In the pipeline

After ten months together as the BMS Thailand Action Team, Sarah, Ross, Pete and Hannah have now gone their separate ways.

Whilst overseas, the group got involved in a number of projects, chiefly assisting the work of BMS workers Pete and Lizz Maycock in and around Chiang Mai.

One of their most interesting challenges came during five days in March when they helped to install a clean water supply as part of the Integrated Tribal Development Programme, which is supported by BMS partner Operation Agri.

This is the team’s record of their work and witness during that time.

After a long and bumpy journey we arrived at our destination. As the village lacked running water we were to connect pipes from the water source at the top of the mountain down into the village.

We climbed the mountain, carrying a number of pipes to the water source. The Karen people were so agile and speedy it put us foreigners to shame, as we battled with the scorching afternoon heat!

Later the task was complete and we were able to enjoy a running shower and there was a water source for cooking in the village!

Special times
Perhaps the biggest struggle was the language barrier. The village is Po Karen. We had been living with Skor Karen people so we had to deal with a completely different language, and a people who were very shy in using their Thai. They soon recovered from their shyness and we communicated well together.

Translating for the Americans who were with us provided a real example of how God equipped us for his work, and used us in a way that we never expected.

The villagers expected us to have a day off on Sunday as we are Christians but we began the first of the Vacation Bible School sessions, teaching the children a Bible story and then helping them in craft activities. These special times continued on Monday. It was such a privilege to be able to share the gospel with them.

Building relationships
Monday began with the girls heading up to the site of the holding tank, where they, along with many of the villagers, began laying the frame for the base of the water holding tank.

Meanwhile the boys were hiking up the 700m mountain, where they began working their way along the connected piping, trenching and burying it, to ensure it was not damaged.

On Tuesday we continued the water installation tasks, the boys completing the trenching and girls laying the first ring of the holding tank and then moving on to help to build a toilet for one of the homes in the village.

Some of the female villagers offered to help and this became a great opportunity to build relationships. Work of this nature continued throughout the day, followed by opportunities for fun and relaxation with the villagers.

Hot stuff
Wednesday was our last full day in the village, and turned out to be the busiest and most productive day of all as we completed many of the jobs started earlier – pouring concrete, sifting sand, carrying stones to the water source – all in what seemed to be the hottest day of all.

This, our last full day, concluded with a wide variety of entertainment. Looking at the stars that night made us realise how beautiful the country is, and how powerful and supreme our God is. He was with us in everything during our time in Thailand, and we can’t even begin to express just how blessed we are!

We are so grateful to OA for their encouragements during our time there, and we know we are all eager to return to Thailand!

This article first appeared in Operation Agri’s magazine, Outreach Abroad, and is republished here with their kind permission.

06/07/2011