Hsa Thoo Lei Boarding House. Joint Bible College Scholarship Proposal

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1 Hsa Thoo Lei Boarding House Joint Bible College Scholarship Proposal June 2011 to May 2012 Request for support to help send 5 Grade 12 graduates to Bible College Equipping today s youth to be the leaders of tomorrow

2 This year we have five students graduating Grade 12 who would like to continue their studies in Bible School; four of them would like to study in KKBBSC in Mae La camp. These will graduate in either four or five years, depending upon whether they need to complete a foundation year or not. They will all graduate with a Batchelor degree in Theological Studies. The fifth would like to study in Klee Thee Klo. Ban Lwin Oo in particular has been a real encouragement to watch growing spiritually while he has been at Hsa Thoo Lei. Despite his father passing away at the beginning of Grade 11, he has continued to attend church regularly and constantly seeks to grow in the Lord. Sharmoo also has been a source of encouragement, especially in his witnessing to others through his diligent personal prayers. Both Sharmoo and Ban Lwin Oo would have a good chance to bypass the foundation year as their English is of a high level, though if not successful in this, they would need to complete a foundation year, which could only be of further benefit to their English skills. Baby Soe, though a little weak in English, is a wonderful singer and a great performer in Sunday worship. Paw Nay Htoo is also a diligent, hard worker. Both of these would need to complete the foundation year. Moo Christ is a very hard worker who has come through many personal problems. She is confident and likes to learn more. Whilst studying in Hsa Thoo Lei she became convinced that the Christian God was real and was baptized in She would like to attend Klee Thee Klo, which is a 4 year program. As all of these have spent a substantial time in the boarding house and also come from very poor backgrounds, we would like to try and assist them in their applications, both spiritually through prayer, and financially be locating donors for them. Both Ban Lwin Oo and Sharmoo s fathers have passed away in the last two years, and the girls parents are unable to support them financially whilst they study. Currently we are supporting 4 students in Bible School. We realise that this is a considerable amount when added together and that, under the present conditions, you may not be able to help financially, but we would still value your prayers for these students spiritual growth, the application process and success in finding donors. If you are not able to help, but know of another group of people who would be willing to help, please feel free to pass this along. When donors have been found, if you would like to have regular contact with your sponsored student please feel free to contact them directly, we will be more than willing to provide addresses, or alternatively act as a conduit for correspondence. Whilst in camp communication may be irregular, however we would strongly recommend some form of communication in both directions as this will help the students by giving them a mature friend to be in contact with, and also help the donor to see the progress being made. Thank you for your help! In His love and sovereign care, Naw Paw Ray Hsa Thoo Lei Boarding House Page 2 of 7

3 Joint Bible College Scholarship Proposal Kawthoolei Karen Baptist Bible School and College (KKBBSC), Mae La Camp KKBBSC was founded inside Karen State in Due to the KKBBSC Dorms civil war it was forced to relocate to Thailand in Since then it has been located in Mae La refugee camp. Despite facing adversity, the school has grown and is part of the wider Karen Baptist Convention. Students at the school can go into either the Karen or English stream. The Karen stream leads to a certificate in Theological Studies (after four years) and the English stream leads to a Batchelor of Theology (BTh) degree, also after 4 years. Many of the students are weak in English and thus need to study an additional preparation year. Whilst at KKBBSC students learn about Theological Issues, the Scriptures, Church History, Computers and essential skills such as agriculture and cooking. The students stay in the dormitory, on the edge of camp, and have communal, daily worship. Once a year there is a mission period where students have the opportunity to go on mission. Usually the older students split up and lead missions into the IDP area (displaced area, inside Burma, near to the border), into the 9 refugee camps along the border or into boarding houses and school sin the migrant area. Upon completing the course, students have a range of options. One of the graduates who returned to work in Hsa Thoo Lei as a teacher is now studying for a Masters degree in India. Others have continued teaching. Some are now serving their local communities in Burma, either as teachers and worship leaders, or full time evangelists and church planters. The degree course is especially versatile, as it is taught in English and the graduates usually finish with an English level compatible with teaching in a high school environment. Mission inside Burma Da Lou Ga Bor Bible School, Klee Thoo Klo The Bile School in Klee Thee Klo is part of the Karen Baptist Convention too, and follows a similar syllabus to that in KKBBSC. This however is especially suitable for students who have a lower level of English, or who are not concerned with obtaining a degree certificate. This can also lead into teaching roles, work in boarding houses and full time mission work. Klee Thee Klo Church Page 3 of 7

