New Life Outreach

Sponsors. Thank you !

Edward Ong
Kenny Cheong
Chan Min Wai
Carmen Gonzales
Eny Ong
Linus Yee
Goh Gim Chuan
Lim Beng Wee
Martin Butler
Mindy Chia
Yvonne Ching
Willy Ong
Sharon Szto
Denise Silk
Peter Chua
Wendy Goh
Linda Goh

I hear people telling me that they cannot make a difference because they are not perfect or have not "reached that level". Lets face it, we are all not perfect.

Our start state and capacity may differ but I always believe that each person is capable of making a difference in his/her own circle/community. The only difference is daring to step out.

Look here my dear friends, I am not perfect. In fact, I have many flaws.... in fact many many flaws in my life. But having these flaws in our life, does not mean that we cannot make a difference in our little ways.

If I had seen needs and stood still. 7000 cups of milo will never been given out. 1600 blankets would never have reached the refugees. See my point ?

I throw these challenge out to my dear readers. Come step out into my world, together we can make a difference !

I guess many times when I blog. I tend to say all the nice things, the achievements and the good stuff.

But the challenges that we face on the ground is not always articulated.

So, here we go. I'm going to write both my honest feelings, challenges as well as the good stuff. This is all in the hope that you guys will see through my eyes.

So here we go, a new chapter of NewLifeOutreach blogging

Many people have asked me. "Eugene, if these Hmong Lao are returning back to Laos in 1 year and they will be eventually killed. Why are you still helping them ?"

Now my reply has always been such "If you have a loved one that has a terminal illness and have only 1 year to live, would you stop providing and caring for them ?"

In fact with each shortening minute, I find it more and more pressing to bring relief to these people. In my first few blogs, i wrote "...at least let me pray and walk this last mile with them" and i intend to do so ! http://newlifeoutreach.blogspot.com/2007/08/why-petchaboon.html
This year's Christmas would probably be their last and after which they will return to a life filled with uncertainty and death.

This challenge I pose to my readers. "Come join hands with me and walk this last mile together with these Hmong people for their last Christmas."

To know more about this trip click here -->

http://newlifeoutreach.blogspot.com/2007/11/remembering-refugees-on-christmas.html

UNHCR has been denied access to the camp in Thailand and the decision by the Thai government to forcefully deport the refugees has caused widespread concern among NGOs and human rights groups.

By the end of 2008, more than 8200 Hmong-Lao people currently seeking refuge in Phetchabun refugee camp will be forcefully deported back to Laos. While the UN has classified them as refugees, both the Thai & Laos government has classified them as illegal immigrants thus justifying the deportation process.

The majority of the population are Hmong, an ethnic minority from Laos. For the last 2 years, the government of Thailand has been deporting small groups back to Laos without investigating the cause of departure and many Hmong Lao have committed suicide in the process of deportation.

With UNHCR denied access to the screening process, the safety of the deported Hmong Lao is in question.

These Hmong-Lao had been the target of atrocities and genocide in Laos for aiding the US in the Vietnam War. With countless eye-witness accounts and physical wounds to substantiate the claim, the government of Laos has maintained its stand that Hmong Lao are illegal immigrants and should return back to Lao.

The Hmong Lao live in daily fear of being deported back to Laos and many of these refugees have said that they would choose the option of committing suicide rather than to go back to Laos where their whole families will be tortured to death.

With RADION International coming online, you can contact me at the following :

eugene@radion-international.org


Now this should resolve all the bounced mail issues from hotmail to my current yahoo.com.sg account.

If you have any queries, or you wish to help out in any way. Please feel free to write to me.

This trip was probably the most memorable one to date. We brought MILK! to some 1600 children and not only that we had the opportunity to bring smiles to their little faces when we had a games session.

A few Australian Chinese friends made an ad-hoc decision join us and they too had a great time at the refugee camp.

Now for less talk and more pictures !

1st Shift (Morning outdoor songs & story telling session)

Afternoon session - Parachute game by our in-house game master !







Of course not forgetting our MILK! mission !