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Pikul
Thongthep
 Miss
Pikul Thongthep comes from Chiang Rai province originally and is
the director of the Child Sponsorship Program. She works in the
Bangkok office.
I came from a Buddhist family who were quite strict in all the Buddhism
ceremonies until I became a teenager. However, my family is not
perfect. My parents separated when I was 2 years old, because my
dad had a new wife and he moved in with her with my 2 oldest brothers.
He left mom to look after the 3 younger children including me, the
youngest. Before that my family was a warm and happy family until
my dad became addicted to gambling and lost all of his money and
possessions. I was born in the midst of difficulties. My brothers,
sisters and I were not close like other families because we were
separated while we were young. What I can remember of mom. She always
worked very hard. Mom and Grandma would take on any jobs offered
to them in order to provide for the children. I still can remember
the time when dad left mom and she was crying. One man’s selfishness
destroyed all the love and warmth in his family. When I was 8, I
heard the news that dad was shot and killed while driving home with
his wife and son. I did not feel sad at all.
Mom always worked really hard in order to send us to school. She
could only afford to support me up to Grade 6 which was the minimum
level of education at that time. However, mom continued to send
my older brother to school because he would be the man in the family,
and she could depend on him. I still could remember the day when
my teacher asked everybody in my class if we were continuing with
our studies. When it came to me, I said “No” because
I knew that it was not possible for me. It was also a relief as
I was not a burden to mom anymore. Though deep down, I would have
liked to continue on with my friends. With minimum education, I
did not know what kind of work I could do. I just stayed at home
until a neighbour found out, and invited me to come and work in
Bangkok. I was only 15, and I did not plan to stay long in Bangkok.
I was working in a bookstore. It was days, months and then years,
I was still there. At least, I was not my mom’s burden I thought,
although I missed home very much. Day after day, I would watch school
children going to school, wishing it would be my turn one day. My
life at that time was so hopeless and worthless. I did not know
the meaning of life, no one understood me. But at this bookstore,
I had opportunities to read and gain knowledge. I read all the books
I could when there were no customers. I also had lots of time to
listen to the radio until one day I heard a Christian song called
“ Dependant on God”. It was such a beautiful song, I
had to listen to the station again and again. Then, I applied to
study bible by post because I loved to study, no matter what! I
was not a believer then. I thought my old religion was okay, I even
thought of becoming a Buddhist nun. One day, a radio staff member
sent me a pocket bible, it was September 1983. I spent most of my
time reading the bible, until I finished the whole book. I could
not deny the truth and thought why I had not read such a good book
before. However, I still was not a believer, though I went to church
to worship sometimes.
Then, there was an incident in my life, and I was considering suicide
to get away from the problem. It felt like a dead-end and I needed
to draw a line somewhere and my life was hopeless and not worth
living anyway. There were 2 options in my life at that time; to
commit suicide or to give my life to God. In the end, I chose to
give my life to God because if I was to kill myself, it would count
for nothing. But if I gave my life to God, He could use it for other
people. So I received Jesus as my Saviour and in fact Jesus was
my birthday present to myself in 1986. That night, I dreamt I saw
Jesus holding His hands out to me so I could pay respect (Wai) on
His hands. Then He asked me “Do you want to be saved?”
It was such a nice and warm voice, I can still remember it. I put
my hands together in His hands, although I did not know who He was
at the time. My deep unforgiveness towards my father disappeared,
and a warm love filled my heart instead. I was able to forgive my
father who died a long time ago. That was the beginning of my life
with Jesus. As you can see God was so patient and kind to me, it
took me so long before I gave my life to Him. As soon as I received
Jesus, my view of the whole world changed. It became brighter and
warmer. Even in the midst of pressure, I can face anything. In the
beginning, some of my relatives resisted, but it was not too bad.
Now, some of my cousins have started to show some interest in receiving
Jesus, because they have seen the changes in me and God’s
blessings and joy in my life.
One thing I have asked of God, is the chance to do more study, so
I can be a greater blessing to others. He answered my prayers and
enabled me to study a Vocational School of Accounting with good
results. I could not finish my degree because I so wanted to serve
Him with the Child
Sponsorship Program.
I am glad I can help under-privileged children and their families
who have similar backgrounds to me. I came to work for YWAM in 1996.
And in 1998 went to do a YWAM discipleship training school (DTS)
in Melbourne, Australia. From this work, I have learned how to be
a giver like Jesus, who is my example. I do not want anything in
return. I give so I can help the children and their families to
have a better future, to receive Jesus as their Saviour and to have
a new life, like me. My future; the rest of my life I have given
it all to Him.
If
you would like to know more of what I am doing,
please don't hesitate to contact me at:
Email:
csponsor@loxinfo.co.th
In His Love,
Pikul
Financial
Support
If you would like to financially support Pikul Thongthep,
please send checks payable to “YWAM”. (Please do not write
anything else on the check but include a separate note designating
your donation to “Pikul Thongthep”) to:
YWAM Montana
501 Blacktail Road
Lakeside, Montana
59922 U.S.A.
or
NEW
- For Canadians!
If you would like to financially support Pikul Thongthep,
from Canada
please send checks payable to “YWAM”. (Please do not write
anything else on the check but include a separate note designating
your donation to
“Pikul Thongthep”) to YWAM
Vancouver:
YWAM Vancouver
Donor Services
PO Box 57100
2480 East Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC
V5K 5G6 Canada
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