A letter reflecting on Summer of 2013 from Amy Davisson Galetzka in Thailand
Winter, 2013
Dear Friends and Family,
Thank you for your love and kindness. I have felt overwhelmed by so much lately, in a positive way. Often when December and the end of the year is approaching, I feel like I am behind, just trying desperately to catch up, in order to be “caught up” with busy work before the New Year begins. This year will probably not be much different in the way that I desire to have my in-box free of emails, all my personal emails and thank-you notes and gifts sent out, and time scheduled with family and friends. Much of it may seem silly from an outside perspective, but it feels important to me. Most of all, I want to fulfill the things I have committed to and communicate that I love the people who have been such wonderful friends and family to me, and now my sweet family, as well. In any case, my pre–New Year’s resolution is to not worry about what I cannot do. That is often my prayer—asking God to show me what I really need to do and also what can be left behind.
Class Finished!
I mentioned in the last newsletter taking a class from Fuller Theological Seminary called “Poverty and Development.” It was quite a commitment to study and write and interact during this online course for 10 weeks, but such a worthwhile way to spend time! I loved all of the reading and found it extremely applicable to what I’m currently doing and to the hopes I have for transformational development in my own life and the work in which I am involved.
Work Update!
Relief Program:
• We purchased over 10,000 “Good Life Club” T-shirts for Kids in Burma during July 2013. Those T-shirts will be given to kids during November 2013 – January 2014 relief team missions. Relief teams will do medical treatment, document the situation of the places they visit, and do programs for kids and their families as well as support schools as they are able.
• The Pan Rak (Sharing Love) Foundation hosted a church team from Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church during September. We were so thankful to have the team visit one of our children’s hostels at the Thai-Burma border as well as a medical clinic. It was a huge blessing for me to join with them along with Nadia, my mom, and my sister! I saw many old friends and met new friends. Part of my job as Deputy Director for Pan Rak is to keep the information updated on the projects that we work with. Meeting with the coordinators for the children’s hostel and the clinic and also a training center in that same location as often as possible is important for us. I hope in the near future to visit each program and individual that the Foundation is connected with in order to learn and collaborate with them. For more information about those projects, please see Bueng Klueng Ministries and Laytongku Church Clinic at www.thaichristianfoundation.org. As a result of this work, students from the hostel who want to go to university are supported. Benjawan, our accountant and Foundation Board Secretary, has completed a bachelor’s and a master’s degree as a result of this sharing of God’s love through this hostel and work.
• We also had a review by our local auditors in Thailand on all of our accounts for the Foundation. It is always so exciting to get a good report where they are happy with the way we are keeping track of all the funds! I pray that we can continue to maintain very high standards for all of our tracking of donations and spending. I hope to create even better relationships with current donors and to be a good resource and contact for new donors. I am also (of course!) seriously encouraged by the non-financial prayer and volunteer and skilled technical support from so many people who are interested in being a part of this work.
A Visit From Family!
My mom and my sister Rachel (an ER doctor) visited us in Thailand during September. What fun! They arrived just in time to spend time with Nadia so I could send in my final paper for my class! We spent a few days in Chiang Mai at my house and at my office. We prepared for a trip to the Thai-Burma border and went for a week with a group from Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church. Overall, it was an amazing blessing to spend time with Mom and Rachel and Nadia for a month. We had a few days in Bangkok to explore and just enjoy being together!
New Beginnings!
Although my husband’s job ended in mid-October, it has meant we have been able to spend a lot more time together as a family for a time. We would appreciate prayer for something great for him in 2014 in the right place and at the right time. Nadia loves her outdoor adventures with her dad and it is a blessing to see her grow and flourish. She is now a happy and healthy ONE-year-old! I am so thankful every day for her energy and love.
Travel for work in the U.S.A.
At the end of September I was able to visit Malibu Presbyterian Church and give an update about how things are going in Thailand and Burma. It is always a blessing to return to the church I attended while attending Pepperdine University. A couple of groups from the University and church have come on service/learning trips as a result of learning more about the people in these countries. It is such a welcoming family there!
Thank you again for caring for me and for my family and especially for the people from Thailand and Burma. Please get in touch any time. I would love to hear from you!
God bless you,
Amy Galetzka
+6681034.0454 (Thailand) / amygaletzka@gmail.com (or use the link below)
Skype: amydavisson
The 2013 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 195
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