Mission Partner: Karen Border Ministries (KBM) Thailand

The part of the border where KBM functions is in remote hill country. Covid and the unrest next door have both been a challenge.  Many have fled from the troubles and rural medical facilities are often basic. Thankfully, at present, the area immediately across the river border between the two countries is rural and mostly free of direct conflict.

Lessons for daily and boarding students at Noh Bo Academy (NBA), the Christian School we partner with in this Buddhist country, have frequently been disrupted. Tragedy and sickness have sadly been their lot, but final exams went ahead for term to finish in early March. The eleven leaving students went on to further education, to search for jobs or to return to their homes.  

Ceremonies are important to the Karen and School Opening and Closing Ceremonies are key dates on the school calendar. Covid and conflict do not respect tradition, now they hesitate to have gatherings involving the danger of infection, travel and border crossings. The much-cherished Opening Ceremony has become, “the school will open on the 2nd June”. 190 students are expected for the new academic year, the majority from over the border, some local and some from refugee camps.

Thankfully there are sufficient local teachers to teach maths, science, social studies, Karen, Burmese, Thai, English and basic computer skills; the latter only for the oldest students. Previously there has always been a welcome supply of volunteers from English speaking countries, but no more. However, God has surprised them with an unexpected blessing. A Karen Pastor’s widow in her mid 70’s was living in a place of danger and unrest.  She fled to Thailand and, as her English was strong, she offered to be a volunteer English teacher at NBA. She taught there last year and has decided to stay on and teach English again this year. This has been such an encouragement for both staff and students as she has shared her faith and her language skills.

Prayer: Give thanks for the diverse team of teachers at NBA. Pray that God will guide them to teach and equip the students well in this corner of his creation, that stability will come to the     region and that many will come to share faith in our living God.               

Gwynneth and John Cooper