From Hardship to Hope

by: Lay Phoprasobchok

November 2024

Shi Thu, an eight-year-old boy, arrived at school one day covered in bug bites, dirty, and visibly hungry. He and his father were homeless, often sleeping under trees or in abandoned shelters, surviving on occasional handouts from the community.

Shi Thu’s father, abandoned by his wife, was left to care for his children alone. When his wife left, she took all their savings and moved away with another man. This forced Shi Thu and his father to relocate to a remote area in Thailand where they hoped to find work. Instead, their hardships grew.  With no stable income and battling alcohol addiction, Shi Thu’s father was struggling to provide for him.

When GCA’s Shalom Center team learned about Shi Thu, they acted immediately. Visiting Shi Thu and his father, they were struck by their dire living conditions and the father’s inability to provide even the most basic needs. That very day, the team secured a rental house for the family and began providing monthly support, including dry food supplies, mosquito nets, and hygiene essentials.

The support extended beyond material aid. GCA provided Shi Thu’s father with training in hygiene, positive parenting, child abuse awareness, and child rights. They encouraged him to seek a healthier lifestyle and introduced him to the hope of the Gospel. Despite challenges, his father began to participate in GCA’s programs and took steps to reduce his drinking.

With the care and attention from GCA, Shi Thu’s transformation was remarkable. With a stable home, nutritious food, and proper care, his health began to improve. The bug bites disappeared, and his once-downcast face lit up with hope. At the Shalom Center, teachers taught him hygiene, life skills, and how to make positive choices. He stopped associating with friends who encouraged harmful behaviors like stealing and smoking. Instead, Shi Thu focused on his education and became a model student, listening attentively to his teachers and excelling in his studies.

But the most remarkable transformation was spiritual. Through GCA’s care and encouragement, Shi Thu’s father was able to see the gospel in action and eventually he put his trust in Jesus. He embraced the gospel, finding hope and strength to end his addiction and make healthy changes in his life.

Shi Thu’s father expressed deep gratitude for the support GCA provided during his darkest moments. He shared how the assistance had given him and his son a sense of stability and hope. For Shi Thu, going to school each day without worrying about food or where he would sleep at night has been life-changing. He now has a safe home, a full stomach, and a bright future ahead. His father is rebuilding his life, now grounded in faith and a desire to provide a better future for his son.

Because of your support, families like Shi Thu’s find not only safety and stability but also spiritual renewal. Together, we’re not creating quick fixes, or temporary solutions. We are being used by God to transform lives, giving children hope, and strengthening families with the love and compassion of Christ. Thank you for playing this vital role in God’s story!