The rains came early this year, and with them a wave of new faces at the learning center. Forty-two kids now pack the morning literacy class — twelve more than we planned for.
Drop a classroom photo
The split morning class — benches courtesy of the old fence.
Kru Nok and Mara split the group in two, and Josh spent Saturday turning the old fence timber into benches. Pray for stamina for our teachers, and for Mali, who walked in on Monday having never held a pencil.
By Thursday she was writing her name.
▶Josh on the new benches1:24
July 1, 2026Family
Sofia's first week at Baan Doi school
Our biggest fear about this move was always the kids' schooling. Watching Sofia walk into her Thai classroom on Monday — nervous, brave, clutching the lunch Mara packed — put most of that fear to rest.
Drop a first-day photo
By Friday she had two friends, a favorite teacher, and a new favorite word: aroi. It means delicious.
May 19, 2026Project
A roof for the youth center
The old youth center flooded twice last year, so this month — with help from three partner churches — we signed a lease on a dry, concrete-floored space two blocks from the market.
Drop a photo of the space
Sixty chairs short of a youth center.
What it still needs
Paint, ceiling fans, and about sixty plastic chairs before term starts. If you'd like to help furnish it, the link below goes straight to the project.