Schoolbooks plant Christian seeds
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| n Eager school children look on as notebooks are delivered |
BANGKOK, Thailand — Humanitarian distribution to people in the areas of Thailand flooded last year by monsoons has included donations of school notebooks for children, produced by the Thailand Bible Society.
In August, after days of monsoon rains, much of the north- east suffered sudden floods. In many areas disaster struck without warning in the middle of the night, carrying away fields of crops, destroying homes and taking the lives of both people and cattle.
Special budget
In the face of such losses, organisations rallied to help with contributions of all kinds. Thinking of the schools which were trying to carry on as best they could despite having lost resources, the Thailand Bible Society decided to allocate a special budget to printing 50,000 school notebooks for free distribution.
The 6 x 8 inches (15 x 20cm) notebooks have 36 lined pages. The front cover bears a rainbow – the sign of God’s covenant with his people after Noah’s flood – and underneath it the text of 1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (NIV). On the back, in addition to the multiplication tables familiar to generations of children, there is a description of the work of the Thailand Bible Society.
Partners
Since the Society does not have its own direct distribution force, it sought partners for distribution among the Christian organisations of all confessions which were planning to work among the flood victims. Five volunteered, all of which already had people working among victims in the affected areas.
By November, they had given notebooks
to more than 9,000 non-Christian children from kindergarten age to sixth
grade. The books formed part of relief packages assembled from donations
by various Christian ministries which included school supplies, clothes
and food.
The distributors said the children’s and their families’ reactions
showed they were delighted to realise that ‘someone’ cared
for them.
Comfort
They have also told the Bible Society that their organisations have Christian staff locally who can provide comfort to the flood victims and nurture them spiritually at what is clearly a difficult and sensitive time.“Hopefully, the Scripture on our notebooks will be planted in their souls and will bring them to know our good God eventually,” said Pratin Pasavanitr, secretary to the Bible Society General Secretary.
(WR 366/30 - 1/2.02) [PHOTOS]