Youth group listening intently for instructions

Sharing in the festivities, ZOE had the privilege of working alongside a team from Evergreen Baptist Church SGV who had come for the sole purpose of leading the first week of camp.  They had their work cut out for them.  Facilitating more than 65 students ages 3 to 18 can be a handful, but they rose to the challenge and created an awesome week for not only the kids, but the staff as well.

There were many memorable moments for the students, but one in particular came through the life of Joseph in the Old Testament.  Joseph faced unbelievable trials including being the first trafficked person in the Bible.  After being sold as a slave by his brothers, he was framed and then imprisoned.  Through all of this Joseph remained faithful to the Lord, and through that faithfulness, God was able to bless Joseph with great wealth and responsibility.

Evergreen team leading a group discussion

This story led one brave girl to share part of her own story of pain, struggle, and redemption.  From there numerous others opened up and told some of their stories as well.  What began as a simple devotion changed into a powerful time with the Thai staff and ZOE parents that helped the children to see that even though their pasts have been full of challenges, now, their futures are full of hope.

Thank you so much to the Evergreen team, and also to the ZOE staff and volunteers for organizing an amazing kick-off to a great month.

Rachel and her Pens

While many people hear of something wrong in the world and merely think, “Wow, that’s too bad,” 12-year old Rachel is taking a stand against it.  In response to hearing about modern-day child slavery on the radio, Rachel, a 6^th-grader from Washington, D.C. created “Pens of Love.”

Pens of Love is a unique business combining art with duct tape.  Yes, that’s right, duct tape.  For those of you who have used duct tape to mend the binding of a book or tow a car from a ditch, have you ever thought about fighting human trafficking with the adhesive fix-all?  Rachel has taken what she learned from art class to make duct tape roses that she then attaches to the ends of pens.  She then sells the flower pens so the profits can go directly to ZOE.

The result is amazing and people are lining up to get one! Rachel has not only sold her pens to friends and family, but more than 80 have been purchased through local businesses and non-profit agencies.  Rachel has also started a Facebook page to market the product and receive orders.  Rachel says “Every time someone buys a pen, they are showing love to help a child gain her/his freedom.”  This is a real commitment to see the end of child slavery in the world, and we at ZOE are so very proud of her.  In fact, we totally agree with her when Rachel says:  “My hope for the world is that one day, child slavery will end and that kids all over the world will feel the love that they deserve.”

Rachel’s story is the perfect example of I Timothy 4:12 taken to heart:  “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity” (NIV).  This young lady is showing everyone through her love, faith, purity, and life that she can change the world around her.

To many people this is simply history; it was a great point in the building process of modern America.  But if this history can teach us anything, it’s that there is still a need for people like Fredrick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln who are willing to put it all on the line for the liberty of others.

By issuing a proclamation, we need to declare the end of modern-day slavery not by sitting back and waiting, but by standing up in courage and authority.  We need to tell the world that this evil is no longer acceptable.  Right now the world is falling behind a veil of ignorance, and it is our job to pull back the curtains to expose the truth of more than 20,900,000 enslaved people in the world (International Labor Organization).

Michigan Stadium, the largest stadium in the United States, would be filled to the capacity more than 200 times!  Those seats would be filled with men, women, and children as young as one year, and there are people in the world who have absolutely no idea.  It is our job to tell them and light the fire in their hearts to take action, and this action is crucial.

In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation changed the tide of the Civil War.  Just as we seek to change the tide of the war against modern-day slavery, let’s proclaim to the world that we are standing against this evil, and we will not back down until the day it is eradicated from the face of the earth.

Join ZOE in our efforts to “Fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.”

Rather than going into town, ZOE brought the party home.  While the kids were participating in summer camp, ZOE camp leaders incorporated all kinds of water games and activities.  These included relay races, water balloons, and even a huge downhill water slide.

The kids had a blast, and it was also a wonderful break from the heat.  Check out the pictures to see more!

For some of us, our wounds are more apparent than others. Children are vulnerable and deserve protection from a world that is often full of peril and danger. Unfortunately that shield of protection is sometimes lacking, and the results can be unspeakable horror for the innocent, who are so very precious in the sight of God. Such is the case with the children at ZOE. I don’t know the personal history of each one of them, but I know they would not be in the ZOE home if they had not been in imminent danger. As a mother of four grown children and grandmother of three, how could I turn away from the cries of children who are in both emotional and physical pain? Oh, I know…we would lose our minds if we lingered on these thoughts constantly. The bible tells us to fix our mind on things that are pure and lovely, and yet to deny the existence of dark forces is to live outside the realm of reality and worse convince ourselves that we have no obligation to alleviate suffering.

I always wanted to be a part of healing a suffering world. I’ve known about sex trafficking for years, but I never quite knew what to do about it. It seemed so huge, so daunting, and it is, but our God is larger still. We may not be able to fix everything that ails the world, but we can all do something as God directs our paths. One little fire fly might not make much of a difference, but a multitude can light up the sky.

