Tragedy in Thailand

Dear friends,

Please join me and all of the staff and children from Asia's Hope in Thailand in mourning the tragic death of one of our dearest staff members, Duang, whose motorbike was struck by a truck today in Thailand.

Please also join me in urgent prayer for his wife Lew and daughter Kelapaw, who were also injured in the accident. They have been transported to a hospital near Chiang Mai, and we are unclear on their condition. Mike Flinchum (ministry advisor), Tutu Bee (country director) and David (Tutu's son) have rushed to the hospital to be with them.

As you can imagine, the children are devastated. Duang started with Asia's Hope as a cook, and his wife Lew began working at our early childhood center. Duang and Lew then became the parents at one of our dorms at Doi Saket 1, our largest orphan home.

Duang was heavily involved in almost every aspect of the home's operation -- he led worship, drove the kids to school, helped to maintain the facility -- but most importantly, he was a father and brother and friend.

Please pray for our kids and staff, they are devastated. 

Please pray for healing for Kelapaw and for Lew. Also, please pray for their older daughter Neracha, who was on a separate motorbike, and was uninjured, but saw the accident. And please pray for little Bang, the young boy who Duang and Lew raised from infancy at the early childhood center.

May God have mercy on our staff and kids as they endure this horrible tragedy.

John McCollum, Executive Director

Asia's Hope

Duang and Lew, pictured with Bang.