Abba House takes in and cares for children who are vulnerable to being trafficked into the sex trade in Thailand. They accept girls who are orphans, have no father, have parents in prison, or whose mothers are prostitutes. These factors place children in Thailand at high risk of being trafficked. The trafficking of these children is prevented as they are welcomed into Abba House and raised in a loving, Christian environment.
While living at Abba House, the kids are encouraged to maintain good connections with their families. Although many of them have lost one or both parents, they still have aunts, uncles, or grandparents that they talk to or visit occasionally. Most of the kids visit their families twice a year and also often speak with them on the phone.
Our team has been so blessed by all of the amazing kids at Abba House! They are such a joy to be around and we’re going to have a hard time leaving them. ☹ We have enjoyed teaching English to them, watching movies, worshipping, dancing, playing volleyball and many other games, and face painting with them. And, of course, we don’t mind all of the cuddling, tickling, and hugs and kisses that we frequently receive!
Recently, Catherine and I had the privilege of interviewing Nid and Francis. They are house parents to the kids and they do so much more around Abba House – they have been such a blessing to our team during the month we’ve been here! Nid and Francis shared with us a little more about Abba House and the children who now call this place home.
We wanted to give you a glimpse into their lives through sharing some of their stories with you. Their stories fill us with sadness and anger because of the injustice that has been done to them. Our desire is to protect and care for these beautiful children and it’s hard for us to imagine that not everyone wants to do the same for them. But their stories are not just stories of injustice; they are stories of a gracious Father who loves His children so much that He rescued them before further harm could be done to them. There is incredible joy in knowing that our Saviour is redeeming their pasts and giving them hope for the future!
Here are the stories of some of the Abba House children (all names have been changed). Our hope is that you will be inspired and encouraged by the goodness and faithfulness of God in the lives of these kids as you read their stories.
Lawan: Lawan’s family used to be wealthy and owned lots of property. But everything changed when her dad, who was a soldier in the army, was killed in Israel. Some claim that he committed suicide but others say that it was framed and he was murdered. Either way, his unexpected death brought a lot of pain and chaos into the lives of his family. Lawan’s mother started gambling and they soon lost all of their money and land. Lawan and her brother were often left to fend for themselves. This placed her in a vulnerable position….until Lawan came to live at Abba House. Lawan is a beautiful young girl who carries herself with incredible grace and elegance. She loves to learn and is so loving and affectionate!
Kulap: When Kulap’s mother died, her dad decided that he didn’t want her so she was sent to a Buddhist monastery. It’s uncommon for Thai girls to live in monasteries and Kulap was frequently picked on and beaten up. Because there were many kids living at the monastery, there was not enough food for everyone. Kulap was very shy and timid so she rarely got enough to eat at mealtimes. When she first came to Abba House, she was in bad shape – she was depressed and extremely shy. But now Kulap is healthy and is surrounded by many friends. She has a family who loves her!
Dao: When Dao was very young, her father left her mother. Dao was abandoned by her mother and left to live with her grandmother. But her grandmother was old and it became difficult for her to care for Dao. So she came to Abba House where she could receive the love and care that she needed. Dao has only ever seen her mother on a few occasions in her life. Once her mother came to visit her at Abba House, but Dao rejected her, saying, “You’re not my mom!” She thinks of her grandmother as her mother because she is the one who raised her for the majority of her life. Dao is a tomboy who loves to play games and bike around the yard. Here at Abba House she has many playmates to run around with!
Kiahan: Kiahan is the only boy at Abba House. He is an exception to Abba House’s policy of only taking in girls. Kiahan’s father had died so his mother made him sell flowers on the streets to try to make some money. But one day, a man lured Kiahan to his home by offering him food. Tragically, Kiahan was raped by this man. Because this was an emergency situation, Abba House immediately accepted Kiahan and he has been here ever since. Kiahan is a vibrant young boy who loves to hang out with his friend and roommate “Dev”, who is a long-term volunteer at Abba House. Kiahan is very smart and full of life!
Somsri: Somsri is one of the only girls at Abba House that is originally from southern Thailand. She came to Abba House after a neighbor called the police. This neighbor had heard Somsri’s cries for help as she was about to be raped by her own father. Somsri was taken out of this risky environment and brought to Abba House. Here she is safe from abuse and harm. Somsri is a gentle, soft-spoken girl who enjoys spending time with her friends at Abba House.
Mali: Mali had been living in an orphanage since she was in first grade. But it wasn’t a very good place to live. The roof had holes in it and sometimes there wasn’t enough food for everyone to eat. And the man who ran the orphanage had three wives! But one of his wives cheated on him, and he was murdered by the man who his wife was cheating on him with. Because of this, the orphanage shut down! This is when Mali came to Abba House. It was much nicer than where she had lived before! Nid and Francis see Mali as a future leader here at Abba House. She is an incredibly bright young woman and is amazing with the kids.
Joy: Joy is the youngest girl at Abba House. At a very young age, her mother brought her to a Buddhist monastery and left her there. Joy was often bullied by the boys who lived there and she longed to escape their abusive treatment. Eventually she ran away from the monastery but because she had nowhere to go, Joy ended up living on the streets. Thankfully, Joy was rescued and brought to Abba House about a year ago. She was seven years old at the time. Her hair was infested with lice. They tried everything to get the lice out of her hair but finally had to shave her head to completely get rid of it! Joy is so hungry for love and affection and now she is receiving the care that she needs. Joy loves to cuddle up to us and sit on our laps. And she is very playful and quick to laugh!
Although these children have experienced a lot of pain and rejection in their lives, they are now thriving at Abba House! They are given delicious food to nourish their bodies. They have a home and warm beds to sleep in at night. When they get sick, they are given medicine and the care that they need. They are surrounded by friends and many other people who love them. They are a family. They all know and love Jesus passionately. He is the One who rescued them. God loves these incredible children so very much and He has amazing plans for each of their lives!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
-Katie Born
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