The Hill Tribes: A Timeless Mission Part II

The medical team that invited me to join them and make this film has been ministering to hill tribes of the mountainous Chiang Rai Province of Northern Thailand for ten years. In that decade many improvements have come to the hundreds of remote hill tribe villages: limited electricity, better roads, and most importantly clean water. Health conditions and childhood survival rates have also dramatically increased, thanks in part to efforts like the annual church-sponsored medical relief shown in this short, 2-part film. More info in the January archives of
http://patternsofink.blogspot.com/

As I continue finishing up this documentary (two months after the trip itself), I'm thankful that I have many photographs. If I didn't have the pictures, it would seem like a dream. So much happened during and after... it's still soaking in....

In closing , I'd like to add the same thought that I have included in each of these explanations about our team's medical mission work in the Chiang Rai Province of Northern Thailand: This is an on-going ministry that focuses on the people and not on the team. We do not arrive at a village as "well-meaning Americans" who show up, take over, and disappear never to be seen again. Our approach in dealing with the hill tribes is more quiet and respectful as we recognize the beauty of their culture. We are not there to "westernize" them, we are their to meet practical needs and to show the love of Christ in the sense described in Matthew 25:40 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=47&chapter=25&verse=40&a... and to share the good news as He encouraged us to do. When we leave, there are local tribal leaders who continue the "follow up" work with each village, and we make return visits as needed (and as medical manpower and funding allows).

The focus of this video project, as you may have noticed, is not so much on "the team"--as rich as their experience is each year. Christ did not "brow beat" or expect some sort of immediate return on his ministry. (Remember the time He healed several blind people but only one stopped to say thank you?). Likewise, our team humbly serves each village with the assumption that the love we show that day (as well as the truth we share in word and example) will continue to play out over time. Through the years, this relational approach to serving these beautiful people has been very effective, and we hope it comes through as you watch the videos presented here at Patterns of Ink.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• hilltribes
• ChiangRai
• medical
• missions
• Thailand
• dental
• Hem

[patternsofink]

Thanks again, Dolly, for stopping by and for leaving comments. It's good to know what people are thinking when they become more familiar with these beautiful people and this medical ministry we have with them.

Tom

[KaoPhatKai]

hey, great video! this year i was on an outreach in the hill tribes in chiang rai too ! great people there =)

[Dolly1243]

God Bless, the Hill Tribe people, and all those that volunteer,to help those beautiful people.