Rayong Prison Bakery

I'm so excited about a great project that God has allowed me to be a part of here while we are in Thailand. Last Spring, Molly was contacted by the Pattaya International Ladies Club about an opportunity to oversee the Rayong Prison Bakery, as the director of the last 4 years was returning to her homeland of Australia. She asked me to join her in this most worthwhile endeavor. This bakery was originally established by the Pattaya and Rayong International Ladies Club some 8 years ago, they provided the funds for industrial ovens, work tables and refrigerators. The young women that are residents in this prison are between the ages of 16-22 and they have to earn the privilege to cook in the bakery. They have approx. 20 recipes that they have perfected and our major role is to provide the outlet for their goods to be sold. Over the last two weeks Molly and I have been taking samples to the surrounding International Schools, re-introducing their baked goods to the community (the bakery had only been half functioning last spring because the coordinator had some health issues.)and compiling orders. Once a week we will initially go out to the prison on Tuesdays to cook and introduce new recipes. On Wednesdays we pick up the orders of baked goods and deliver them to specific drop off points in the area. The project is so great because it teaches each of these young girls a marketable skill, helps their time in prison pass more quickly, and all the money returns to the bakery providing a 'nest-egg' for each of the girls upon their discharge to better help them adjust to living outside the prison AND we have the permission of the Ladies Clubs to make this whatever we desire, it can become our ministry!

Today we travelled out to the prison to taste test the blueberry muffins and to teach the girls how to make pumpkin pie. They already have perfected a homemade pie crust because they are known for their yummy quiches. We will take special orders for the upcoming holidays and now we have pumpkin pie for all of our American friends here in Thailand! While the pies were cooking we played a simple game to help us better learn the girl's names, we explained that we are Christians and that we look forward to getting to know each of them better and will pray for them. We also tried to teach them some simple English while they attempted to help us with our Thai skills. We will continue to visit the bakery at least once a week teaching them, helping them and convincing them to let us love on them some. They seem to be hesitant and not very warm, no telling the pasts and experiences they are coming from, the stories they could tell about the paths that led them to be in prison at such a young age. I'm excited about this door the Lord has opened for me to serve Him here. We are trusting that He can overcome the language barriers and help us shine His light there.

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