Agape Refuge
“Agape Refuge” is being established as a safe haven for girls, providing them with protection from being sold or abducted into prostitution, married off at a young age, becoming pregnant or subjected to a life of hard labor just to put enough food on the table. They will be nurtured, educated and taught skills in a warm and loving Christian environment with teachers and carers who will provide them with unconditional love.
“Speak up for those that cannot speak up for themselves to prevent them from being crushed. Speak up for the poor and destitute so that their cries may be heard.” (Prov: 8-9)
The Lahu People originated from Tibet, forced to migrate to southern China to escape Chinese aggression, continuing into Burma, with some groups continuing onto Northern Thailand. They have suffered from years of oppression resulting in poverty and a life of living in remote mountains as social outcasts, with barely enough food to survive. Because of these circumstances, the parents cannot afford to send their children to school as the distance is too far and they have no form of transport or funds for fuel.
The Girls in particular are very vulnerable to sexual and physical abuse; some are sold into prostitution serving up to 15 clients a day, some just disappear from the village as pimps prey on remote villages. They are abducted and end up in brothels with their parents not knowing where they are. Others end up married at 12 years old and follow in the footsteps of their parents, doomed to a life of hard labor just to put food on the table for their children.
Agape Refuge will be a safe place for young girls, where they will be educated at the local school, taught home economics, hairdressing, dress making and other skills in a safe nurturing Christian environment, providing them with the skills to build the future they deserve.
Land will be sought and purchased and then a house and dormitories built on the land. It is our intention that vegetables are also grown on the land so that with the assistance of Christian Thai carers, teachers and other volunteers, the children will tend to the grounds, selling their produce at the local markets. It is the aim of Agape Refuge to eventually become a self sufficient community.
BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We cannot do it without YOU
CONTACT DETAILS
ANZ BANK
Raelene Wilson – Ph: +61409 273931 BSB: 014531
Email: raelenejwilson@hotmail.com ACC: 180835987
Name: R J Wilson
REF: Your name (so we can thank you)
Thankyou & 100% of your money will be spent on the new Home in honour of Bill.
BILL
We pay a huge tribute to Bill Matthews (pictured above) who was promoted to heaven on the 12th August 2009. Bill was our very close and dear friend. Mark & I will miss him very much. We would never have been in contact with Grace Home, Thailand and all the ministries and people if not for Bill & his dear wife Val. We want to continue to do what God has called us to. Bill was a tireless and selfless worker always putting others before himself. He died in Thailand where his heart was and doing the things he so loved. He was helping build a home for Steve Darby, putting his own dream on hold until God told him it was time.
Bill had a big heart for the underprivileged and less fortunate. He just loved helping people. Bill’s dream was to build a home called “Agape Refuge” to house girls at risk of being sold into prostitution and those who were abandoned. Bill’s last words to me about this home were “It is not my home. It is God’s home and it’s got to be filled with his unconditional love for these children.” He was promised some land but that fell through and then he told me “God said it will come to pass. I have faith to believe that it will because He said it will”
Well all I can say everybody that those words of God to Bill will come to pass and we will continue on the journey that God set us on. Mark and I are wanting to keep on building homes just as Bill had purposed in his heart. Bill just won’t get to see it, but we will. And God’s promise will come to pass.
Love Raelene :)
