles and via an interpreter who made more in-depth discussions possible, said Peter Norder, who quickly received a Thai name, Petra, from the team’s hosts.

The Concordia team is presenting stories, experiences, inspirations and a few photos from the trip with any group interested in hearing about the ministry effort and the short-term mission trip experience. For more information, call Pastor Kevin Wendt at 260-422-2429.