Thailand #11

Food:

Doesn’t look like either of us will be losing weight on this trip. I gorged before coming here thinking I’d probably not find food I could eat for 3 weeks…but to my surprise…the food is quite good. Breakfast has usually been an egg, toast & banana. Of course if they were hot or even warm, they would be much better. And a little salt & pepper would be so nice. We looked in the local store but no luck so we have been putting soy sauce on to fulfill our salt craving. Lunch & dinner consist of a huge plate of rice, a stir fry (usually cabbage & green beans & onion & carrots & maybe fried egg or tofu) and soup (usually cabbage & green beans & onions & carrots & a bit of some meat or tofu) and fruit (either banana or papaya as both are freshly picked on the trees that surround us and we had fresh pineapple a couple times). Somehow they make each dish look a bit different but definitely there is a pattern. As we teachers would say, it’s an ABABAB pattern. But I must admit, it is very tasty .(Though it would be soooo much better with a cold diet Coke!!) Coffee & hot chocolate comes with every meal so I do get a bit of a chocolate fix in addition to my own stash of M & M’s. Roger, of course, is loving all the food. We bought some bread in town & spread a bit of the peanut butter we brought on it just as comfort food and I have been sharing that with the kids, too. They love it. The kids do not eat the same food. They eat lots of rice & vege mixture… with their fingers and you can’t imagine the portion size! Throughout the Sat & Sun, they also foraged the area for a small, green fruit, skinny stalks with hard berries & some type of root. They offer it to me but I tell them I am too full. When looking through a book, they point to insects & deer and then rub their tummies. Local men who are working here, strip leaves from the trees & add the stems to their rice.

Thai service:

When we were eating at Thai restaurants, we noticed that the service was slow & some people got their meal a lot before others. But here, they wait on us hand & foot. They run to get our dishes as soon as we start to get up from our bamboo table (with a gorgeous view of mountains). They seem so pleased to serve us. We try hard to show them how pleased we are with all they do for us!!

Animals/Insects:

As we mentioned, the only wild animal we’ve seen are birds. We are told most men carry sling shots to get the few birds left. All the other wild animals have been over hunted so the only animals you will see in Thailand are in a zoo. Even rats are considered good eating. Insects however, are a different story. This place is like a butterfly farm. One moth we saw was about 3”, a cockroach that was 2”, grasshoppers about 3”, huge bees and last night, I killed a scorpion that was crawling near my bed. He was only about 2” and I did get a picture of him first J.

Face Painting:

One of the Karen custom that often catches us off guard is face painting. They dig up some root and spread it on their face, sometimes covering it and other times just making lines on their cheeks and foreheads. Even the adults here--some college grads-- occasionally use it. Makes us think the Native Americans are attacking!! We were told it keeps the skin soft and protects it from the sun. In the book, Jewel Trader of Pegu, this custom is also mentioned. Rog & I are reading it because it is about a man living in 1598 who visited this area which was called Pegu then. So that custom goes way back!

Thailand #10

Education:

Somehow the days fly by even though things move so slowly around here. Everywhere we go, we hear “Teacher, Teacher” and one or more kids are wanting us to do something with them. Of course, I like reading to them best and now Roger has mounted the world map he brought and is teaching continents & countries using a set of National Geographic’s he found in their library. Most of them don’t know where to find India, China, Africa, America, or even Thailand. Tasanee is very glad to see us teaching. She strongly believes in education. She told us she tried to get several jobs but since she only had a sixth grade education, she was refused. Once the kids finish eighth grade in the local town, they go to Mae Sot for high school. She does give them the choice and twelve are in high school and two more are learning a trade instead. She has wisdom far beyond what any formal education could give her. She says other visitors tell her she has a PhD in orphanage organization.

Missing Scissors & Paint/Crayon on a wall:

So we find out they are not perfect. We’ve been noticing some paint & crayon marks on the walls…pretty much the same colors as the ones I’ve given them to use for the various art projects. And when I gathered up scissors after a project, one pair was missing. Feeling like I needed to stop this in the bud, I told the teacher right before church. I’m not sure what she said but it was long and before you knew it, several kids came forward with crayons & one boy with the scissors. We noticed later he was being ostracized and the teacher told us that the other children were mad at him and afraid we would leave. We saw no other punishment…but then what could be more effective.

Church:

Every morning at 5 and every evening at 7, there is a church service…but on Saturday, there is one at 5, 9, and 4. The last two lasting almost two hours each. The 5 is a short singing/wake up time. The teacher preaches at the 9 and two young girls orchestrate the 4 where each child participates, praising in their own way. .even little Johnny, Cerio & Christmas. We were ask ahead to do something at the 9, so we thanked them for welcoming us and sang Jesus Loves the Little Children using red/yellow/black/white puppets I had made. And since some had been caught taking my scissors & crayons, we said we all make mistakes but if we are sorry, God forgives us and we should forgive each other. We were surprised when asked to come up front at the 4, so we just told them about the orphans we spent time with in Kenya and that we bring love to them from many people in the USA as our whole church family had given the money for the piano keyboard, a computer and art supplies.

