At about 12:30, we climbed out of the truck and into another world. The terrain. The buildings. The children. The life style. All smacked my senses and I thought—how did we ever find this spot in the world and how are we ever going to live here??? But running toward us was Tessanne with a grin and a hug so full of joy that it erased all my fears. A fury of activity followed as children grabbed our bags and lugged them to our rooms. We were given a quick tour of the grounds—all still seemed so surreal. While Elsi & I did some unpacking & nesting, the men set up the piano keyboard. By 3:30, Elsi was playing with a huge grin & the kids were belting out songs. Tessanne said they had been praying for music for their church service. The church service started up next led by two older girls who were inviting individuals or small groups up to sing or recite (probably a bible verse or even chapters). All except the very smallest participated in at least once. It lasted for over an hour with the kids all sat quietly. We later learned that Tessanne’s daughter (Chom) told the children how hard it was while working and studying in Bangkok but she’d prayed for strength and succeeded. She said they too could do anything if they worked hard and asked God for strength. Was that message really for us?!
How can I describe Safe Haven??
The Children: about 40, all ages, dressed in various clothing, happily & freely milling about, some working while others played with whatever they could scronge up. Most spent much time in the jungle (probably escaping from Burma) and know how to be resourceful. About 20 older students in Mae Sot going to high school & living with Tessanne’s oldest daughter.
Tessanne: endless source of love, energy & ideas. Her grandmother, mother and now her daughters all care for orphans. Her grandfather and father were both killed young. She calls herself a jungle woman who doesn’t need to be pampered and believes in working hard. The children follow her example.
The Grounds:. 8 acres covered with huge rocks that appear to be granite blacked by lichen or weather. All donated to her. In every area without rocks, a building sits or a garden is planted. Paths between buildings have tree stumps or rock outcroppings making it difficult for us to walk—though the kids run on them. Between the rocks, wild & planted flowers bloom and banana, mango & teak trees thrive as the kids water them every day. There is one fish nursery and another being built.
The Buildings: huge contrast
Tessanne’s home: The oldest and built entirely out of bamboo & dried teak leaves and on stilts. The first landing is the kitchen with water piped up, wood slabs for chopping and a chula for cooking. Next landing is a large room filled which seems very cluttered with all types of items many hanging in plastic bags around the outside. The TV and refrigerator see so out of place there. Though primitive, it’s got such a homey feeling. Our first night, we joined about 20 kids that were hanging out there putting together a 500 piece puzzle and after they finished, they watched TV. Several fell asleep and just slept there all night. Truly it was their home as well. A short wall separated the big room from Tessanne’s bedroom.
The Boy’s & Girl’s Dorms: Newly constructed with cement walls & floors. Bunk beds with just a narrow space between with clothing hanging on the end bars & from the ceiling rafters. Bed is made of plywood with a mat, blanket & mosquito net on top. That’s it.
Guest House: (our bedroom) Newly constructed the same as the dorms except divided into two rooms. Mats with thin mattress & thick blanket inside a free standing mosquito net. Large table. That’s it.
Church: Newly constructed the same but with a stage area. Filled with plastic chairs & large table. That’s it.
Bathrooms: Designed & constructed by someone from Norway. Slats for shade out front. Several stalls with squat toilets but one for guest with western toilet. Shower room with a nail that keeps the door closed. . Tubs for washing clothing as well as one washing machine. Located quite a long way from guest house.
The Bath House:
Kitchen/Dining: Teak & bamboo kitchen with cement dining area. Functional.
Chom’s bedroom: Teak & bamboo. Imagine this—she went to college in Bangkok and then had a job there which paid about $700 per month but gave that up because she wanted to help her mother. Now she lives in a small hut here and never stops smiling.
Library/Sewing building: sawed wood & bamboo
The Library:
Infirmary: currently being built like dorm. Kids seem to be doing most of the work. Several water towers some plastic & donated by Hope Foundation, NY and others made of cement.
Football field: cement slab with bamboo fence. (Kids play barefoot or with flip flops) Surrounding the gardens and much of the grounds is a bamboo fence that Rog & Bob helped construct a portion of.
It’s just a surreal place.
So what have we been doing:
Elsi has been in her glory teaching piano to kids who just can’t get enough! Several are learning at break neck speed & love it. Her goal is to teach a few enough so they can continue learning on their own and also can teach others later.Jane has been doing art projects, teaching English and reading aloud to the little ones. Also in her glory. Sunday as I sat with one student who had asked me to help him with his English, soon a swarm of other crowded around with their assignment books too. For over two hours, we worked on a bamboo table. The kids soak in the lessons.
Bob has been trying to get the computer we brought for them up and running here. Both guys helped with some fencing and took a ride into town on a motor bike. Bob drove and his knuckles where white when they got back. The guys also hiked down to the river that separates us from Burma. Did I mention that we often hear gun shots in the distance??? Tessanne said someone was hunting birds but we wonder since we haven’t seen any birds or other wild animals anywhere.
Food has been delicious. Rice every meal with various stir fried fresh veges and often soup containing fish and/or pumpkin or fried eggs with lots of onion & some type of greens. Might not need all the peanut butter I brought.
Their stories:
We are slowly learning about the story behind each child. Local people and hospitals bring children here. They tell her either she takes them or they will leave them to die. Tessanne can’t say no. One lady who lives here was ready to give her child away and kill herself after her husband died because he ate a poison frog. Tessanne told her to come live with her and she would show her a new life. She did.