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After two days of international travel, a team of 10 U.S. volunteer healthcare providers arrived safely to Chiang Rai, Thailand, eager and excited to join Pastor Jay & Che Orata and their church congregation in serving the people of northern Thailand.
The team had to overcome one major obstacle - Delta Airlines left 9 pieces of the team's checked luggage in Detroit, for five days, including all of the medical supplies, but the Lord intervened! Chiropractic and therapy tables were available in-country, and Pastor Jay & Che were able to locate and purchase some diagnostic medical supplies for the team's healthcare providers. And of course, eyeglasses were already in-country as Pastor Jay's church has an autonomous, thriving eyeglass ministry, thanks to the faithful support of so many CPI volunteers who read, sort, and package our donated eyeglasses for shipment to Thailand.
Many new clinic sites were visited this year. On the first day, the team traveled to the outskirts of Chiang Rai to conduct a clinic at a beautiful church building. This church was started more than 20 years ago by a Canadian missionary, but the missionary returned home, and no Thai pastor was trained to continue the work. By God's grace, Pastor Jay and his ministry team, including Brother Supol, are ministering to the small remaining congregation, and the CPI clinic was a way to introduce Jesus to the growing community.
A clinic was also conducted in an Akha village close to the Burmese (Myanmar) border. This community would typically be closed to westerners, but the medical clinic opened a door with the local mayor and government administrators, who welcomed the team to come and serve their people. Many patients were elderly with no access to eyeglasses or orthopedic care, so the physical therapists, chiropractors, and eyeglass stations were filled with patients. In the Clinic of the Soul, the Gospel was first shared in the Thai language, then translated into Akha for the older members of the tribe who did not speak Thai. What a blessed experience to witness many decisions for Jesus among a people who had never heard about His saving grace!
The mission continued as the team traveled to southern Thailand to work with Pastor Jireh, his wife Faith, and their growing church in Chonburi. Again, local mayors and administrators invited the team to come and serve, this time at two government buildings. The Hope of the Gospel was shared with every patient, alongside the physical care. Our ministry is praising God that hundreds of patients were cared for during the clinics, all heard a clear presentation of the Gospel message, and 609 patients made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, and each one is connected to a local, Thai church for follow-up and discipleship - to God be the glory!
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