The Bamboo School Journal

Praise God for ID

The Cat — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 08:13:00 +0000

This week has been a frenz of God's love down on us..... visits by Royal Thai Police, by local police at a regional level, and schools.... then we thought it was love of the pretty young volunteers as an attracting force!! Finally the kids came home with slips of paper written in Thai... roughly translated into: Take these kids to the District Government Office this week!

Today was the day. Three trips later we have had 30 kids inspected, resulting in Thai ID cards for Quarlar, Chargehgey,Dang, Po Kwar Lay, Ma Eh, Thelamoo, Leeda, Oray, Eskimo, Bo Kwar Chore, Nitya, Tulow, Porsue, Pongpat, and Neeti getting ID cards issued today for the grand cost of 10 baht each! The other kids including, Lisa, Bulartoo, Pothawah, Sony, Biblarwah, Lewahtoo, Ah Poo, will be issued full ID cards next year. Other kids still have a problem: Wassana has no name in the computer, Narget and Thenaroo have no resgistration anywhere as yet. They need our prayers for their on going ID issues. When Muwai comes home, we will try to address the issue then.

Cher Tha Pwee

The Cat — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 06:12:00 +0000

While I was away and since Dong has been away visiting family, Cher Tha Pwee had decided that he didn't need to take medicine. He had Thalaseemia Major, resulting in surgery to remove his spleen. This week he started with high fevers and a pasty look.

On Thursday night, I decided to take him to the hospital. My volunteers, Josh, Rochelle and Peter took him in, admitted and ready to test. He has since developed a sore throat, and continues with high fevers.

It appears he has a pneumococcal infection requiring antibiotics and his anemia levels are critical, now requiring a blood transfusion. Please pray for this little guy. He has been so looking forward to starting school in May. We intend on him recieving a vaccine against this infection as soon as he is well enough to undergo the jab. Josh has already donated the funds for this.

In the meantime, Peter has continued to build the babies playground with a sandpit and a small seesaw. Yesterday's storm brought down the scaffolding for the shade cloth, so now we understand the strength and limitations of bamboo, eh Peter!

Cher Tha Pwee

The Cat — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 06:12:00 +0000

Home coming

The Cat — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 20:59:00 +0000

I have just spent a month experiencing reverse culture shock, but God made up for all the negatives. Here are some of the highlights:

I met new friends and recieved a lot of positive feed back regarding the work of God happening in "Down Under land" . Especially good was spending time with Janine and her team in Melbourne. Having breakfast with Timothy's mother; sharing laughter with new styled "underwear showing" kids who filled my heart by coming to the airport with me; and believing in the answers to prayer.

Returning to Tui Ridge Park to meet old friends, and new prayer partners, to hasten the return of Jesus.

Going doing family stuff with my sister and family, including watching the horses race, (!) helping milk the cows, visiting the sick and discovering my nephew (a policeman) has turned to God in a personal way.

Looking at the wealth of people in Australia and New Zealand, and finding them more than willing to share; they were eager to help financially with God's work.

Having people planning to come to visit, not to look but to help, in this year. (The first one has almost beaten me to my door!

Hugging a dark hair child, to feel little arms around my neck, when I was missing my own little ones.

Catching up with two of my girls, finding them all grown up and married! I now await the wedding photoes that I missed out on.

To have friend ring me up and talk far into the night, because they have been to my place, and know what I was missing. They are missing it too.

Getting safely onto the plane and return to find no one at the airport to meet me. I was happy to be able to direct the taxi to Sam's and have a flat bed to stretch out on after hours in flight. Then to have the taxi driver guess my age at 45... I suggested that he have his eyes checked at Bangkok Adventist Mission hospital!

God brought me home, to where I know I am in his grace and the right place for this moment.

God is in control?

The Cat — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 05:12:00 +0000

It's been a buzy time, me getting ready to leave for an extended trip to down-under, and a team take over... plus the medical / dentistry / visiting teams....

Firstly the "shop until you drop" team from NZ came, so now we go up to 3 star ratings.... we have a drink dispenser, (cold water) proper tresle tables for sitting at, medical cabinets and furniture in my house! WOW says Zac.

