Tham Hin & Mae La Refugee experience

Thailand Vision Trip

February 15 – 22, 2009

Karen Ministry Event

Tham Hin & Mae La Refugee experience

The Mission:

• During a seven day period - conduct a vision trip from Minnesota to Thailand.

• Identify how a mission team might assist the Karen living in refugee camps within Thailand.

Key observations/results:

• 18,649 miles later, two refugee camps were visited: Mae La in west central Thailand and Tham Hin in southwestern Thailand.

• The Karen people were so appreciative of a visitor from the US they gave gifts. People with virtually nothing were giving gifts!

• News of Five Oaks helping the Karen in St. Paul delivered smiles half a world a way.

• Messages were sent back to the US to alert friends and family that loved ones were alive and well in the camps.

Tham Hin & Mae La Refugee experience

Tham Hin Camp

• 9,000 documented refugees living in a 16 acre parcel of land. Actual population estimates – excess of 10,000.

• Black plastic roofing material traps the heat.

• Temperatures are often 100+ degrees within the camp.

• The homes are 1 meter apart by mandate – airflow is minimal straining relationships.

• No electricity is available in Tham Hin unless provided by small diesel generators.

• Most cannot afford a diesel generator.

Located west of Bangkok in the Kanchanaburi Thailand Province

Tham Hin & Mae La Refugee experience

Mae La Camp

• 35,000 documented refugees consider Mae La home.

• Estimated head count: 60,000.• Cyclone Nargis displaced

many in Myanmar who live illegally in Mae La.

• Cyclone refugees do not qualify for the same food rations.

• “Selling” or reporting a cyclone refugee as an illegal pays $83. The result - deportation.

• Distance between houses - more than double Tham Hin.

• Thatch roofing allows houses to ventilate heat.

Located northwest of Bangkok in the Tak Thailand Province

Tham Hin & Mae La Refugee experience

Which Camp Needs Help?

• Conditions between the camps could not be more pronounced.

• One camp is permanent – the other is considered “temporary”.

• Temporary = 12 years.• The temporary camp is on a

dirt road that is virtually impassible in the rainy season.

• Temporary camp can draw water three times a day for one hour – water is available 24/7 at the permanent camp.

• The permanent camp has a college – the temporary camp has a “Post 10” school.

Mae La

Tham Hin

Tham Hin & Mae La Refugee experience

Obvious choice

Tham Hin • Living conditions here are difficult

to say the least.• Cooking is done over a wood fire

& thick smoke hangs heavy in the tropical heat.

• Food rations support basic life needs only.

• Snack funding for the nursery school was eliminated during this trip.

• Mosquito netting is considered a luxury.

• The black plastic roofing material is hot & lasts less than two years.

• Homes have to be rebuilt every one to two years.

Tham Hin & Mae La Refugee experience

How Five Oaks Might Help

• English pronunciation tutoring.• Bible study.• Promoting educational support

for teenage students.• Make learning fun & interesting

for teenagers.• Help parents deal with teenage

issues.• Upgrade administration skills

for the camp leaders.• Irrigation for farming – pump

water up the mountain.• Dining room renovation

support.• Secure the kitchen from

animals.

Tham Hin & Mae La Refugee experience

Anticipated Mission

• Early 2010 travel dates• Very comfortable

accommodations at the River Kwai Hotel.

• Two weeks in the mission field equals…– A lifetime of change!– Discover yourself!– Escape MN winter!– Get some color mid year!

Additional mission trip details available soon.

Is God calling you?

Tham Hin & Mae La Refugee experience

Additional information/Links

• General Knowledge:

• http://www.interaction.org/newswire/detail.php?id=3467

• http://www.churchworldservice.org/PDFs/refugees/Burmesefs.pdf

• Photo Gallery: http://www.karenkonnection.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=394

• Support Services: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,RI,,THA,4562d8cf2,47a6eeaad,0.html

• http://www.tbbc.org/camps/skb.htm