Parents:

We are discovering more and more children have one living parent as they have shown up to do some work here. One father is helping with the fish pond. The weaver and the cook both have daughters here. Occasionally, we have seen other adults walking around with a child which we think might be theirs. Tasanee did tell us that some of the children are here because their living parent can’t afford to take care of them. So some she lets just live here & work and others come to work when they have time. Tasanee seems to find a way to help as many as possible.

Nice Compliment:

When I told the teacher how old I was, she said I looked much younger…because I had kind heart. Touching. Then she also said she wished she had my hair (gray & straight). Hers is dark and wavy. Guess that put the first compliment in perspective.

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.

Post From Roger:

Recipe for Happy Children
Why are the children so happy with no fighting or jealousy? Tessanne replied “Teach children not want more thing….make do with what have. Work hard and do right thing. Rich selfish man have many thing but when in hospital is there by self. No visitor. Good person who does right thing have many friend and many visitor in hospital.”



Meaning of Life (from a book I (Roger) found in the “library” at Safe Haven)
Why do we try to create our own little worlds so we have the illusion of being completely in control of our entire existence, when we know with absolute certainty that we are not?
We all have filters on, so we mostly see only what we want to see. When you finally open your eyes, you may be shocked at the obscured way you have been viewing the world to suit your own little plans.
With those filters removed, you can take a closer look into yourself and ask objective questions about the universe and your place in it. In other words, investigate the meaning of life.
The only theme that resonates throughout the numerous popular theories is love. Love, in all its fragile forms, is the one powerful, enduring force that brings real meaning to our everyday lives.
The love of life itself brings with it the passion and understanding that some things are worth dying for, but there is so much more worth living for.
The love of life leads us to help others simply because it feels great to contribute to those around us.


Repairing the Water Supply
After running out of water a few times I asked to see where the valve is that controls the flow to our bath/ shower. Sometimes the valve is closed to allow the water to be directed to the fish pond/ garden area.
We discovered that the valve was open and still had no water so it was determined that the problem was uphill where the plastic water pipe had come apart at a connection. Several teenage boys worked to add additional pipe at the site of the problem then reconnected it. Next we took a short hike up to the source of our water. We walked up a clear mountain stream until we reached the place where it flowed out of the mountain. There a concrete barrier caught enough water to keep the end of the water pipe constantly under the surface and plastic screening acted as a filter to keep debris from enter the pipe. Sticks pushed into the ground surrounded the area to prevent cattle from getting close and fouling the water. I think I will continue to use bottled water when brushing my teeth!

Tessanne’s Family:
First I must correct the spelling of her name. Tasanee Keereepraneed. I had found my spelling from a website that was probably written by another volunteer…and I was told that Thai teachers change the Karen children’s name into Thai names, so often names are spelled several ways.
Tasanee has four children of her own and one grandchild. Two daughters & her grandchild live in Mae Sot which is two hours away. Her only son is in the army on the rescue team (EMS). Chom lives here. Her mother & great aunt live in Ban Tha Song Yang--right down the road. Her son was off duty & came to visit with his sister and the granddaughter. I was very surprised that Tasanee did not jump up to greet them nor did they come running. After they’d been here a while, she wandered over and hugged the baby and talked to her kids. A short time later, she was in her sewing room while they were in her living room. Perhaps it was a cultural thing.

My Grain Bin Classroom
Only 8 children are here after the bus pulls out and I have become their teacher. Their ages are about 1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 6, 11 & 16 so it is like teaching nursery school & one room class at the same time. We start in the grain bin. The walls are bamboo, the roof teak leaves & the floor is made of a very thin layer of the bamboo. Under the building there is a pen for the turkeys. Currently squash & cement bags are stored there. I sit on a cement bag (as I can’t sit cross legged nearly as long as they can) and write on a well used white board. Usually I have one of the little ones on my lap and the others come & go as they like--sometimes with pants on and sometimes without. The younger ones are learning the letters as the older ones work on the sounds. The 11 yr old works on spelling words. The 16 yr old is mentally challenged so I include her with the younger ones which she seems happy about. Next we work on identifying pictures in English & then counting. After about an hour, we move to an outside table to work on printing and I finish up with an art project which they love. Some stay until lunch while others go off to play. It’s a real relaxing and enjoyable way to teach and I’m very excited about the progress each one of them is making!! Who would guess bamboo, teak leaves, squash & turkeys could provide such a nice teaching environment??


Child Care for 3 and under:
Something that just astounds us is how the little ones just have the run of the place which is about the size of 3 or 4 football fields. They run among the rocks, in & around the buildings, up & down the paths with or without pants and without any visible adult supervision. They fall often, cry a bit sometimes, get up and take off again. I’ve never seen any of them go toward the road but not sure why not. Older girls wash & dress them and put them down for naps where often they cry themselves to sleep. During church service they go from lap to lap or wander up front. Christmas (3) even went up to the altar today without anyone acting like that was a problem. Just astounding.


Presents:
How do you accept gifts from those who have so little??? We now have quite a collection of gifts given with loving hands--one was even wrapped up with well used paper and bow. We hug them tightly and accept knowing well that there is much joy in giving.

MuMuSoe, my teacher:
I have been working hard trying to teach MuMuSoe English and today, she worked hard trying to teach me Karen. I always make her watch my mouth and repeat my words and that is exactly how she was teaching me. She walked me around pointing things out and then said the Karen word. I must say she is a faster learner than I am!

