For nearly thirty years, Eileen Richardson from Nova Scotia has been part of a journey that stretches across Canada and Asia. What started as a regular church trip turned into a lifelong mission built on friendship, faith, and helping others.
Eileen first joined a team from her church that travelled to the Philippines to teach at a local Bible school and take part in community outreach. The woman who founded the school once visited their church in Nova Scotia, and that visit led to a partnership that would last for decades. The school began as a retreat and resting place for pastors and missionaries, but it grew into a thriving Bible Training Center for local people to share their faith in Asia.
During one of those visits, Eileen met a young student named Alice. The two became close friends, and that friendship would soon grow into a lifelong partnership. “I was so pleased to be a part of Alice’s graduation ceremony. Her purpose was to become a missionary, and she wrote me wonderful letters about the things she was doing,” said Richardson.
Not long after she graduated, Alice started working in Cambodia at an orphanage close to the Thailand border. The conditions there were heartbreaking. The building was falling apart, and the children were sleeping on thin mats with barely enough food. When Eileen travelled through Asia, she met Alice in Thailand, and the two talked about how they could help. They started raising money to buy bunk beds and basic supplies for the children.
Over time, the orphanage was transformed. The children had clean clothes, proper meals, and a safe place to sleep. Alice taught them hygiene, nutrition, and school lessons, along with the values of kindness and faith and Biblical principles. Even the local mayor took notice and offered to help. By the time Alice moved on five years later, the orphanage was thriving, and the children were healthy and hopeful about their futures.
Eileen still keeps photos from those days—rows of smiling children standing proudly beside their new beds. “Those faces remind me why we do what we do. Each child had a story, and each one deserved a chance at a better life.”
Their work in Cambodia planted the seed for a new project in Thailand. Eileen and Alice decided to open a teaching ministry and a life-skills centre there. A small classroom grew into a busy community space that reached into nearby mountain villages. The centre offered English lessons, Bible classes, and practical training to help families build stronger, more independent lives.
Alice returned to the Philippines each year to visit her family. On one of those visits, she met her husband, who shared her vision for helping others. The two returned to Thailand to continue teaching together. “It took all three of us to do what they were doing. The emails and phone calls flew back and forth as we kept the work going,” says Richardson.
Their partnership has now lasted almost thirty years. Together, they’ve helped communities in Cambodia and Thailand gain access to education, mentorship, and faith-based guidance. “So many people have been helped and given hope for the future, and that’s what our partnership is all about,” said Richardson.
Now back in Nova Scotia, Eileen often reflects on how far the partnership has come. A single mission trip grew into a legacy of compassion and lasting change. The friendships she formed, the children she met, and the lives she’s seen transformed have all become part of her story.
Her work shows how one connection can grow into something much bigger than anyone could imagine. Through steady dedication and genuine care, Eileen Richardson has helped build bridges between people and cultures, spreading hope to places that needed it most. Her story is a quiet reminder that lasting change often starts with simple acts of kindness and faith.