I learned about ZOE when I was attending the Sanctuary Church in Santa Clarita. It sounded like an amazing organization. I contacted them and learned about child sponsorship. It seemed like an ideal situation for me. I live in Los Angeles now and no longer attend the Sanctuary. In fact, I recently purchased a home out here. This house took a lot of renovation, and I had always wanted hardwood floors. I don’t think God has anything against us living in a pleasant environment, but as I was spending money on various upgrades, I thought “If I can spend money on renovations purely for aesthetic purposes, surely I can do something for a child who might otherwise be locked into a hopeless situation.” I thought of my own children, three of them girls, and imagined them as children in that type of situation.” Sponsoring a child was a no-brainer. I am grateful to be part of the ZOE family!

Written by ZOE Supporter Barbara Byrd

Nong A

Nong A will be attending university working towards a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management and Tourism.  She hopes one day to own and run her own hotel.  Nong A likes to listen to music and spend time with her friends and family at ZOE.  She will definitely miss them after she leaves for college!

Pan will also be going to university once his term starts in June.  Before he begins, he will stay at ZOE as a staff intern for the summer.  He will be working with Jessica Dodd to assist with the upcoming children’s camp, with Joe Chongsiriwatana in the Information Technology Department, and he is also a very skilled translator.  Once summer is over, he will be studying English, and he hopes one day to use the talents God has given him to work in the ministry, perhaps even at ZOE.

Pan hard at work

We cannot say enough how proud we are of these two young adults.  They are both extremely talented, and we know that they will go on to do amazing things.  Keep them in your prayers as they transition into adulthood.

For the longest time, ZOE’s many ministries had to juggle and maneuver for the use of vehicles.  Until recently, this problem was becoming more and more noticeable.

Newly Donated Toyota Vios

In the past few months we have been blessed with two additional vehicles.  One is a small sedan for basic transportation that was donated by an in-country missionary family who recently bought a new car, and the other, a four-wheel drive SUV, that was purchased by the ZOE Foundation Australia.  The SUV is perfect for travel into the villages of Northern Thailand and will greatly assist the ZOE Child Rescue team as they continue to educate vulnerable communities about child trafficking.

Toyota Vigo used for staff and student transportation

With the addition of new vehicles, ZOE Fleet Manager Sam Ahn is looking to increase staff training in the care and maintenance of the ZOE fleet.

With 13 cars, trucks, and SUVs that need to be maintained and managed, Sam wants to train ZOE staff to care for the vehicles while recruiting more experienced staff who can not only care for the vehicles but can train some of our teenagers in the care and maintenance of vehicles.

“God is honored by taking care of the things we are blessed with,” says Sam.  This goes for the ZOE vehicles, but also for the kids.  When we ensure our transportation is safe, we can better protect the children who have been entrusted to our care.  And that is always our number one priority!

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Haze-worsens-in-Chiang-Mai-30202429.html?utm_source=hootsuite

Drawing of what life was like before ZOE

Seeking to utilize this God-given connection, Amanda Degler has been meeting with a few of the ZOE kids to assist them in the healing process. These art pieces range from color associations with emotion, self-portraits, and drawings of their past, present, and future.

Our hope is that the kids who have been hurt in any way can express themselves in a safe and fun environment.  So far the attempts have yielded wonderful results!  “Sometimes the past is too painful for our kids to talk about, but through art they are learning to express themselves and open up about what’s happened to them,” says Amanda.  “I love how art not only brings life to their restoration, but gives them an opportunity to process their thoughts and feelings.”

Boy's drawing of life at ZOE

This is a huge part of what ZOE is about.  “Fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves” goes beyond the intervention stage.  The staff at ZOE continues to fight everyday for the reconciliation that we all know is possible through the Love of our Savior.

One way to aid in the rejuvenation of a child’s spirit is to allow them to express their emotions creatively.  When children are given permission to dream about what their lives can become, painful memories of their past begin to fade.  We can thank God for the truth He is placing in their hearts everyday, and we can thank God for the safety ZOE has been able to provide.  With a new future in front of these children, we can expect great and amazing things from them.

Another drawing of life before ZOE

Please continue to pray for ZOE’s many children and for God to show them everyday that they are loved, cherished, and valued.  Pray that they continue in their education so they can become future leaders in their nation.

Newly excavated building site

One of the greatest joys of being at ZOE Thailand on a day-to-day basis is seeing the growth and progress of the ministry.  Every day ZOE shares in students learning, families growing, and lives being restored.  So a new and exciting problem is the lack of space, but naturally, the solution is even better.

For nearly the past two years, ZOE Thailand has been in the process of planning and building a separate boys’ dormitory, and the timing is absolutely perfect.  As God was preparing Joe Chongsiriwatana, building project manager, to come to Thailand as a ZOE missionary, He was also educating Surat, a former ZOE child, in architecture.   Not only was God working on ZOE’s personnel, He was providing the funding through Regency Lighting in California.

The blessings don’t stop there.  Due to flooding and other circumstances, building prices were exponentially greater than what was budgeted.  Instead of paying nearly double in building expenses, Surat was able to introduce ZOE to a contractor who then offered to build at a much more affordable price.

We see how God’s hand is continually creating and weaving together opportunity for ZOE Children’s Homes, and we will celebrate together as the completion of the boys’ dormitory will mark the two year anniversary of the Chongsiriwatana family’s arrival to Thailand.  What an amazing project to be able to see from start to finish, and we are excited to see what God will create through both Surat and Joe in the future.

Again, we want to send a special thank you to Regency Lighting for so generously making it possible for the boys at ZOE to have their new home.