AsiaStories

Who knew foster orphans could change the lives of prostitutes and drug addicts? Hard life circumstances leave young women in a Detention Center, but faith and a second chance aim to break the cycle of prostitution and unwanted babies. Read May Messang’s* story of a life intercepted by IMB workers on AsiaStories.

The men and women who work in this massage parlor had never heard about the true meaning of Christmas. Christmases for these men and women weren’t filled with advent calendars, gingerbread men and presents. There weren’t any links in paper chains to rip off to show how many days were left until Christmas.

Yada Chaipetch* and Maliwan Wongsurin* are prisoners at a Juvenile Detention Center in Thailand. Because they have little education and few job skills, they are at-risk for trafficking and prostitution upon their release from prison. These are their stories.

Nicole Dell and her friends from America never pictured themselves singing Karaoke in a Thai bar, but they threw caution to the wind when they realized it was the easiest way to have uninterrupted conversations with the bar’s sex workers.

Yupha Hanuman came to Thai Country Trim eight years ago as a widow looking for work. Like most Thais, Hanuman was a Buddhist. When her daughter caught dengue fever, Hanuman’s Christian coworkers covered her in prayer. God healed her daughter and at a Christmas party Hanuman chose to believe the message behind the ornaments she made.

Christmas isn’t celebrated in Ponpit Sayom’s home with ornament-laden Christmas trees, cookies or carolers, but she prays that one day her family will listen to the story represented in the ornaments she makes.

It’s easy to get swept up in the magic and beauty of the moment, forgetting the real meaning — releasing one’s sin — behind this Northern Thai Festival called Yee Peng. I never knew releasing sin could be so beautiful and awe-inspiring.

The 48-year-old mother of two has been practicing Buddhism her entire life and never misses this November ceremony. She literally counts down the months, and then days, until she can release her sins through these traditional lanterns.

Learn the meaning behind the three-day Thai Buddhist festival, Loy Krathong, through this Q & A. Thais walk you step-by-step through the two main festivities surrounding this holiday — launching homemade boats and releasing hot-air lanterns. Watch videos of both events.

Our adventure started on a treacherous, muddy path. But our story in this remote Thai village began six years earlier — when the medical clinic closed and a community development organization supported by the World Hunger Fund took its place. See how one community slowly transformed because of your help.

Southern Baptist workers in northern Thailand responded quickly when the Ping River overflowed its banks on September 28. Within hours, teams provided food and water purchased with World Hunger funds to areas affected by the flooding. As waters receded over the weekend, workers provided relief to areas inaccessible a few days before.

Thai Christian woman spends years preparing the way for Joplin volunteers to spread the Gospel in her village. Six pray to receive Christ despite vice-mayor’s warnings about leaving Buddhism.