Girl’s Dorm:
Last night I visited the Girl’s Dorm and immediately they began to fix me up…they powdered my face, put lipstick on me, combed my hair (I so hope there wasn’t lice on that comb), put a crown and headband in my hair, a real flower behind my ear, a necklace & lei on me and then gave me a plastic wand. Then they proudly put a jagged piece of a mirror in front of me and showed me how to put my finger in my cheek and tilt my head. Next they pretended to take pictures of me using their fingers for a camera. One girl had a plastic cell phone which she used. Then they took my hand and led me back to my room and asked Roger to take a picture. He took one of all of us but then they insisted on taking one of just me. Guess I was Queen for the Day!!!

Thailand #8

The Song Yang Village sits on the banks of the Moei River.... in this picture Thailand is on the left side and Burma is on the right.

Yesterday we hopped on the orphanage’s motorcycle and drove to Tha Song Yang--only about a mile away. First things first, we bought cold drinks and then went down to sit on the bank of the River Moie. It’s a breathtaking sight. The flowing water has a tint of green and the mountainside as an array of greens which was always changing as the sunlight smiled on different trees. Roger described it as seeing a painting in motion. Long (like 30 ft) boats floated by and a man immersed in the river was putting together a bamboo raft--similar to the one we rode near Chiang Mai. It was so peaceful…and yet we knew the mountain we were looking at was Burma where there is so little peace. We have heard the shooting. We have heard the stories from a young Karen man who comes here for Thai lessons. He first learned English but now want to learn Thai so he can find a job in Thailand. He tells us he wants to go to USA or another developed country, earn much money so he can send it to his family still in Burma where they are confined to a restricted area. Yesterday Tessanne delivered several grain bags stuffed with clothes & mosquito nets to one of those long boats so they could be given to a person who called her much distressed. She & many others had no clothes or mosquito nets and must have been hiding somewhere in that “painting in motion.”

Things that made us smile today:
Kids who come running every time we sit down with a book to read aloud
Kids standing on the tall, rugged stones playing Frisbee. How do they land without falling?
Little boys using their fingers pretending to shoot. Universal instinctive behavior?

Norwegian Visitor:
Visitors from Norway came today and it was great having more people we could talk to--usually there are only 4 other people here besides us that speak English. The visitors were hometown friends of Lena, an architect who has been living near here and has designed and help build several of the buildings here. Lena & Tessanne are best friends. She is an energetic young gal who has started a company to help the Karen people--whom she calls her real family--build homes. Karen are not allowed to use the trees or bamboo and cannot afford cement so her company helps them build adobe homes using only sand from the river bank, dirt and rice husk. The roof is metal which I think is bought with donated money she helps raise. Amazing young lady. The oldest Norwegian was about 50 and plans to send an article to her local paper in hopes of raising funds. We asked her to send us a copy so perhaps we can also get it published.

Over another huge feast, we compared impressions each country had of the each other and things we had learned from our travels as all of us had traveled lots--except Tessanne but her jungle life added much to our conversation and I could certainly see that she had developed strong diplomatic skills which is one reason she has been able to raise the money she needs. I have no doubt the Norwegian left behind with less money in their bank account I believe it was Mark Twain that said--when you travel, prejudices & assumptions disappear.


Tessanne’s Family:
First I must correct the spelling of her name. Tasanee Keereepraneed. I had gotten my spelling in from a website that was probably written by another volunteer…and I was told that Thai teachers change the Karen children’s name into Thai names so often names are spelled several ways.

"nawdee, Tasanee and mammi"


Thailand/Burma Border Video:

Prayer of Peace - Relief & Resistance in Burma's War Zones [English subtitles] from Matt Blauer on Vimeo.

Hi back home!
We certainly don't feel like this is anything like our home but we are getting feel more comfortable and getting into a routine. This might give you some idea of some of what happens each day but no way can I tell all the little things that amaze and give us goose bumps. Internet is not constant so my updates may be few & far between so the ones I do get sent will probably be long...sorry...

Daily Routine: The kids start waking up about 4:30 & at 5 the singing begins as they gather in their church for morning worship. Then without seemingly any direction, they start getting ready for school. Around 6:30, time for rice breakfast & filling their lunch container with, you guessed it, rice. 7:30 a small pickup pulls in the drive way and the kids scramble to get the outside or front spots. When the truck is loaded--really way over loaded as several kids are standing on the tailgate--off it goes taking 39 (honestly we counted) kids to the local school. The three dogs and eight kids left wave until they are out of view. We get served breakfast by Memaw and Chom which makes me feel like a royal guest instead of a helper.

