Bob and Elsi’s Last Day
Elsi spent the morning giving Chom her last piano lesson and packing .
Tasanee decided to go to Tha Song Yang (not to be confused with Ban Tha Song Yang which is only a short walk from Safe Haven) to pick up cement. Her son, Phon, drove and Bob and I (Rog) went along for the ride. We traveled south along the Moei river and saw some beautiful countryside with temples, terraced rice paddies,buffalo,and steep jungle-covered mountains partially hidden in the clouds. We stopped at a checkpoint where armed guards smiled as they allowed us to pass. Soon we noticed dung on the highway and found that we were following a caravan of ten elephants walking down the side of the road. There had been some recent fighting in Burma and the elephants (originally from Thailand but recently harvesting logs in Burma) had been returned to Thailand for safety. We picked up vegetables and a few other items at the market before returning to Safe Haven. After the vegetables and cement were unloaded we were again treated to a great lunch at our favorite eating spot (bamboo table and benches under a shade tree). Luggage was piled into the back of the small pickup truck and Bob and Elsi’s road trip to Mae Sot began. But first Tasanee, Chom (her daughter) and three boys plus Tasanee’s grandchild packed into the remaining portion of the short pickup box for the two hour ride. With Phon in the driver’s seat and Elsi beside him, the back seat was filled with Bob, Tasanee’s mother, and also her aunt (who was on the way to the hospital for treatment for malaria). Doo (mother of the grandchild ) didn’t fit in the pickup box so she just squeezed into the back seat. As they say in Thailand….No Problem! With prayers for safe travel and farewell hugs we waved goodbye and they were off. We are going to miss the camaraderie, shared meals, and evening card games.
Safety
We have felt very safe here and no one acts frightened or concerned at all (even when gunshots may be heard in the distance across the border). Tasanee has lived with this situation her entire fifty some years and says that the Karen tribe and the Burmese army are enemies ( I wonder how many people even remember why). She picks up the pieces of lives broken by war and mends them by adding to her family of loving and beautiful children. How amazing is that?!!
Jungle Children
Tasanee takes pride in being a tough “jungle woman”. Many of her children have spent some part of their lives living in the jungle before coming to Safe Haven. The kids know a lot about jungle survival and they know what to eat as well. We have seen twigs laid out beside their plates as if to be eaten for dessert and their teacher told us about how the boys would stay up all night catching and eating insects. Just a few minutes ago I delivered to Roger a roasted root ( cassava or manioc?)about the size of an ear of corn. It is very starchy and a bit dry but it has a wonderful aroma. The outside is roasted black but the inside is pure white and would be very tempting if we were at all hungry. Several of the boys were sitting around a fire wearing only shorts and some face paint while roasting the roots. They called me over and insisted I take some back to the man teacher.
