Hi, my name is Ratchanu Kulkit, but I go by my nicknam "Daow". I was born in Phang Nga province in the south of Thailand. There were 7 people in my family, but now we have only 5, because my parents passed away 12 years ago. My family are Buddhist. I am the 5th child, and the first in my family to follow Christ. I was saved 11 years ago through the Baan Jai Diaow ministry. I was reborn thne, until now, where I am still following Christ. I have a heart to draw many people into the path of God and to live a life that shines light and has influence in the lives of those around me and in society.
Through the past 11 years, God has changed many things in my thoughts, my mind and my actions, through different areas of training. There is one of these areas that I think is really important, and where God really moved in my life. That was through a Discipleship Training School (DTS). I love DTS, and I love to see other people's lives changed and to see them see things more like God does, and change their character to be more like Jesus. I want to see the things that happened to me happen to other people too, especially in the South of Thailand, where I was born. I want to see Southern people be receive salvation and follow God more. I was to see the Kingdom of God expand and to see more ministries there.
I believe that a DTS is a doorway to new things to happen in the South of Thailand, and I also believe that a DTS in the South of Thailand will be a blessing to the nations.
How are you doing? It's not long since the new year has come. I believe that everyone has had a good time resting and with family, and has had time to review the things God has done in your lives over the past year. As for me I would like to give a brief update of what happened the last year and the plan that will be happening in this year according to what God is leading...
The first thing is that I've finished my commitment to the Chiang Rai DTS. In the past three years while I've been staff and then leader God has refined and made me grow a lot in many areas like in my personality, temperament, and especially in my spirit. Through my friends and my brothers and sisters in Christ I've come to know myself more clearly and have been able to get closer to God.
From the DTS that finished last month I felt like I experienced success in that I saw I grew in the Lord as a leader. All of the students that finished their discipling have different visions for the life. Some are going to study the bible next, some are going to serve with a church, and some will be serving with YWAM. Not one person finished without a goal for the future. Everyone that finished had a goal to follow and serve God. Because of this I felt like I finished my commitment well. I think God that He was beside me every day until today and He will be beside me and guide me in the future as well. Talking about the future...I want to share what I'll be doing now and for the rest of the year.
Right now I'm in Bangkok at the YWAM base applying for my visa to go to America this March. I'm preparing to get encouragement and new experiences from God for the new things that will be happening in southern Thailand, especially the DTS.
1. Visit YWAM San Francisco and YWAM Montana to be a volunteer for around one month at each base. At the same time I will be learning about culture, language and especially how their DTS works. This will help in the area of the DTS that Daow want to start next year. When I get to the Montana base and while I'm in America I will try to haves the most experience possible, whether it's about DTS or about training. I'll have the opportunity to share my burden and share the things that God is doing in the South of Thailand in the churches of my friends.
2. Take the opportunity to rest from serving the last three years to give me renewed strength in my physical body as well as my spirit before going to the south of Thailand in 2013. I will be spending some of the time in the States visiting Thai friends that are now living there.
3. After I get back from America I will join with all the staff that are going to help me with the DTS in the South. We will train together at a DTS Equip being held in Cambodia in the month of September. The DTS Equip is special training for people that will be staffing and leading a DTS. There will be a short outreach to help the team to bond and to help understand each other's strengths and weaknesses. This will help build the team and together with prayer will help prepare us to start the school.
This is what God has been doing in the past year and what will happen the rest of this year....
I want to share my estimated expenses for this year (2012) as well:
1. Finances for trip to US
2. When we start our new ministry in Phuket we will need a computer for our administration. This will be about $700-$1000
3. There will be a few months at the end of the year I will be moving to Phuket and preparing for the DTS. I'm still not sure how much the expenses for that period will be but I will need help the team move to Phuket and prepare our accommodations there.
If you have any questions please write send me an email at ratchanu.kulkit@gmail.com.
Thank you for reading and I believe you will keep this in prayer for me during this year. Thank you for having a part in my life and God's plan for my ministry.
God bless,
Daow
In my third year at BJD I began ministry with the dance team using dance in worship. As I ministered with the team I began to realize this is the area where I felt I wanted to serve the Lord. In my fourth year I decided to go study a Discipleship Training School (DTS) in Chaing Mai in the north of Thailand. This is the first step to being staff with YWAM.
In my DTS I was challenged and God changed my life in many ways. God showed me more about myself, about my life, and gave me more clarity about my goals in life.
In February of 2005 I had to take my first step away from BJD and began to work as staff. To make a little money I was able to clean the YWAM office for 3000 baht/month. During that time I felt the Lord was checking my heart to see just how faithful I was in following Him. Finally He challenged me to choose to do what He had called me to do and trust in Him. I realized He had given more of a heart to use dance and the need to learn more about dancing. So I decided to stop working so I could concentrate on improving my talents and follow Him in what He was calling me to do.
I worked with the Performing Arts Ministry in Bangkok for 5 years – using Thai dance to worship God. I was able to use this gift all around Thailand. And when I did this, I could see the Thai youth in many places start to use Thai culture and mix it into a form of worship for God. This became my goal.
I concentrated on using traditional Thai dance and incorporating it in worship. I took more lessons in traditional Thai dance. I taught and led teams to various places throughout Thailand to use dance in worship. When there was a DTS I went to help teach some of the dances to the students for their outreach. I was also able to teach dancing in camps and different schools.
After 5 years of working with Performing Arts, when I saw my goal had been used to its potential, I felt led to step out and work on the other goals God had been placing in my heart. I studied in the Leadership Training School (LTS), and God grew in my heart a vision to see the youth in my home village come to know God, just like I came to know Him. I realized that I need to learn more about God and be trained more in taking care of people before I can put this vision into action by moving back to my village. Whatever happens I give my vision to God. It’s all for Him to prepare in His timing, and it’s up to Him when He leads me back to my village.
After the LTS I went to study in Chiang Mai at the School of Biblical Studies (SBS), and I thought after my SBS that I would be able to go back to my village, but God had something different in mind.
Then was the time to learn from God about how to take care of others, to nurture and disciple them in their relationship with God. I learned this by being staff at the DTS in Chiang Rai. When I finished my SBS, God asked me to go to Chiang Rai and help on DTS staff there, and I have just finished 3 years on staff there.
If you wish to support our ministry through tax deductible donations, please send checks payable to "YWAM Montana" to:
"YWAM Montana, 501 Blacktail Rd., Lakeside, MT 59922, U.S.A.".
Please write "Project 3432" on the memo line and include a separate note indicating that your donation is for "Ratchanu (Daow) Kulkit".