By 9, I am working with 5 of the kids still here while Elsi either plays with the 3 little ones or works on the piano keyboard. The guys are out looking for the project being worked on so they can help out. Right now it's fencing & a fish pond. About 10:30, I start an art project that all 8 kids can do. Today it was cutting with scissors. Yesterday it was playing with clay. By 11:30, we need a break & soon lunch is served. How much rice can one eat?? Lots judging by what Cireo (1), Johnny (2) and Cireo (3) can put away! Little ones take a nap after lunch so Elsi & I take our cold shower which actually feels pretty good. Next I try to spend individual time with MuMuSoe as she is not in school because she just arrived two months ago and has to wait until semester break in May before she can go to school. She is very bright and is learning quickly which thrills her and me. Around 3, I set up an art project which by then end of the night about 30 will get to do. At 4, the school truck pulls in and within ten minutes, music & English lessons begin. Elsi has two students who are stars. Tessanne had ask me to work with Sarod on his English. Just a few minutes into our first lesson, two other kids joined in...without anyone telling them they had to...and another one joined us five minutes later. They are so eager to learn. If Rog or Bob are around--they help me out as working with four at different levels is tough. The other kids are all busy doing various jobs including their own laundry, watering plants, working in the garden or helping cook. At 5 I have to shoo my students out so I can get going on the art project. Six is dinner time. Seven is worship time again--Elsi sometimes plays several songs and then the kids sit quietly while they listen to the local teacher...we can only guess they are learning bible stories. Eight and beyond, the kids just do there own thing. There are older girls in charge of the three little ones who will put them to bed in a bamboo building set up with little rooms that house the little one & the older girl. Many kids gather in Tessanne's "living room" for games and/or TV until sometimes after ten. Everything seems to run so smoothly and often you hear singing and laughing. We are continuously amazed at how independent the kids are and how much they care for each other.

Info on some of the kids:

Cerio: An Austrialian who has done a lot for Safe Haven asked Tessanne to name him Cerio after his son who died.

Cerio:

Christmas: Local official called Tessanne on Christmas and asked her to come to town to get a gift. It was a 3 day old baby. He is so spunky and loves to strip down to only a shirt.

Christmas:

Johnny: Johnny was found abandoned lying on a banana leaf under a tree in Burma. He was brought to the orphanage by some villagers in 2008.

Johnny:

GaDee: 16 year old who seems to be mentally challenged. She stays here all day and is the most loving and dedicated "mother" to the three little ones. Her father beat her.

Sarod: 16 year old working so hard on learning his letter sounds and also piano lessons

PaSam: 15 year old star piano student who also recently won the school art contest


Kids Toys:
We took an inventory of the toys we've seen:
plastic phone
bottom half of toy car
spool
one doll
back wheels of tricycle
bamboo stick they cut slits into to make popping sound
4 or 5 tires
soccer ball
volley ball
homemade sling shot
3 or 4 marbles
hundreds of bamboo sticks, rocks, dried leaves and various empty containers...
BUT now, thanks to Bob's donation from his collection, last night the kids went to bed with a beannie baby to hug!! Tessanne and two girls who have asked to be baptised got a special stuffed animal from Cailan (Bob & Elsi's granddaughter). She had attached a written heartfelt note & bible verse to each.

Safe Haven #2:
Tessanne went shopping & came home with a truck loaded with 50lb rice bags, huge bags of whole fish, cabbage, cucumbers, green beans & blankets. After about half of it was unloaded, she called for us to jump into the back of the truck. We drove about two miles and then pulled into a driveway that ended at a cliff. I looked around and wondered where we were and then looked over the cliff and there we got a glimpse of several bamboo structures nestled in the jungle valley between two mountains. Tessanne blew a whistle and suddenly in the distance we could see children walking single file up the 500 ft mountain side. The line seemed to go on and on. It was so surreal. Each child bowed to us as they reached the top and I could not help but hug as many as I could. Tessanne gave each a blanket which they squeezed tightly as she spoke briefly to them. Some slung the rice bags on their backs and other picked up the fish & veges and then they left. Quietly. In single file. Disappearing as they headed back to their Safe Haven.

Things that made us smile today:

Boy with home made sling shot hitting 100’ target

Boy pulling his index finger way back & then using it to fling a marble

Girls stuffing pillows up their shirts & pretending to be pregnant

Girls with pillows wrapped in blankets & pretending to be carrying babies

Boy finding a seed & instantly planting it

Big girl picking up crying young kid & letting him take over painting her picture

Bird poop right next to our suitcase--but must admit large open vents provide great ventilation

Though we really can’t describe this place & the feel that abounds here--we know we’ll never feel the same nor will we be able to forget it.

The day had arrived for us to leave the comfortable Thailand and experience the other. We drank one more Coke laughing that we were suffering from ASA (Anticipated Separation Anxiety which will probably lead to larger ASS for us). We found a toilet—manned by a lady who was collecting 2 bahts—and you think you have a bad job—but at least she didn’t have to clean it –nor did anyone else. If we’d checked a bit farther we would have discovered the clean 7/11 right across the street. The truck arrived and after much effort, Rog & the driver got our luggage strapped on the top. It looked like we were only sharing the truck with 2 others but we were wrong. After a few stops, we were up to 14 all being tossed about as we drove through the mountains toward Ban Tha Song Yang. The three hour ride took us past many terrace fields, rice paddies & gardens hugging the rivers. Dexter people may drive by Wing’s farm but we were seeing Wang’s farm. The views were gorgeous.


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.

