Rejoice in giving

Relationship Beyond Boundary
Story by Sumalee Sae-Tia

Good story from the first trip to Thailand of Mr. Lance Sullivan, an Australian sponsor of Miss Wipawan Daengpaeng, Srangcom Project, Udornthani province.

Mr.Lance, Nong Lhun and her grandfather in front of her home.

Apart from the scenery and the culture Mr. Lance Batjinga Jara Sullivan from Australia , experienced during his first visit to Thailand, he would also get to meet his sponsored child, Miss Wipawan Daengpaeng, nicked named Nong Lhun, at Srangcom district, Udornthani province .

“This is my first visit to Thailand and the farthest distance that I have ever traveled . I came to Thailand to attend a meeting on social development and organization network. I am very excited and looking forward to visit Wipawan, her home, and her community. I hope this visit will provide me with new insights where I can apply them in my work and my commun ity., ” Mr. Sullivan happily informed us.

Mr. Sullivan of the Yalarrnga nation is from the Arandic/Eastern Desert of Australia. Mr. Sullivan is an Aborigine, indigenous person, and the Chairman of Kaja Waira (A Child’s Desire) Aboriginal Corporation, which he founded in 2002 . This organization is supported by an Australian mining company, which help s and develop s Indigenous children who live in remote places. At present, there are 400 children cared by the corporation care. The corporation provides help in the form of education, sports, training, social and cultural activities .

The reason Mr. Sullivan became the child sponsor of “Nong Lhun” was from a chance visit to the web site of World Vision Australia.

“I had heard of World Vision for a long time and used to see its ads on TV. I was interested but was too busy with community works. Then sometime last year, I visited the web site of World Vision Australia and saw the Child Sponsorship Program ’s story on Lhun. I decided to sponsor the child right away. In her profile, her father had to find employment in another city, so Lhun did not stay with her family and was very lonely. She reminded me of my childhood. We were very poor as most Indigenous people are. My father left my mother. To fend for her and the family, my mother had to work very hard to support 4 children. She worked as a domestic helper under the Aborigines Protection Act, for a family in exchange for food and clothing but did not get any pay. I worked on farms, training horses and tend ing cattle herds. I remember I used to read books while riding on horses. I thought that b y sponsoring a child, I would be able to give her the things I never had, such as an education. I am very glad to be able to help Lhun get her education. She is now in grade 7 .”

Visit the local grocery store supported by World Vision Thailand.

The trip undertaken by Mr.Sullivan to visit his sponsored child, was like rain water refreshing the soul of young Lhun to blossom again. Recently, her mother and younger sister accidentally drowned while her father was working in another town. Presently, she is living with her grandfather. She was very surprised and happy to learned that her child sponsor would be coming to a visit. “I’m very glad that Mr. Sullivan is coming. Thank you very much for helping me. I will do my best at school.”

As for Mr. Sullivan’s personal wish for Lhun was: “I hope that she will grow up strong to teach and help others. To give others a chance to get educated like she has. Hopefully, one day she will be a teacher and a community leader doing good things for her community. But what ever she chooses to become, I hope she will help others. Children in my community tell me that they want to grow up like me and be like me. I tell them they shouldn’t grow up like me but could and should be better than me. I hope the same for Lhun and that she has a bright future. I have vowed that what ever she chooses to do I will support her throughout her life.”