The Golden Triangle
A Refreshing Mission Trip to Mae Chan Vineyard Orphanage (21st – 26th Nov 2009)
by Kam Siew Kin
After 3 meetings and 3 practices for the Christmas play, the 9 members of the mission trip to Mae Chan, Thailand were all geared up to put our hands to the plough in the mission field. Among the 9 members, 5 of us were first timers in the ministry and we were going in great anticipation of seeing God’s hand and blessings in our plan to bless the people of Mae Chan and Tachiliek in Myanmar.
On 21st November 2009, the 9 members arrived in Chiang Mai after 2 hours 35 minutes flight from LCCT. After a sumptuous buffet lunch in Chiang Mai and Christmas shopping at Tesco in Mae Chan, we finally arrived at Vineyard Orphanage. A beautiful and cosy double storey bungalow sitting right on top of a small hill with lots of land for future expansion. The building itself speaks of God’s hands and providence because it boats of 8 spacious rooms, 6 washrooms with sitting bowls and water heaters, 2 spacious halls, a dry kitchen, a wet kitchen and a large dining hall to fit all the 25 children and all the guests who come a visiting. A modern building with all the modern amenities in the midst of poverty. What a Jehovah Jireh we serve!
The Christmas play was presented to the children after the dinner we prepared for them. The children enjoyed the play and a few of them acted as sheep. Each child received a party pack before they retired for the night.
On the following morning, we left for Tachiliek, via Mae Sai at 8:00am. There was no hitch crossing the Thai-Myanmar border arriving at Paliang Delivers Church at 9:30am. At this church, we saw how awesome and sovereign God is. A place that is considered a hard ground for the ministry has a church that has about 100 members and housed 15 orphans, 9 boys and 6 girls.
Service started at 10am sharp with a congregation of 20 children and 30 adults. Worship service was led by Pastor Morris followed by presentations by the children. The church is blessed with a brand new keyboard and a talented keyboardist who plays by hearing. It was then followed by 2 testimonies : Jesus, the Saviour by sis Siew Kin and Jesus, the healer by sis Ai Cheng. Pastor Sharon preached on Nehemiah 3:6-9. Three families came out for prayer on salvation and healing after the service. Lunch was served to all and this only happened on special occasion like this. There was an air of festivity as we mingled and enjoyed their delicious chicken porridge.
On 24th November, we decided to be adventurous. After the morning devotion, we left for Houay Sai, the Laotian border town with Pastor Randall. We crossed over the border by a 5 minutes boat ride. We visited the abandoned French Fort, blessed and shared the gospel to the operators in the Laotian and Chinese markets. We even prayed for them. On the way back to Vineyard, we visited the Golden Triangle at Chiang Sean. It was good to see God’s creation at its best. That night, sis Jen Fern taught the children some dance moves for their Christmas play.
25th November was our last day at Vineyard. We left for Chiang Mai at 9am and checked into Tawan Court Hotel for an overnight stay in preparation for our homebound journey.
We left for home at 10am on the 26th November. Home sweet home at last but a part of us are with the children of Vineyard orphanage and the Paliang Delivers Church orphanage. All 9 of us intend to visit and bless them again in the near future. Do join the next mission trip the church is organizing to see the mighty works God has done and is still doing to the world a large.
