Annual Garage Sale for Student Fund - Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

at

Highview Community Church

295 Highview Drive

Kitchener Ontario N2N 2K7

from

8:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Good quality items at honest-to-goodness garage sale prices!!

Come out and support our university students in their academic adventures.

To donate:

Watch here for drop off time at Highview during the week of September 15 to 19.

Gently used, clean and priced items appreciated.

To volunteer:

For Friday pricing and cleaning and set up.

For Saturday early set up, during the sale, clean up and tear down, drivers for unsold items.

Contact me, Ruth Anne, at rabreithaupt@hcckw.ca.

Thanks to everyone who makes this a successful sale each year!

Rev. Ruth Anne Breithaupt, MDiv.

Canadian Representative/Missionary in Residence

New Family Foundation/Highview Community Church

The mission of New Family Foundation is to

provide a loving home for at-risk and 

orphaned children in Northern Thailand to

help them achieve their best potential in 

education, vocation and service to society.

https://newfamilythailand.org

                                            

     https://www.hcckw.ca                                                                    https://www.adventive.ca

 

Co-Ed Self Defense Seminar - Saturday, October 4 - 1:00 p.m.

We are pleased to offer, 

for the very first time ever, 

in partnership with Sensei Neil McGillivary 

and Karate for Christ,

CO-ED SELF DEFENSE SEMINAR

Saturday, October 4, 2025

1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

at Highview Community Church

295 Highview Drive, KIT ON N2N 2K7

Ages 13 and up.

Cost: $35.00

All proceeds go to New Family Foundation

General Operations 

      

Space is limited so register early via email

rabreithaupt@hcckw.ca

 

Before We Ask

"Your Father knows what you need before you ask."

Matthew 6:8

We're all excited at Hot Springs right now.  

New guitars!

Unless you are really into buying top of the line instruments, 

which we aren't, guitars in Thailand are actually quite reasonable.  

These ones, of decent quality, were only about $175 CDN each.

It's not like we didn't already have some.  

Of course we did.

Guitars are used every day in morning and evening worship.

And as well on Sundays when everyone gathers for church.

And at the beginning of every meeting.

And just any given afternoon when work is done

 and you just feel like singing.

But when a number of the children

all suddenly expressed a desire to learn,

and since making music is just an important element of an abundant life,

and when the guitars you've got have a lot of mileage on them,

we thought it would be good to increase our collection.

But here's the thing.

We run a tight budget.

New guitars,

as reasonable as they are, 

were not in the budget.

And that's where a surprise 'extra' gift,

an unforeseen little donation,

made available without asking,

was channeled toward the guitars.

I'm thinking there could be a new line in the budget for next year.

But already this year, right now, we're making some music.

It's like this a lot.

God just keeps being specific like this.

But I guess, after all, 

these are His kids.

Let's Make Some Noise!

Colour on the Cajon and Anu on the Guitar

You turned my wailing into dancing;

You removed my mourning rags and clothed me with joy,

that my heart may sing your praises

and not be silent.

LORD my God, I will praise you forever.  

Psalm 30:11-12

Children make noise.  Although, it could be argued that Thai children make considerably less noise than Western children, but I'll leave that to another discussion.  In general, the truth is, when kids are around you'll know it.

And while Hot Springs is unquestionably a peaceful place, out in the country as it is, a family that has gathered 25 children will have a certain decibel level to it.  And honestly?  We encourage every sound bite.

Sometimes I can forget that our kids have come from harsher realities that often make children grow silent.  Malnourishment has certainly been the experience of most of the children who come to us, and it's one of the first differences we see in their development after a few months of three solid meals.  And it's not just physically.  Emotionally and cognitively, there's more spark, more life, more noise.

Worship is enhanced when we all participate.

Certainly there's crying sometimes.  And, while rare, is a bawling snitch on a brother or sister from time to time.  Running too fast can result in a fall with appropriate expressions of injury to knees and pride.  But I'm pretty sure most everyone who's visited would say it's the singing that we hear the most.

The boys' turn.

Of course, there's lots of opportunity.  Morning and evening worship times begin with two to three songs, accompanied by the guitar and the cajon.  Sundays are full of music, and participation is highly valued, giving the children the chance to gain confidence and share their voices with their church community.

But it's the singing and laughing and happy sounds that happen in between, spontaneously, candidly that strike me the most.  This is when no one is looking, no one has a camera.  Just making a joyful noise just because.

Singing while doing some hand washing is common.

