What's up?  My name is Francisco Santiago III and I was born and raised in inner city Philadelphia. I grew up in a typical poor inner city broken home situation, surrounded by the violent, drug infested, crime filled neighborhood and the ways of the streets. God found me as a child through an inner city outreach church plant in my neighborhood and God began to do an amazing work in me while growing up in such rough situations. 

I was a young church leader, and full time construction laborer before I realized that God was calling me out of the hood to serve the world for his kingdom. I worked with a short term missions organization and helped lead trips for them in Africa in 2007 and 2008. During that time I decided to leave everything behind and become an ambassador for God and join some friends with a mutual passion to reach the world in the hardest places and situations with God's love. Hard Places Community was born and I found my self with most of my team in Kansas City, MO taking a church planting training course together in the Fall of 2008. As part of the course we were required to do an outreach for three months in a foreign country. I ended up in Buriram, Thailand serving Prang and her ministry for three months. 

It didn't take long to see the challenges the Thai people face and the problem of sex tourism. I was personally disturbed by the fact that there were so few men loving on these people. God challenged me that year to think long term so that long term fruit could be produced. I decided not to return home right away, and agreed to stay in Bangkok and work with Jim and Judy Larson.  They helped me tremendously, even taking me in their home for the first few months as I adjusted to life in Bangkok, and it didn't take long for me to fall in love with Thai people, and to be more convinced by the Lord's heart for the people here. 

I am currently still actively pursuing God's heart in serving with The Well. I don't have a specific title, but I know that I love the Lord and will follow him anywhere. My heart is to tell, disciple, and see young Thais - especially Thai men - grow to know the kingdom of God and his heart for the lost.