We have arrived in Ban Tha Song Yang. Elsi is having a great time teaching music lessons and Jane is doing art projects with the kids.Bob and Roger are trying to get the new computer set up and checking email.
Beautiful mountains surround us and we are eating "local". Great food!
Thanks for all your prayers for safe arrival.
About The Safe Haven Mission: (from their website)

History of the orphanage

It all began about 15 years ago, when Mrs Tasanee Keereepraneed received a frantic message from a local villager in Tha Song Yang, Thailand that a little girl had lost her mother during birth. In Karen culture this is interpreted as a bad omen, and the child is often killed. Having lost her own father at a young age and her children also having lost their father when Tasanee’s husband was murdered, Tasanee decided that she, if anyone should be the person responsible for caring for the orphaned children of The Karen.

One by one they came, children with nowhere else to go were given to Tasanee to raise. She and her brother converted their childhood home into an open space able to accommodate up to twenty five children. Starting with whatever funds were available, she built the foundation of what has become the first Safe Haven Orphanage. Relying on her personal funds and the donations of the people of Mae Sot, Thailand, she was able to expand and take on yet more children. She now has over 60 children under her care. These days Safe Haven Orphanage is more like a large family whose members love and respect each other like brothers and sisters.

Mission & Aims

Safe Haven Orphanage is a home that provides disadvantaged children with proper nurture, nutrition, shelter, clothing, medical care, and education. Safe Haven Orphanage is open to children from all communities, faiths, and cultures.

Who runs Safe Haven Orphanage?

Tasanee and a number of staff run Safe Haven Orphanage. Volunteers from around the world teach English at the local school and provide support at the orphanage.

Supporters

Donations received from volunteers and visitors are used to cover the daily costs of running the orphanage. We also receive support from some Non-Government Organizations (NGO’s) who assist with food supplies and health checks.

Future Plans

Five acres of land have been purchased thanks to a generous donation from Ireland. There are currently a number of building projects in progress on the new land. As funds become available, materials are sourced locally or from Mae Sot and labor is contracted locally. Projects we are looking to complete in the near future include a more sustainable water supply, dormitories for the children and an infirmary/clinic.

Click "HERE" to see photos of the orphanage from their website.

First goal today was to contact Tessanne at Safe Haven to find out if she wanted a piano keyboard. Her voice said it all! She was so excited to hear from me and would love anything we brought. We are continuously amazed at the connections we have been able to make.

At 8 p.m. sharp, our tour van with a guide full of jokes was there to pick us up and we were off to the Maetaman Elephant camp. An hour later, we were watching elephants taking their bath in a river. They laid down on their sides and then sprayed us as they stood up. Then we climbed onto our seat on top and the mahout rode on the elephant's head. Walking right down the river and then into the tropical forest. Sometimes the mahout jumped off and walked behind us teasing us that he was quitting. We swayed side to side lumbering by bamboo, banana and palm trees. An ox cart was waiting for us as soon as we dismounted and took us back to the camp. There we were given time to shop for souvenirs one of which was painting supposedly done by elephants. Right! Well, seeing is believing cause a few minutes later, we saw we our very own eyes, the elephants painting those same pictures. Honestly!!! One elephant could also throw a soccer ball with his trunk and then kick it with his hind foot.







Next we carefully stepped onto a bamboo raft and leisurely floated down the river.

Another huge spread of Thai food filled us up before we took off to a Karen long neck village--or should I say tourist trap. There were about 20 stands--each selling the same items--where a woman or child wearing the traditional gold coils around their necks & knees sat weaving. I peaked behind the stands and could see their bamboo huts where plastic containers sat on the porches and western clothing hung on the bamboo clothes lines drying. How sad to see these indigenous people exploited. What will become of them? Are there more in the thick forest somewhere? I hope so.


Beauty did abound at the Butterfly and Orchid farm we stopped at later--a multitude of gorgeous multi-colored orchid & a variety of butterflies. On our drive back to Chiang Mai, we told our driver we were looking for a piano keyboard. He drove us right to the door of a huge modern mall and less than an hour later, we walked out with just what we were looking for. Bob & Elsi went off looking for a stand and we crawled into the back of a red truck taxi keyboard in tow. A bit later, Ursula and her boyfriend, Aajon met us for pizza and ice cream. Bob's habit is contagious. Ursula & Aajon gave us lots of insight on the Thai and Burma culture and issues. She said Myanmar was the name given to them by the military regime so the Burmese prefer the name Burma. Thai actually like having the Burmese as they have many jobs that need workers. The refugee camps are mostly funded by international groups which again help Thailand. It was a very informative night. Don't think we could have crammed one more thing into this day!!

This morning I tore open my hotel shutters (really) and noticed a school close by so after a quick breakfast, we split to check it out. The students were having a great time playing in the large center area all dressed in vibrant colored uniforms that looked like nylon jogging suits. An English teacher welcomed us and took up to her classroom which was very much like ours in some ways--books, bulletin boards, whiteboard, desk with wooden chairs and tile floor. She said she had 47 students most of whom ate school lunch for $40 per semester--same as we had just paid for one night at the hotel. When we went back down, the students had formed very straight lines and sang (probably the National Anthem) with a small band accompanying them. We were told that since tomorrow was the National Festival of Children, they would be having a special program. I could have stayed all day but we had a bus to catch to Mae Saraing taking us 4 hours deeper into the most remote part of Thailand. But even here we found diet coke, steak & ice cream. We keep piggging out and saying, "This may be our last good meal so we better eat well!"


