THANK YOU! (Update February 2012)

A summary letter from Ulrich Kohler, Regional Leader Central Thailand... Click to read...

Be part!

If you would like to be part of our relief efforts and would like to make a donation please contact your local OMF office or contact us directly.
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"P68044 TH-Relief & Development Project". Thank you!

How to Pray for Thailand now

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Update (November 4, 2011) by Mark Leighton

The flooding in Thailand has been massive and it has been going on from August. This past year the rainfall throughout Thailand has been way above average so there have been localized floods in all areas of the country this past year. This also started to accumulate in August in the Chaophraya Basin with flooding starting in the north and moving south.
At first the international media was not taking the flooding very seriously. This is due to the fact that flooding is normal in Thailand. But this year the flooding has been abnormal in size and scope. Most official reports are saying that flooding on this scale has not happened in 50 years.

I think the international media did not start to pay attention to this flood until the factories in Autthaya started to flood. This caught their attention. But the flooding of millions of hectars of rice fields and orchards was not really considered news. The farmers of Thailand have been severally affected. Rice paddies will come back quickly but the economic losses are still significant. Orchards will take longer. But there are other losses to fish farmers, chicken farmers, pig farmers and so forth. This flood puts a greater burden on the rural people of Thailand. Any they will most likely get the least help.

The death toll is getting close to 400. The number of factories affect must be over 15,000 at this point. The number of homeless folk is increasing as the water has to flow through Bangkok.
What has OMF missionaries and the local Thai Christians been doing to help?

I have been very please as I follow this via Facebook and Email that the Thai Christians have been helping flood victims. They have been delivering aid and assisting local leaders. They have been sharing the gospel too. One place the Thai Christians assisted by missionaries did VBS style kids meeting for the kids living at the side of roads for over a month. They are now helping with cleanup, repairs and comfort as they can. One Thai Christian leader (lay) drown trying to help get aid to flood victims in his province of Singburi. I honor this man as one willing to sacrifice in order to love his neighbors and share the gospel with them!

OMF Thailand has been using what funds we have to help local Thai Christians respond to this massive crisis. At this point this has mostly been to help with basic emergance needs like food and water. This will continue to be a need in Bangkok although the government assistance is better in Bangkok. As we look a head to cleanup and repairs, and then to helping folk get back on their feet again it is harder to know what we can do and should do. We will continue to work closely with the churches in Central Thailand as we do this.
The damage estimates are huge and details can be found in the international media. Clearly there will be aid distributed via government channels. In the past in smaller floods in Central Thailand we have tried to give in partnership with local Christians to those who are over looked or to needs that get over looked. We do need funds and can only do what we have funds to do. The nature of this flood is that some are already in the clean up stage while others are just about to get their first overflow!

Video Update 3 (October 22, 2011)

This is a short video on a flood relief trip we took on Saturday October 22 2011 to support Thai kids who are going to school under difficult circumstances, to have a fun time with them, speak some English and Thai, sings songs. Furthermore we also spoke to adults and tried to support them, listen to their stories about the flooding. This area has been flooded already for a month and lies on the road between Lopburi and Ang Thong. (By Erwin Kint)

Flood relief Lopburi Thailand October 2011 from lekint on Vimeo.

Video Update 2 (October 20, 2011)

Flooding in Thailand - Update 2 - English Version from Ulrich Kohler on Vimeo.

The situation of Ulrich Kohler and his family in Nakorn Sawan - Central Thailand (video by Ulrich Kohler)

Flooding in Central Thailand 2011 - English from Ulrich Kohler on Vimeo.

Banphot Phisai - Relief project

In Banphot Phisai (Province of Nakhon Sawan), a group of Christians went out to distribute some food relief to some of its church members badly affected by the recent floodings. Mrs Phonsawan, a widow, was very grateful for it. But many more people are still waiting for help.

The apostle Paul says: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Gal 6,10)

Nakhon Sawan, 20th September 2011, Emanuel Zwygart