Some More Thai and "Juicy Stuff"

Well, it has been a while I realize. I have been quite busy catching up to the American way - race, race, race then hit the pillow! Hopefully I will be able to finish adding pictures of the trip and add my "Juicy stuff" - or my thoughts, reflections, and learned concepts - before getting tired and having to go to bed!

This is the place we stayed in while in Chiangklang. Courtney, Kathy and I shared a room again!

Here is our room! We had to walk down the sidewalk to get to the restrooms! Very nice accommodations!

This is the view from our room door. There is a farmer tending his cattle. There is a rooster out there somewhere - I heard him most mornings!

One evening, Pua Baptist Church hosted a bonfire in the front yard of the church. We roasted marshmallows, cooked some kind of mini hot dogs, and little balls of pork!

On Sunday, after worship, Saman lead the baptisms. About 15 kids were baptized.

I assisted in baptizing Nut...

...and Goi! How cool was that!

Saman, the Pastor of Pua Baptist Church, and his wife Nok take care of about 19 girls in the Grace House. (With the help of a house assistant,too.) These girls are between the ages of 5 and 14 and used to live in the hills. Most of them are Hmong and, with the permission from their families, were brought down to the town of Pua, to have the opportunity to attend a better school, and a Christian church. The girls are able to visit their families every week or so, and enjoy doing so.

This is the Grace House - located adjacent to Saman and Nok's house.

This is where the girls sleep. They roll out the mats and hang the netting over them to keep the mosquitoes off of them.

Here are all the girls' cubbies.

Here is their kitchen. The little pots are where they cook their own rice, over burning wood.

One day, we went up to visit some of the girls' families in the hill tribes.

Here is Mai and Sapropon singing in the van.

Here are the rooftops of the homes in the Hill tribes.

As we walked from home to home, praying for each of the families, we passed by this large white building, which is their school.

This is inside one of the homes. This corner of the home would be considered the kitchen.

We kept walking for hours! Up and down the little dirt trails between all the homes.

Here is a monkey! He was on display at the National Forestry .

We took a break for lunch. We ate barbecued chicken, sticky rice, and I can't remember the rest!

Beautiful view!

This is Manee. She is the oldest girl in the Grace House, and a real sweetheart! She helped me learn to count in Thai! Manee just recently came to KC with Nok and Saman to visit our church. It was lots of fun. We were able to get together several times!

This is Manee's home.

We went in and visited her family. Here parents were happy for her to be coming to America.

Still more walking!

One day we taught English at the school in Pua.

Here are the students eating lunch.

Washing out their dishes after eating!



After teaching at their school - Manee and Nut found me and we exchanged big hugs! I'm not sure of the name of the little girl on the right!

Then we had Pad Thai for lunch - Yum!

That is all I can do tonight - I promise more - again!

By the way, I may be going again in June! Please pray for me and my family as I prepare to make that decision.