There are limited positions at the Home here. Only so many bed, only so much food, only so little funding. So we have somewhere in the area of 14 openings for new kids.
We have over 80 applicants (either a family member or elder in the village will apply for a child to come here). Yesterday, I went with one of the house moms to a Lahu Village to witness an interview/hear the needs and weigh who comes and who stays. She has the difficult task of determining who is the most "at-risk".
After winding up the mountains and back down the mountains for a couple hours, I stepped out of the van in the village. The mountains were beautiful and the air was clean. The houses were poor and made from wood and bamboo (many not fully enclosed) and a tin/aluminum roof. Life is lived on the floor (sleeping and cooking/eating) and the toilet is a hole in the ground.
I heard plight after plight for the interviews, and saw poverty that most Americans can't dream of. And I am utterly shocked at how it did not shock me. I guess it's because I have been around the mission block a couple times. I have seen so many who go without...and I am learning to go without a little bit myself....
....but even though I am getting used to the way the world works...I am not sure if I am ok with being ok with it. Hopefully that made sense.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Thai Photos
From left to right: Ariel from the Washington Mission team. Carrie the New Missionary. Victoria the Intern. Me the Roaming do-gooder. We are waiting for the Elephant show to start.
Just a peak at some of our girls. The one on the left has stolen my heart. She will randomly join me with crayons while I am writing in my prayer journal. I have to most colorful journal now.
The night market. This is definitively not Bangkok. You can get a scarf for 80 Baht once you barter. I am going to try for earrings tonight. This is nice. :-)
Friday, January 27, 2012
Saturday
So it is Saturday here and I want to update you on my time here so far.
1). I helped cook dinner one night...and I am so stoked about having a new-found curry and coconut soup recipe!
2). I finally got the english teaching schedule down...as long as nothing comes up...but something always comes up...so really my teaching times are pretty random. I have taught 5 people so far and have one lesson today (easy day is saturday).
3). I went to the Elephant camp yesterday. YEP! I rode an elephant. And I even got a big wet elephant trunk kiss. BEST THING EVER!
4). I got to play with the cutest kids ever! And this morning, one just plopped herself on my lap before breakfast and started coloring. I love it!
So...a little bit about the home I am at. I will still keep the name anonymous. There are 3 houses on this property. The one I am staying at holds about 45 girls. They range from 2 years until high school. These girls were either taken from the sex slave trade or were brought here before they got into it.
One example. A 18 month old girl who I dearly love was brought here about 4 months ago. Here is what happened. One of the house mom's was at the night market and she passes a woman who is literally trying to give her baby away. Both Parents were HIV positive and knew they were dying. They were trying to pass the baby off to anyone who would take her. (Any pimp could have taken her but by the grace of God, our house mom got there first). So she is safe. But for an 18 month old she was a very angry girl. She would bite and kick and scream. But I see her now and with the love she has gotten over the past 4 months, she has changed so much. It's beautiful.
There are so many more stories about the kids, and the testimonies of the house moms and just a lot of amazing things...but there is no time. I am on a borrowed computer. :-) I have to go guys...
1). I helped cook dinner one night...and I am so stoked about having a new-found curry and coconut soup recipe!
2). I finally got the english teaching schedule down...as long as nothing comes up...but something always comes up...so really my teaching times are pretty random. I have taught 5 people so far and have one lesson today (easy day is saturday).
3). I went to the Elephant camp yesterday. YEP! I rode an elephant. And I even got a big wet elephant trunk kiss. BEST THING EVER!
4). I got to play with the cutest kids ever! And this morning, one just plopped herself on my lap before breakfast and started coloring. I love it!
So...a little bit about the home I am at. I will still keep the name anonymous. There are 3 houses on this property. The one I am staying at holds about 45 girls. They range from 2 years until high school. These girls were either taken from the sex slave trade or were brought here before they got into it.
One example. A 18 month old girl who I dearly love was brought here about 4 months ago. Here is what happened. One of the house mom's was at the night market and she passes a woman who is literally trying to give her baby away. Both Parents were HIV positive and knew they were dying. They were trying to pass the baby off to anyone who would take her. (Any pimp could have taken her but by the grace of God, our house mom got there first). So she is safe. But for an 18 month old she was a very angry girl. She would bite and kick and scream. But I see her now and with the love she has gotten over the past 4 months, she has changed so much. It's beautiful.
