[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”7840,7836,7835,7837,7838,7841,7842,7839″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_post_title categories=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
In the border towns of Thailand\u2013where stories of war, displacement, and silence often fill the air\u2013testimonies are being written, ones of healing, education, and spiritual restoration. A team of faculty and student volunteers from the Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP) conducted an outreach mission in the Thailand-Myanmar border area.<\/span><\/p>\n The program titled \u201cGod H.E.A.L.S..\u201d (Health, Education, Arts, Lifeskills, and Spiritual Enrichment) was organized by AUP\u2019s Community Extension Services Office (CES) with the support of the AUP\/PUC Alumni of Western North America (AWESNA). The team served students at Naung Bo Den Learning Center and Maelahklo Christian School in Mae Sot, engaging over 400 learners with education, psychosocial care, and spiritual renewal.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”7845,7848,7844,7849,7846,7847,7857″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n AUP Volunteers Extend Educational and Psychological Support <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Activities conducted include mental health education, trauma counseling, dental health services, music and art classes, spiritual programs, values education, and livelihood workshops.<\/span><\/p>\n At Naung Bo Den, 210 students participated in the program. At Maelahklo Christian School, an additional 205 students participated in values education, music, health promotion, and spiritual activities.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey taught us how to handle our feelings and our pain. They prayed with us,\u201d shared one student. \u201cI did not know people from so far could care this much,\u201d he added. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Lord has many interventions,\u201d Dr. Cutie Canesares, one of the missionaries and a psychology faculty member of the University, shared. \u201cIn that border, they carry many scars, but you will not notice because all you will see is their smiling faces.\u201d She expressed how emotional it was and testified how healing comes in forms of relationships formed.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGod heals holistically,\u201d she explained that people can feel God\u2019s presence amidst the brokenness. She emphasized how coming together in the refuge, even among the missionaries in that place, through the mission of presence, they are also healed.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”7864,7858,7859,7860,7861,7862,7863″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Stories That Speak<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n One teacher, Nant Thwe Thwe, movingly recounted the ministry experience at Naung Bo Den Learning Center. \u201cMany of our students, even I, carry past experiences they do not know how to solve. Prayer sessions and psychological services heal our past. God heals,\u201d she testified how the center was blessed with the missionary team and how God healed parts of their being they did not know were still hurting.<\/span><\/p>\n Miss Phimpaka Kampeewattana, a teachers at Maelahklo Christian School, expressed a deep gratitude for the mission\u2019s impact, highlighting a joyful time of learning, teaching, and encountering God\u2019s love. \u201cThe children were delighted. Our brothers and sisters [from AUP] taught us English related to the knowledge of God\u2019s love as well as music and art.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Maelahklo Christian School was one of the learning centers visited by the AUP volunteers. Students responded enthusiastically to interactive English lessons and creative workshops in art and music. According to Principal Worapon Wacharakoon, the volunteers\u2019 approach helped students learn \u201cthrough doing\u201d and brought joy and valuable experience to their daily school life. \u201cThe students were happy and engaged,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are thankful for the team. I hope that next time you can visit again and teach our students more.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The team also conducted a week of prayer, and it reached the hearts of five individuals who decided to be baptized: Andrew March Thang, Ko Ko Linn Maung, Thin Yadarnar Hlaing, Htet Myarl Aung, and Htet Htet Soe. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI used to see stories of war and refugees only in the news,\u201d said Jonas Louis Ranas, a College of Theology student and one of the speakers for the week of prayer. \u201cNow I understand that our mission is global. We are part of something bigger than our campus. We are part of the Great Commission,\u201d he amplified. <\/span><\/p>\n Ranas recounted how hearing the hymn We Have This Hope<\/i> sung in different languages made him reflect on the unity of God\u2019s people. \u201cThe lyrics \u2018when the nations far and near, shall awake and shout and sing, Hallelujah Christ is King!\u2019 reminded me that God is our hope altogether. It reminded me that many are still unreached, but through missions like this, God is turning obstacles into opportunities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”7865,7866,7867,7868″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Small Acts, Lasting Change<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n One volunteer from the College of Dentistry, Myjela Eunice Carpizo, shared a personal encounter with a 7-year-old girl who was initially afraid of dental treatment. Despite her fear, the child smiled throughout and returned daily with small gifts and a bright smile. On the final day, she gave Carpizo a drawing and a red paper as a thank-you gesture. \u201cHow could they be thankful?\u201d Carpizo recalled. \u201cAll I did was clean their teeth.\u201d The moment gave more profound meaning to a message echoed during the mission: \u201cSmall acts, big change.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n For many team members, this was their first time serving in a refugee community. Ailen Lazaro, one of the volunteers from the Graduate Education reflected, \u201cSeeing their situation made me realize how much we take for granted. It changed everything. Even if I could do\u00a0 <\/span>butlittle, I knew I could pray, and that mattered.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt was a place full of laughter, culture, discipline, singing, smiles, and hope,\u201d said Chessie Aplod, a dentistry student. \u201cThis trip allowed me to meet good people willing to travel far to teach, preach, and reach,\u201d she added.<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Jolly Balila, AUP\u2019s research director and mission volunteer, described the community as a \u201cfamily,\u201d with many of its members finding long-term refuge in the learning centers.<\/span><\/p>\n Indeed, God Heals<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n The \u201cGod H.E.A.L.S\u201d Thailand mission marks AUP\u2019s third outreach initiative to Thailand. It demonstrates the University\u2019s continued commitment to its motto: \u201con ever onward,\u201d not only in academics but also in compassion-driven service that extends beyond borders.<\/span><\/p>\n According to Ranas, \u201cGod can use people to heal you. That is why we are doing this mission together.\u201d The mission found its purpose not just in programs but in presence, in standing beside the suffering; in teaching; in listening; in loving.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In the border towns of Thailand\u2013where stories of war, displacement, and silence often fill the air\u2013testimonies are being written, ones of healing, education, and spiritual restoration. A team of faculty […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":7867,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-19 14:34:35","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aup.edu.ph\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aup.edu.ph\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aup.edu.ph\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aup.edu.ph\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aup.edu.ph\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7832"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.aup.edu.ph\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7832\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7873,"href":"https:\/\/www.aup.edu.ph\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7832\/revisions\/7873"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aup.edu.ph\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7867"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aup.edu.ph\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aup.edu.ph\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aup.edu.ph\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}