2008 marks a significant turning point for Harbourside Christian Life Centre, notably with our new involvement and ongoing commitment to mission work in Thailand.  We are extremely proud of our significant contribution towards the support and works of Mercy International in their work at Ban Meata, Thailand.

The “House of Village of Mercy”, or Ban Meata, is a centre that Mercy built in Thailand, which provides love, care and healing for both children and young people. Ban Meata currently provides total care through a child sponsorship program for close to 80 children from a wide variety of needy and desperate backgrounds - of which 36 are HIV+ children. 

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

Every year, 40,000 children are orphaned as a result of the AIDS virus. They live in slums, often left to fend for themselves and sometimes being sold into slavery or prostitution. These children could easily think that nobody cares about them. Mercy International is reaching into those slums and giving these children more than just a place to live. They're providing these orphans with education, food, housing and, more importantly, love. Children in a Mercy home will be taught relationship and life skills. Mercy International is changing the future for many, many children. Mercy International gives them hope.  

Mercy provides a loving home, their own bed, food, clothing, as well as birthday and Christmas presents. A recent report in the Bangkok Post claimed "20% of the one million new infants born each year in Thailand are found to be HIV+” and Mercy International’s ever increasing focus now is to rescue and help as many babies as possible that are being born with the HIV+ virus in Thailand.

Ban Meata Children's Village, Phetchabun
A Village of Love and Happiness

Ban Meata, which means “House or Village of Mercy’, is not easily forgotten by those who visit. Sure, it has a natural beauty, but it’s not just a show place. It is real homes, filled with an atmosphere of love. A wonderful centre of family, fun, friendship, joy, happiness, enthusiasm, singing and laughter.

The rural property with its gardens, fish farms, dams, chickens, fruit trees, etc, affords opportunity for character developing responsibilities and tasks. While there are paid laundry and kitchen staff, the children are not spoilt. All learn to wash, clean and cook. Most enjoy these tasks, which are normally carried out in the typical Thai, laid-back way.

Yet Life was not always joy and delight for these children. Most came from appalling conditions. Many had been orphaned and this number is mushrooming. Others were rejected by step-parents. Some were malnourished, not knowing where the next meal would come from. Others were in danger of being sold into prostitution. Some have the most unbelievable background stories of hurt and hopelessness.

Not an Institution

No, Ban Meata is not an institution! It is a home, the like of which many of the world’s children will never have. Here the children are clothed, wonderfully fed, educated and prepared for life.  The children are not housed in dormitories. They live with no more than four to a bedroom (some less) in one of the seven lovely homes, which have been built on the seven acre property amid hundreds of fruit and other trees. The house careers are deeply committed and bonded to their children.

The constant flow of western donors and visitors to Ban Meata is proving to be a great learning experience, exposing the children to a bigger world than most Thais know, plus developing cross-cultural and English language skills - and importantly, spiritual guidance.  Unlike many other aid agencies who provide some rice and school books etc, Mercy International has these children 24 hours a day until their late teens and early adult life.

 

Our contribution "One hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of home I lived in, how much money was in my bank account, nor what my clothes looked like. But the world may be a little better because I was important in the life of a child."

To date, we have raised and donated $100,000 towards the ongoing support and work of God at Ban Meata.  These vital funds have been used to build a new building for the village, as well as provide them with the ability to purchase a bus for their community.

As a partner of this ministry, you are making a difference every day of the year in the lives of hurting people - and directly to these orphans. When you give to this ministry, we see that your gift goes to our children’s homes, hospitals, church plantings, feeding programs, training facilities, and spreading the Gospel to the world. And I am blessed to share these reports of what the Lord Jesus is doing through you, my precious partner!