There are so many more stories about the kids, and the testimonies of the house moms and just a lot of amazing things...but there is no time. I am on a borrowed computer. :-) I have to go guys...
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
At the Home
Ok. I am at the home in Chiang Mai. This is northern Thailand so it is a little cooler than Bangkok...thankfully.
The train ride took over 15.5 hours so I am considering a direct bus back instead...we will see how things workout. Everything is very chill here.
Basically I expected to be put to work right away...and I was still feeling super antsy after the fast-paced Bangkok. But when I got here I was taken aback. Things are so calm...and I really haven't done much except hug and play with kids and then eat really good home cooked food.
Tonight I will be more "pushy" and try to help cook dinner. You have to be a little forceful to volunteer around here...otherwise they just like to have you relax and play with kids. And tomorrow I will be teaching one of the house moms English for a few hours. She has a workbook that she is going through.
I will try to get myself out to what they call "The New Land" where they are building a new girls home. I want to help with construction but they wouldn't let me today. They said it was hard work and too hot for me. So...I will ask again Saturday. As I said...you have to be a little forceful to volunteer. (Totally different than what I expected but I figure that if God want's me to spend my volunteer time playing with Kids...then so be it.)
These kids are so full of love. I wake up to thier laughter in the morning and enjoy every moment of seeing thier faces. One little girl and I have inadvertently invented a counting game. I usually win because she can't go over 40 in English. But I hope to get her to 100 before I leave. It all started with her saying "I love you" and I said "I love you too" and she said "I love you three" and you can imagine where we went from there. :-)
So, despite the fact that it's back to the basics (bucket showers and outdoor kitchens) I feel incredibly at home. I have made friends with the American Intern here and we "camped out" on the balcony last night. We started by watching Korean Dramas on her computer then I fell asleep towards the end. Next thing I know a mosquito net is thrown over me and I mumble a sleepy thank you and drift back off. I hope we sleep up there again tonight. The weather is perfect and the stars are so bright!
I love that Chiang Mai is the polar opposite of Bangkok. It is restful...which is something I need. God is teaching me that rest can be just as important as doing.
The train ride took over 15.5 hours so I am considering a direct bus back instead...we will see how things workout. Everything is very chill here.
Basically I expected to be put to work right away...and I was still feeling super antsy after the fast-paced Bangkok. But when I got here I was taken aback. Things are so calm...and I really haven't done much except hug and play with kids and then eat really good home cooked food.
Tonight I will be more "pushy" and try to help cook dinner. You have to be a little forceful to volunteer around here...otherwise they just like to have you relax and play with kids. And tomorrow I will be teaching one of the house moms English for a few hours. She has a workbook that she is going through.
I will try to get myself out to what they call "The New Land" where they are building a new girls home. I want to help with construction but they wouldn't let me today. They said it was hard work and too hot for me. So...I will ask again Saturday. As I said...you have to be a little forceful to volunteer. (Totally different than what I expected but I figure that if God want's me to spend my volunteer time playing with Kids...then so be it.)
These kids are so full of love. I wake up to thier laughter in the morning and enjoy every moment of seeing thier faces. One little girl and I have inadvertently invented a counting game. I usually win because she can't go over 40 in English. But I hope to get her to 100 before I leave. It all started with her saying "I love you" and I said "I love you too" and she said "I love you three" and you can imagine where we went from there. :-)
So, despite the fact that it's back to the basics (bucket showers and outdoor kitchens) I feel incredibly at home. I have made friends with the American Intern here and we "camped out" on the balcony last night. We started by watching Korean Dramas on her computer then I fell asleep towards the end. Next thing I know a mosquito net is thrown over me and I mumble a sleepy thank you and drift back off. I hope we sleep up there again tonight. The weather is perfect and the stars are so bright!
I love that Chiang Mai is the polar opposite of Bangkok. It is restful...which is something I need. God is teaching me that rest can be just as important as doing.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Bangkok
I am so happy.
