Support Recovery from Devastating Floods

The last few weeks, Northern Thailand has dealt with catastrophic, record-breaking floods, leaving many without homes, throwing out belongings, and cleaning up the endless amounts of thick mud. In 10 years of living and serving in Thailand, I have never seen anything like it.

Unfortunately, I was one of many to lose my home and many of my possessions. After cleaning up from the first flood on September 26th, a second record-breaking flash flood hit my area on Friday, October 4th. I had less than one hour to elevate my belongings inside my house, throw the breakers, grab my passport, computer, baby goat, and swim from my front door down the road to higher ground.

After the water had receded, I returned to my home. My yard and small farm were completely destroyed; fences, fish pond, and anything I had stored outside were washed away. I lost 20 turkeys, 2 ducks, and all of the fish I had been raising in my fish pond. I had parked my motorcycles down the road at my neighbor's house, knowing his home was at a higher elevation, but the floodwater was too high and had reached his home as well, leaving my motorcycles completely submerged. The water level inside my house reached almost 3 feet, destroying all my furniture, fridge, TV, speakers, bed, air conditioning compressors, and covering all the electrical outlets, making it impossible to turn on the power. After three days of removing and salvaging what belongings I could, my friends and co-workers at ITDF graciously came to the house to help clear out mud from the house and throw away furniture and trash. After a long conversation with the landlord, the house will not be livable for months due to repairs, and I have decided not to extend my rental contract and have started looking for a new home to live in far away from the possibility of another flood like this.

During this time, I would ask for your prayers for all that have lost so much in Northern Thailand. Please pray for me to find a new home, somewhere I can raise my animals and live long term.

I would also ask for your financial support. My goal is to raise $20,000. This will help get me back on my feet, cover repair costs for my motorcycles, purchase new furnishings for the next house I move into, and replace the majority of belongings I have accumulated over 10 years of living and serving in Northern Thailand.