4 My name is Ban Lwin Oo and I am 18 years old. I was born in Myawaddy, Burma. I have one younger brother and one younger sister. Now I am studying in Hsa Thoo Lei and I am in Grade 12. My favourite subject is English. When I was in childhood, I lived in Myawaddy with my parents. I studied from Grade One to Grade Six there. At that time my father was a police officer. He fed our family by that work. But one day he had a problem with his work. His leader asked him to attend training but he needed a lot of money to go there and his leader didn t support enough things for him. Then because of that problem he come back to Mae Sot and worked there. After that my family had to face with many problems and so we moved. Then I continued my education in Hsa Thoo Lei, with my brothers, from 2003 until now. After I finish my Post 10 studies I will attend KKBBSC because I want to know the truth about God s way. I became a Christian when I was 15 years old. I baptized at one of the Baptist Churches in Mae Sot. In the future, I want to preach to the people who do not receive God s eternal life and believe him. My name is Naw Moo Christ. I lived in refugee camp. I came to study in Hsa Thoo Lei. I have to study in Hsa Thoo Lei for six years. My parents live in refugee camp. I have two sisters. Now my father stays in the Mae Sot area, he was a soldier for the Karen. My mother is a house wife but she has a problem with her brain. She doesn t do anything in the house now. Always my younger sister has to keep my mother and do the work in the house. She has to care for my nephew and niece. My father works in the Mae Sot area but he has a problem with his leg. I stay in the dormitory, near my father. Sometimes I help my father. I have a problem but I can study not poor because of God. I believe that the God can change my life and help my parents. I became a Christian because of my teachers in the dormitory who trained me to understand the future light. They showed me the good way and the truth. They taught me about the Bible that tells me about God. I can know God is good. Before my parents were atheist. Now my parents are Christian because of God. I have anew way to know more about God. He helps me always when I have a problem. When we were talking about next year, others around me were surprised when Thramu Paw Ray didn t read out my name, but as for me, I know in my heart that I will be able to go to Bible College next year. I know that Jesus will provide for me and my teachers will help me too. I really want to lean more from the Bile and then I can chare it with the people around me! Next year I will be studying in Klee Thee Klo. Page 4 of 7

5 Joint Bible College Scholarship Proposal My name is Sharmoo. I m Karen and now I m 22 years old. I have been studying in Hsa Thoo Lei about eight years and I m a Grade 12 student so this year is the last year for me. If I graduate school in Hsa Thoo Lei, overall I already know my education is not poor but not great. I want to study more. I know I need to continue my studies. I want to learn more education and get more experiences. If I work straight away I now that this won t be the best way for me so I want to plan and study to do better for myself and my community. Next year I plan to go to Bible college. If I look at my family we are very weak and very poor. My father passed away last month and my mother is very poor. Also I have brothers and a sister. I know that if I worked I could help them but this won t be the best so first I need to continue my studies. I was baptised in 2006, though I don t really know when I first believed. Why do I plan to go to Bible college? Because there are two areas such as studying Bible and education. There is higher English, education, music and sports. I like music and singing songs so I will continue this. I will have to spend four or five years to graduate Bible College. After that I will come back and help my people and share my education to them. I will also work in church and sing songs and then also share the message of God with all people in my community and others. So I plan to attend Bible College next year. In my boarding house we really need more Christian teachers and leaders for the new generation. My mum is a teacher here, in the nursery, and I want to come back here too! I m Baby Soe! I have 20 years old. I will find education in Hsa Thoo Lei school. Now is the last year for me. I have three sisters and two brothers. The SPDC came to my village and they occupied many places. If they want something they carry off to their home. I want to go to school but my parents didn t live in the village or work. They wanted their children to learn education so I come to Mae Sot and studied education. I like studying for my life. Now I live in Hsa Thoo Lei Boarding House. My parents are Christian and I was baptized in 2007, in Rangoon. I finished studying in Grade 10 in Burma and then came to Hsa Thoo Lei. I like Hsa Thoo Lei and we can pray together every morning and evening. God always answers my prayers here. I want to attend Bible school because I know that God is alive and He always answers me when I ask Him anything. I want to know more about God s word and learn more English as well. If I Page 5 of 7

