BANGKOK

Thailand is a country located in the center of mainland Southeast Asia. Until the second half of the 20th century, Thailand was primarily an agricultural country, but since the 1960s, increasing numbers of people have moved to the capital, Bangkok. When the political boundaries of Thailand were fixed at the end of the 19th century, the country included peoples of diverse cultural, linguistic, and religious backgrounds.

This diversity is characteristic of most Southeast Asian countries, where shifting political boundaries have done little to impede the centuries-long migrations of people. Additionally, Thailand's central position on the mainland has made it a crossroads for these population movements. Nearly all Thai are followers of Buddhism. The Theravada tradition of Buddhism came to Thailand from Sri Lanka and is shared by countries all over Southeast Asia. A devoted community of monks is central to this tradition, and in Thailand, almost every settlement has at least one temple monastery.

In addition to gospel poverty, it is estimated that about one million children in Thailand are living in vulnerable conditions and that more than eight percent of children between ages five and 14 are involved in the workforce. As these children are often found in brothels and deep-sea dive fishing, the time is now for the Church to cry out for Abba, Father to rescue his lost children in Thailand.