Dogs also bark.  Roosters also crow.  Wild parakeets and other bird calls I don't recognize punctuate the air.  Sometimes a very large truck rumbles down the road.  And sometimes there's karaoke happening from the resort next store.  

But mostly, always, someone somewhere is singing.   And sometimes I hear them repeating something we've learned together when I'm there.  Like Lukmee, intently colouring while clearly lilting, "The Lord has a will, and I have a need, to follow that will, to humbly be still.  To rest in it, nest in it, fully be blessed in it, following my Father's will."  (Amy Grant)

Lukmee

Sing it, girl.  Sing it.

This is the first summer in a long time I'm not heading to Thailand.

Missing me some certain children and their music-to-my-heart songs.

 

We All Have a Sponsor and Couldn't Be More Grateful!

When your after school snack grows on a tree in your yard.

Papaya, sweet and juicy.

We are over the top grateful to report that every single one of our children have now been connected with a Sponsor who has partnered with NFF to make a difference in these precious lives.

Three new girls arrived in May.  Three new girls are now well on their way to new opportunities.

Thank you!  To the three specific Sponsors who have stepped up, may blessings be poured down on you in equal measure to your kindness towards us.  For all our Sponsors, especially those who have been faithfully involved since the beginning, but also those who are just stepping up now and/or have along the way, we cannot express enough how much your faithfulness and love nurtures us.

To Supporters in general, we couldn't do this without you either.  Your contributions to NFF general operations, special appeals, annual fundraisers, and 'extra' donations all come together to provide for our needs.  This is so helpful not just in the pragmatics of caring for our large family, but in providing encouragement and inspiration for the daily interactions between our Staff and our kids.  

People in Canada are behind us!  

Pastor Suradet often reminds the children, "God must love you very much to have arranged for people all the way in Canada to come alongside you in your journey."

Yeah.  Wow.  That's just amazing!

I hope we say it enough, in broader communications like this, in one on one conversations, with words and hugs and little gifts brought home from the market.  In fact, it's actually my goal to have said it so much you might be tempted to give a little eye roll.  Yeah, we know already!

As we move full on into July, I will admit, that it's kind of strange for me to be staying in Canada for the whole summer.  Usually about this time I am neck deep in collecting packets, preparing sermons and Bible lessons, packing for ministry and packing for myself.  

To help me stay connected with the children, I've been sending along light and little mailings (Canada Day tattoos, their names 'doodled' with prayer) and making short videos with a quick hello and little encouragement.  [Side note on the video:  The last one I did included chipmunks!]

Still, it's already feeling like a long, long time between being there face to face.  

The "Next Visit" Team is still in the works, aiming for November (probably), making progress but no firm date quite yet.  Trusting God will provide the guidance we need (and a good price on our tickets).  We'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile...have I mentioned how grateful we are for all you?

(You wanted to roll your eyes just now, didn't you?)

 Rev. Ruth Anne Breithaupt, MDiv.

Canadian Representative/Missionary in Residence

New Family Foundation/Highview Community Church

The mission of New Family Foundation is to

provide a loving home for at-risk and 

orphaned children in Northern Thailand to

help them achieve their best potential in 

education, vocation and service to society.

 https://newfamilythailand.org

 

https://www.adventive.ca

   https://www.hcckw.ca      

Different Ways to Be a Sponsor

Somjeet 

First, to celebrate, since the last Sponsors' Appeal update, I can joyfully say that another Sponsor has stepped forward for Luk-Nam.  That's two out of three, for the new children who have joined our family as of last month.  I am not surprised at how quickly this happened.  It's totally been our experience that Sponsors are there in the waiting.  Plus, we pray fairly diligently that God would pair up the right Sponsors with each Child, so there's that.

Somjeet, aged 9, will also find her Sponsor, of this I am certain.

And I also thought it might be good to say that there is more than one way to step up to this kind of partnership.

Sponsor Partnerships

Several of our children over the years have had more than one Sponsor who, together, share both the financial responsibility and the relationship connection piece.  If there is a good understanding between both Sponsors and a true sense of sharing this, the Sponsored Child receives an added benefit of getting to know more than one Canadian family or household.  

