The Abundant Life Home

About This Project:

Brad and Casadi and their children (Noah, Mika, and Phin) live in Chonburi, Thailand and serve at the Abundant Life Foundation (ALF). The Abundant Life Home (ALH) is an orphanage that takes in abandoned children, many affected by HIV. ALH’s purpose is to care for and raise up children as uniquely created individuals by providing a community and home built to unconditionally love these at-risk children and provide for their needs. Project Standing Strong (PSS) is a ministry partner of ALH supporting at-risk women, most coming out of the sex industry. Within PSS we provide practically for the needs of the women and their children allowing the family unit to stay together while the mother has time to heal, an opportunity to be mentored in her faith, parenting, and life skills, all the while providing job training or help finding employment.

It is our hope that wholeness will be brought to all the women and children at ALF, through God’s great love. Practically speaking, we serve the Thai Moms who raise the orphaned children in a foster home setting through mentoring children and moms, teaching practical skills, running art classes aimed at trauma relief, assisting in sports at ALH and as a form of outreach in the community, help with preaching and outreach for local Thai churches, providing respite to the ALH mom’s, parenting and job support for women coming out of sex industry, as well as helping meet other needs as they arise.

Thailand is less than 1% Christian and Buddhism has infiltrated all areas of family and culture. Thailand is a sex tourism hot spot of the world, all the while the sex industry destroys the lives of the sex workers. Poverty and lack of access to education makes rural children especially vulnerable to this. Thailand has no foster care system and state-run orphanages can cause more trauma to the lives of abandoned children. HIV/AIDS is very stigmatized in Thailand and causes shame to the individuals affected by HIV. There is a great need for spaces where children affected by HIV can belong and be loved as beautiful, uniquely created children.

Why give to this project?

While serving the Abundant Life Foundation we desire to provide family-centered care to Thailand’s most vulnerable while creating a community that allows everyone to know that they are uniquely created and loved by God. We provide community, stability, education, food, shelter, and healing. We also attempt to be a blessing to the Thai church. Some of the biggest challenges in this ministry are persecution of new believers from family and their Buddhist community. Another challenge is helping these abused women and children truly understand their worth so that they can withstand the pressures from family to return to abusive situations. Jesus, have mercy on these beautiful Thai people!

You can help! Would you prayerfully consider whether God would have you partner with us in this ministry? If so, please consider a monthly gift allowing us to continue to serve the Abundant Life Foundation. Thank you for all your prayers and support!

GCF #1228

Program Countries: Thailand

Team Lead:

Brad and Casadi Schroeder

Team Members:

Ricky and Karen Sanchez, Katie Mount

Emails:

bradschroeder2@gmail.com
cassi_2u@hotmail.com