Asia & SE Asia
Devonport Baptist Church supports the following missionaries working in Asia & South-East Asia.
Jan and jit – Serving Karen people in Thailand
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The Karen people are an ethnic minority (despite numbering up to 8 million) in both Thailand and Burma. Many of the Sgaw Karen are Christians. The Pwo Karen, with a quite different dialect, have mostly adopted Buddhism, fusing it with their animistic spirit beliefs. They have been resistant to the gospel. |
- Jit has raised awareness of Pwo Karen traditions, stirring interest in culture and language and demonstrating that Christ seeks to work through culture, not destroy it.
- 30 congregations, mostly Sgaw Karen, scattered along the border between Thailand and Burma, have also valued Jit’s assistance.
- Refugees from Burma and the little publicised conflict in that country are on the Yawans’ doorstep. Jit and Jan help where possible.
Jan went to Thailand with Global Interaction in 1977 to nurse at the Kwai River Christian Hospital. Jit, locally born, was teaching at the Christian school. He later completed a law degree. In the early 1980s, Jit helped to relocate the community and hospital to make way for a dam. The work drew Jit and Jan together in more ways than one. They married in 1985, and celebrated Anna’s birth a couple of years later. Jan continued nursing and Jit became the hospital’s business manager.
In the 1990s, Jit and Jan completed four years of study in New South Wales, where Jit was ordained. On their return to Thailand in 1998, their focus shifted to evangelism amongst the Pwo Karen people group, and church development work with other Karen groups. They give some assistance to various wholistic ministries that seek to care for the sick, disabled and marginalised, and provide education and self-help for the local people.
While in Thailand, initially Anna pursued local schooling and schooling by distance education with Jan as supervisor. Time in Australia gave her opportunity to enjoy the classroom and the company of fellow students. In recent years, Anna’s schooling has continued at Hebron School in India. From 2007, Anna is at university in Wollongong, NSW.
ADI – South East Asia
Adi was born in South East Asia, but moved to Australia as a child. On a visit back to her homeland, Adi was challenged by the ever-widening gap between rich and poor. She began to feel a deep desire to do something to help but her busy lifestyle in Australia kept distracting her from exploring this further. After miraculously surviving a serious car accident, Adi knew she had to stop wasting time and take the challenge God had given her. God was clearly guiding her back to the place of her birth.
Adi is now working with the Global Interaction Team in South East Asia. She says: “I am learning to write my plans in pencil and let them be erased and re-written.”
With her local heritage, Adi is in a unique position to relate to her own people and empower them to enhance their living situations.
D & C – South East Asia, Working in educational consultancy
D and C have considerable experience in cross-cultural life and work. They moved to South East Asia in 2000 and worked hard to learn the language of the people they serve, and gain an understanding of their culture and worldview.Their work as educational consultants is greatly appreciated by teachers and schools throughout the region. They teach in local universities and also offer training seminars for teachers from elementary to senior high school levels.
As they interact with people in their local community, they have many opportunities to share with people at a deep level, gaining insights into the worldview and offering a listening ear as people grapple with social and personal issues. They long to see individuals and communities experiencing the best that life has to offer.
D and C have two boys, Ben (11.4.99) and Daniel (9.8.01) who are doing their schooling through distance education.
MARG – South East Asia
Marg has developed many friendships through her interaction in the community where she lives and through her English teaching. Marg has had many years of experience living and working in cross-cultural situations.
She writes:“Every day there are opportunities to interact with people, whether it is in the marketplace, a local shop, waiting for and travelling on public transport, teaching, spending time with students and colleagues either at campus or in my home or sending and receiving text messages. There is always something happening! And more importantly, people are always watching. Personal space is not a part of this culture.
In the midst of all these activities there are key moments when the opportunity arises to show concern and interest in the lives of my friends. It is humbling to hear the stories they share and to be able to have input into their lives. I want to help my friends experience the very best life has to offer.Being a good listener is always important as I continue to learn more about the local people and their culture. Every day I learn something new.
