BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Presently, in the States there is a fierce political debate over border security. It is coming to light that many adults who illegally bring children across the Southern border are not their parents, but “coyotes” who are trafficking children to be sold into the modern slave trade market. Although slavery is commonly thought to be a thing of the past, human traffickers generate hundreds of billions of dollars in profits by trapping millions of people in horrific situations around the world, including here in the U.S. Traffickers use violence, threats, deception, debt bondage, and other manipulative tactics to force people to engage in commercial sex or to provide labor or services against their will. While more research is needed on the scope of human trafficking, below are a few key statistics: The International Labor Organization estimates that there are 40.3 million victims of human trafficking globally, generating a $150 billion industry worldwide.
81% of them are trapped in forced labor. 25% of them are children. 75% are women and girls.
Southeast Asia is at the epicenter of the world’s human trafficking and exploitation epidemic. Sex tourism accounts for more than 50% of tourist dollars in Thailand. Thousands of children and teens are at risk of becoming victims of the human trafficking trade—it is estimated that it may affect as many as 1 out of 5 female children in the country! Thailand and Philippines are home to more human trafficking than anywhere else in the world.
Thai children from rural, ethnic communities are sent to urban areas or even other countries where they are exploited for sex and domestic work. Women are trafficked to countries as far away as Canada, the United States, Australia, and Germany.
KATHY OMER
grew up in a large Italian family of four brothers and a twin sister in Ohio where the Christian faith was rich and real. Her parents were mission-minded, which made Kathy spend much time with the many missionaries that frequented her home. She came to faith in Jesus Christ at a young age, and grew increasingly burdened with sharing the Gospel message with a dying world. When she was 13, she made a public declaration at a missionary camp to commit her life to reach the nations for Christ. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) became the foundation of her life’s mission.
A few years after graduating from Liberty University with a major in Missions and a minor in Anthropology/Social Sciences, Kathy married Bruce Omer, and in 1984, they joined Pioneers Mission in Bangkok, Thailand. Later, they moved to South Thailand as young missionaries. God blessed them with four children.
In 1997, the family experienced a great personal sorrow that left Kathy a single mom. Claiming Joshua 24:15, she asked her Heavenly Father for the strength and single mindedness to continue living a life of integrity and faith before her children as a testimony to the compassion and hope found in Christ. After living thirteen years in Thailand, she moved back to the States with her four children, and settled in South Florida near Karen, her twin sister, and husband, Tom, who became the arms of Christ to her children.
During her child rearing years, Kathy studied toward a Master’s Degree in Education while teaching elementary and secondary school at The Master’s Academy in South Florida, and working as Youth Counselor. Her greatest joy was to lead students and parents to Christ. Kathy was also very active in her local church as a leader of Women in Fellowship (WIF), was a sought-after women’s Bible teacher, as well as guest speaker and Bible teacher at various Women’s Conferences
Since leaving Thailand in 1997, Kathy returned several times to serve and encourage. She is proficient in the Thai language. In the aftermath of the Tsunami, she helped raise relief funds, build homes, translate for the Thai Red Cross, distribute food, teach English in local schools, and share the love of Jesus with grieving orphans and families. Ministering alongside her Thai brothers and sisters in Christ, she asked the Lord to one day bring her back to Thailand, the people of her heart. The Lord answered her prayer when on June 5, 2014 she joined the Compassionate Hope Foundation (CHF) team ( more info. on CHF below).
In December, 2016, Kathy sold her home in Sunrise, Florida, and gave away her possessions to churches, single moms, and various charities. In early 2017, she moved to Pusang, Thailand, into Home of Hope, one of CHF’s more than 40 villages established in Thailand and Laos. The compound consists of seven homes housing 200 orphans, three school buildings conducting full time classes grades K-9, and a church building.
Kathy’s job is manifold. She oversees the English program at the Christian school, and serves as an adviser to the Thai teachers. As an outreach, the CHF Home of Hope also offers English classes free of charge to the villagers in the neighboring community, and English is taught on Sunday morning, followed by the worship service, Children’s Bible classes, and a meal.
She is well versed in the Thai culture, she teaches cultural orientation to the young volunteers arriving from abroad, and supervises their ministry in the Thai culture. 
She sees herself as a sister and servant to the Thai Director of Home of Hope, Pastor Pratuan, and his wife, Gik. Kathy is known as “Aunt Rosie” in the village because she loves to wear flowers in her hair.
Kathy is fluent and proficient in speaking, reading , and writing Thai, one of the most difficult languages in the world. In preparation for teaching the Word of God to the Thai children, she studies the Thai Scriptures 10-12 hours a week. As the proverbial evangelist, Kathy shares the Gospel wherever she goes, passing out Scriptural Thai comic books in the market place in the community to vendors and villagers. She rejoices that, in 2017, the Lord used her in leading 83 children and adults to Christ!
COMPASSIONATE HOPE FOUNDATION
In 2011, Dr. Alfred G. Henson and his wife, Susan, from Tennessee, founded Compassionate Hope Foundation (CHF) to provide a safe place and care for children in Southeast Asia in need or great risk of exploitation and trafficking. He is the Executive Director and daily leader of the organization. Today CHF has more than 40 Homes of Hope and 700 children who are a future potential risk of, or have escaped, exploitation and human trafficking. Their primary “building block” of healing starts in their Homes of Hope where at-risk young people’s needs are met: physically, emotionally, educationally, socially, vocationally, and spiritually.
For further information, see https://compassionatehope.org
FROM R.K.’S CORNER
I met the twins, Kathy and Karen, ten years ago in the local church Steve I had begun attending. They were both accomplished leaders: Karen — a successful real estate agent in our community, and Kathy — teacher, youth counselor, and leader of Daughters of the King, a multicultural woman’s Bible study group in the church. Over the years, I have had the privilege of hosting their special celebrations in our home.
At first, being identical twins, I had a difficult time telling the one from the other, but after a while, I realized that their different gifts distinguished them markedly. What they have in common, is their faith, integrity, and love for people. What makes Kathy unique, is her evangelistic heart. She embodies a bold, fearless passion for sharing the Gospel with strangers, and reaching others for Christ, combined with a deep knowledge and commitment to the Word of God, which she imparts readily to others. It is, however, foreign missions that is at the core of her calling — to the peoples of Thailand! As a young bride, she spent 13 years in Thailand. After a hiatus of several decades, she is back in her beloved country, helping high risk women and children from becoming victims of trafficking.
In this issue, I am presenting you with a brave woman, who at 60, has decided to put aside the securities and safety most seek a this stage of life, and rather walk a life of faith and trust, while serving the needy in Thailand with the love and compassion of Jesus!
PARTNERSHIP
If you want to become a partner with Kathy Omer and the mission organization she serves in rescuing women and children in Thailand from the risk of human trafficking and slavery, please designate your donation: Thailand Workers, and your gift will go in full to Kathy and her mission work.