Meet Our Misson Partners:
John & Gillian Robinson, Leah, Natalie and Joel.
… working with vulnerable families in Bangkok’s second largest slum community.
John, Gillian, Leah , Joel, Natalie
John’s links with Tadcaster go back to the 70s and 80s when John spent part of his childhood at Barnardo’s. He is still remembered warmly by a number of people in the town. John’s books, ‘ Nobody’s Child’ and ‘ Somebody’s Child’ detail his astonishing life’s journey through foster homes, the support of Barnardo’s staff here in Tadcaster, to the discovery of the transforming love of God.
‘Nobody’s Child’ was translated into Thai, and in 2009 he was invited to travel to Thailand to speak in the prisons. This was the start of a challenging but exciting new ministry. The whole family are now living in Bangkok and learning the language. Gillian , an ordained Church of England minister, is involved with teaching, preaching and children’s work, while John is developing an effective ministry among prisoners.
Update August 2015
Thank You from John, Gillian, Leah, Natalie and Joel
In July we were privileged to host an evening with John, Gillian, Leah, Natalie and Joel. It was a memorable time when we were able to put faces to names and to hear more of their heart-warming work among slum children in Bangkok.
They were encouraged by their visit to us, by the warmth of the welcome they received; and valued immensely the opportunity to meet with friends from John’s days in Tadcaster.
The Robinsons are moving from the Mission umbrella of CMS to that of Crosslinks ; a sister Missionary organisation which is a closer fit with their work in Bangkok.
You can find more information, and link with them personally through
www.placeofgracebangkok.org or www.crosslinks.org
T hey are always delighted to receive Emails and letters. Three years is a long time to be away from family and friends. Their work is often lonely and challenging.
John reminded us when he came to Tadcaster that ‘they are a very ordinary family.’ Indeed they are, but by the Grace of God, this ‘ordinary family’ do an ‘ extraordinary work’ in sharing God’s love with very vulnerable families.
Please continue to give them your support and prayer.
Thank You from John, Gillian, Leah, Natalie and Joel
In July we were privileged to host an evening with John, Gillian, Leah, Natalie and Joel. It was a memorable time when we were able to put faces to names and to hear more of their heart-warming work among slum children in Bangkok.
They were encouraged by their visit to us, by the warmth of the welcome they received; and valued immensely the opportunity to meet with friends from John’s days in Tadcaster.
The Robinsons are moving from the Mission umbrella of CMS to that of Crosslinks ; a sister Missionary organisation which is a closer fit with their work in Bangkok.
You can find more information, and link with them personally through
www.placeofgracebangkok.org or www.crosslinks.org
T hey are always delighted to receive Emails and letters. Three years is a long time to be away from family and friends. Their work is often lonely and challenging.
John reminded us when he came to Tadcaster that ‘they are a very ordinary family.’ Indeed they are, but by the Grace of God, this ‘ordinary family’ do an ‘ extraordinary work’ in sharing God’s love with very vulnerable families.
Please continue to give them your support and prayer.
Update: December 2014
News from the Robinsons;
John, Gillian, Leah, Natalie and Joel
In September
Leah
started college in America. She writes,
’Living away from your family is hard, living right the other side of the world from them , alone can be almost impossible, living so far away in a cold strange country…having to start at the beginning just as I did in Thailand’.
It has been a tough few months for Leah . She has faced them with real determination and asks that we will pray for strength in the coming winter months, for perseverance in her studies and for courage to make new friends.
It has been tough too for John, Gillian, Natalie and Joel as they adjust to her absence. She is missed by Natalie, finishing her years at school without Leah’s support, by Joel (just 5years old) and by the many children who have grown to love her at Place of Grace.
John and Gillian have carried the emotional upheaval of Leah’s move as well as everyday pressures of life in Bangkok; the tropical downpours and storms that keep them awake at night; the visas, the work permits, and the ‘ sad stories that come our way every week ’
It has been a tough few months for Leah . She has faced them with real determination and asks that we will pray for strength in the coming winter months, for perseverance in her studies and for courage to make new friends.
It has been tough too for John, Gillian, Natalie and Joel as they adjust to her absence. She is missed by Natalie, finishing her years at school without Leah’s support, by Joel (just 5years old) and by the many children who have grown to love her at Place of Grace.