Group Sponsorships

A little less personal perhaps, but allowing more to become involved, there is room for a slightly larger group of folks to combine their resources and help ensure that an at-risk or orphan child is offered a completely different trajectory of life.  Examples of groups who might consider this are:  Bible Study or Community Life Groups, Youth Groups, people in communal living spaces, neighbourhood associations, fitness groups, sports clubs, etc.  The financial piece is spread out further, which may be helpful to Sponsors in this current economy.  In this scenario, every Sponsor would receive pictures and updates, be kept equally in the loop regarding all things happening in New Family Foundation, and also receive separate tax receipts according to their portion of the support.  It would require someone to take the responsibility to keep the connection as personal as possible, and be the liaison between the group and NFF.

Traditional Sponsorship

This is what we most normally operate under, when one person, couple or family contribute their monthly donation, and keep their connection with their Child strong through sending the once or twice a year packets along with any visiting Team.  

And here a shout out to ALL our Sponsors, no matter what the 'scenario' and connection!!

I can't understate the truly enormous impact you have on these young lives.  Especially with the girls, but also with the boys, the connection between poverty and the sex trade in Southeast Asia is strong.  Yes, Sponsors make that much of a difference, no question.

As already expressed, I am fully convinced of God's faithfulness and care.  These three girls have come into our family for a reason.  And in the sixteen years I've been doing this, He hasn't let us down ever.  Plus, I also fully believe there's enough in the world to go around.  The myth of scarcity can sometimes make people come across as needy and desperate.  But an understanding of the abundance of God's love and provision brings deep reassurances and a whole lot of peace. 

So with all of that, if there's any interest at all, I welcome your inquires at rabreithaupt@hcckw.ca.  Happy to explain further, send our "Sponsors' Expectations" document, and see where it leads.

With confidence and gratitude,

Ruth Anne

Rev. Ruth Anne Breithaupt, MDiv.

Canadian Representative/Missionary in Residence

New Family Foundation/Highview Community Church

The mission of New Family Foundation is to

provide a loving home for at-risk and 

orphaned children in Northern Thailand to

help them achieve their best potential in 

education, vocation and service to society.

 https://newfamilythailand.org

 

https://www.adventive.ca

   https://www.hcckw.ca      

New Opportunities for us All - UPDATE

Happy to announce that Darin is now being Sponsored!!!

Reposting this blog to keep these faces before us.

Please don't hesitate to contact me 

if you are at all interested.

rabreithaupt@hcckw.ca

Darin, age 6

With the new school year most usually comes the arrival of new children to New Family Foundation.

I am happy to introduce you to Darin (Da-RIN) age 6, Somjit (Som-JIT) age 9, and Luk-Nam age 13.  All are precious young girls whose families' circumstances are such that they reached out to ask us to help provide for their daughters.

Somjit, age 9

These were three of twelve applications, so you can be assured that they represent children with the greatest risk factors, chosen after a difficult process of discernment and consideration.

Luk-Nam, age 13

And now we need Sponsors.  So I'm putting this out there.  Casting the net wide.  If you are at all connected with NFF in any way, you'll be hearing about these three young girls for the next little while, until we are able to match the right Sponsor with the right child.  

If you are at all interested I am happy to send all the information, Sponsors Expectations, and details regarding what's needed financially and what's encouraged relationally.  I will say, that it's a big commitment and not to be undertaken lightly.  For that reason, we are happy to hear a 'no', if after receiving the information and giving consideration you feel this is not for you.  Not kidding.  

I won't hold back in explaining the need.  I won't sugar coat the challenges we have as an organization.  And I won't undersell the truly enormous impact Sponsors can have on these young lives.  Especially with the girls, but also with the boys, the connection between poverty and the sex trade in Southeast Asia is strong.  Yes, Sponsors make that much of a difference, no question.

But I will graciously receive a 'no,' because it is a big commitment, and also because I am fully convinced of God's faithfulness and care.  These three girls have come into our family for a reason.  And in the sixteen years I've been doing this, He hasn't let us down ever.  Plus, I also fully believe there's enough in the world to go around.  The myth of scarcity can sometimes make people come across as needy and desperate.  But an understanding of the abundance of God's love and provision brings deep reassurances and a whole lot of peace. 

So with all of that, if there's any interest at all, at least to explore the idea, you can contact me at rabreithaupt@hcckw.ca.

Man! I can't wait to meet these girls!!!!

Ruth Anne

Rev. Ruth Anne Breithaupt, MDiv.

Canadian Representative/Missionary in Residence

New Family Foundation/Highview Community Church

The mission of New Family Foundation is to

provide a loving home for at-risk and 

orphaned children in Northern Thailand to

help them achieve their best potential in 

education, vocation and service to society.

 https://newfamilythailand.org

 

https://www.adventive.ca

   https://www.hcckw.ca