Then Tom and Alice flew in for just two days. They gained our hearts with their dedication. Non-stop dental treatments for every child in the Bamboo school, plus some village people. Eskimo had cosmetic treatment to his front teeth... loking good!

The CSW team from Hong Kong came with Dr JoJo. They undertook medical work, while Chato and Heather dispensed rice, clothing and essentials to the villages where ever we were. They went into No Man's land to sing carols and dispense candles with the children.... even singing to the police... many brownie points earned for that one!

We are under full security measures at present, police groups everywhere. However the police enjoyed out singing so much they now all wave to us as we drive past, illegal kids and all! However it is a warning to visitors coming in. Please contact the group at school, before you travel into the area... no surprize visits. You can email Glenys who is taking care of hosting, on dgtilley@ hotmail.com.

In the meantime, I am in NZ for the first time in 15 years. What a change... new roads, development everywhere, prices of everything expensive!!! I keep converting into Thai baht, and feel guilty about eating that much... one hot drink is equivalent to the total amount I spent on my teachers Christmas dinner.... shame on me! It is great to have met up with the Tauranga church team who are looking forward to visiting us this year, maybe to help with the hospice project.

My sister and I met on the side of the road, one look and both said," You look like Mum"... My friends Robert and Carol thought we looked the same... okay since I am the much older one. I then found my brother-in-law who looks the same as 15 years ago.

Happy Birthday Bilay! A surprize birthday for him and for Sue who is helping out at Bamboo School as nurse in charge. Prayer them to have a great day, celebrating the birthday of Jesus together with all my little ones.

May God control things at Bong Ti... may He also control my feelings of being so far away at this time.

WARNING

The Cat — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 08:26:00 +0000

Hearts are broken if you stay too long with us. Timothy and David report they are changed after staying just a few weeks.... Renee and Arthur, together with Heidi are still adjusting after months being repatriated... so tissues are sent home with all guests staying longer than a month.... its all we can do. The rest is up to you.

Excited, timid, upsidedown, yet at peace

The Cat — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 08:15:00 +0000

It is almost time to fly. Count down time. I wonder how much NZ has changed. I know I have changed... bumps, lumps and wrinkles! This week the team building has begun, in readiness for my departure. I feel left out a bit.

Firstly Sue has arrived from Australia to take over the clinical work, today going through the ropes of inductions to our support at Sai Yok hospital, Dr Supat. He gave us a truck full of medicine in readiness for the medical team arriving tomorrow.

Ruth and Colin are in residence, mainly running the school and duties of students. Little Zac now sleeps at their house at night. I have had my first big bed experience, one without a squirming little one.

Glenys is helping with food, shopping and the guest hostessing. All of them are teaching... so what is Momo doing??? cleaning up, packing, making powerpoint presentations and printing on the new printer, a business card!!

We have a new village to care for, Judor. It is about 35 minutes from us, down a horrible road. Please pray that we can bring the first Christian message into them, via the medical team visit this Friday.

I am looking forward to the dentists treating our kids teeth tomorrow also.. Hopefully this will encourage our kids to care for what God has given them.

May God bless each of you as you begin to count days to Christmas and New Year celebrations. The Bamboo School will start today. we are carving candles with words of Christ, to give to each house in our village. He is the light of the World, so we give light.

God is still good, but we are hot

The Cat — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 07:50:00 +0000

Currently the weather temperatures are high... usual for this time of the year in Thailand!! Maybe it is getting me ready for the trip into the NZ summmer!!!

I have been through a bit of a time at Mission hospital. I had another "funny" lump in my hair line behind the right ear. The lump became inflamed, swollen and painful. I was given medication to get it under control, with surgery scehduled for last Tuesday. However I ran late (again) so I missed my normal doctor. Instead, I saw another dermatologist. He thought he was looking at an old scab, so he went in with the forceps, ripping off the top of a large bloody papule. Then he needed to sear the wound to stop the bleeding.... the local injections did not stop the pain. It throbbed all the way home. Fortunately Glenys was here to drive home.

The wound is now healing on the surface, but all the hair has fallen out of that area! New fashion!! It teaches me to keep appointments with those you trust.