John and Gillian have carried the emotional upheaval of Leah’s move as well as everyday pressures of life in Bangkok; the tropical downpours and storms that keep them awake at night; the visas, the work permits, and the ‘ sad stories that come our way every week ’
Place of Grace
continues to offer much needed love and security drawing in more children than they have room for; ‘
This week we had a number of new kids who were really keen; there was no space on the floor, on the tables, or the sofas! All the toys were being played with we had so many children’.
Each child at Place of Grace is loved as an individual. The Robinsons and their team listen to them, share their problems; children like Fai and Formod whose Mum has recently been released from prison for drug addiction.
Nervous of returning to the same area of drug dealers the husband has decided to move north; hard for their Grandmother who has been looking after them, hard for the children who have found such love at Place of Grace and hard for the Robinsons who have formed a strong bond with them all.
….. And Ten (aged10!) moved around the country from Grandfather to step mother with no-one really to care for him ‘No one loves me, nobody has ever wanted me’
Please pray for them all .
‘Thank you again; we so value your support for our work. We know your prayers sustain us in the often stressful work we do, and your kind donations keep us here in Thailand as well as enabling us to keep Place of Grace running. We are so thankful to God for each of you.
Please keep praying for us as we need the prayers and need you. Please do visit our new website which you can read in English or in Thai: www.placeofgracebangkok.org ’
John & Gillian Robinson
Each child at Place of Grace is loved as an individual. The Robinsons and their team listen to them, share their problems; children like Fai and Formod whose Mum has recently been released from prison for drug addiction.
Nervous of returning to the same area of drug dealers the husband has decided to move north; hard for their Grandmother who has been looking after them, hard for the children who have found such love at Place of Grace and hard for the Robinsons who have formed a strong bond with them all.
….. And Ten (aged10!) moved around the country from Grandfather to step mother with no-one really to care for him ‘No one loves me, nobody has ever wanted me’
Please pray for them all .
‘Thank you again; we so value your support for our work. We know your prayers sustain us in the often stressful work we do, and your kind donations keep us here in Thailand as well as enabling us to keep Place of Grace running. We are so thankful to God for each of you.
Please keep praying for us as we need the prayers and need you. Please do visit our new website which you can read in English or in Thai: www.placeofgracebangkok.org ’
John & Gillian Robinson
LATEST NEWS FROM OUR MISSION PARTNERS: JOHN, GILLIAN, LEAH, NATALIE AND
JOEL
June 2014
“We know their name and they matter, because they matter to God
”
John and Gillian are working in the second largest slum community in Bangkok where lives are fragile. They write…..
’ A good number of the children we work with have parents who have died, usually from drug or alcohol abuse, and many are in situations where the care for them is inadequate for various reasons. We have had a spate of new children recently, each one just as needy, and thrilled to be coming to a place where we know their name and they matter, because they matter to God .’……
’ A good number of the children we work with have parents who have died, usually from drug or alcohol abuse, and many are in situations where the care for them is inadequate for various reasons. We have had a spate of new children recently, each one just as needy, and thrilled to be coming to a place where we know their name and they matter, because they matter to God .’……
Fai and Formod
Meet
Fai and Formod
.........
The delightful photo hides a sad reality; their mum is in prison for drug addiction. John recently went with the girls and their dad to visit their mum in prison. She was in a desperate state and the girls were devastated to see their mum in such appalling conditions.
The delightful photo hides a sad reality; their mum is in prison for drug addiction. John recently went with the girls and their dad to visit their mum in prison. She was in a desperate state and the girls were devastated to see their mum in such appalling conditions.
Food bank news ...
A month ago John and Gillian opened a food bank. They work closely with community leaders who give out vouchers to those who are genuinely in need.
John and Gillian tell us that, ‘ Recently we gave out a food pack for three days to one of the grandmas whose children come to our clubs.
We were pleased because we had noticed how thin the grandchildren she looks after were getting, and this week one of the staff noticed one of them trying to hide how many of the leftover cookies he was eating from the children’s club in the afternoon.
When we put the bags of food before him (he is 12 so had come to help his grandma carry the food), his face lit up and he opened his mouth wide in pure pleasure to see food’.
Please continue to support and pray for the Robinsons.
A military coup has occurred in Thailand and the situation is volatile. Place of Grace has remained open throughout. John and Gillian’s faithfulness speaks volumes about the reality of God’s love in the midst of chaos.
They continue to battle with the everyday pressures of termites in the house, toilets which block about every day, air con issues and violent thunderstorms. This is a costly and lonely challenge for the whole family, not least as they face Leah leaving Thailand in the autumn to go to college in America.
