In last week’s post, I questioned the wisdom of buying into the “Baby Music” industry, when there is so much wonderful to choose from. So after some thorough consideration of music that we could all enjoy together, here’s baby’s first Top 50 pop playlist: (more…)

I’d like to know what you think.  Just register below to place your comments. Thanks! Chris

Please check back in January ’09 for the rest of the story...

The Sunshine School is a joint project between the China Guangxi Provincial Govt., Yangshuo County Education Bureau, myself, and a group of western volunteers. When completed in 2010, this K-12 school for physically disabled children in Yangshuo, China will accommodate 100 students plus parent caretakers, teachers and administrative staff. It will be one of the first such schools in China for Children who do not qualify for existing schools. I am responsible for leading the building & facilities design, curriculum design, student recruitment, staffing and corporate sponsorship. The Chinese government will provide funding for initial construction and local administration.

About the Orphanage

Happy kids with staff

The Orphanage, Piyawat Orphan House was founded in Sansai District, Chiang Mai, Thailand on June 4th 2008 with these objectives:

1. To protect and love the Hmong orphans through the love of Jesus Christ.
2. To provide a friendly environment with shelter and 3 meals for the Hmong orphans.
3. To provide an opportunity for the Hmong orphans to go to school.

This orphanage was founded by Mr. Preecha in memory of his son, Piyawat. Preecha’s youngest son passed away on March 9th, 2008 with cystic fibrosis. Piyawat was not yet two years old.

About the Hmong

The Hmong are one of the ethnic groups of Thailand. But most Thai people, even government officials, see the Hmong only as a hill tribe. ”Hill tribe” in Thai is a word meaning “others” not “us”. This means that they are different from the Thai lowlanders, leading to discrimination and neglect. Presently, there are 25 Hmong orphans and 4 full time staff at Piyawat Orphan House.

Lunchtime at the orphanage

About the orphans

Before these orphans came here. They were neglected or abused children who didn’t have 3 meals a day and didn’t have the opportunity to go to school. Now they are happy, have 3 meals a day, can to go to school and also know Jesus Christ. They have a new life.

Operating Costs

The orphanage was not founded by an organization or by wealthy people. It was founded by an ordinary father whose son passed away. Thus this orphanage doesn’t have any official support from any individuals or organizations.
Due to the fact that Thailand’s economy is presently suffering, the orphanage is facing the problem of meeting monthly expenses.
The orphanage expenses are about 69,650 baht/month

1. Food expense(25baht/person/meal)
2. (25children,3meals/day,1month=30 days) 56,250.-
3. Fuel (to send children go to school) 6,000.-
4. Rent a house for children’s shelter 3,000.-
5. Personal needs (soap, shampoo etc.) 1,500.-
6. Electricity 1,200.-
7. Hospital /Medical treatment cost 1,000.-
8. water 700.-

Total 69,650

You can change the orphans’ life to be better by supporting our ministry. Orphans will have 3 meals a day, good shelter to live in and have an opportunity to go to school. Please support our ministry by helping us to cover our monthly expenses.Supporting only one of our monthly costs is of great help to us. If you can support the total monthly expense, we would be grateful. Additionally, our costs don’t include any salary for full time staff. They currently are working as volunteers. If you can support them, that will be greatly appreciated!

The children learn about Jesus in Sunday school

Contact/Support

Address: 169 M.3, T.Sansailuang, A.Sansai, Chiang Mai, Thailand 50210
Phone: 081-0232074
E-mail: chaocharoen@gmail.com
Website: http://piyawat-orphanage.hmongthaionline.com/

