Nan is a delightful young teenager whose smile lights up the room.

When you first meet her it is hard to realize that she has problems any bigger than any other young girl of her age. But Nan’s outward cheerfulness belies the facts.

She suffers from thalasaemia (a disease quite prevalent in Thailand, but almost unheard of in many other countries) and needs to have her blood changed every month.

In addition to this her mother died from AIDs and she and her father are HIV positive. She has been to school only one day in the last month, the rest of the time being hospitalized.

At one point we had been told that she had “Maybe a week”, but miraculously she rallied and began to eat a little again and although she is still in hospital, her medication has been changed and she seems brighter and stronger.

When she was well enough she came often to play with our children at MERCY Centre, and helped them with their homework if they needed it. They all like and respond to this soft spoken little girl with the big heart and whenever she’s around the sounds of fun and laughter abound.

For the moment she can only lie in her hospital bed and play with the soft toys and Barbie we had taken in for her, read and colour the books we had provided and listen to the CDs we were able to loan her. It’s just heartbreaking.

Now we are all waiting for her to be allowed to come home again so that we may take her shopping for some pretty new clothes.

All teenagers girls want something pretty to wear, and Nan is no exception. May it be sufficient incentive to bring the sparkle back to her eyes and allow her to be ‘a normal child’ again – however briefly.

It’s being with courageous children like Nan that reminds us just how blessed we are. It is a privilege to be a part of her life, to help in some small way to brighten her day and let her know that she is not alone, that she is truly loved.

But amid the short periods of light and joy there is always shadow – as one cannot help but wonder how much longer will we have these special moments to share?

Jar and many other children and adults need our help.

Please consider becoming a Friend Of Mercy Pattaya

The work of MERCY Center began in 2000 by Fred and Dianne Doell and is an authorized charity project of Goodwill Foundation, registered in Thailand.The Center strives to help provide educational, moral, social, and spiritual training for some of Pattaya’s most destitute residents and to bring hope to those in need.

MERCY projects include providing shelter for children at risk; scholarships for children needing educational support; and single parent support for women with children at risk. In addition, the Center provides food and staples to residents of the city’s chum chon (slum) areas, and to the incarcerated.

“In January 2006 we were extremely fortunate to find a property that is perfect to carry on the work of MERCY,” said international directors and founders, Fred and Dianne Doell

“This new facility provides a large home for the more than 20 children we presently care for, plus it has room for many more to come.” Since thechildren’s shelter opened it has protected and provided for more than 50 of the city’s most desperate children in need.
The property also contains a large factory building that is being renovated to house the many other projects that operate under the umbrella of MERCY Center.

“We have the opportunity to purchase this property and we are calling on people to become “Friends of MERCY” through this Capital Campaign to help make this dream a reality.”
If you’d like to find out more about the MERCY Center and how you can help, please email using our contact form.

 
The Mercy Center property provides a large home for the many children they care for, plus has room for many more to come. There is also a large factory building on the property that Center volunteers are renovating to house the many other projects that operate under the Mercy Center’s umbrella.The property owners gave the Center a two-year lease, with an option to purchase. This gave the Center time to “try it on for size” and they discovered it was the perfect fit! A successful Capital Campaign will make the purchase of this property possible, and provide a long-term home for the children of MERCY, plus a facility to house the many community projects.