Chuck and Ruth work with the approximately 75,000 Akha hill tribe people living in Northern Thailand. The Foxes' ministry focuses on evangelism, pastoral care, leadership development and women's ministries.

 

Chuck teaches Akha pastors at the Akha Churches of Thailand (ACT) training center. He also visits and works with them in their villages and places of ministry, gaining insight into their culture and how it influences their work. Ruth works as the principal at Family Learning Center, a small international school in Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand which serves missionary kids and is open to all. Ruth also ministers to Akha women through the Akha Craft program and women's ministries, and helps children receive an education through STEP (Student Tuition Expense Program) funds.

Chuck writes: I am glad to write to you about a team that went to an Akha village to establish a clean water system.  This team was one of our American Baptist teams from Colorado, a diverse group from the Denver area.  They did not know what they were getting themselves into and it was not an easy experience.  But, they made it and did a fantastic job of helping to establish a clean water system in an Akha village. 

If the Akha hill tribe people have come from Burma (mostly sneaking over the border years ago to get away from the Burmese army and rule) they also move to new places just to find decent land to plant rice and raise their families.  This group of Akha people have moved from many different villages to a new place to be able to have some land to plant rice.  Now they have some good land for rice, but their water supply was not sufficient.  They had some water from a local dam that was not clean.  They were in need of some drinking water.  We also might note that this group has a chance to hear the Gospel as there is a small church in the village and they do have worship.  The pastor comes and visits on the weekends.

• Pray for Chuck and Ruth as they minister among the Akha tribal people of Thailand.
• Pray that the Akha people will respond to the Gospel message and become followers of Jesus Christ.