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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