Thailand, Asia
THA03 - Rahab Ministries: Partnership Reports
Other Reports Available:
- Report Dated: December 12, 2023
- Report Dated: May 30, 2023
- Report Dated: August 8, 2022
- Report Dated: March 3, 2021
- Report Dated: February 20, 2018
- Report Dated: September 20, 2017
- Report Dated: June 16, 2017
- Report Dated: January 31, 2017
- Report Dated: May 17, 2016
- Report Dated: December 23, 2015
- Report Dated: August 13, 2015
Report Date: May 5, 2022
Rahab Ministries April 2022 Newsletter
Recent Events
What's New
In September 2013, Alex and Sarah left Rahab to return to NZ. They have just returned to volunteer again. Prai, who has been at Rahab for 22 years, and Sasitorn, for 15 years, have been running Rahab since then.
Lots of exciting things have happened including the opening of a food shop and laundry, which employs a number of Rahab women.
COVID-19 has impacted on both these projects and Rahab with bars not being open for the last two years. Most clients of the laundry are businesspeople, so they no longer need their good clothing laundered as they have worked from home during the pandemic.
Likewise, for much of the time the food shop has just been takeaways only but as things loosen up in Thailand, they are now able to serve people in the shop as well.
The bars have been largely closed, meaning many of the Patpong women have returned home to their villages. Some bars have opened restaurants in the meantime, and it is uncertain how many of them will reopen once they are able to. They may reopen once the Thai New Year has been celebrated. Prai and Sarah will restart bar outreach once things open up again. Currently communication with bar girls is largely by social media and Prai and Sasitorn touch base with a number of women each morning to encourage them.
Plans for the Future
Rahab does not know how Patpong will look once the pandemic is over. It is possible many bars will not reopen. Rahab may open more small businesses to offer women new work, but they need training up and to build trust and responsibility. We need prayer around this.
Current Issues and Challenges
Since arriving back, Alex has been busy refurbishing the Rahab computers. Left in 2013, they are slow with outdated software. We now have more ram, new network cables and have replaced the screens.
Our presentation room for teams and storage area at the back has been badly infested by termites coming in from our neighbour's tearooms. They have eaten holes in the wooden feature wall. As well as this, there has been a big leak resulting in mould and the wallpaper now hanging by a thread. This will be a big job to repair and get rid of the termites.
Prayer and Praise Points
1) Wisdom in a changing world
2) Building on relationships once the bar girls return to Patpong
3) Good health for everyone
4) Repairs of back room
