Newsletter

Greetings from ChiangMai,

I wanted to thank all of you again for your strong response to the Tsunami in the south of Thailand. All funds that have been given to date are bearing fruit in the Lord's Kingdom as our friend and co-worker Walter Ridgely continues to commit his time and efforts to the ChowLai people in the south.

The following is a brief report of our recent trip. Pracha and I drove the 1600 kilometers to the south to an effected area in the province of Phangga. This area along the coast starts at the Phuket island and goes to the city of Takuapa about 120 kilometers to the north. As we drove northward along a mountainous coastline, we discovered that over 20,000 had been killed in this province. Over 8,000 are still missing. These numbers do not represent the official international news reports which claim much fewer fatalities. Perhaps the reasons could possibly have to do with tourism. Anyway, we were quite shocked at the local reports. By the time we arrived on the scene, much of the cleanup efforts had changed the original face of things. We found that large organizations like World Vision had set up large temporary shelters for thousands of displaced people. Food and medical supplies were being provided all up and down the coast. The collection of junk and scrap metal was quickly becoming the big business. We spent much time visiting the more publicized areas at first to find that much had been done. We began to pray that God would open a door to us that would allow us to connect more with people in need. It was then that we found the Chowlai people in the fishing village of Toptawan. A long time friend and co-worker, Walter Ridgely, had been working under the radar at this village for about 2 weeks before we got there. Housing and food was being provided but the people were out of work. When the Tsunami hit ,all of their fishing boats had either disappeared or were destroyed. The Chowlai people are a local tribal style people who speak a local Indian dialect as well as southern Thai. They like the tribal groups in the north are known to be at the bottom of the social economic scale in Thailand. Although they have Thai citizenship, they will probably wait quite a while before government aid comes. This is why we felt that joining with Walter and another family to help these people go back to work was a very timely opportunity. If we give them boats, soon they will be self supporting as before. We met a young married man named Gohsak. It was obvious from the beginning that God was using him as a leader to his people. He was our mover and shaker. Early on we had met with he and the men of the village there. Our agreement was to help them to build 36 long tail fishing boats rigged with 4 cylinder diesel engines. 17 would be new. the rest used and refurbished. Their agreement with us was to provide the labor for free helping us to build these boats cheap. The only salaried worker is Gohsak's uncle who has 30 years experience building boats. He is teacher to the rest. We also committed to the building of a boat trailer which is used to transport the boats to the beach. The trailer is also being hired out to other villages for extra income.

As we spent time with Gohsak and the men, they each would tell of how they lost loved ones and how they had narrowly escaped with their lives. Gohsak said to me that he knew he had been spared for a reason, and that Christians had come to their village for a reason. The rest of the afternoon was spent telling him what that reason was. He was the first in the village to confess that he believed in Jesus. When we put his boat in the water, the first of many, he took us to see it. You'll notice in the picture that it was built with a cross. He believes that Jesus now protects him each time that he goes out. Others have put crosses on their boats as well as a gesture of faith. To date Gohsak and one other have confessed the name of Jesus. Others are quietly watching and considering. The boats that are currently being used will fish exclusively for the people in the village until all the boats are finished. At that time, the overflow of the fish and shrimp will begin to be sold at market. Another wonderful thing has happened there that I should report. One of the main reasons that all the boats were lost at sea was because the Chowlai people had always tied the boats at the beach. When the tsunami hit, the water cut out a little cove with a narrow opening to the sea just next to the village. This has proven to be the ideal place to dock the new boats. The water is just deep enough to easily dock up to 75-80 boats. To date, no one has claimed ownership to the land around the cove so the people are using the area rent free. God is blessing this project and the people know it.

We continue to ask for your prayers for these people that they will know the love of God in action. I hope to continue to get updates to you as I see the progress. Thank you again for your intercession into the lives of the Chowlai people. May God raise up a testimony to Himself among them.

God Bless,

Norman

One of many temporary shelters for tsunami victims.