6 graduate in Bible School I will go and preach, share the gospel in church in the villages and teach the children about God s word and songs. In my life, the best thing that I like to do is singing songs. I m always singing whenever I feel sad or worried because it can help me feel better and pleased. Nowadays there are many who don t know God. I want to take the gospel to them. My purpose is to share the God s word to my people and help them to know God and believe in Him. My name is Paw Nay Htoo. I was born on 11 th May I have three brothers and three sisters. I am the oldest person in my family. Now I am studying at Hsa Thoo Lei Learning Centre in Grade 12. After I graduate at Hsa Thoo Lei school I want to continue to study at KKBBSC Theology school which is located in Mae La Refugee Camp. I want to study at KKBBSC Theology School because I want to further my education and want to improve my English. In addition I want to study about Theology because I would like to get more knowledge about religion and study about what is the exact meaning of God. In our community there are lots of people who don t believe in God, most of them are atheist. After I graduate I have decided to work with migrant people and children in IDP area which is inside Burma. Firstly I will be a teacher at those area and share to them what I have been studying and my knowledge. I would like to build a boarding house for orphaned students and send them to school. I would like to teach in the area where there are illiterate people living. According to the Burma current situation, many of our Karen people are displaced and their children don t have a chance to study, so for these people I would like to work for them to improve their future. Current Financial Summary As mentioned we are already supporting 4 students. These four are sharing support, which has generously been offered by friends and family of Paw Ray and Tee Thaker. Thus our current responsibilities cover: Naw Donor Paw Klee Thee Klo Year 2 Saw River Umpium Camp Year 2 Naw Mu Wah Klee Thee Klo Year 1 Saw Snow KKBBSC Foundation Year Page 6 of 7

7 We think we have found a donor for Moo Christ who will study at Klee Thee Klo. One person has come forward with 9,000 Baht and the rest will be fulfilled by Hsa Thoo Lei church, using the balance from the collection money. We are therefore looking for groups, individuals, or organisations that would be willing to adopt one of these graduates or else would be willing to send a donation and we will collect with other donations received. We will then write back to you with information about who you are supporting so that you can follow their progress and pray with them as they further their knowledge and grow spiritually. Ban Lwin Oo KKBBSC 4 or 5 years up to 20,000 Baht per year Sharmoo KKBBSC 4 or 5 years up to 20,000 Baht per year Baby Soe KKBBSC 5 years up to 20,000 Baht per year Paw Nay Htoo KKBBSC 5 years up to 20,000 Baht per year The above figures include all of their normal expenses including accommodation, tuition fees, uniforms and choir/sport uniform, collection money, a small amount of monthly pocket money and essential books such as an NIV translation of the Bible. The actual upfront cost is 5,000 Baht, with 1,000 Baht per month used for daily living expenses and collections and a further 3,000 Baht remaining as a contingency fund. If this is unused it can be used towards the following years fees. If you do think you can help, even if it is just with a small donation, please do contact us. However even if this is not possible we would really value your prayers. We know that all things are possible through our loving father, and that the power of prayer cannot be over emphasised. Please also pray for all of our student s spiritual growth, as the financial aspect is simply one small part of the road for them fulfilling our Father s plan for their lives. Contact can be made to either: Tharamu Paw Ray (Director of Hsa Thoo Lei) bmwecmaesot@yahoo.com or to Steve Gomersall (English Teacher who has lived in the boarding house for a significant part of the past three years). steve_brighterfutures@hotmail.com Page 7 of 7