Well, first of all I was kinda panicky because I got into the Train Station and went to buy my ticket for Chiang Mai for tomorrow. BUT, the exchange booth didn't open until 9:00am to change money...and it is Sunday so all the banks are closed. AND I was told there was only one bed left of the sleeper train to Chiang Mai. (Otherwise I would sit on the train for 15hrs which would suck!) Anyway....I was praying a lot and when the exchange booth opened up I got a decent rate on the Won to Baht. I was happy. So I ran over to the ticket counter and the one bed was still open...even 45mins later. BLESSING!!!!! THANK YOU GOD!
Anyway...then I was going to take a Cab to my hotel but they were all throwing out outlandish prices. So I was being stubborn and decided to walk the 1hr 45mins. In the end..the map I had was wrong and I stood in the street with little tear-lets in my eyes. A girl about my age came up to me and offered to call the hotel on her cell phone. They gave her the right directions and I got on the back of her motorbike...and we rode through the streets of Bangkok. (That will probably be my favorite memory). As we rode she pointed out the preparations for Chinese New Year tomorrow. There were people dressed as dragons dancing and fire crackers going off everywhere.
Anyway. I am safely at my hotel now. And I went straight to the travel agent who gave me good advice. "Never let the cab driver tell you what to pay. Always demand that he use the meter...then you can not get ripped off." I may or may not walk to the train station tomorrow...we will see how I feel.
Lastly. At the travel agent I arranged to be driven to the famous floating market. They even will give me a 30min speedboat tour. I am really happy.
God has been so good to me!
Well, first of all I was kinda panicky because I got into the Train Station and went to buy my ticket for Chiang Mai for tomorrow. BUT, the exchange booth didn't open until 9:00am to change money...and it is Sunday so all the banks are closed. AND I was told there was only one bed left of the sleeper train to Chiang Mai. (Otherwise I would sit on the train for 15hrs which would suck!) Anyway....I was praying a lot and when the exchange booth opened up I got a decent rate on the Won to Baht. I was happy. So I ran over to the ticket counter and the one bed was still open...even 45mins later. BLESSING!!!!! THANK YOU GOD!
Anyway...then I was going to take a Cab to my hotel but they were all throwing out outlandish prices. So I was being stubborn and decided to walk the 1hr 45mins. In the end..the map I had was wrong and I stood in the street with little tear-lets in my eyes. A girl about my age came up to me and offered to call the hotel on her cell phone. They gave her the right directions and I got on the back of her motorbike...and we rode through the streets of Bangkok. (That will probably be my favorite memory). As we rode she pointed out the preparations for Chinese New Year tomorrow. There were people dressed as dragons dancing and fire crackers going off everywhere.
Anyway. I am safely at my hotel now. And I went straight to the travel agent who gave me good advice. "Never let the cab driver tell you what to pay. Always demand that he use the meter...then you can not get ripped off." I may or may not walk to the train station tomorrow...we will see how I feel.
Lastly. At the travel agent I arranged to be driven to the famous floating market. They even will give me a 30min speedboat tour. I am really happy.
God has been so good to me!
Friday, January 20, 2012
The Bridge
So...tomorrow I will head to the bus depot near the morning market. I will catch a bus...#14 I think. I will go to the Friendship bridge and be dropped off. Then I will make my way to Thailand. Once in Thailand...I will have to get to the train station (hopefully there is a tuk-tuk heading that way) and then I will be on the night train to Bangkok.
I am not sure how I feel about all this. I know that I am excited but also I am concerned. I have never crossed a border by land before and I am not sure how hard it is. I am going to convert the remaining Kip (except bus fare) into Thai Baht so that I can get to the station. Then once in Bangkok I can get the rest of the Korean Won exchanged.
Much to think about.
I am not sure how I feel about all this. I know that I am excited but also I am concerned. I have never crossed a border by land before and I am not sure how hard it is. I am going to convert the remaining Kip (except bus fare) into Thai Baht so that I can get to the station. Then once in Bangkok I can get the rest of the Korean Won exchanged.
Much to think about.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
These are some Monks I saw at the river as I was doing my quite time one morning. Looks like they had the same idea.
Lao Cooking Class. A full day of cooking and eating..yum!
The Waterfall. We took a tuk-tuk to the falls and hiked around a bit.
There was also a cave that we could hike in. Only fifteen mins to the far side of the cave...but there were Buddhas scattered throughout.
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