A military coup has occurred in Thailand and the situation is volatile. Place of Grace has remained open throughout. John and Gillian’s faithfulness speaks volumes about the reality of God’s love in the midst of chaos.
They continue to battle with the everyday pressures of termites in the house, toilets which block about every day, air con issues and violent thunderstorms. This is a costly and lonely challenge for the whole family, not least as they face Leah leaving Thailand in the autumn to go to college in America.
They ask for prayer:
The Robinsons enormously value your letters, cards and Emails . Knowing they are being remembered and prayed for enables them to cope with the isolation and daily challenge of life in Bangkok.
For more photos and news of the Robinsons visit their web page at www.tearstoyoureyes.com
- For the political situation in Thailand, for safety and resolution.
- For the whole family as they adjust to Leah’s move to America.
-
For financial provision as Leah she starts her college course. CMS are unable to provide fees for further education and Leah will take a cleaning job to cover some of this expense.
The Robinsons enormously value your letters, cards and Emails . Knowing they are being remembered and prayed for enables them to cope with the isolation and daily challenge of life in Bangkok.
For more photos and news of the Robinsons visit their web page at www.tearstoyoureyes.com
LATEST NEWS FROM OUR MISSION PARTNERS: JOHN, GILLIAN, LEAH, NATALIE AND
JOEL
March 2014
“
Place of Grace: transforming lives by the grace of God
”
Written in Thai, together with a logo, these words emblazon the side of the Robinsons new bright yellow van; thanks to the generosity of supporters in the UK
John, logo & van!
John and Gillian use the van to transport children safely to and from ‘Place of Grace’. During a season of political turmoil in Bangkok, with street protests and shootings, the sanctuary proved by Place of Grace has become a haven for vulnerable children.
John and Gillian use the van to transport children safely to and from ‘Place of Grace’. During a season of political turmoil in Bangkok, with street protests and shootings, the sanctuary proved by Place of Grace has become a haven for vulnerable children.
Children like Guam
; who John tells us is ‘
an immigrant from the border lands. S
he lives in a temporary hut without adequate walls amongst rubbish, “wildlife” and bad smells. Guam wears the same clothes and looks unwashed with matted hair but is always so excited to come to Place of Grace; she runs down the road with her arms open wide when she sees us. She doesn’t go to school and is unlikely to do so.
Every week we have to go and check with her mother that she can come, because if it is not absolutely clear, she is beaten for coming. Children like her are particularly vulnerable in Thailand: official statistics say two children go missing every week across Thailand.
One day Guam came with a huge slash mark across her face, and when asked how it had happened, she said “my Dad did it to me”. The other children don’t mix with her. There is nothing we can do for her, except provide a safe place for her to come and play, love her, and teach her about a God who loves her.
Please pray for her. There are no systems in place to help her, but we believe that God transforms lives’.
One day Guam came with a huge slash mark across her face, and when asked how it had happened, she said “my Dad did it to me”. The other children don’t mix with her. There is nothing we can do for her, except provide a safe place for her to come and play, love her, and teach her about a God who loves her.
Please pray for her. There are no systems in place to help her, but we believe that God transforms lives’.
Creating a safe place for girls
Please continue to support and pray for the Robinsons.
Working at the fringe of society, with children from desperate backgrounds is an immensely costly and lonely challenge for the whole family, requiring huge reserves of hope and faith in a God who redeems and transforms.
The Robinsons are ordinary Christians facing extraordinary challenges daily and their need for our active support and friendship is tangible. They enormously value your letters, cards and Emails.
They ask for prayer for:
· For the children, teenagers and families.
· For the foodbank, due to open this month.
· For the new discipleship class.
· For helpers, who come from different cultures that they are able to work together.
· For the political situation in Thailand, for safety and resolution.
· For us a family, for health and some good time together, in Leah’s last year before college.
Working at the fringe of society, with children from desperate backgrounds is an immensely costly and lonely challenge for the whole family, requiring huge reserves of hope and faith in a God who redeems and transforms.
The Robinsons are ordinary Christians facing extraordinary challenges daily and their need for our active support and friendship is tangible. They enormously value your letters, cards and Emails.
They ask for prayer for:
· For the children, teenagers and families.
· For the foodbank, due to open this month.
· For the new discipleship class.
· For helpers, who come from different cultures that they are able to work together.
· For the political situation in Thailand, for safety and resolution.
· For us a family, for health and some good time together, in Leah’s last year before college.
CHRISTMAS NEWS
John & Gillian write....
