Life at the "Well"

Today is Sunday January 20,2008. I have now been at the "Well" for a full month.
The "Well" is short for The Women at the Well,a mission began by Mike and Kay Killar about 31/2 years ago. It's mission is to support girls who had once worked as Bar girls/prostitutes but now wish to live a different life.

Three years ago they had only one Center. Today there are four Centers. I asked Kay why did they expand so fast? Center II started as Center I. Center I now focuses on teens. Center II focuses on girls ages 22 - 42. However, just last week a 17 year old Laotian girl joinned the Center. She is the first Laotian. All the others are Thais. She contacted the "Well" after they did an outreach. She lived with her Aunty here in Bangko,but did not want to live like her. She contacted the Well. Kay interviewed her and they decided she would be a good canidate. Many of the girls have their own place,but six live at the Well. This girl did not have a place so has moved into the Well.
This was Pix's first Sunday at the Well. She brought three new girls to worship service at the Well today.

Kong and his wife Sue(short for her real Thai name)joined the Well staff this past year. Kong some of you remember is Kay's brother. Both came to Kauai seven years ago and were doing part of their seminary trainning under Pastor Mitchell Young who was then the minister of Hanapepe UCC.

Kong still attends classes at the Bangkok Institute of Theology but completed his training and had his own church for several years. He provides the spiritual trainning for the girls. He provides two hour Bible sessions twice a week. Every morning the girls have morning devotional time from 8-9am lead by the girls themselves. The girls also take an active part in Sunday worship service. The other types of classes the girls attend are "Life Skills","English"taught by an American who is a staff member at Center 1,guitar lessons taught by a blind musician,etc. Mornings are for lessons and afternoons from 1-4 the girls make very nice bead jewelry which supports the Center. They also run a Beauty shop. A section displays their jewelry and other handcrafts made by the girls. Couple of the girls are good at giving massages.I have used their services at least once a week. Many churches on the mainland U.S. help sell their jewelry and handcraft.

Kay also has consuling sessions with each girl regularly.

Since I have been at the Well there has been four mission groups who have stopped to visit the Well. At Christmas time a group from a church in Atlanta,Georgia came to put on a program which included personal testimonies of how their Christian faith has helped them change their life. The girls at the Well also gave some testimonies of their life changes. Three YWAM groups dropped in at different times. One put a skit on during Sunday worship service. The Well seem to have a close connection with YWAM. Fern,one of the Well girls,was asked to be an interpreter for them at one of their trainning camps. Fern also left recently on a 6 months YWAM trainning camp in Ching Lai.
Noy,42 years old,who joinned the Well recently has said that she really feels different since being at the Well. Although raised Buddhist she is very interested in becoming a Christian. I noticed a real deep appreciation and passion by the girls in their new found faith in Jesus. I really enjoy being with the girls.
Noy who is going to England soon asked to be tutored in English. She has had lessons before,but is eager to increase her skill. So I have been helping her. Next week her lessons end and I will teaching a class twice a week.

Kay and one of the girls at the Well had babies this past week. They both returned from the hospital today. Kay has two girls. Today she brought home a boy.I dropped in and there was Mike holding the baby. I asked Mikayla their 3 year old,"Is daddy carrying a doll?" She answered,"Yes". Tomorrow after my session with Noy,I will be going over to help Kay.

It has been very interesting and I have been enjoying myself very much.

Aloha, Joanne