Our NZ "Fly and shop" team came to endower us with all necessary items, the king of gifts being a water cooler! The kids think it is great. Lyndsay, Trish and Jill joined the kids in a soccer game in the heat of Sunday afternoon.... Kum's team winning the sports bags.

A new village baby was delivered, to the hospital by David. Hence the baby was given the name of David.... just as well it was a boy! Glenys has gone north with Somsri, to visit a Karen village. Wait until she sees the little cubby one!

The fly and dig team of Nathan has returned to USA, minus one of their team. Patrick decided to change his flights and will stay another 2 weeks with us.

It's only 3 weeks until I fly out to NZ and Australia.... Who is nervous?

One liners for God

The Cat — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 03:35:00 +0000

Christian One Liners

Don't let your worries get the
best of you, remember, Moses started out as a basket case
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited
until you try to sit in their pews
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
The good Lord didn't create anything
without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God
lives there
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
People are funny; they want the front of the
bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Opportunity may knock once, but temptation
bangs on your front door forever
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Quit griping about your
church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
If the church wants a
better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
God Himself does not propose
to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Some minds are like concrete
thoroughly mixed up and permanently set
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Peace starts with a smile
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
I don't know why some people
change churches; what difference does
it make which one you stay home from
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
A lot of church members who are singing "Standing
on the Promises" are sitting on the premises
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Don't put a question mark where God put a period
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Forbidden fruits create many jams
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
God grades on the cross, not the curve
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
God loves everyone, but probably prefers
fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts"
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
He who angers you, controls you
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
If God is your Co-pilot - swap seats
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

Prayer

Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
The task ahead of us is never as
great as the Power behind us

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
The Will of God never takes you to
where the Grace of God will not protect you
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
We don't change the message, the message changes us
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
You can tell how big a person is by what it takes
to..........discourage him
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
The best mathematical equation I have ever seen
1cross + 3 nails =4 given
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

Devil attacks us, but God is biger than him

The Cat — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 03:15:00 +0000

Bilay is attacked by the Devil... the "church members" decided that Bilay needed to publically declare his sins, and stand down from office for three months, as also needed his girlfriend! The incident was that 2 years ago Bilay slept in the girl's dormitory!! However I know that Bilay AND 20 other boys slept there because Momo was away in USA, and Baby John had cried for two nights, leaving the girls tired and grumpy. All the boys went over to play guitar, sing songs and pacify the baby!! Such a mis report, but enough to shame the kids.. the church members since wrote a letter to say "sorry". Too late, as Balarshree decided being Bilay's girl is just too hard. Bilay is heart-broken! Then Bilay's friend, Darjac was caught by the police, taken from the church last Sabbath, as he had run from a police check point near the refugee camp. Apparently he was beaten senseless in the jail. All too much at one time. Please keep Bilay in your prayers.

Then my neck lymph nodes decided to take a hot time... they swoll until they burst, sticking me to my pillow. The lengths the Father goes to to keep my in bed! Now I am on antibiotics to reduce the infection, prior to having surgery to remove the offending nodes!

So God sends in the reinforcements! Nathan, Lisa and their team have returned and they are digging another well and tiolet hole for us.. this time up at the lakeside. We have David and Glenys from Australia, busy fixing everything... the Car is having an overhaul, the bikes are having oil changes, and toilet doors are being re-swung. Also David is helping out with wound care patients. Glenys is the cuddle snug one, and sewing pretty patches on the backsides of the boys pants!! I am wrapped up in a new "cat" quilt. They are such a support team.

Then God sends in the double blessings of Colin and Ruth, with their 4 delightful children. They are here to help out for a couple of days prior to having a holiday as a family before beginning their job in December... already they took over worship last night teaching a new "straight from the bible" song, and teaching the lower two groups for me. God can make me feel like I can rest and know He is in control. Bless you for all your prayers. They have been abundantly answered!

God is buzy again as always

The Cat — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 02:20:00 +0000

We have just had such a hard week... Somsri had exams and God sent many helpers//// Some helpful, but the devil came in also. Money was stolen and shared between kids, food pre-pared was pre-eaten by big boys, and clothing for the villages was taken by our well clothed kids.

