An Experience of Encounter
This immersion takes you beyond the usual tourist experience of Thailand and into the lives of people and communities living along the Thai Myanmar border.
Our journey begins in Bangkok before travelling to Pala-U, a remote community surrounded by mountains and jungle. Here, Fr Rey and his community will welcome us and share with us the work they are doing with local Thai and Karen communities.
For three days, you will join a youth camp organised by Fr Rey, spending time with local young people, many of whom are refugees from Myanmar. Through shared activities, conversation, games, faith and reflection, you will have the opportunity to make new friends and gain a deeper understanding of their lives, hopes and challenges.
Fr Rey’s mission is focused on providing education and opportunities for refugee children and young people, particularly through English language education. Being welcomed into this community will challenge us to see the world from a different perspective and to recognise the dignity and hopes we share with others.
We then travel to Hua Hin, where we will spend time with the Sisters. Here, we will learn about their ministry and the people they accompany, while taking time to reflect on what we have experienced and how it connects with our own lives and faith.
Returning to Bangkok, we will have the opportunity to experience some of the history and energy of the city, including the Royal Palace and Chatuchak Market, before returning to Australia.
This is more than a trip. It is an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone, meet people whose lives are very different from your own, listen to their stories, build relationships and discover what it means to live out your faith through encounter, solidarity and compassion.
