She wore a tattered white dress. We had a few piles of donated clothing so Ali dug through and found the smallest dress she could- a green & white polka dotted dress. We pulled the little girl to the side and pulled off her soiled white dress and slipped the little green one over her head. She looked down and her face lit up- a full-teeth smile broke across her face as she saw her new dress. The precious child spun in circles, watching the way it twirled beneath her. She ran over to the donated clothes pile and grabbed two ribbons lying on top, tying one around her head & one around her waist. She twirled and twirled.
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This precious girl was different than all of the other children in the village in Suan Phueng. Most of the children were crazy little munchkins, jumping all over us and screaming for attention. Because most parents have to leave the village during the week for work, the children are largely unsupervised and under nurtured, and looked after by teenage older siblings. These circumstances create a rowdy bunch, eager for hugs and games and any kind of adult attention. But not her. She stood at our side with her quiet little grin. My teammate Makayla scooped her up and the rest is history. This girl stole our hearts with her sweet smile & soft spirit.
We asked Bronwyn, our YWAM contact, what this little girl’s name was. “She doesn’t have one.” Four words. It only took those four words to break our hearts and draw our attachment deeper. Ali and Makayla took the liberty to give this princess a name. Chosen. She is a chosen princess to the King and we wanted her name to constantly remind her of that.
We then learned that Chosen was not only left nameless, but parentless too. Years ago her Thai father disappeared, and her Karen mother recently left and may never return. So there she is…abandoned by her parents and left under the care of her elderly grandmother who is in no condition to care for a child. We also were informed that Chosen has a serious heart condition, and she is deprived from the proper medical care she needs. As I mentioned in my previous blog, the people of the Karen tribe are stateless. They live in a small village sandwiched along the Thai/Myanmar border with no citizenship anywhere which creates a multitude of issues and misfortunes, ultimately leading to an impoverished life without government assistance or education past age 12 for most children. The repercussions of no citizenship deteriorates Chosen’s potential for a healthy future and possibly even a future itself. Chosen deserves Thai citizenship because her father is a Thai man. However since her father quickly fled, there is no documentation of her existence. No birth certificate. No citizenship. No proof that she is a Chosen being on this planet.
BUT (yes my friends, by the grace of God there is a but) my team & I were told the most incredible news a few nights ago which quickly restored the cracks of our fractured hearts- if we can raise 5,000 Baht (~$160 USD) to gather five witnesses at the district office that will testify her father was Thai, she will be legally recognized as a Thai citizen. This would allow her a lifetime of education, the opportunity to live as a legal citizen of Thailand and any other country, and most importantly, free healthcare. All we need is money to compensate the witnesses that would have to take a day off work to travel to the district office and testify that Chosen is Thai by birthright. This sweet girl was once nameless(not anymore!!), but she still remains parentless, stateless, deprived of medical attention with a (literally) broken heart, and has limited educational opportunities. You can change that! Chosen is $160 dollars away from paperwork that will change the trajectory of the rest of her life. I know God has so much more for her than what she has now. I know she is chosen. In order for this process to take place we need to raise the money within 48 hours! Will you help?
If Chosen’s story has grabbed hold of your heart:
First: Pray that through this opportunity Chosen will begin to understand the love our Lord has for her and his desire to grant her citizenship to his Kingdom above all. And pray that the Lord’s provision will invade this process.
Second: Please consider donating! No amount is to small! Click the link below. Under the “Specific Purpose/Note:” section put Chosen. This way our YWAM contacts will be able to set aside your donations for our precious angel Chosen.
http://www.ywamthai.org/donate/?to=Ratchaburi
We are all chosen too. Be inspired. Be moved. Be challenged.
