November 12, 2022

PUA DISTRICT, NAN PROVINCE NORTHERN THAILAND

Thailand Sustainable Ministries’ vision is to reach the lost in Thailand through sustainability initiatives.  I am in one of my hometowns, Pua, in Nan Province for the weekend.  As I was walking to a local coffee shop I noticed a sidewalk stall selling various hilltribe clothing.  On the wall I noticed two woven bamboo baskets.

Back Story:   Many of you know one of my side ventures is leather.  Through Brook Falls Handicrafts we design and hand craft leather items for sale.  Our goal is to teach at risk people how to stitch the leather items and give them 50% of sales.  A month ago a lady approached me about doing some leather repair work on her favorite woven handbag.

Repaired Handbag with leather accents.

Her pet rabbit had chewed through the leather handles and she asked if I could do something about it.  I was able to repair the damage, and even add extras like leather accents and a zipper.  I gave it back to her at a local art fair and received lots of compliments from customers.  This gave me the idea to purchase local made woven baskets and add leather accents.  Question:  Where to find the bags.   This is a lost art form, and usually only those who are over 60 know how to make these kinds of baskets and bags.

Back to Present:  I asked about the handbags hanging on the wall.  Did he make these himself?  Did he order them?  He told me he has villagers in the area who will make a few at a time for him. But most are over 60 years old.  I told him about my idea, showed him pictures of what I had done with the damaged handbag.  I purchased his two simple bags to take back to Chiang Mai and do some leather accents.

During the conversation he asked where I am from, why do I speak Thai so fluently. That was my opening to share with him my parent’s work here in Nan, my growing up years, what I am doing now.  How I am trying to help at risk women in Chiang Mai. Why I am wanting to buy locally made items even if I have to pay a little more than the factory manufactured items. We exchanged contact information. Mr. Adam will send pictures of other woven bags and I will send pictures of my attempts to add leather accents and handels.

What does this have to do with TSM, sustainability, and Christian witness?  This is an opportunity to establish a different kind of relationship with this vendor.  Traditional missionary relationships are often based on a religious context.  Both sides know that the end goal is to evangelize or convert.  This can lead to people being defensive, dismissive, of the relationship and conversation.

The relationship with this vendor will start as a business transaction (pray God blessing on this). But our prayer is that we can share our vision, purpose, and values based on the teaching of Christ. He was very surprised that I would give 50% of sales to stitchers, and that was another small opening to share who we are, what we do and why we are doing it this way.

The past year has been a struggle with forming a new mission, COVID shutdowns, health issues related to my asthma.  But it is small encounters like this that reaffirm God’s sovereignty in all things.  Pray that this encounter becomes a relationship to witness for Christ.

Remember us this Christmas season.  Remember to choose Thailand Sustainable Ministries as your charitable organization when you order from Amazon.Smile. Don’t forget you can still make an IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution to TSM.

Thank you for your continued support of our ministry here in SE Asia.

David & Sharon Filbeck