Two of the children in our "children’s home" got their birth certificates after 2 looong years of trying. Please bare with me as this next part is long, but I promise it's worth it!
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| Two lives chained because of a piece of paper. |
I’ve written before, Thak has taken in seven children. Clinton and I have been overseeing this work and helping out in the many areas where help is much needed.
Five of the eight siblings didn’t have birth certificates when we met them and we helped to get three of them right away. But we’ve been trying to obtain the other two birth certificates for the last two years!!! We’ve knocked, begged, pleaded on the doors of many government offices to no avail. Because the children are much older now (4, 7) there was no proof that the children we were bringing into the office was the same children who were on the birth certificates. They don’t finger print the children at birth like in America so there’s lots of underhanded things that go on as you can imagine. So they wanted the parents and the children to do a blood test, among many other things to prove that they were in fact related. This is impossible, as the state of the mother and father has deteriorated in a most disturbing way.
In any country, if you don’t have a birth certificate you don’t “exist”. You can’t go to school, get medical treatment, open a bank account, and the list goes on……… it would be like an American not having a birth certificate or a social security card. For the Thais it’s one and the same.
SO!! On March 2, we went to the highest man in the city’s office and prayed God would give us a voice with him. Now imagine with me for one minute, a pregnant whitel lady with a Thai lady and 7 children some without shoes on, waiting outside this man’s office. We were a sight!! He invited all of us(kids included) into his large beautifully decorated office and has us sit at the 12 person table and tell us why we were there. After we told our story, he said he couldn’t help us, but then got on the phone. A few minutes later several people came into the office and he began to relate our story to them. He told them emphatically that they were to help us to their fullest capacity, but assured us that it would take several months before we would have the birth certificates because we had to go by the book.
They walked across the street with us to the Municipality and took us to another office in which we shared the story of the children. This man was less concerned with technicalities and more concerned for justice, and he told us that after lunch we would be questioned by another man, but not to worry that we would leave with the birth certificates that day. I began to cry!! I could NOT believe this man’s mercy!! Thailand is SOOOO corrupt and people who are trying to do the right thing are always the ones who have to biggest problems with the government. However, if you’re scandalous and have some money to put under the table, then you can get help even if what you’re trying to do isn’t right……. However, this man believed what we were saying and said, “I’m not afraid of anyone. I believe you two ladies and I’m going to help you! We’re not going to try and tack the mother down and do all the silly things they want you to do. “ What a relief.
He sent us downstairs and paid for our lunch. After lunch we were questioned by another man who clearly was NOT going to help us!! He began to talk about things 1 to 9 that we must do to follow the laws and do it the right way.
I sent Thak back upstairs as we were both in tears and couldn’t NOT believe how cold, and uncaring this man was. The other man(the Mayor) was FURIOUS and told him that whatever he had to do that we WOULD LEAVE WITH THE BIRTH CERTIFICATES!! (Because the Baw Yai was already 7 years and 3 months, the computer wouldn’t issue a birth certificate without the Governor’s signature) SOOOO the Mayor told them, “EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE CHILD’S BIRTH DATE THEY WILL LEAVE HERE WITH BOTH BIRTH CERTIFCATES!!!!” So that’s exactly what they did!!!!! Can everyone say with me, “This IS Thailand!” We listened as they all collaborated what Baw Yai’s new birthday would be and WE WALKED OUT OF THERE WITH TWO BIRTH CERTIFICATS!!!!!!! To God be the GLORY!!!!!!!
The next amazing thing that happened this month is Thak got her car driver’s license!!! At 43 years old, she learned how to drive, got a truck and got a driver’s license!! We were celebrating with her on this big day!!
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| 43 and a first time driver's license holder for a car/truck |
Our little village church has grown from 1 adult and his child to 23 adults and 15 children!!! AND we just sent out our FIRST missionary the week we left!!!
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| Our first church disciple from this village and his son |
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| Our church today!!! |
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| First missionary from our village church |
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| Me 19 weeks pregnant!! |
These may seem like minor things, but for us they are HUGE victories, miracles and testimonies of his goodness!!!!
I still lie in bed at night in awe and wonder about the birth certificates!!!
And when I think back on Thak's past, 18 years of prostitution, totally consumed with her self and a lifestyle full of selfishness, and what she is today, I cry!
E V E R Y S I N G L E T I M E!!
Now here she is laying her life down for children, driving not only a motorcycle but also a truck all that God provided for her!!! Wow! God is sooo good!!!!
When I go to church each week and see God growing our community despite our weaknesses....I'm like, wow!
So Praise Him with me as I ponder HIS amazingness!!!!!
Love
Amber
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