Lunch crowd:
It's funny how opportunities just seem to fall at our feet. As I was just finishing up some packing, Tasanee came back & said she was heading to the site where her friend Lina & the Noregian group (all of which we'd met three times already) where building a school & asked if we wanted to go. Why not? We jumped in and 45 minutes later were watching the crew constructing a wall made out of bricks that they had previously made & an adobe they were currently mixing up. Both were made up of soil, sand, rice husk & water. All natural products they could find locally for virtually free...and since it's against the law for them to cut down any of the local trees...this is a great alternative. When we arrived, a man was down in a 4 ft hole with a pick loosening up the soil. The sand, rice husk & water was thrown into the hole & the man used the pick to mix it all up. Then buckets were lowered & filled and used as a cement between the bricks & also to coat the wall as they finished. At noon, we went to Lina's for a feast. Around the table sat several architects (from Norway, Spain & German), a photojournalist who worked as an activist for the Karen tribe, a General in the Karen National Liberation Army and a man who does documentaries for Norway public TV as well as several locals. All sat around the table--on mats--having lively discussions. We ended up invited to the KNL army camp in Burma and found out the next documentary the man was producing was on the Sioux tribe in South Dakota! Crazy how in the back country of Thailand, we found ourselves in the middle of such a gathering!
Answered Prayer:
As I packed to leave, my prayer was that somehow these kids who already had lost so much, would not feel deserted by us. And the answered soon arrived: a young gal from England who will soon be joined by a young Canadian!! Leah, an elementary teacher, was bubbling with excitement & eager to take over the English & piano lessons & art activities...as well as our bedroom complete with art supplies, lesson books & the hammock. What a relief!!!
Simon:
When I first wrote to Safe Haven, it was Simon who replied so it was a treat to meet him when he came with bags of rice. He's an Australian, about 30+, who came for holiday about 7 years ago and stayed after meeting Tasanee & others. He earns his money creating websites and spends it helping two (or more??) orphanages. He also answers volunteer/donor emails and screens them before passing the valid ones on to Tasanee. If Tasanee has money needs, he searches for funding for her. He is very knowledgeable about the Thai/Burma conflict and feels like Mae Sot is a unique place as foreigners are safe here (the corrupt police don't want to call any foreign attention) yet just across the river, there is fighting. Here you can help those devastated by war--without being in the middle of the battle. And then there's Lina...
Lina:
A young gal from Norway who also came & stayed. She is using her architect skills and understanding of the Thai law and ways, to help several orphanages build cheap yet sound buildings. She recruits volunteers who she can brainstorm with and employs the locals. She also helps locate Norwegian markets for the scarves, skirts & shirts woven by widows as an income for them & the orphanage they work at. Meeting people like Lina & Simon is an honor.
