Bethany UMC

Thailand Mission Trip July 21-August 2, 2008
Thailand borders Burma (Myanmar) to the west and is home to over 200,000 Burmese refugees.  Due to extreme poverty and genocide of the Burmese minority groups by their own government, one out of every 10 children living in Burma will never live to see his or her fifth birthday. Prior to arriving in Thailand, refugees and asylum seekers experienced human rights violations such as torture, rape, forcible conscription of their children in the military, forced labor, and forced prostitution.  Many came to Thailand after having lived as internally displaced persons for long periods of time, and only after having exhausted all possible means of survival. Suggested Reading:   If you want to learn more about the Karen people and the plight, read "A Land Without Evil" by Benedict Rogers. Published by Monarch Press Pictures Here See the photos updated daily in our photo album by CLICKING HERE				A team from Bethany is on a mission in Thailand this week to bring hope to  lost and forgotten Burmese refugees.
				Follow the Away Team       Send a Message to the Team For the AWAY TEAM ITINERARY, click here. Click the links below to view the latest VIDEO MESSAGES from the team and track their journey through Thailand: Wed. 7/30: Kristen and Baby Elephant Elephant Ride   Mon. 7/28: Home at the Refugee Camp Sun, 7/27: God's Plans Sat, 7/26: Food Delivered Fri, 7/25: Ivy at the School Fri, 7/25: Finished Paint Project Thurs, 7/24: On the Border Wed, 7/23: Mae Sot, Thailand Tues, 7/22: Bangkok Airport Tues, 7/22: Tokyo Airport Mon, 7/21: LAX; Casey meets up with the team Sun, 7/20: Packing     Say hello to the team, send them your prayers and support, or just chat about the trip. CLICK HERE to visit the MESSAGE BOARD Look for "Thailand Mission Team." Note:  You can view any messages on the boards without logging in, but in order to post messages, you will need to log in.  If you do not already have an account, click here to register. To view all the video taken by the group go to YouTube at the page on this link... CLICK HERE or on the picture above

Thailand Mission Trip 2008

Away Team Itinerary

Monday, July 21, 9:20 a.m. –       Depart from Houston Intercontinental

Tuesday, July 22 –                             Travel Northwest Airlines from LA-Tokyo-Bangkok, 
                                                                Van ride to Mae Sot

Wednesday, July 23–                       Arrive Mae Sot, 9:00:  Scouting day to see school, prayer walk the neighbor, worship, recovery and planning

Thursday, July 24-                             Mae Sot :  teaching English in the school and working with the children

Friday, July 25-                                    Mae Sot: Painting in the school

Saturday, July 26-                              Outside of Mae Sot, IDP refugee camp:  taking food and supplies for the month

Sunday, July 27-                                 Mae Sot:  Worship at Samaritan Church (a group of Karen Christians), move to second IDP camp to spend the night

Monday, July 28-                               Mae Sot 2^nd  IDP camp: provide supplies to second camp; move back to Mae Sot hotel

Tuesday, July 29-                               Morning in Mae Sot; afternoon travel to Chiang Mai        

Wednesday, July 30-                        Chiang Mai: R and R

Thursday, July 31-                             Chiang Mai: TBD

Friday, August 1-                               Travel to Bangkok

Saturday, August 2-                          Flight departs for home, arrive IAH on Continental at 5:57