Success Story

A Journey of Faith, Compassion, and God's Calling Rebecca Dhakal's life is a testimony of God's transforming grace, unwavering faith, and obedient service. Having experienced hardship from an early age, she understands what it means to live without security, hope, or opportunity. Rather than allowing her past to define her, she surrendered her life to Christ and dedicated herself to serving those who are forgotten, vulnerable, and broken. For more than two decades, Rebecca faithfully served at Gentle Heart Foundation (GHF), Nepal, where she ministered to women, children, and families facing some of life's greatest challenges. During her years at GHF, she worked in women's rehabilitation, child development, leadership, counseling, worship ministry, discipleship, and community outreach. She later served as Program Director and NGO Chairperson, helping develop programs that restored dignity, strengthened families, and brought countless people to the hope found in Jesus Christ. Throughout those years, God equipped her with practical experience in trauma care, recovery, leadership, and biblical discipleship while deepening her passion for holistic ministry. Although her ministry in Nepal was fruitful, God began placing a new burden on her heart. During visits to Pattaya, Thailand, Rebecca encountered the realities of vulnerable migrant children living without access to education and women trapped in sexual exploitation. As she walked through the streets, God spoke to her heart through Isaiah 60:1: "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." That moment became a turning point in her life. She sensed God's clear call to leave behind the familiar and begin a new ministry in Thailand. In obedience to God's calling, Rebecca and her husband, Arun Raj Dhakal, moved to Thailand by faith. Without guaranteed financial support or established resources, they trusted that God would provide. They began with one child, simple prayer, and a heart willing to serve. What appeared to be a small beginning gradually became the foundation of a growing ministry. Today, Rebecca serves as the Founder and Director of Arise and Shine Foundation, a Christ-centered nonprofit organization based in Pattaya, Thailand. The Foundation exists to bring hope, restoration, education, protection, and discipleship to vulnerable children, women, and families. Through non-formal education, child protection initiatives, computer and AI training, sports programs, community outreach, women's recovery ministry, and spiritual discipleship, the Foundation is transforming lives and helping individuals discover their God-given purpose. One of Rebecca's greatest visions is the establishment of The Bethel Recovery Program, a long-term restoration ministry for women rescued from exploitation, addiction, abuse, and brokenness. Her passion is not simply to rescue lives, but to walk alongside each woman until she experiences healing, restoration, dignity, independence, and a renewed relationship with Jesus Christ. Rebecca believes that true transformation begins with the love of Christ. Her ministry philosophy combines practical compassion with biblical truth, recognizing that education, emotional healing, life skills, and spiritual discipleship must work together to restore lives completely. Her journey from Gentle Heart Foundation to Arise and Shine Foundation is not a story of changing organizations—it is the story of faithfully following God's voice. Every season prepared her for the next assignment. The lessons learned in Nepal became the foundation for the ministry God is now building in Thailand. Today, Rebecca continues to serve with the same conviction that has guided her for more than twenty years: every child deserves hope, every woman deserves dignity, and every life can be transformed through the love and power of Jesus Christ. "To God alone be all the glory."