Dear friends,
Thankyou so much for your prayers and support over this last year. We have had an amazing time with Christmas parties for the children and teenagers over this last week, and many of the families came along which was a real encouragement. The children were so excited it was nearly impossible to keep them sitting down. The children's faces as they received their Christmas gifts were priceless, and they enjoyed the story of the wise men at their Christmas parties finding Jesus, the Son of God, in the poorest place.
We thought you would enjoy seeing a few photos of the parties, and seeing the joy on the children's faces. There are some photos of the children at the Tuesday and Thursday parties as well as the teenagers from both days.Their joy at getting even toiletries was immense as they so appreciate being able to have shampoo etc. Thankfully now we are able to get the jobs done we had to put on hold for the parties so that we can have a break over Christmas.
So we wanted to say thankyou, thankyou for working with us in impacting these children and teenager's lives, thankyou for all of your prayers and support. We so appreciate it, every word of encouragement lifts us in what is often a very hard and emotional ministry to run, and every donation helps us so much. And every prayer you pray for us supports us in ways we may not see but know we need so much.
It still remains very odd to be celebrating Christmas in a country where Christmas day is a normal work day for Thai people, and yet we celebrate with joy in our hearts.
We pray that you will have a very blessed Christmas.
With love from us all, John, Gillian, Leah, Natalie and Joel
NEWS FROM BANGKOK, AUTUMN 2013
So much to do and so many exciting opportunities!
A child playing at the Place of Grace
Summer for the Robinsons has involved moving house, battling with cockroaches, broken bones,
operations, flooding in the house and working at Place of Grace through it all!
Place of Grace continues to attract children from the surrounding slums who value a safe place to play and the love they receive from the Robinsons.
John and Gillian
have been enormously encouraged by the support of local community leaders.
They write,
‘When we set up Place of Grace we wanted to create a safe place for the children to play, and last week the community leaders were begging us to open the Place of Grace for more children just to be able to do their homework here because they know they are safe.
Last week we had a meeting with the leaders of four of the local slum communities, and they nearly had us in tears when they thanked us so
much for coming here to help the Thai people.
What a privilege when they can see God’s heart through the work of the Place of Grace!’
They write,
‘When we set up Place of Grace we wanted to create a safe place for the children to play, and last week the community leaders were begging us to open the Place of Grace for more children just to be able to do their homework here because they know they are safe.
Last week we had a meeting with the leaders of four of the local slum communities, and they nearly had us in tears when they thanked us so
much for coming here to help the Thai people.
What a privilege when they can see God’s heart through the work of the Place of Grace!’
Leah & Natalie in the under 19 girls' football team
For
Leah
this will be her last year at school and she is determined to make the most of every opportunity.
She has taken up the challenge of participating in the under 19 girls’
football team with her sister Natalie .
Leah, as the oldest member of the team is working to create a sense of trust and determination in a team with varying ages, abilities and motives.
It is a steep learning curve and wonderful leadership training!
She has taken up the challenge of participating in the under 19 girls’
football team with her sister Natalie .
Leah, as the oldest member of the team is working to create a sense of trust and determination in a team with varying ages, abilities and motives.
It is a steep learning curve and wonderful leadership training!
Do continue to pray for the Robinsons as they cope with the challenges of life in Bangkok.
- For Leah and Natalie as they balance the demands of school with their involvement at the Place of Grace.
- For the many children at Place of Grace who benefit from their ministry.
- For administrative help as they work to establish Place of Grace as an Government Endorsed Foundation.
Children and helpers at the Place of Grace
Sarah with Lung and Faing. Sarah, who is from St. Mary's Tadcaster, went to help at the Place of Grace during the summer.
Lung is about 5, not much older than Joel. Lung is missing the digits on one hand and one foot, making it very hard for him to grasp anything in his left palm.
A young lad who can't yet read or write.
Latest News From John, Gillian, Leah, Natalie and Joel
March 2013
They write,
' For the one and the one ... God has been challenging us recently how much He cares for the one, for each precious
child, for each struggling adult, for each person in prison.
We have faced a lot of stress as a family over the last few months, including getting our motorbike stolen (again), and needing to move house, again. And yet, God has been constantly reminding us of the difference He is making to the
one.
Jane, the teenager who became a Christian, is now a different person, her face lit with the difference God has made in her life and the hope He has given her in her situation.
