A house was rented in a village called Farm, 10km outside of Chiangrai. The house began with 13 kids and only $100 US dollars per month with which to provide the children and staff with housing, schooling, and food. In 1985 land was purchased in a village called Nanglae and the first Christian Happy Home was built. In the following years, a girl’s house, dining hall, and MMF administration offices were also built on the property. The Chiangrai house has now grown to 40 children ranging in age from 5 years to 18 years old with many attending high school and various vocational colleges around Chiangrai.

On December 26th, 2004 several countries were devastated by a tsunami off the coast of Indonesia. The areas of Phang-nga and Phuket in Thailand were also devastated and many people lost their homes, their possessions, and their lives. Through prayer, we felt the Lord directing us to open a children’s crisis home in the village of Phang Nga. That temporary home is where the first children started to be cared for by the MMF staff. After a period of further prayer and listening to God’s direction a permanent home location was found in Khok Kloi, a town within the Province of Phang Nga closer to where the tsunami hit. Since then a complete set of homes have been constructed and were officially dedicated in December 2006.

After 15 years at the Chiangrai Home, we felt the Lord directing us to begin a home in Chiangsaen, a one-hour drive Northeast of Chiangrai, on the border of Laos. A house was rented in Chiangsaen and then a home began. Initially, a home for boys, starting with 10, the overwhelming needs of Thai girls pulled on the hearts of the staff, so they began accepting girls into the home also. In 1998, the Lord provided the finances to build a home. The land was bought in the village of Ku Tao and construction began on the second Christian Happy Home facility. Presently, there are 40 kids living at the Chiangsaen home consisting of about half and half, guys and girls ranging in age from 6 to 19 years old.

The vision for the babies’ home was born after a young boy named Danny was given to Christian Happy Home at the age of 3 months. Seeing the growing need for a home specifically focused on caring for infants and toddlers, Mercy Ministries Foundation, partnering with donors from Canada, built the Chiangsaen Babies’ Home. The home was opened in July 2000 with two young boys ages 8 months and 18 months. Now there are 8 little ones under 4 years old. Once a child reaches the age of 4 years old, they are then integrated into the “big house” (Chiangsaen House) and begin school. Prior to this, they are homeschooled at the Babies’ Home in both English and Thai.

In 2000, the Lord gave the staff at Mercy Ministries Foundation a burden for the people of Cambodia and in 2001 Mercy Ministries became a registered foundation with the Cambodian government. The physical and spiritual needs of the Khmer people are exceedingly great. Our goal was to open a children’s home with the same vision for the Khmer children as we have for our homes in Thailand. A set of homes were constructed. The homes were completed and officially dedicated in November 2006. There are now about 30 children being cared for by the MMF staff in Cambodia within these new homes. Along with our vision for this children’s home the Lord first directed us to open a preschool/feeding program for children 4-8 years old. Our preschool is located in an urban slum and gives many a chance to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The MMF preschool was launched in 2003 in a Poipet slum with a rented location. The MMF School now has 280 students and we have officially changed from a Preschool to a primary school going up to the 4th grade. We are praying and hoping to go up to another grade next year. The school and classrooms are very contextualized, fitting right into the area of traditional construction materials and having a large play area. We have a wonderful relationship with the community as we also look to encourage the parents to the value of education. For example, every few months we give out awards, like a backpack full of school stuff, and invite their parents to share a proud moment with their child! The Christian female teachers are all residents of the area and have a wonderful heart for teaching the children!. Officially we are now called MMF School with the mission statement, given by the teachers themselves!MMF School looks to provide quality basic education for children and to teach the community the value of education.