Since taking pictures as we swayed up & down the winding road was impossible, I jotted down views I wanted to store.
Views from the window driving from Chiang Mai to Mae Saraing:
teak trees being made into lumber
rice paddies
brahma cattle
temples --so many--3 within about a mile
mom holding baby steering motorbike with one hand
large ornate portraits of the king
hillside with 5 temples and lying Buddha
several schools with large blow up slides celebrating Festival of Children
bamboo clothes lines
modern gas station with small bamboo/thatched roof stands on both sides
roadside litter
spotless warehouses
stores with good lined up to the edge of the road
twenty men with pick hoes digging ditch
Coca Cola signs
Michelin man
terrace farming
Bob ID'd a few Fords but mostly Toyota
huge wild poinsettias
dense vegetation
banana grove
outdoor restaurants (one we stopped at charged 2 bahts (7cents) to use the squat style toilet. You get what you pay for. Ugh)
old wrinkly man with winter beanie hat (in about 80 degree weather)
check point with guard
and more richly adorned temples

Thu 1/06/11 6:57 AM

Leaving for Mai Sariang‏

Hi Bek,

We rode elephants up a river, floated down a river on a bamboo raft and saw some tigers today (in a cage). More adventure to come...

Love to all,
Dad




What the person who created the above video writes about Chiang Mai:
We rode a 15 year old elephant (just an adolescent) at the Maetamann Elephant Camp in Chiang Mai followed by the rafting down the Ping River. The old city of Chiang Mai with its fascinating indigenous cultural identity such as diverse dialects, cuisine, architecture, traditional values, festivals, handicrafts and classical dances is a prime location in its own right. In addition, the presence of hill tribes and their wealth of unique cultures enhance Chiang Mai's distinctive diversity. Chiang Mai literally means new city and has retained the name despite having celebrated its 700th anniversary in 1996. King Meng Rai founded the city as the capital of the Lanna (A Million Rice Fields) Kingdom on Thursday, 12th April 1296 during the same period of time as the establishment of the Sukhothai Kingdom. King Meng Rai the Great conferred with his friends, King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai and King Ngam Muang of Phayao before choosing the site where the capital of the Lanna Kingdom was to be founded. From then, Chiang Mai not only became the capital and cultural core of the Lanna Kingdom, it was also the centre of Buddhism in northern Thailand. King Meng Rai himself was very religious and founded many of the city's temples, which are still important today.
At the height of its power, the Lanna Kingdom extended its territory far into Burma and Laos, and southwards to Kamphaeng Phet a province above Sukhothai.
The Burmese conquered the Lanna Kingdom in 1556 ending the dynasty founded by King Meng Rai that lasted over 250 years. As Burma had occupied Chiang Mai for nearly 200 years, Burmese architectural influences are visible in many temples. At the end of the 18th century, King Taksin the Great regrouped the Thais in the south and finally drove the Burmese out with the help of King Kawila of Lampang thereby regaining Thai independence from Burma. Chiang Mai was then governed by a succession of princes who ruled the north as a Siamese protectorate under the Chakri dynasty. In the late 19th century, King Rama V appointed a high commissioner in Chiang Mai and it was only in 1939 that Chiang Mai finally came under the direct control of the central government in Bangkok the same time the country was renamed Thailand.
In the past, Chiang Mai was only accessible by river and elephants. More convenient access was achieved only when the railway line was completed in the late 1920's. Moreover, the first motor vehicle driven directly from Bangkok arrived in Chiang Mai in 1932. Such isolation was more favorable to Chiang Mai as it helped to nurture and preserve the unique Lanna culture.
When we look at Chiang Mai today, it is the economic, cultural and communications hub of northern Thailand complete with excellent infrastructure, good roads, by passes and road tunnels, and reliable communications infrastructure.

I now know how Alice in Wonderland felt when she stepped through the tiny door! Today we boated out about ten miles toward majestic islands that jutted up out the turquoise water. They were wrapped in a haze giving you the sensation that you were in a different world. We stopped at a tranquil beach on one of the islands to swim and wait for low tide. About an hour later, we hopped back on the boat headed for Hong island.
There we boarded rubber canoes paddled by a Thai who took us first under huge overhanging cliffs and then into a hidden opening. Laying down flat, we got a close up view of the water carved walls as we listened to the sides of our canoes scrap the sides. And then it happened! The bright sunlight appeared and we were in the center of the island surrounded by 300 ft cliffs in a glistening pool about the size of a football field. A variety of bushes, trees and vines cascaded down the cliffs and eagles circled the opening above. A surreal wonderland. We paddled through several caves off that one and on other islands for the next several hours--awed again and again. Sparkling stalactites, bats, walking fish, jellyfish and swimming monkeys added to the uniqueness of each of the caves. Elsi had the monkeys eating out of her hands. Wonderland.





Back at the hotel, we jumped into the pool for a quick swim before gorging on another three course Thai feast. Then Elsi went off for a massage while the rest of us checked out the many pictures we'd taken of the caves. Tomorrow we leave this paradise where dragon and eyeball were names of fruit we ate. Will we ever taste such sweet pineapple juice, luscious pastry or exquisite Thai food again???

