Thailand Highlights
- Liz Meister & Katie Lehman currently serving
- Handicraft items made and sold support outreach efforts in Thailand
Reaching out in Thailand
“Thai Village Inc. (TVI), was started by Kingdom Worker Liz Meister and two missionary wives, Nora Meister and Barb Krohn, in 2004. This handmade craft program was originally started as a way to provide funding for future church leaders to study the Bible at the It is Finished Bible Institute in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Bible students would help to make crafts once a week and handicraft sales came back to support students in their room and board, travel expenses, books and 
educational materials, and community outreach projects. In 2007, an additional Kingdom Worker, Katie Lehman, joined the Thai Village team. Due to Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod budget cuts in 2009, the Bible Institute in Chiang Mai was closed. Some students had to quit school and return home, while others decided to stay, work full-time, and serve in the local church. Consequently, TVI began providing more work for those students, while continuing to fund their now part-time studying of the Bible. It also began to reach out to other local people, providing work for them and
Once we get to know these people, they open their lives to us. Then we can reach out to them in ways they need,”
bringing them into the church.
Through the years Thai Village has changed and grown. By adding local artisans and expanding distribution to the United States and other countries, in 2007 TVI became an incorporated business and in 2008 received its nonprofit 501c3 status. TVI currently exists for the primary purpose of witnessing to, mentoring, and reaching out to the people in Thailand. It continues to raise money to support part-time Bible students in Chiang Mai, and has also begun supporting students as funds allow at the Ministry Center in Chiang Rai.
Providing jobs and getting to know the local artisans allow natural relationships to develop. “Once we get to know these people, they open their lives to us. Then we can reach out to them in ways they need,” explains Liz. Working alongside the WELS church in Thailand, TVI produces a large variety of unique hand-made jewelry, stationery, home décor, and personal items, incorporating traditional patterns and local materials.
Operations for TVI take place in three main locations: Village 9, Chiang Mai, and Deerfield. Artisans in Village 9, a Hmong community church, and Chiang Mai create handmade crafts in their own homes. Volunteers in Chiang Mai help with preparation and finishing, as well as sending products to the U.S. volunteer coordinator in Deerfield, WI, for distribution. U.S. churches and ministry organizations can request traveling displays to showcase and sell products. In addition, several shops in Milwaukee and Chicago have started promoting their products, as well as a store in Australia.
TVI supports many outreach efforts in Thailand. Every Friday they host community craft time. It is free and open to the public. They teach a simple project, have devotion or prayer time and also provide a meal. In addition they work closely with the By Grace Coffee shop, run by four national workers (Bible students) who also lead worship, teach Sunday school at Promise Church, and lead outreach activities like English camp, Christian concerts, and run soccer teams. TVI supports a portion of these workers’ salaries. Furthermore they support community-based projects, such as Community Health Evangelism seminars in Village 9, taught in Hmong, which are helpful in connecting with the women of the village and provide opportunities to explore scripture together.
It can be difficult working in a foreign mission field. Liz is the daughter of a missionary family and has spent most of her life in Thailand. She is acclimated to the slower-paced culture, but finds working with people who don’t have a history of Christianity can be a struggle. The majority of Thai people are Buddhists. “The percentage of Christians in Thailand is really low,” says Liz. “Thai people are gracious and diplomatic. They will listen to our message, but the conversion rate is generally low.” At the same time, she notes that it has been a joy to see some of the people that TVI works with come to believe and grow in their knowledge and understanding of Christ!
TVI receives financial support from Kingdom Workers, craft sales, and individual donors. It is their hope that they become a self-supporting business by the beginning of 2013. If you are interested in buying products, hosting a craft display, volunteering, or learning more about Thai Village, please contact Liz at info@thaivillage.org, check out the website at thaivillage.org, or visit Thai Village on Facebook.
> See the Thai Village e-newsletter.
