The Wealth of Isaan

There’s wealth in the Isaan.

Yep.

I’ve seen it. 

The wealth is the people. Like Raem and Sanan. They live in a tiny village in the middle of the Isaan, the kind of village where most of the families are related, and houses are stacked so close, when one person whispers, the neighbors can answer. Raem and Sanan built a three room YWAM Center there – it’s also their house, with the bathroom outside, and it is nearly always filled with people. Maybe the neighbors, come to talk about needing help to build or harvest, maybe the neighborhood kids, wondering when the next YWAM team will come to teach English, maybe the teens, dressed and ready for Sanan to teach them football. Life happens here - Jesus’ life – Raem and Sanan live Jesus here everyday, and it speaks very loudly. Just ask Jiap*, the 13 year old girl who is now living with them. Without a mom or dad, thrown away to live with relatives who didn’t really want another mouth to feed, she ended up in a very unsafe situation. The teachers at the local school knew how bad her situation was, and also knew Raem and Sanan. They asked them to help. 

The answer was ‘yes’. Not just for a night. Not just for a week. But a forever ‘yes’. The ‘yes’ that brings peace and hope to one young girls wounded heart. The ‘yes’ that says here is a real family. A safe place. That’s what real wealth is, isn’t it? Love. Acceptance. Belonging. 

The wealth is here. In the Isaan. In the hearts, the lives of people who love Jesus, like Raem and Sanan. Want to know more about their lives, their vision, their dreams, and how to help Jiap’s education, visit the YWAM Chaiyaphum webpage.

* not her real name.