Mission
Chiang Rai House of Miracles:
It is Heart Ventures mission to develop, implement and maintain a continuum of program services for discarded, abandoned, prostituted, and otherwise socio-economically disadvantaged youth in Chiang Rai, Thailand. These services will create an environment and opportunity for sustenance and growth, building a bridge for these youth to self-sustenance.

"Christmas In October" is a new program devised by Heart Ventures. Shoeboxes full of crayons, toys, and/or medical supplies are shipped to the House of Miracles. The orphanage takes field trips to the poorer parts of the Golden Triangle area to pass out these shoebox gifts to needy children.

Executive Summary
House of Miracles Orphanage:
The purpose of the House of Miracles is to aid the tribal children in the Golden Triangle escape child prostitution, opium addiction, sexual abuse and slavery. The House of Miracles is a safe place and a very healthy environment where children are provided with clothes, food and a loving home. The children also receive a complete education and are given the opportunity to obtain the skills they will need when they are old enough to leave the House of Miracles. This executive summary introduces the Heart Venture's House of Miracles. The House of miracles, established for the district of the Chiang Rai, Thailand, ensures native Chiang Rai youth, the opportunity to survive outside their socio-economically disadvantaged environment, where they can experience a loving home environment, reach academic excellence and become a self-sustaining, loving and productive adult.

Located in the Golden Triangle of northern Thailand, Chiang Rai is both a place of overwhelming beauty, and rampant destitution.

The people are friendly, yet the economic situation is difficult. Many resort to opium harvesting for income. Sometimes, poor farming families are forced to sell their children into slave labor, including child prostitution to meet the demands in Bangkok or Pattaya Beach.

To combat this cultural downswing, Ron Miller started the House of Miracles orphanage. A subsidary of Feed the Children, the House of Miracles provides clothes, food, education, and a loving community environment for children of difficult family backgrounds.

Since Heart Ventures' involvement, the orphanage has nearly tripled its number of occupants. Ron has been fortunate enough to send youth in his program to trade schools, seminary, and has even employed graduates as full-time teachers at the growing facility.

Currently, Ron Miller is scouting for acreage in the area to build a new, larger orphanage, one that can accomodate the overwhelming need. Already he has received building grants from corporations like Microsoft and private donors, but more assistance is needed.

If you would like to find out more about this wonderful project, please contact us immediately for a free VHS documentary about the House of Miracles.
Intensive Heart Ventures
805.965.5572

A Volunteer's Perspective
Ryan Hillner's Visit to Thailand:
The trip to Thailand that I went on in the summer of 2001 was awesome. As we left Santa Barbara we didn't know what to expect.

We arrived and it blew my mind to see the conditions that the Thai people lived in. At first it was my natural reaction to be sad, but to see each and every kid at the orphanage with a smile on their face was overwhelming. I could not believe how happy they were when they practically had nothing in life. It was so rad to me to know that these children had the hardest backgrounds imaginable, but through what the orphanage is doing and has done has transformed these kids into new creations.

Our Church group went there with the intention to bless and give to them, and we did, but through that we did not nearly expect them to teach us what they did. Another thing that was so radical about this trip was how the kids were so thankful for what they had considering that some of them only a few years earlier had been sold to the orphanage for no more than 2 dollars. That showed me in my life that I should be so much more thankful for what god has blessed me with. Because many times when I'm doing the regular old Santa Barbara thing, even the meals I get mean nothing and it's almost expected that I get one. But in Thailand they give thanks to God for providing for them in every aspect of their life.

Overall the Missions trip to Thailand was the best thing in my life and it amazes me how Ron and the team at the orphanage has taken these kids from utter ruin and through love and guidance through God's word it has made them into people with the best values anyone could have. -Ryan Hillner

Thailand House of Miracles Budget

Recurring and Special Projects

Special Projects

National Statistics
* According to two studies undertaken by Mahidol University and Thai Red Cross Society, the estimated number of child prostitutes in Thailand is between 30,000-40,000. This is calculated from the estimated number of prostitutes, which is 200,000, and 20-25% of them are children.(ECPAT International, Chitraporn Vanaspong, e-mail to GMIS, 24 April 2000)

* According to National Commission for Women's Affairs estimates there are between 150,000 to 200,000 prostitutes with approximately 30,000 to 35,000 prostitutes below 18 years excluding foreign prostitutes.(ILO-IPEC, Children in Prostitution, Pornography and Illicit Activities, September 1999)

* The number of child prostitutes increased by 20% from 1998-99.(ILO-IPEC, Children in Prostitution, Pornography and Illicit Activities, September 1999)

* Up to 400,000 children under the age of 16 are believed to be working in brothels, clubs or bars. (CATW Fact Book, citing Jill Serjeant, "Asia to launch joint crackdown on child sex trade", Reuters, 1 April 1998)

GENERAL NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS
* Forced or bonded labor by children is a serious problem in Thailand. (EI Barometer, 1998)

* The network between brothels ensures that women will not escape from bondage. The owner sells prostituted girl or women to another brothel just before she repays her 'debt'. She then must pay a new 'debt', starting at the next brothel.(CATW-Asia Pacific, Trafficking in Women and Prostitution in the Asia Pacific, 1996)