Stephanie Melachrinos & Nay Lin Oo

Global Child Advocates, Blessed Homes, and Global Advance Projects

Nay Lin Oo came to Thailand first as a student, studying at the school run by what is now Global Advance Projects. After moving to work in Bangkok for a few years, he returned to Mae Sot in early 2019 to join staff at Global Advance Projects (GAP).

While teaching art at an international school in China, Stephanie was asked to chaperone a youth missions trip to Thailand. At their first meetings, she was very confused as to why they were learning about Burma (Myanmar) and had no understanding of the years of conflict in the country. Through the preparation, the trip serving with Global Child Advocates and Blessed Homes, and the year that followed, God moved her heart to the Thailand-Myanmar border. She finished her contract in China and moved to Mae Sot in August 2014 to work with Blessed Homes.

In 2020, Stephanie was filling in as the interim director of Sojourn Studio (a social enterprise of Global Child Advocates) while a construction team from Global Advance Projects was building a beautiful studio for the social enterprise. The two met at that time, but didn’t start dating until 2021. They married in Thailand on December 31, 2022, with all the children and staff from Blessed Homes, GAP, and many of the Sojourn Studio artisans in attendance.

Nay Lin Oo continues to serve with GAP as their head cook. Stephanie works with Blessed Homes and assists with Sojourn Studio.

They are expecting a son in September 2024.