Some of you may remember Kittichai’s story from a few months ago. His sister, Apple, was trafficked and forced into sex work as a teenager. The resulting trauma led to a years-long struggle with addiction. Yet, in the midst of that darkness, Apple found light in her four children.
Recognizing she could no longer break the cycle of addiction, Apple made a selfless choice. She reached out to a House of Love social worker to find a safe path for her children. When they turned to her younger brother, Kittichai, he didn’t hesitate. He enthusiastically agreed to take responsibility for all four children, despite the massive sacrifice it required.
Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a youth outreach event at the tribal church Kittichai attends. This wasn’t an “official visit,” but rather an opportunity for me to observe the family and see how they interacted naturally.
The event was full of games, prizes, and laughter. I watched Kittichai and his 7-year-old niece, Pailin. She was having the time of her life, running from game to game, collecting as much candy as her small hands could hold. It was clear that this candy was a treasure to her.
Struggling to hold the candy any longer, Pailin ran back to Kittichai. She deposited her entire “fortune” of candy into his lap, gave him a massive hug, and then sprinted off to the next game.
In that crowded church, I found myself moved to tears. God was showing me a glimpse of what our hard work over the past five years has produced. I realized that this little girl had taken her most precious possession in that moment—a few pieces of candy—and given them to the person she trusted most. A man she hardly knew just one year earlier was now her protector and her family.
The House of Love continues to have a huge impact on Pailin’s life, but we are not the heroes of this story. Our role is to provide the coaching, support, and education that allows the family to thrive. Kittichai is the hero. He is the one putting in the hard work to provide the nurturing and stability these children need to heal.
When you support these ministries, you support family. We protect children by looking through the lens of family, doing everything we can to equip people like Kittichai to be the heroes their children need.
Thank you for making this restoration possible.