Jan 5--Bob's 73rd birthday--one he won't forget. A breakfast of fresh & unusual fruits, homemade pastry, cheese, eggs & bacon filled us up and then off to the airport for our flight to Chiang Mai. Here we checked into 3 Sis B & B and booked a tour for tomorrow.

Then I contacted Ursula who is a friend of the daughter of a friend of our church friend, Vicki Utke. Long story but the fact that all those connections were made and we got to meet up with her here a half a world away--amazing. Traveling sure gives you the sense that we are all connected if only we take the opportunity to find out how!! Ursula told us all about her mission (WeWomen) and was thrilled with the M & M's we brought her. She directed the boys to the best computer store & off they went coming back with a great find which will be donated to Safe Haven thanks to our church mission/men & women committees.
Our next mission was to find a piano keyboard...but first we went for a short walk around the block and just as Elsi mentioned that she wondered where we'd find one...boom, she saw a music store!! We checked that out but decided we'd wait to purchase until we had a bit more info & we needed to find music lesson books. Guess where we found them??? Right next door to our hotel. God surely is pulling strings for us.
In between all this running around, we ate lunch. Bob & Elsi were ready for hamburgers & fries, Jane wanted plain ham & cheese & fries--but guess Rog hadn't had enough Thai yet as he slurped down more Thai soup. We hunted down ice cream to celebrate Bob's birthday and found banana splits. An Italian family joined in as we sang Happy Birthday.
On our way back to the hotel, we stopped again at the music store. The store clerk we had talked with wasn't there but we were asked to wait just one minute...then out came he came, with wt hair and a towel wrapped around him. He kept a straight face as he answered some more of Bob & Elsi's questions--but Jane couldn't help but just crack up. Gotta love how Thai people are so willing to help--even if it means jumping out the shower!!

When I begin to wonder if our trip is really encouraged by God...especially after having so much fun...something happens like this: we had lugged about 70 pounds of children books with us that I was hoping to find a good home for in Bangkok so we didn't have to lug them any further. About a month before we left, a man visited our church who was involved in a mission (Servant Works) helping young women in Bangkok get out of the prostitution ring. Many of them had children. After several emails, I got their Bangkok phone number and so I tried calling. No luck. I asked the clerk at the hotel we were staying to try the phone number. Jackpot. Not only did he contact them--he knew the director!! Of all the hotels in Bangkok we could have stayed in ...how can you not get goose bumps and feel that God is smiling down on us!!

Servant Work:

Today (Sun) it was good bye Bangkok...hello Phuket or should I say paradise??? We arrived at Bann Malinee where sweet, fresh pineapple juice & a gorgeous beach awaited us. As the four of us floated in the turquoise water, we laughed & said, is this really a mission trip??? We reassured ourselves that we were filling our spirit so that we had lots to give later. Eric (the Belgium B &B owner)had a three course meal ready for us to devour when we got back from the beach. Elsi dove into the soup only to get a red pepper in her first bite--HOT!! That should have taught Bob not to do the same thing but guess he had to experience it for himself. Lesson: red or green could be mean. That sure didn't stop us for loving the shrimp coconut soup, egg rolls and two other dishes that were gorgeous & delicious but I sure don't know what they were. A long soak in the pool was a soothing way to end this day.

Monday morning began with an amazing breakfast buffet--fresh local fruit, cheese, liver pate, homemade breads/rolls, bacon & eggs. Eric had arranged for a driver that took us all around the island. We saw poster perfect beaches on bays filled with yachts, sailboats and long boats. We walked Kamala beach where just a few years ago the tsunami killed many and destroyed so much. A monument that looks like a tumbleweed.

Next we went to a gibbon rehabiliation center which has had much success. I wish I could send you the sound they made as they talked to each other.

Then we hiked up through a rainforest to a waterfall. It was fun to see the kids swimming in the pools playing on floating logs. In route we passed through towns with some of the same small businesses that we saw in India and Kenya--I honestly think there is a manual out there that tells how to build a small business in a third world country. Phuket's were a bit better. Right next door to these shacks were 7/11 stores. Here tires are used in so many ways. They make trash containers by turning them inside out and mounting them on halves of bicycle tires. Motor cycles had large side cars mounted on a single bicycle wheel. And on last great idea, the traffic lights have count down numbers. We ended up the day with a great swim and another gourmet meal which included crab and duck. Does life get better??

What a way to spend New Year's Day! This is one huge city that crammed in the new high rise modern buildings right next to the old dilapidated and then added a fast sky ride so you can see it all quickly as you travel about.
Since the names of everything are so foreign and hard to pronounce, we came up with nicknames to help. Example: Wong Wei = wrong way, Thong Lo = thong low (as in undies) and Mo Chit = no shit. Wong Wei truly earned it's name when Elsi started going down the wrong escalator at the Wong Wei transit station. When she heard us shout , she quickly turned around and ran back up. She looked like she was dong the Michael Jackson moon walk!

This city maximizes the use of boats--all sizes and shapes. So we hopped on a long boat with it's huge motor propped on the back and sped off. Bangkok is called the Asian Venice as there are lots of small canals going off the main muddy river and both the river and canals have homes and business built on pilings right over the water. Some of the homes & businesses have been there for years and are partially leaning or underwater and others are new and gorgeous. We saw kids swimming & fishing, floating markets selling trinkets, drinks & ice cream, barges pulled by tug boats and a variety of different party boats including some that looked like Noah's ark. We stopped at a large floating market where they were selling lots of unidentifiable food that filled the air with pungent odors. One boat was selling small turtles & eels which we were encouraged to buy and then set free so that they might live. Now there's a brilliant way to make money--catch the turtles & eels, sell them so people feel good about setting them free & then catch them again!!

