“In our deepest grief and exhaustion, God’s persistent love meets us—reminding us that we are never forgotten.”
*Note: Names and identifying details have been changed to respect the privacy of the individuals we serve.
When Lueai* was just a baby—around eight or nine months old and beginning to take his very first steps—his family faced a season of overwhelming crisis. Strained by severe conflicts with her mother-in-law and feeling completely helpless, his mother boarded a public bus to Chiang Mai with her infant son. Her husband had left for South Korea just two months prior to secure work, leaving her with nowhere else to turn.
Tragically, during that journey, a catastrophic bus accident occurred.
Little Lueai suffered severe traumatic brain injury, internal hemorrhaging, and a prolonged high fever. The injury resulted in permanent physical and cognitive disabilities. Before the accident, Lueai had been a vibrant, active baby who crawled eagerly around the house; overnight, he lost all independent mobility and motor function.
Devastated by the news, Lueai’s father immediately returned to Thailand to support his family. Lueai’s mother left her job to provide full-time, round-the-clock care for her son, leaving her husband as the sole provider for the household. While deeply grieving the life her son lost, she held onto a quiet, lingering gratitude to God that her precious boy had survived.
Overcoming Isolation and Heartache
For years, the relentless physical demands of caregiving and the heavy emotional weight of the tragedy isolated Lueai’s mother from her community. Carrying unspoken grief and self-blame, she stopped attending church entirely, feeling disconnected from both her faith community and God.
Hope began to break through when believers from a local church began working in close partnership with the จับมือกันเราทำได้ project and met the family in their community.
Recognizing their heavy physical and financial burdens, the team stepped in with compassionate, practical relief:
- Essential Supplies: Providing regular shipments of diapers, specialized milk, and nutritious food to relieve the family’s financial strain.
- Relief & Rest: Inviting the family to attend a dedicated Family Retreat designed for families caring for children with special needs.
Returning Home to God’s Love
The Family Retreat marked a profound emotional and spiritual turning point for Lueai’s mother.
Surrounded by compassionate Christian mentors and other caregivers who understood her struggles, she found a safe space to weep, rest, and share her story without fear of judgment. For the first time in years, the crushing weight on her heart began to lift.
With tears of gratitude, she shared how deeply touched she was to experience the hands and feet of Jesus through the ministry team. The retreat allowed her to step away from daily exhaustion, experience deep peace, and renew her personal relationship with the Lord—expressing that she felt as though she had finally “come home” to God.
Lueai’s journey is a living testament to the power of Christ-centered community: When practical care and unconditional love surround a struggling family, heavy grief gives way to hope, restoration, and enduring faith.