SfK BAM Field Trip 2023 (IV) - Laos and Thailand (October 2023)

After Cambodia, we headed to Vientiane Laos. In this city, there is Boaz' Lunch, a casual dining place for expats and high-end locals. As we arrived, we visited a few places including Former President Kaison Museum and Lao National Library. The Presidential Museum attracted a lot of visitors for his fame as a good president while the National Libray was quiet because it did not have books in the Lao language. After all, the government does not have a genuine intent to educate the Lao children.

Then, we went to visit Boaz' Lunch. This restaurant has continued increasing its revenues, but not quite enough to break even. We listened to the presentation and made useful suggestions. Later, we ate the food prepared by the staff. We all agreed that the food was good.  However, the business is struggling with the lump sum rent that they have to pay but cannot secure for themselves. SfK will look into a way to help them out. 

The following day, we visited the Golden Temple or Tat Luang. This temple draws a lot of buddah followers. 

We visited another missional business called Art Plus. They run an art studio and a cafe. We got them connected to Caleb Kim so that they may start a BAM network in Vientiane. I look forward to witnessing the synergy that they can together produce.

Leaving Boaz' Lunch behind, we took off to Bangkok, Thailand, our last destination. Tae Hyeong Kim picked us up and we visited Bangkok Grace Church, a city church for Burmese refugees. We  shared the message of hope despite any challenges they may face and we agreed to explore the possible way to empower them.

After the visit with Bangkok Grace Church, we went to Asiatik, a gigantic shopping mall to have dinner.  

At our lodging, we agreed to establish an IT as Mission business in Bangkok, to be called ITAM. ITAM means IT as Mission, but it could also mean IT assisting Missions, and IT advancing Myanmar since Tae Hyeong Kim serves Myanmar refugees in Thailand. I look forward to witnessing what the Lord will do through ITAM.

After the BAM Field Trip, I stayed in Bangkok for a few more days. One of the reasons was to meet up with James Kim and Tae Hyeong Kim. James Kim is a coding developer but went to Myanmar to serve the Burmese. He accepted to serve as CEO of an IT business. He is now based in Korea, but runs this business in Myanmar by developing works from Korea and the U.S. I sincerely look forward to the Lord's help in making progress in this project. James came with one Myanmese minister who serves Myanmese refugees in Thailand. 

We all praised God who has called us to take part in His Mission and thanked Him for leading us to complete this BAM Field Trip successfully. - Jeffrey