Recently we gave out clothes to the children again, but we were considering whether we should stop doing this because of the many hours we have to spend sorting through the donated items, and getting rid of the broken shoes, odd shoes, ripped clothing etc. However, one little girl called Mink (she always wears the same clothes), who has started coming to the Place of Grace since the last time we gave out clothes, saw that we were giving out pretty clothes and started jumping up and down clapping her hands in joy. For the one…
At Christmas we were able to make 65 gift bags comprised of toothbrushes,toothpaste, pens, notepads, sweets,and a small gift, as well as a toy car for the boys and hair things and
make up for the girls. We have some cars we purchased for the children to play with at the Place of Grace but they have tried to steal them as they are so keen to have one.
To see the joy on these children’s faces in receiving the gifts... they could not believe it, and the teenage girls rushed out of the door to have space to show each other their make up with unbelief and joy.
It brought a tear to our eyes. The children all hugged the bags, not wanting to put them down for a second, and yet the
little boys sat in a row to race their cars.
We gave the teenage boys a cheap rechargeable torch each, and one of them spent the rest of the evening on the road outside watching his torch light things up.
We actually invited the relatives and carers of the children to the Place of Grace to see them receive their gifts, because we were thinking they would want to share in their joy. We were shocked though that very few adults seemed to be watching or concerned, people with difficult lives themselves.
And yet, God was there with us that day, and He was watching – sharing in the joy of these children, giving joy to the one and the one...
March 2013
They write,
' For the one and the one ... God has been challenging us recently how much He cares for the one, for each precious
child, for each struggling adult, for each person in prison.
We have faced a lot of stress as a family over the last few months, including getting our motorbike stolen (again), and needing to move house, again. And yet, God has been constantly reminding us of the difference He is making to the
one.
Jane, the teenager who became a Christian, is now a different person, her face lit with the difference God has made in her life and the hope He has given her in her situation.
Recently we gave out clothes to the children again, but we were considering whether we should stop doing this because of the many hours we have to spend sorting through the donated items, and getting rid of the broken shoes, odd shoes, ripped clothing etc. However, one little girl called Mink (she always wears the same clothes), who has started coming to the Place of Grace since the last time we gave out clothes, saw that we were giving out pretty clothes and started jumping up and down clapping her hands in joy. For the one…
At Christmas we were able to make 65 gift bags comprised of toothbrushes,toothpaste, pens, notepads, sweets,and a small gift, as well as a toy car for the boys and hair things and
make up for the girls. We have some cars we purchased for the children to play with at the Place of Grace but they have tried to steal them as they are so keen to have one.
To see the joy on these children’s faces in receiving the gifts... they could not believe it, and the teenage girls rushed out of the door to have space to show each other their make up with unbelief and joy.
It brought a tear to our eyes. The children all hugged the bags, not wanting to put them down for a second, and yet the
little boys sat in a row to race their cars.
We gave the teenage boys a cheap rechargeable torch each, and one of them spent the rest of the evening on the road outside watching his torch light things up.
We actually invited the relatives and carers of the children to the Place of Grace to see them receive their gifts, because we were thinking they would want to share in their joy. We were shocked though that very few adults seemed to be watching or concerned, people with difficult lives themselves.
And yet, God was there with us that day, and He was watching – sharing in the joy of these children, giving joy to the one and the one...
One of the many children loved and supported at the Place of Grace
John
has changed his work permit to enable him to have more time to cope with the
masses of work at the Place of Grace, but continues to work in Klong Prem prison, otherwise
known as the ‘
Bangkok Hilton’.
Last month John was able to share in the time when 15 of the inmates were baptised in front of many Buddhist prison officers. Imprisoned and yet free. Every one of them came up from the water glowing from the presence of God. Setting free the one and the one…
Last month John was able to share in the time when 15 of the inmates were baptised in front of many Buddhist prison officers. Imprisoned and yet free. Every one of them came up from the water glowing from the presence of God. Setting free the one and the one…
THANK YOU!
The Robinsons wish to say a big
THANK YOU
for your support,
not least for the gifts of knitted toys and craft materials that Celia and Bill were able to take to them in January.
Do continue to pray for them:
not least for the gifts of knitted toys and craft materials that Celia and Bill were able to take to them in January.
Do continue to pray for them:
- For their health and the health of the children that they work with. They have been struggling with ill health over the past few months.
- For Leah and Natalie with their busy school expectations as well as giving so much time to the Place of Grace.
-
For their upcoming
house move
.
-
...and especially important .... For
new Thai staff
to come on board, that God would bring the right people for the job.
-
And for us all to remember
the one and the one…
as our God does.
For more photos and news of the Robinsons visit their web page at www.tearstoyoureyes.com
