The Hill Tribes of Thailand
Throughout northern Thailand one can find small villages that have been settled by various groups of people - many of whom arrived as refugees to escape conflict, strife, or political and religious persecution. Among the major tribes represented are the Hmong, Mon, Akha, Lahu, Lisu, and Karen. Those who arrived as refugees were allowed to stay and were settled in government refugee camps.
Over time, they settled in the mountain areas of the north and live in quiet communities that reflect their own unique culture and language. Many have preserved their way of life with little change over the centuries. In the villages it is not uncommon to see the native dress that is unique to the tribe's culture. Likewise, religious beliefs and cultural practices are adhered to. Most hill tribe cultures are typically not followers of the Buddhist religion, but rather adhere to animism and spirit worship with a village shaman who guides their spiritual lives.
Because the Thai language is important to unifying such a diverse group of people, it is taught in the public schools. As a result, Thai is understood by the majority of the people, especially the younger generations.
Over time, they settled in the mountain areas of the north and live in quiet communities that reflect their own unique culture and language. Many have preserved their way of life with little change over the centuries. In the villages it is not uncommon to see the native dress that is unique to the tribe's culture. Likewise, religious beliefs and cultural practices are adhered to. Most hill tribe cultures are typically not followers of the Buddhist religion, but rather adhere to animism and spirit worship with a village shaman who guides their spiritual lives.
Because the Thai language is important to unifying such a diverse group of people, it is taught in the public schools. As a result, Thai is understood by the majority of the people, especially the younger generations.
Village Life
Most of the hill tribes rely on farming for their existence. Throughout northern Thailand it is common to see a patchwork of color and texture as the mountains and hills are cultivated with different crops. Jobs outside of subsistence farming are rare and difficult to find. With little or no outside income, most are quite poor and do not have many of the things westerners might consider "necessities". For the most part, the village becomes a self contained and self sustained unit. Some villages are so remote, there is no electricity available and a four wheel drive vehicle is necessary to reach the village during the rainy season. Many homes are simply constructed with thatch roofs, hard-packed dirt floors, and woven bamboo for exterior walls and doors.
While life in the village may be hard and lack many common amenities, the people exert a sense of contentment and live a simple lifestyle that focusses upon the family and community.
WELS Ministry to the Hill Tribes
Annual Hmong Conference
Language and cultural barriers can pose some difficulty for reaching a society that is quite different from the way of life in the western world.
Most of the mission work that has been conducted by WELS in Thailand has focussed upon building the relationships necessary to reach into the daily lives of the Thai and Hmong people.
Here is where the WELS Hmong congregations in the U.S. have played a major role. Through the desire of Christians in the U.S. who desperately want their relatives and friends to possess the joy of knowing Christ and his forgiving love, many contacts have been established that have paved the road for WELS to present the Gospel message. Most of the areas in which WELS is currently working are located in the Hmong and Issan villages of northern Thailand.
Most of the mission work that has been conducted by WELS in Thailand has focussed upon building the relationships necessary to reach into the daily lives of the Thai and Hmong people.
Here is where the WELS Hmong congregations in the U.S. have played a major role. Through the desire of Christians in the U.S. who desperately want their relatives and friends to possess the joy of knowing Christ and his forgiving love, many contacts have been established that have paved the road for WELS to present the Gospel message. Most of the areas in which WELS is currently working are located in the Hmong and Issan villages of northern Thailand.