Government schools in South Thailand

A Visit to Government schools in South Thailand

Here is an update from Pappet.

"I was blessed to join a study tour team for three (3) days to some Thai government schools in the south of Thailand. The study tour was sponsored by the gov't so that migrant school teachers and personnels will be able to see and know what the gov't is doing with the migrant children from Burma and Cambodia. This is the first time that the Thai Ministry of Education has done this. I learned a lot about how they assimilated Burmese and migrant children into their school. The difference however is that their schools are Thai government schools. Elpis School is not a Thai government school. It is purely a school for migrant children ( meaning children that do not have Thai citizenship and are only here in Thailand because their parents are either refugees or factory workers). However I think many of their ideas in assimilating migrants into the school are good."

Maesot: Thailand's "Little Burma"

Who would have ever thought that three (3) Filipinas would answer God's call to go to Maesot, Thailand. I never heard of this place until recently when our partner in HIS1040 mentioned that he was going to visit 3 brave Filipinas in Maesot. To satisfy my curiosity, I went to search for the name in google and I found some entries about the place.

Maesot is located on the Western border of Thailand located just about 3.1 miles from Myanmar (Burma). It is a busy border town with dozens of ethnic groups living in the area. On any day one can easily run into 4 or 5 different exotic hats and faces. The Karen, Hmong, Yao, Lahu, Buddhist and Muslim Burmese all live together in this frontier town speaking different languages, wearing different cloths, eating different foods, and dancing different dances. It is usually called "Little Burma" because the Burmese population is the majority group more than the Thai population. Burmese script is written all over on every store shop front and most of the men walk around town wearing longyis (sarongs). There are traditional Burmese tea shops on every street corner.


The nearest Burmese town to Maesot is Myawaddy. Foreigners can only cross the border to enter Myanmar for day trips. There are 3 refugee camps around Maesot. Many Burmese, especially the Paw Karen people, have crossed the border to flee the rule of a very repressive military Junta which does little to improve the rights and living conditions of the povery stricken people. Special target of the Burmese military are the Chin and Kachin minorities who are heavily Christian. They are severely persecuted by Myanmar's repressive, pro-Buddhist military regime.


A group of Chin and Kachin activists met with U.S. officials in Washington in February 2007. Their reports included the rape of Chin and Kachin Christians, forced shutdown of churches, and the taking of children from their Christian parents, placing them in Buddhist monasteries to become novice monks under the false pretense of ensuring a good education. Also, government soldiers are driving thousands of minority Christians from their villages. Those hiding from their own government are called Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Chuck Colson has referred to Burma's military government as "one of the most repressive and brutal regimes in the world."

The battle against the Burmese Christians and other minorities which has been going on for the past 5 decades, particularly those from the rebel groups have caused the border town of Maesot to overflow with Burmese refugees.

Maesot is God's opportunity for Roselyn, Pappet, and Joy. This is the place where they can share the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to Burmese migrant workers - mostly Buddhists - who cross the border, often times illegally, to find work and opportunity in Maesot. It will be a great challenge to demonstrate the love of Christ to Myanmar's poorest of the poor.

Will Go Where you want me to

What do Roselyn Sanchez, Maria Nelma Amihan, and Joy Gahaton have in common? Three things: all came from West Visayas, Philippines; all are single Filipinas; and all were called by God at different times and different ways to work in building His Kingdom in Maesot, Thailand. Yes, God who is not a respecter of persons have called many single Filipinos to get out of their comfort zones and go to places not commonly known to many missionaries to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.


Roselyn, Pappet, and Joy are serving the children of Burmese migrant workers in a little known place in Thailand called Maesot. Not even my Thai friend who rides each morning with me on the Milwaukee West line train on my way to Chicago knows about Maesot. But it is in Maesot that Elpis School was founded in 2002.


To be able to know more about Elpis School, I wrote Pappet (Maria Nelma) to inquire:


1) Is Elpis a private or a public school?

Elpis is a migrant school. Since the students are children of Burmese or Karen factory workers which have a work permit or illegal migrants it is not registerd as a school by the Thai government although we work closely with the Ministry of Education. It is neither a government school mostly you can say that it is a privately put up Migrant school to answer the need for education of the Migrant children roaming Maesot. Most of the support of the school come from support of personal friends. Some are from foundations. It is run by two Filipinas,Roselyn and Maria Nelma Amihan (Pappet), under the banner of Foursquare Church of Maesot under Pastor Sompol John Srivichai. Together with Pastor John, Pappet, Roselyn and Heithoo ( the Head Teacher) Elpis was formally opened as a school in June 2003. It started as a feeding progarm for migrant children in June 2002.


2) How many teachers are there? Filipinos and locals?

Three (3) Filipina Missionaries, Maria Nelma S. Amihan, Roselyn Sanchez and Joy Gahaton
and nine (9) local teachers.


3) Who are your students?

The majority of the students are ethnic Paw Karen. 10%, the remaining Burmese and Mhong and Shan.


4) What grade are you teaching? Do you teach inThai? English? Is there a translator?

I teach Grades 2-4, sometimes Kindergaten 1
Roselyn teaches Grades 4-6
Joy teaches Grades Kinder 2 to Grade 2
We only teach English subjects.
The medium of instruction in the school is Burmese.
Subjects range from Math,Science, History, Geography, Karen, Burmese, Thai, English, values, religion and P.E.


5) Do the students pay? What are the grades in the school?

Since the students are the poorest of the poor, everything in the school is free. From notebook to ball pens, books, school materials, bags, and everyday lunch, etc...

6) How many are enroled in the school at present?

By the grace of God, we now have 243 registered students in Elpis School . Have 7 paid teachers, 2 cooks and 1 school bus driver. Our expenses have almost doubled but with the amazing provision of the Lord. Our school expenses from June 2007 to August 2007 is more than 263,000 Baht! That's US $7,970. With God's amazing provision!!! Oh, the fullness of HIS grace.


After 6 years we were able to buy wooden school tables for Grades 2-6. It really helps them to concentrate well in class. Still because of God's grace.

Arts classes are improving and we also teach tambourine dancing that could be use during ministry outreaches, presentations and Praise and Worship. Still another another God's grace!


6) What do you want the MEANS family to pray for you?
"Please pray for more annointing, good health and physical strength. It is really my desire to be like David. A woman after God's own heart. To be more in love with HIM. To have more time to spend with HIM. To receive fresh revelation everyday. To be more discerning. And of course more wisdom to handle everyday work. I cannot say that I am something special because I'm a missionary. In fact it's in the mission field that I realize how weak I am. How imperfect & impatient. My weaknesses are magnified yet I can truly say with Paul that HIS strength is made perfect in my weakness."


Pappet wrote recently and gave an update on the project that MEANS has helped in funding:

As you have given, Elpis School together with the Pastor's wife Sara and the the Home of Hope Orphanage have opened a small Bakery/coffee shop in Maesot to as a livelihood project the proceeds of which will go to Elpis School and the orphanage. God's grace!

We've now expanded our livelihood training to weaving, baking, sewing and haircut training, T-shirt printing and accessory making. Another of God's grace.
ministry outreaches, presentations and Praise and Worship. Still another another God's grace!

Kid's Quest. We have been doing children evangelism using performing Arts in Hua Fai Prathom School . We are now on the fourth episode. We have to do 2 more to complete the whole discipleship program. I have been playing the female clown Gigi.