A New Day, A New Year

Dear Family and Friends,

How thankful I am that each day is a fresh slate. The beginning of a new year and the Easter season are unique reminders of this daily opportunity we have to awaken and start anew.

Pan Rak Foundation Medical Refugee Program

Eep Yoy is a 2-year-old little girl who weighed 12 pounds and could not sit up, stand or talk when she arrived in Chiang Mai. Her mother made a brave multiple-day journey from northern Burma/Myanmar to try to find help for her child. The youngest of eight children in a family with few resources, Eep Yoy has made a lot of progress since arriving in Chiang Mai, where she is able to get regular nutritious food. She has started to sit up and seems less irritable. Eep Yoy and her mother have been guided through the medical system by our patient care team. She has been diagnosed with Down syndrome, and a heart defect that is causing her to have pulmonary hypertension and a gastrointestinal problem that is common in children with Down syndrome. Eey Yoy will have urgent surgery to correct her heart defect and may have other surgeries in the future. Please keep this adorable young girl and her mother in your prayers as they continue this journey.

Hear the bells ringing,

They’re singing that you can be born again

Hear the bells ringing,

They’re singing Christ is risen from the dead

—The Easter Song, Keith Green

When I’m reflecting on the past months and thinking of a story to share in my newsletters, stories like Eep Yoy’s and the role that our amazing patient care team at Pan Rak plays in patients’ lives come to mind.

During 2015 they took care of 36 new patients, plus 6 follow-up patients from 2014. They are both professional and passionate, taking patients through each step of medical care they need. They make sure all of the patients’ needs in a foreign land are taken care of, as all come from neighboring Burma/Myanmar. They are a listening ear, a prayer partner, a translation service, an advocate with the medical system and, most important, someone the patients can count on. They partner with other local organizations and nonprofits to provide this care and level of service. Our team is not alone within Pan Rak; we have a great network of amazing groups and people to work with outside of our own organization.

2016 brought Eep Yoy to us, as well as other new patients. Our team is working in earnest to get to the root of each problem, and get healing for each individual. Along the way they share their hope and faith in Jesus, and offer physical and spiritual support for these people who are in times of crisis.

Program Partner Highlights

We partner with many individuals and groups, and I want to highlight them in my newsletters. Christian Communications Institute (CCI) is one.

CCI’s U.S.A. Tour: March 31 – May 11, 2016

Check them out at CCI Payap University–Fanpage or ask me for their schedule! They will be in North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

CCI’s story: Christian Communications Institute (CCI) was founded by Allan and Joan Eubank with the support of the Thai Christian Foundation in 1980 to communicate the gospel through Thai culture. CCI intends to use every art form possible, both modern and traditional, to communicate the gospel in ways easily understood by the Thai people and to provide models for positive social and family life. CCI helps lead students to Christ each year, in schools all over Thailand, as well as performing evangelistic Thai folk dramas in about 25 villages.

Personal

Nadia’s new skill: running for 10 steps and at the end, jumping and clapping ‘at the same time.’ It’s fun seeing her explore the things she’s able to do and being able to discuss the world with her. The stream of constant ‘why’ questions has started, including questions about why she does things. I look forward to having these discussions with her about everything she’s interested in, and pray I have good answer, although never all the answers.

Johnny is receiving an award for his work with earthquake research and particularly his efforts over the past 12 years in Nepal. We are so proud of him and will be able to see him receive this award in May 2016! (He was even in a recent installment of “Nova” on PBS focused on the April 2015 earthquake in Nepal.) We still pray and want to be involved personally in praying for and finding ways to walk alongside people still recovering from that devastating earthquake.

Financial Needs

I am thankful, humbled and grateful for your support. Your partnership allows me to continue to be a part of this vital work and witness of God’s love.

I want to reach out and let you know my current financial situation. I receive a monthly stipend of $660. To pay for my medical coverage, pension, death/disability benefit, and insurance, I need another $1,055 per month. As a long-term volunteer I am responsible for raising those funds.

A brief summary of my current work:

I work with the Pan Rak Foundation as Deputy Director. ‘Pan Rak’ means ‘Sharing Love’ in the Thai language. Pan Rak Foundation’s vision is to share God’s love and inspire relationships. Our areas of focus are Education, Relief, Cultural Arts, and Spiritual and Leadership Development.

I see my work as part of the bridge-building effort Pan Rak is a part of—between those interested in partnering with Pan Rak and with people in Thailand and Burma. I am specifically working on training and mentoring the local staff and leadership to be a more integral part of management and decision-making in the organization.

The people in this network are patients, pastors, donors, volunteers, refugees, internally displaced people, co-workers, board members, and migrant workers. Each person is not defined by one of those labels. We are not trying to manage each project that we support, but rather empower, build capacity, and connect our networks of resources. We are trying to love those we interact with, pray for and with people, and seek God’s vision for our work.

If you will pray for this situation I would really appreciate it. If you could consider supporting me or possibly increasing your current support, it would be wonderful. If other individuals or congregations come to mind who might be interested in this ministry, please consider connecting us. I would be happy to answer any questions or provide more details about the funding and what is needed. I trust deeply in God’s way of providing for all of us and sincerely appreciate your support, which has made my continuing work with our mission partners possible.

May God bless you,

Amy

P.S.

I would love to speak with you or your mission committee, and I am very happy to have you to pass on my contact information to people. Please feel free to connect me with people in your network who might be interested in our work with Thailand and Burma. I am available by Skype (amydavisson), Facetime or email (amygaletzka@gmail.com), or by phone!

Individuals: Give online to E074131 for Amy Davisson Galetzka's sending and support OR to make a gift by check, please mail it to:

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

P.O. Box 643700

Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

Please include a note including this information: E074131/Mission Worker: Amy Lynne Davisson Galetzka. A receipt will be sent to you when your check is processed. Be sure to keep a copy for your records.