The Orphans Stories

	My name is Sawad. I don’t know my birthday, but my grandmother told me that I am 14 years old. My father died 7 years ago. My mom is getting old and cannot support me and my younger brother to continue to go to school. I have 4 sisters and 1 younger brother. I am studying in grade 5. I am studying at the village, but there is no teacher there. I really want to study and have a teacher. I really want someone to help me and my younger brother to continue to study.
	My name is Sutep. I am 12 years old. I don’t know my birthday but my grandma told me that I am 12 years old now. I am a younger brother of Sawad. I really want to study but my mom cannot support me and my younger brother and take care my grandma. My father died 7 years ago by sickness and my family no money to take my father to the hospital. I am living at the village and hope to study very much but still it seems like there is no way.
	My name is Neramid. I am 7 years old. My birthday is August 15. I have 4 older sisters and 3 older brothers. My family very poor and had not enough food to eat each day. I have parents but cannot support me to go to school. I have to go to the jungle with them to find food to eat day by day.
	My name is Tanyapon. I am 7 years old. My birthday is May 14. I am living with my grandma. My parents devoiced and both remarried and I see them but they don’t care for my life. They have their own kids. I love my grandma but she getting old now and cannot help me to go to school.
	My name is Natawat. I am 8 years old. I am a brother of Tanyapon. I am living with my grandma. My parents remarried and they have their own kids. I want to go to school and have a future and will take care my grandmother.
	My name is Jerasuk. I am 6 years old. My birthday December 8th. My father died 3 years ago, the police killed him. The police said that my father was a drug dealer. I have 2 older sisters. My mother went to employ somewhere in the town and did not come back home. I love to study very much but there is no teacher in my village. I go to the field to find food each day.
	My name is Montree. I’m 6 years old. My birthday is May 15 th 2002. I have 3 brothers and 3 sisters. My father did suicide by hanging himself. I live with my mother. I’ll be in 2nd class, pre-school this year.
	My name is Antchisa and I am 12 years old. My birthday is November 28 th . I have to younger brothers. My dad is in prison for lifetime, and my mother re-married, so I stay with my grandparents. Now I am in 5th grade, I love to study, but in my village, my teacher is not always there, so I cant go to school everyday.
	My name is Jerapan. I am 8 years old. My birthday is March 22th. I have two older sisters, and two older brothers. My dad died of illness. I live with my mother, but she is very poor, so there is not enough to eat for all of us everyday. I am in grade 1.
	My name is Wipaporn, I am 11 years old. My birthday is March 30th. I have one older sister and one younger sister, and two younger brothers. My parents are divorced, but I live with my mother. It is hard for my mother to take care of all of us, and my father doesn’t help us, he re-married. I study in the village, I am in grade 4. I love to study very much.
	My name is Lilawadee. I am 6 years old. I am a sibling with Wipaporn, she is my older sister. My birthday is August 22th. My parents are divorced, but I live with my mother. It is hard for my mother to take care of all of us, and my father doesn’t help us, he re-married.
	My name is Kanjana. I am 7 years old. My birthday is September 17th. I have two older sisters, and two older brothers. My father was killed by the police. Now I live with my mother, but she can’t support me. There is not enough food for us to eat each day. I would like to study and go to school.
	My name is Huajaipra. I am 6 years old. My birthday is June 9th. My dad died from disease, and my mother is in prison. I don’t have brothers or sisters. I live with my grandmother, but she is very old, so it is hard for her to take care of me.
	My name is Anan . My birthday is November 12th. I am 12 years old. I have two older brothers, and one younger sister. My mother died of cancer, and my father re-married. He didn’t want to take care of us anymore, because his new wife had some children already. I don’t have a permanent place to stay, so I live with different people in the village, and ask them for food.
	My name is Ankana, My birthday is May 11th. I am 7 years old, I have to older brothers, I am the sibling of Anan. Our story is the same – My mother died of cancer, and my father re-married. He didn’t want to take care of us anymore, because his new wife had some children already. I don’t have a permanent place to stay, so I live with different people in the village, and ask them for food.
	My name is Jua. I don’t know my birthday, but I am about 9 years old. I have three older brothers, and one sister. My dad died in prison, so I live with my mother. We are very poor, because it is hard for my mother to take care of all of us. I want to go a school and have a teacher.
	My name is Witchat. My birthday is January 10th. I am 7 years old. I am a sibling of Jua. I have three older brothers, and one sister. My dad died of sickness in prison, so I live with my mother. We are very poor, because it is hard for my mother to take care of all of us. I want to go to school with my brother and sisters.
	My name is Waraporn. My birthday is October 10th. I am 10 years old. I have one older sister. My father died, and my mother re-married and got a new family. So she doesn’t care for me anymore, because her new husband didn’t wanted her to contact me. So I live with my grandmother, but she is old and she can’t take care of me.
	My name is Parng. My birthday is January 1th. I am 8 years old. I have one older brother. My father is very poor, but he has two wives, and takes care of them instead of me. I don’t have anything to eat, so I live with my cousin in the village.
	My name is Chatree. My birthday is September 1th. I am 12 years old. I have two older brothers, and one younger sister. We live in the village together. My parents are employing Thai people’s fields, and supporting the family day by day doing that. If there is no work, there is nothing for us to eat.
	My name is Wongsaton. My birthday is January 2th. I am 10 years old. I have two older sisters. My father was sick for many years, and my mother didn’t have the money to help him, so he died of sickness. My mother re-married, so I live with my mother and her new husband. He doesn’t like me and it is hard for me to stay there. I don’t get food everyday; I don’t know when I will get my next meal.
	My name is Precha. My birthday is July 26th , I am 12 years old. I have two older brothers, and one older and younger sister. My father is sick and unable to work, my mother is not feeling well to, she can not work in the rice fields; it is to hard for her. My family is very poor. We don’t have a chance to go to school, but we really want to go to school like our friends.
	My name is Tongdee. My birthday is April 2th , and I am 7 years old. I have four older brothers, and two older sisters. My mother died and my dad is a drug addict. I live with my uncle’s family, but they are also very poor, it is hard for them to take care of me and my brothers and sisters. I would like to go school.
	My name is Rardchanon. My birthday is July 22th, I am 6 years old. I have one younger sister. My mother left us in the village, and she never came back. She tried to escape from my father, who is an alcoholic. Me and my sister live with my grandmother now. My grandmother is getting old, she can’t support and take me and my sister to school.
	My name is Rardchanok. My birthday is June 12th, I am 5 years old. I am the sibling of Rardchanon. My mother left me and my older brother, in the village, and she never came back. She tried to escape from my father, who is an alcoholic. Me and my sister live with my grandmother now. My grandmother is getting old, she can’t support and take me and my sister to school.