AB Women's Ministries of
Pennsylvania and Delaware

Local AB Women's and AB GIRL's Activities


Karen Refugee Family Settles in Lancaster

Late on the very warm evening of April 7, members of Westgate Baptist Church in Lancaster, along with an interpreter, met Tha Lai, his wife, and three children. They are Karen, members of an ethnic group driven from their villages in Myanmar (also known as Burma) by the repressive military government. Tha Lai and his family have spent the past 17 years in a refugee camp in Thailand.

About 18 months ago, the congregation of Westgate Baptist Church, as part of their five-year goal, had planned to sponsor a refugee family in 2011 or 2012. But God placed the circumstances so that the church and the family would come together at this time. While the church was seeking God’s direction in their mission to a refugee family, Tha Lai and his family, who are Christians, were praying that a church would sponsor them. At the same time, Calvary Baptist Church in Newark, DE, was looking for a way to serve with donations of money and goods, and American Baptist Women’s Ministries of Pennsylvania and Delaware wanted to donate $1,000 to Karen refugee resettlement. Everything came together on April 7 as Tha Lai and Kei Paw, and their two daughters, Htee Bwe, age 19 and Snow Bell, age 17, and their son, Christian Saw, age 18, arrived in Lancaster.

There is a thriving Karen population in Lancaster. Westgate Baptist worked with Church World Service and also got input from a Brethren in Christ church in the area that has also sponsored a Karen family. The family is living in an apartment in the city, which has been furnished with household items as well as clothing and other personal care items. Although they arrived on a very warm day (for us), they felt chilly. The church members quickly rounded up blankets and jackets for them, since the weather cooled significantly a day or two later.

With the help of Church World Service, the congregation began teaching the family how to live in the US. They live within walking distance of an Asian market and a Laundromat. They’ve received their Social Security cards and their medical cards, and have all had preliminary physicals. They’ve recently enrolled in ESL classes and are receiving help from congregation members in English tutoring as well as well as basic money management.

The next hurdle is finding employment for Tha Lai and the older children. Tha Lai has done a bit of temporary work, but the goal is a permanent job. The issue of the children’s education is also paramount. They completed 12th grade in the refugee camp, but their education is not equivalent to ours in the US. The hope is that they can enter a local high school in the fall.

The family is attending worship at Westgate every Sunday and Wednesday. They love to sing, and have said that singing the familiar hymns helps them learn English better. One of the women in the congregation is teaching Christian Saw (the son) how to play the guitar.

Thanks to prayers and help from lots of different people and churches, Tha Lai and his family are well on the way to becoming a part of our region family. Praise God for this opportunity to welcome these strangers who are our brothers and sisters in Christ to our region!

Snow Bell on left in black top, Htee Bwe second from right in white skirt, with two of their friends.

Christian Saw

Tha Lai and Keh Paw with Pastor Bob and Florence McGrath, who are helping teach them English.






Here are some Past Local Reports:

Local News from Marie Mercer, Picture Rocks Baptist Church

Here is a photo of Leila Martin and Marie Mercer following the Leila's presentation to ABW at the Picture Rocks Baptist Church. Leila told about her trip to the Biennial and to Deborah's House in Tijuana, Mexico. Deborah's House is an amazing ministry to victims of domestic. Leila characterizes her trip as "Getting out of the Boat". It was an excellent presentation.






Myra Goss and Rieta Boyden presented EWE "Chocolate Boutique" Spiritual Retreat at Hepburn Baptist Church April 19, 2008.






Check out the Valentine Envelopes that the AB GIRLS from Newark, Delaware made.






Check out Pretzel Making at
the First English Baptist Church, Bloomsburg, PA






Check out the information about
The E.W.E. Retreats held in
Monongahela Association and Dover, Delaware.


Check out the AB Women's Activities at
the Coryland Church, Bradford Association








We would love to hear from you so we can share your activities with other women. Please email information and pictures to: Diana Shutt - email: shuttdh@comcast.net


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American Baptist Churches of Pennsylvania and Delaware
106 Revere Lane, Coatesville, PA 19320