Hello Friends and Family,

I’ve left Malaysia and am now in Thailand, and I’m so excited to update you all on what has happened over the past couple of weeks.

Leaving Malaysia was bittersweet. We had to say goodbye to so many wonderful people we had gotten to know during the 40 days we spent there, including the kids we taught English to. However, we had the pleasure of visiting their village one last time and spending the day playing games with them. It was incredibly emotional to say goodbye and explain that we wouldn’t be returning. Sadly, I didn’t get to see my specific child at the village one last time, but I’m so grateful that I was paired with her—she was the sweetest and silliest little girl. The day we left, Pastor Thomas and many church members we had grown close to, including Jessica, Uncle Paul, and other pastors, came to greet us at 5:00 a.m. to say farewell before our departure for Thailand. Malaysia was such an incredible experience, and I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to visit, serve, and connect with the people there.

On November 17th, we all left for Thailand. This time, however, we weren’t all going to the same place. There are four teams on my squad, and each team was assigned to a different part of Thailand. One team went to Bangkok, two teams went to different parts of Chiang Mai, and my team was assigned to Chiang Dao. After a two-hour bus ride to Hat Yai, Thailand, we then took a 16-hour train ride to Bangkok, followed by an 8-hour layover, then a 13-hour train ride to Chiang Mai, and finally a two-hour bus ride to Chiang Dao. Each team was dropped off at their respective locations as we traveled through Thailand. The train ride was an unforgettable experience. The windows are left open throughout the journey, allowing us to enjoy the stunning scenery of Thailand, including some breathtaking sunrises and sunsets (see 1st picture below).

We arrived in Chiang Dao at 7:30 a.m. and met our hosts, Wanida and Aaron. Their home is beautiful, with plants everywhere—not just houseplants, but also herbs, fruit trees like bananas and mangos, starfruit and a fruit I’ve never had before called pomelo (see 2nd picture below). They also have pigs, chickens, turkeys, and geese. Every day, Wanida prepares homemade meals for us, three times a day (see 3rd picture below). And did I mention they run a foundation called the Fountain of Hope, so they also house 10 children from a village called Shehleh Hill Tribes, Thailand, plus two of their own children? 

During our first week here, we helped Wanida with some outdoor work, including cutting down trees and plants, as well as pulling weeds in her garden (see 4th picture below). She also taught us how to make Pad Thai and Thai tea (see 5th and 6th picture below).

Our ministry here mainly involves teaching English to both the children we live with and local schools. Our first local school was a preschool. For three consecutive days, we went to the preschool at 8:00 a.m. to play with the kids as they arrived. At 9:00 a.m., they would perform the national anthem followed by a prayer (see 7th picture below). Afterward, we led activities like Simon Says and sang children’s songs like “Every Move I Make.” By 10:00 a.m., the kids would go to their designated classrooms based on age. Each of us was assigned a classroom, and I had the 3-4-year-olds (see 8th picture below). Some of the topics I taught included numbers 1-10, weather, emotions, and fruits. At noon, we had lunch, and then the kids took a nap until 2:45 p.m. Afterward, we did some review with them before they began to leave around 3:15 p.m. The preschool is also Christian, so we were able to talk freely about Jesus, which was a blessing. The kids were so cute, and I’ll miss seeing their smiling faces!

On the weekends, we help teach English to the kids at the house. Every Saturday morning, we run stations focusing on vocabulary and writing. On Sundays, we run church services, including Sunday school and a sermon (see 9th and 10th picture below). We also spend quality time loving on the kids and building relationships with them. For example, every Friday night, we have a movie night and make cookies for the kids. We also hang out with them when they return from school.

I absolutely love Thailand! It’s such a beautiful country, with mountains surrounding us and lush greenery everywhere. Chiang Dao, in particular, has this massive mountain that is always in view (see 11th picture below), and I get to walk by it every day. Since it’s a small town, we mostly walk everywhere, which is a blessing. I’m grateful that we can safely go out for walks. In fact, every morning before ministry, I go for a small walk with two of my teammates at 5:45 a.m and it's amazing because sometimes you get to watch the sunrise (see 12th picture below). There are a couple of coffee shops just 10 minutes away from where we stay, and on Tuesdays, we visit the market in town.

Thank you again for all of your support. It’s because of your help that I’m able to experience and serve others in these countries. I also greatly appreciate all of your prayers. Please continue praying for a constant covering for my team and our hosts, Wanida and Aaron.

In fact, our hosts are currently in need of financial support. They need to raise $1,160 USD by December 13th for their annual Christmas evangelism in the Lahu Shehleh village. They also have other projects that require funding. Here is a PDF with more information (Fountain of Hope) . If you would like to help, you can either send money via Venmo to @ava-grashorn, or if you know my dad, you can give him the money directly, and I’ll transfer it into my account to pull the funds for them personally. Please note that donations cannot be made through my World Race funding page, as that account is separate. Prayers are always appreciated, so if you’re unable to contribute financially, please pray that the funds will be provided.

Blessings to you all,

Mollie Stutzman