A Transition and a New Beginning
A letter from Amy Davisson Galetzka, long-term volunteer serving in Thailand/Burma
Dear family, friends, faithful supporters,
What a blessing it is to share with you about God’s mission throughout the year. The end of 2016 brings a transition and a new beginning. This will be the end of my 17th year as a long-term international volunteer with the PC(USA), working in Thailand and Burma (Myanmar). I want to take this opportunity to share my thoughts and plans for the future.
Thai Christian Foundation and Pan Rak Foundation work continuing
Starting January 1, 2017, my employer will be the Thai Christian Foundation (a registered 501c3 nonprofit), the U.S.-based partner of Pan Rak Foundation (a Thai nonprofit). I will be the interim managing director for the Thai Christian Foundation, and my work will remain the same: to support and engage with health, education, development, relief and cultural arts ministries. I am currently the co-deputy director for Pan Rak Foundation, along with a local colleague (in Thailand). Our goal is for her to take over the position sometime during 2017. I will continue to work in a capacity-building and management role with Pan Rak Foundation after that.
I would have loved to continue having my home base be in Chiang Mai, as I have for the past 17 years, but it has become too difficult for our family. Recently Johnny’s geology/earthquake research work has shifted from Asia to Mexico. And although he continues to travel often in many parts of the world, his main office location is in Colorado. Johnny and I have decided that with much work travel for both of us we will transition our home base from Thailand to Colorado in order to be together more often.
My work with the Thai Christian Foundation will include two or three trips per year to be on site in Thailand with the Pan Rak Foundation staff and programs. Otherwise I will work remotely to manage the Thai Christian Foundation while collaborating with Pan Rak Foundation. My work will include training and capacity-building for both organizations as well as doing administration, managing donor relations, and overseeing project management.
PC(USA) service ending
I have discussed this transition with the Presbyterian World Mission leaders and we have decided that December 31, 2016, will be my end-of-service date. Presbyterian World Mission was willing to assist me to think of ways to raise the support I needed and was very flexible with the original deadlines for the funding. The funding deadlines and the fact that the funding hadn’t been received by those dates were not part of the reason that I made this decision to relocate or determine the end-of-service date. I am thankful for the care and support that I have received from my regional liaisons, Barry and Shelly Dawson, my area coordinator for Asia, Mienda Uriarte, and Presbyterian World Mission’s associate director of program, Rachel Yates. They have been very supportive and helpful in this decision. The decision was made because of my need to be based in the U.S.A. while doing international work.
I’ve put together a timeline to express what brought me to this point in time. I hope it completes a picture for you of my life in mission and ministry. So many people, events, visits, laughter, tears, heartaches, joys, were interwoven through this timeline! I thank each and every one of you who have been a part of my life and ministry. Thank you!!!
1976 Born!— In Silverton, Oregon. Grew up participating in sports, music and other activities in the community. Favorite activities were gymnastics, clarinet, soccer and—throughout everything—reading. Our family was part of a local church community each Sunday, often Wednesday, and special events as well.
Summer of 1993—First trip to Asia (or anywhere outside of the U.S.A.)
1994—Graduated from high school in Silverton and started studying at Pepperdine University
1995-96—Year abroad with Pepperdine’s program in Heidelberg, Germany
1995—Study abroad in Pepperdine’s archaeological dig program in Banias, Israel
1998—Graduated from Pepperdine
1998—Shortly after graduation, a learning trip with Malibu Presbyterian Church (where I had attended during my sophomore through senior years at Pepperdine) to Thailand and Burma
February 1999—Returned to Thailand and Burma for a two-year commitment to work on the Global Day of Prayer for Burma (started by Christians Concerned for Burma). Working with the leaders of the local church (Church of Christ in Thailand—an umbrella organization that includes many different Protestant denominations), and Christians Concerned for Burma and the Free Burma Rangers. Began as a long-term volunteer with the PC(USA).
2001—Committed to continue work past the two-year commitment for an undetermined amount of time
July 2009—Married the wonderful Johnny Galetzka (after meeting him 10 years earlier in Thailand, although we both grew up in Oregon and were married there)
Oct 17, 2012—My sweet girl Nadia was born
2013—In addition to my work with Free Burma Rangers and the Global Day of Prayer for Burma, I helped start a Thai nonprofit called Pan Rak (“Sharing Love”) Foundation. It was registered in May 2013.
2013-2016—Served as Pan Rak Foundation’s deputy director
Oct 17, 2016—Nadia turned 4!
My plans for the future include:
December 31, 2016—End of service with the PC(USA)
January 1, 2017—Start employment with the Thai Christian Foundation, which includes work for Pan Rak Foundation
February, July/August and more in 2017—Thailand! Nadia and I plan to be there for a month or so two or three times during 2017.
2017—Thai Tour Sometime during 2017 we hope to share the ministries and the beauty and realities of both Thailand and Burma (Myanmar) with a group of people interested in being part of a planned group visit to our program areas
2017 and beyond—I hope and pray that I will be able to continue to work with these people and programs that God has called me to. Please pray for Thailand as their beloved king recently passed away, and pray for Burma (Myanmar) as there is still unrest, fighting and persecution going on there.
As I leave mission service with the PC(USA), I hope that you will consider continuing your support of PC(USA) global missions. Presbyterian World Mission specifically asks your continued support, both through prayer and financial commitment, for Barry and Shelly Dawson serving as regional liaisons for Southeast Asia, based in Thailand. Some of you may know Esther Wakeman, serving in higher education in Chiang Mai, Thailand, or Sharon Bryant, coordinating volunteers on short-term mission assignments to teach in Thailand. These are some wonderful mission co-workers I recommend you get in touch with.
If you would like to continue receiving information about what I am doing, I will be sending out news in the future to allow for that. Please reach out and get in touch with me any time. My contact information is below.
With love and blessings,
Amy Davisson Galetzka
+626.807.1976
Skype: amydavisson