There is so much I can say right now about this amazing family but I’m afraid it might turn into a novel. If you already know the Koch’s then you know just how amazing and wonderful this family is. They’re an inspiration to many and definitely know how to have a good time! Laughter is always present when we’re with the Koch gang. For those of you who don’t know them the Koch family is made up of Derek, Iris-lee and their kids Ellie, Isaac, Hannah and Olivia. Yup, that’s right they have 4 kids and every one of them are kind-hearted, generous and crazy and fun! They have 3 girls and one boy just like us, albeit, in a different order but I’m sure Isaac and Levi will be able to share similar stories. Our kids just adore the Koch kids.
Recently I had the opportunity to photograph one of my favorite families for a brochure they needed for a new journey they are taking. Later this year the Koch family will be embarking on a new adventure. They have decided to move to Thailand for a year to do missions. Here is a little blurb that was written about them in our local paper this past weekend:
The Koch family is hoping to bring some water and some hope to an undeveloped country.
The West Kelowna family is planning a year-long trip to Thailand with the intent of doing some good.
The family, dad Derek, mom Irislee, daughters Ellie, 13, Hannah, 9, Olivia, 7 and son Isaac, 12, will all be taking a year off from school and work to live in Mae Sot, Thailand, a town about six hours north of Bangkok, starting this summer.
They will be working with a group called Imagine Thailand.
Derek, who works as a community pastor at Emmanuel Church, says as a family they have worked with children across the world for nearly 15 years.
“We’ve always had a deep concern for children in crisis around the world and because of the stage of life we are in now, we are able to take a year off and go to explore and learn and help as much as we can,†says Derek.
Irislee says they will be focusing on three major projects during their year.
“We are hoping to install water purification systems in migrant communities. The systems cost about $2,000 to install, but they can make such a huge difference. We are also working creating an “educational kits” loaner library for migrant schools,†says Irislee.
She says their third major project is called Life Book researching, which is a way to help children displaced by conflict keep a connection to their roots.
“It is gathering personal identification information on individual children to address the issue of statelessness. Lack of identification makes children vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking.â€
A fundraising banquet will be held on May 31 at Emmanuel Church, West Kelowna and is open to the public.
I had so much doing their family photos. They are such amazing people who down to earth, real and have an amazing heart for God and His people. It’s a blessing to be called their friends.
If you live in the Okanagan area please come out to their fundraiser and support this great family. I know they are going to do amazing things in Thailand and leave seeds that will impact the people there right and those to come in the future.
To find more about the Koch family check out their blog
Okay, now on to the pictures
by Simone
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