Help the Vernons Rebuild After Devastating Flood

September 12, 2024

PLEASE HELP THE VERNONS IN CHIANG RAI, THAILAND!

DEVASTATING LOSS OF HOME AND POSSESSIONS! BUT THEIR HOPE REMAINS!

Torrential flooding in Chiang Rai, Thailand, has brought much suffering and loss to thousands!

We, together as the parents of Lori Crouch Vernon and the parents of Paul Vernon, are heartbroken by the sudden and devastating loss they have experienced in the last few days. Their streets have been flooded a few times in prior years, but floodwaters have never entered their home before. Therefore, that was the expectation when this all began to unfold. Within a couple of hours, it became evident that the water was rising fast, and they needed to evacuate, grab what they could, and get to higher ground! Unfortunately, Lori was out of town attending a conference at the time and wasn’t there to help Paul and the four kids (our beautiful grandchildren Abi, Izi, and Jak, as well as Paul’s nephew Sem, visiting from Germany) make their hasty exit. You can imagine the awful sadness and stress Lori experienced being unable to be there with her precious family at this time! They pulled together, as this family always does, and managed to fill their 10 backpacks and make their way to safety. Never dreaming they wouldn’t be returning within a day or so, they hurriedly piled many belongings on high shelves and bunk beds, believing they would remain safe there, even if the waters rose a few feet. Sadly, because of the significant rise in water levels later, they now know that all of those belongings are very likely underwater. We are uncertain about the condition of their 2 vehicles at this point but are hopeful that they have remained out of flood danger where they were last parked and are still functional.

Again, assuming it would be a short stay, Paul and the kids retreated to a hotel not too far from their home. As the water levels rose, even that hotel became surrounded by water, and they are currently trapped there. Thankfully, there has been food and water, and sporadically, power to charge their phones. They are hoping to be evacuated by boat from this hotel in the next day or two. But for now, they are safe and dry! Praise God! Lori is making every attempt to return, in spite of some setbacks related to a closed Chiang Rai airport, and hopes to be reunited soon. Our grandson Jak, aged 10, has had a fever for two days in 100-degree weather and no air conditioning! We are concerned for his health and pray for healing and protection from illness for all of them.

To reduce the threat to dams upstream from Chiang Rai, water is being released that is causing additional rising waters. Also, continued rain from the remnants of the recent Typhoon Yagi is impacting the situation. We have learned that the school, Chiang Rai International Christian School (CRICS), at which Lori serves as Superintendent (Head of School), is experiencing an increased threat of flooding now, as well. Paul was actually in the process of working with efforts to bring relief to Vietnam from the flooding and destruction from Typhoon Yagi when the emergency events began to unfold for his family.

Many of you around the world know and love this family. You appreciate the genuine and sacrificial love and service they have given to their local community and to the nations of S.E. Asia as they have served God there for the past 19+ years. They will have a long journey ahead to try and restore a home that once again feels like home. However, they inspire our faith to go on and never give up, as they are, even now, singing, “rains came, winds blew, but my house is built on You!”

Thank you for giving whatever you can to show your love and support to the Vernons.

Gary and Jan Crouch, Keith and Patty Vernon

Your gifts will go directly to the Vernons. Gifts are not tax-deductible.