Saan Jai Rak | Sprite and Kristen Chuenchum
Thailand
Sawasdee! We are the Chuenchums! Sprite was born and raised in Thailand and Kristen in Arizona. We met doing ministry in Bangkok in 2012 and were married in 2016. We just welcomed our first child, Asher, in July 2023 - so we’re now a family of 3!
We have been loving and serving the poor in Thailand now for over 12 years. From grassroots ministry in under-resourced communities to advocating for good policy that helps children and families, it has been an adventure!
Throughout our time in ministry we have remained deeply committed to making sure children in vulnerable situations are protected, cared for, and given every opportunity to grow up in a caring and loving family. But unfortunately in Thailand, being poor puts you at risk of being removed from your family. Thailand is facing an “orphanage crisis” - children have been unnecessarily taken out of their families and placed in orphanages all over the country because their family was too poor to meet their needs. We believe firmly that poverty should never be a reason a child is taken from his family!
We are on a mission to help children grow up in loving families instead of institutional care. We’ve created tools and trainings that teach others practically how to strengthen a family living in poverty. We work to equip local leaders with those tools so they may walk alongside at-risk families.
The work we’ve done all these years in communities has led us to believe and hope for resilient communities that help build resilient families who will then raise resilient children!
Though our work is serious and important, we love to laugh, love the beach, and love good food (especially good Thai food!).
Our hearts beat for poor and at-risk children living in Thailand to grow up in a safe and nurturing family. We serve mommies and daddies and aunties and grandmas who are doing their best to raise their children but are facing extreme obstacles and vulnerabilities. We equip local leaders with practical tools to walk alongside at-risk families so they may raise their children in their own home.
- God has called His people to care for the widow and the orphan (James 1:27, Job 29:12, Exodus 22:22, Psalm 10:14, Psalm 82:3, just to name a few). Pray that we would do that well and be a light and example in Thailand for God who scripture calls a father to the fatherless.
- Families in poverty face all kinds of pressures and struggles. Raising children amidst those pressures can be extremely difficult. Pray that we would come alongside families and empower them to be the best care takers they can be for their children. Pray for families to stay together. Pray that these families come to know the love of God the Father as their ultimate care-taker.
- Pray for Thailand to adopt policy and laws that advocate for the best care possible for at-risk and vulnerable children. Pray that these laws would be enforced and benefit the well-being and nurturing of children across the country.
- Pray for children in Thailand to be cared for, nurtured, loved, lifted up, advocated for, protected, and cherished no matter where they come from or what they face.