Pray that I will be sensitive to the needs of my friends and share with them in a way that will be beneficial rather than a distraction for them. As individuals discover avenues through which to enhance their lives and their living situations, they can then influence their families and friends, and in fact bring new hope to whole communities, through new understandings, better education, improved health care, and so on.
ANT AND JAC – Fisheries projects in South Asia
Ant has always been interested in fish, and this led him into aquaculture. After some years in the Australian fish industry, while spending some time in South Asia, Ant saw the needs and opportunities there. Jac, through children’s mission awareness camps and a short term trip to Africa, became convinced of the importance of serving the people of the two-thirds-world. Through her profession in child-care, she developed a special interest in underprivileged children and women in South Asia.
Ant and Jac lived in Asia for 18 months, during which time Ant helped to establish a fisheries project. Its purpose was to bring new hope and better life opportunities to poor families living in the area. The family returned to Australia early in 2004. Ant has returned regularly as a visiting consultant for that initial fisheries project and others which have been set up since then. Ant maintained regular contact with project leaders in South Asia, and visited several times a year to oversee the work. His expertise in his chosen field and his love of God and people enabled him to make a remarkable contribution, bringing life and hope to the people there.
In March 2007, Anthony and Jacqueline were accepted to return to live in South Asia again. It has been a huge challenge for them, as they now have four children: Reuben (born 16.5.01), Samson (31.7.02), Isabelle (5.6.04) and Lucy (24.5.06). Jac continues to take primary responsibility for the care of the children, while Ant focuses his attention on several fisheries projects in the region.
BEL – Serving in South East Asia
Being a Jesus-follower was an “on-again-off-again” experience for Bel as a young person, as is the case for many who grow up in a church family and school. When 20 years old and feeling “pretty down”, she was invited to go to a weekly study. Four years later she was ready to make a serious life-changing commitment.
When she sensed that God was calling her to go to college in preparation for cross-cultural work, she writes, “I thought people would think I was crazy or no way smart enough or good enough to do either.” Then she learned that a friend was going on a cultural awareness trip to Africa, and asked if she could go along. The preparation and the visit itself expanded her views of service. Among many things she discovered that people can be used in ways that align with their distinctive personalities and gifts.
On returning to Australia, Bel studied in NSW, completing her degree in 2005. Bel is fascinated by other cultures and languages, loves travel and describes herself as a ‘risk-taker’, enjoying change and spontaneous behaviour. These characteristics, along with her strong sense of humour, add to the contribution she makes in South East Asia.
For the first year or two, Bel will focus on language and cultural learning. Then she will be teaching university students to dive. The students are pursuing a variety of courses related to marine and environmental studies. Bel will have many opportunities for conversations – when they are not in the water.
For Bel, life is a fascinating journey in directions that will become clear as she steps out in faith.
SHARLEE YOUNG – Hong Kong
Sharlee’s search for the meaning of life can be traced back to her childhood when she was taught that she was merely the product of evolution. The search continued when she came to Australia to study at university. Soon, she found the living water for which she was thirsting. She also made a promise that she would serve in whatever way and wherever she was led.
God has since taken her on an incredible journey. Her passion for serving Chinese people has grown, allowing her to use her unique experiences and gifts to build bridges between the East and the West. Sharlee has been in positions of business, communication, teaching and leadership in a cross-cultural context over the last 15 years.
As the world becomes increasingly globalised, it is vital to understand the contemporary Chinese mindset in a rapidly changing society. In order to build bridges between the East and the West, Sharlee will engage with people in cities, seeking to study and grasp the aspirations and expectations of Chinese people in the 21st century.
It is also a thrill for her to serve them by teaching leadership skills and sharing insight into life principles in cross-cultural settings. Sharlee loves to see people grow and develop, and walk with them in their journey.
“Despite my reluctance at times, God has been amazingly patient over the years and has led me to a point of readiness to serve him in Asia.”
Content taken from the Global Interaction website
