Money

Money is probably one of the most challenging aspects of missionary work in Thailand.  This is a sensitive and difficult topic, but one that is of value, especially for people new to this country. 

If you ask any seasoned missionary about difficulties they have had concerning money here in Thailand, they will have stories to tell you.  We all have our stories and I will tell you one of mine.

In 2001 we moved from the city of Chiang Mai to the isolated village of Wang-Ai-Poe.  This small village was 40 minutes from a decent fresh market and a 7-11, so for Thailand, that’s pretty isolated.  The missionaries who had been there before us remembered the days of no electricity or decent roads, but that was before our time.

We embarked on this exciting church-planting venture with Thai partners, something we had been praying for and hoping for from the very beginning.  We also worked with 20-year missionary veterans who had been instrumental in leading the Thai couple to Christ.  In the 3 years we were there we saw a church planted.  It was truly amazing to see such fast growth here in Thailand.  Our church members wanted land to build a church building, so we let our friends and supporters know, and a couple donated enough money to buy some land.  Several of the church members put their names on a group ownership document for the land.  After a while the Thai husband of our team no longer wanted to work with us, so we left.  Before we left he had put the property in his own name, with the assent of the other church members, who were either close friends or family of his.  Within another year the veteran missionaries had built a house on the land with their own funds, and soon after that the Thais decided they wanted the house for themselves.  They told the missionaries to leave, and finally had the power cut so they would be forced to move.  In the end, the Thai couple sold the house and property, abandoned the church and moved out of the province.  The village and their own family was irate with them. 

Our next Thai partners embezzled funds for their personal use from the foundation they were working with.  This is a very common scenario, played out over and over again by people who may, in all other areas of life, really seem to be wonderful people.  This is a very Thai problem.  It is very difficult for many Thais to be completely honest if tempted with the opportunity to siphon money from a project or church fund. 

We westerners have our own problems of course.  The Thai criticize Chiang Mai missionaries for renting big houses but funding small churches.  They also criticize westerners for our ungracious, confrontational behavior and our younger women for lack of modesty in their dress.  They don’t like being told what would be best for their church or country or lives, or anything else for that matter, by a foreigner who can’t even speak their language well.  The list goes on, and both sides will justify their actions, but suffice to say, money is a great stumbling block here in Thailand.