Dear Friends,
We are excited to announce that a date for Thailand 2013 has been set. We are inviting you to join us on a life changing journey, departing Vancouver on July 8 and returning on July 23. We will be spending our time in and around Bangkok, with our base being The Home for New Beginnings right in the heart of the city.
For some of us this will be yet another visit to reconnect with old friends, Bonita and her staff at the Home, and the wonderful young women who live there.
For some, this will be your very first visit. When I spoke to Bonita recently, she shared with me that the face of sex exploitation and trafficking in Bangkok has changed since our first time there almost 7 years ago. So whether you consider yourself a veteran, or brand new to this journey, I am confident that there is much for us all to learn and be challenged by.
While there we will have the privilege of coming alongside the staff at the Home to offer support and encouragement for the work they do daily, and to benefit and learn from their experiences. Part of their work is to guide the young women living at the home into formal education. We know that when you educate a girl, you change the world. It has been a dream realized for the staff to see so many of their girls go on to further their studies at local colleges, universities and bible schools. When the girls are not in classes we will have the opportunity to spend time together and, through creative storytelling, share the challenges, hopes and dreams that we all carry as women.
Lastly, we anticipate a particular goal for this trip to be a focus on educating ourselves and understanding more deeply the realities of human trafficking and exploitation in Thailand today. We hope to connect and visit with other ministries in and around Bangkok who are serving the needs of the most vulnerable there.
The cost of the trip is $3300, covering airfare, hotel, food, bar fines for outreach, additional ground travel expenses, plus an administration fee. If you are interested in joining us, we require a firm commitment by February 28 with a $500 deposit to Linwood House Ministries. To indicate your interest, or if you have any additional questions, please email Sue at [email protected] or Gwen at [email protected].
Please consider taking this journey with us! There is no pre-requisite, only that you come with your story and a heart wide open to join with the women of Thailand as we unite to press into freedom for ourselves and for women everywhere.
With gratitude,
Sue for Jen, Gwen and the Linwood House Ministry Team