By MaryHelen Swanson

Mark and Chris Allen are leading a mission team to Thailand Nov. 15-Dec. 2.

For the Allens, this is not the first trip, but for the other six members of the team, it will be a first.

The team of eight is heading out from Kost Ev. Free Church going to assist the Lahu people, a hill tribe in the area called the Golden Triangle, which includes parts of China, Eastern Burma, Thailand and Cambodia.

Mark Allen explained that a while ago a team helped build a bi-vocational training center. The hill people come down from the mountains and study for an agriculture degree and receive instructions in sharing the gospel.

The center is built in a former rice paddy that was drained. Currently the professors live in the classrooms. On this mission trip, the team will help build living quarters for the professors.

It will be hard work in a hot, humid climate,
Mark Allen said. Besides working on the living quarters, the team, which ranges in age from 23 to a couple over 70, will go up the mountains to visit the Lahu village to get a flavor of what itís like living in that part of the world. There is no electricity and no running water. The homes are built on stilts, because in former days, children were sometime taken by wild animals. At night, they pull up a ladder for security.

The Lahu also grow rice in the mountains, a dry form and have other crops too.

The Lahu carry colorful bags, Allen said, which contain everything they own.

They are a very happy people, though, he added.

The Allens became missionaries in 2003 when they were called to the field by the Lord, Mark said.

The team will travel 22 hours, taking three planes to get to their destination.

Kost Ev. Free Church is holding a Fall Fun Fest in Central Park this Saturday, Oct. 7, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. There will be food (Mark is making his famous Swedish sausage), kids games, a silent auction and more.

Proceeds will go to the team for expenses and supplies.