by Sue Danneker, an Alliance international worker serving in Thailand
“Nong Baw is moving,” our friend Nun said. I was visiting her at her hair salon, which we had used for our church plant’s cell group meetings.
My heart skipped a beat. This precious second grader who dearly loves the Lord—the “philosopher”? How could it be?
Nun explained.
Like most of the children in my Saturday Kids’ Club, Nong Baw is in a non-typical family situation. Since his birth, he has been raised by his great grandparents, who have struggled to provide for him. Their health has also started to deteriorate, to the point that Nong Baw asked Nun, who is like an aunt to him, if she would raise him if they died. Nun assured him that she would.
Then a few weeks ago, Nong Baw’s maternal grandparents, whom he had never met, offered to raise the boy. They are currently rearing a cousin who is a few years older than Nong Baw. They would like to raise the two children together.
Nong Baw’s great grandfather said he would let the boy decide for himself. The grandparents brought him to their home several hours away for a long weekend. Nong Baw loved it. He was fed three meals a day, he liked the cousin, and they even have a computer.
“And best of all, a relative took me to church who attends every Sunday!” Nong Baw exclaimed. “There were lots of kids and adults, and I could answer the Sunday school teacher’s question. The church is close to my grandparents’ home. I could easily go every Sunday.” And so, he decided to move.
Saying Goodbye
When the other children in Kids’ Club heard the news, they responded with a variety of questions. “Won’t you miss us? Won’t you miss Aunty Nun?”
“Don’t worry; I’ll come for a visit during the school break,” Nong Baw assured his friends, whom he has known his whole life.
“But if you wait too long and come back as a teenager, Aunty Nun might be dead already,” one of them said.
“Then I will see her when it is my time to go to heaven,” Nong Baw replied.
“Are you sure you are going to heaven?” Nun asked him.
“Yes, I am sure—I believe in Jesus.”
Pray that the Lord will help me to faithfully teach these children. He has blessed me with them for such a short time. May I have wisdom, patience, and strength—and may all these dear ones learn to love Jesus with all their hearts and walk in His ways all their days.
Learn More
Read life-changing testimonies of believers in the Dannekers’ church plant who were baptized recently.