Bangkok is famous for the Golden Palace and the humongous leaning Buddha so we made sure we took in both. We were not the only ones--actually of the 10 million who live here, I think about 1/10 also came to put roses, lotus flowers, candles or burn incense in order to honor Buddha. Add the many tourist and cram all of us shoeless through one five foot door--sardines in can might understand. But it was worth it--what splendor. Gold, mirrors, jewel and ceramic tiles created many huge, magnificent and ornate buildings and statues. It took ten minutes just to walk by the leaning Buddha. After a quick rest back at our hotel, we took off looking for the Puppet Theater only to find it closed. We did get to watch a short clip & see a couple puppets though. We ate dinner in an authentic Thai restaurant that was filled with locals. We'll see how we feel tomorrow. We did top it off with some KFC ice cream so that should help. We were glad we'd mastered the Sky Train routine that whisked us back to our hotel.

We saw this saying on a sign today and thought it should be our motto for this trip: Enlarge your visions and be fascinated by the people surrounding you. Tomorrow we leave for Phuget...

Happy New Year's from Bangkok!! After about 36 hours of traveling, we arrived just a few minutes before midnight (Bangkok time) and pounded on Elsi & Bob's door shouting "Happy New Year!!!" Our first flight out of Detroit was cancelled but we managed to get another flight quickly and therefore, we made all the rest of our connections. Had a short time in Seoul and got to play a New Year's game & listen to a live band. We just had ham, bacon, hotdog, toast and salad with thousand island for breakfast at this B & B and now we'll catch a tuk-tuk so we can check out Bangkok. All is well and looking forward to this New Year adventure.
Roger and Jane

We're back home

Back on US soil again...it feels good and immediately we expect that everything will work since we were back in familiar territory. Better think again! Travel home started on Friday morning with us getting up in Kolkata and having a quick breakfast with Chii, Katerina (from Slovakia and soon leaving for Darjeeling), Father Donald and others at BMS. Taxi to the airport then a two hour flight to Delhi...Himalayas in the distant north looked like low clouds on the horizon. Villages below appeared to be very close together with only a few fields separating one from the next. How else can 1,000,000,000 people fit in this country? Arriving in Delhi we were met by our driver who took us around to see a few more sights before arriving back at the travel office where we met up with the owner,Baljeet Singh, a Sikh. He had invited to his house for dinner. Baljeet introduced us to his daughter, Simron (14 and happy to practice her English with Jane). She brought cokes and tea then started bringing plates and dishes of food for us. Rice, dal, chick peas in spicy sauce, and sliced cucumber and tomato as well as raita (curd spiced with more onion and cucumber). For dessert there was a honey sweetened treat made from ground chick peas. Baljeet's wife stayed in the kitchen and appeared to be too shy to do more than smile and say "Hello" or was it just unacceptable for her to visit with the men and guests during the meal?. Baljeet's brother-in laws (Manj from New York and Tony from Delhi) were also visiting and we talked about conflict in the world and agreed that since war has been a constant in the hisory of the world and even though we hope for a better future there is little reason to believe it will change. Meanwhile, Jane and Simron went to another room to play with Simron's little cousin. She wants to be a fashion designer and when Jane asked if she thought that women in India will someday adopt western clothing as the men have, she said, "They don't wear sarees in America?"
Soon we were back on a plane chasing the night from Delhi to New York. Our flight left at 1 AM and arrived in NY at about 5 AM the same night/morning (early Saturday). We flew through the darkness for about 16 hours as we dozed, watched movies, read, ate three meals, and tracked our progress across Afghanistan, the Aral Sea, western Russia or Ukraine, Finland, Sweden, Norway, North of Iceland, across Greenland, Labrador, and finally the USA. It was a very long night...
Arriving in New York we were excited to be home and enjoy the comraderie of our fellow Americans and enjoy the luxuries that we now appreciate a bit more. One of the first Americans we met on the plane loudly complained about how she was sick of "all the Indians cutting in front of her all the time". She also generally described India as dirty and the people lazy. Did she not realize that most of the people around us were Indians that were fluent in English and were simply too polite to argue with her. We found her to be an ugly American and were not interested in being associated with her. This experience made us appreciate the Americans that we had met in Kolkata who were cut from different cloth.
After boarding the last plane for the flight to Detroit, our captain informed us that there was a problem with the flush handle on the toilet and management had decided that since it was unreasonable to expect the passengers to "hold it" for the one hour flight to Detroit the flight was being cancelled. Having just arrived from India where it was common to see busses held together with twine, overloaded transportation of all types, bamboo scaffolding constructed on the sides of high rise buildings, and leaking boats that were considered OK as long as water being bailed out was keeping up with water coming in...this toilet flush button didn't seem like it should be a big concern. But this is how it is in America. They put us up in the Sheraton and here I am using their computer and enjoying our accommodations at the expense of the airline that cancelled the flight. It is good to be home. Rog