However looking back, we got a well and toilet built for Oray's village, as well as the bridge built "to Burma" so that village will never be the same! This was done by a team meant for Helen Hall, but she didn't need them at this time, so we got the blessings.

The US medical team came in and we served the people of Wahkardo, Oray, Seemookon as well as a new village near Bong Ti Noi. Praise God for Ruthie and Helaine for their patience, humor and energy. We even got to share the guest house one night. We have many tales to tell of midnight fallen angels, and placeboes being administered!

Then Pozo family came in and are helping with the day to day events of the school... they are so encouraging. This family is on their return to India for the next 4 months.

Then we had some itinerant visitors wander in ex Aussie... a buzy week. Everyone working together, drawing pictures of heaven on earth. Reality today with the kids returning from holidays, school starting, washing to be done, etc.

Workers together

The Cat — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 09:05:00 +0000

Well, you know the saying, when it comes, it comes in multiple forms.... this week, without any arrangements we have the ultimate crew on hand.. the medical team members for clinics; the digging team for wells; the tiolet establishment team; the bridge building team; the spare car driver and now the bakers!! We have them all, plus our regular team... AND we have almost no kids since it is holidays!! All the good time will come to an end this weekend when the teams from USA go home, our girl from Australia returns home and the kids come back from holidays! I will write more next week. Cat

Timothy reports

The Cat — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 06:35:00 +0000

well this is a very new and funny story for me. I've been up and down with the
boys, had a lot of encouragement from the team from the MV Doulos. I had my
camera go missing; talked to momo and she talked to the boys, and half an hour
later one of the boys casually walked me to it. It was really scary nearly
lossing that one. so just yesterday two boys were naughty AGAIN. I wasn't really
involved in the growling. I asked Somsee if she was going to beat them, (I
didnt want them to be and they thought i did). So the rest of the day was
showing them i loved them. One responded, the other didn't...guess who (Bulartoo). The one that responded, wanted to cut my hair, just a little bit (not a lot)
I said I'd pay 40 bamboo baht (the bamboo schools money). He agreed and come the
time today, he started. I had put strict rules that my "just-growing-back"
beard must stay untouched, and then he was off. But my sponsored boy, Bulartoo wanted to help. I had two boys chopping up my hair! Then Then-na-oo decided to
shave my side burns. I thought he was combing it but then I felt the blades
I yelled "what are you doing!" I got a mirror and I wanted to cry! My
dearly loved beard was missing a big patch of hair. He never helped again.
Then we had Dong come along, now with Dong, momo had said to me a few weeks
ago "whatever u do, never let Dong cut ur hair" so i said "Dong u can not". but
he didnt listen. He chopped away...soon i looked like martin luther when he
was a monk. Johann the german (from the doulos) came and kinda saved the
day.There was no way my hair looked like bilays so i changed it to make it
like kums, i soon looked like vanilla ice. i changed my preference and said to them all make it like Johann's cos it wasnt going like kum's either. so Johann showed them how to layer the hair and as they went on the piece on the shaver that was keeping it long fell off and i had a bald spot on the side of my head! then i said shave it off now and Johann helped them make it look kinda nice. so my years work of
growing my hair has be ruined in one hour. i asked for it though, now i
start again. i got my other side of the face fixed up and i still have a
little beard. i now have a personal shaver who i will pay ten bamboo baht to
everyweek to shave my face. his fine with it and so am i. Johann and i
concluded it was great fun for the boys, an adventure for me and a new
experience for him because he was teaching Narget, my personal barber how to shave
and therefore helped shave my face! now its not new for me to have my hair
this length, dad used to do it all the time to my brother and i. i still
gave the money to the kids and i have accepted that my hair is gone. it
means this time next year it will be a little longer then it was now and i
can stay a little cooler for this summer cause i dont have a ball of hair
on my head. If narget ( t silent) had of done it him self it would have
turned out really good, but my boy needed to play around with his sponsor
because there's been so much tention between us recently i was kinda ok
with the outcome.
Besides this year the girls now sleep in the old boys dorm and the boys have transferred into the girls. It really works, although we only have 5 boys and two girls at the moment! we'll see.

God is helping me through so many things at the moment, he's gone shopping
for me and i now have more clothes. some clothes i wont be wearing because
they are womens clothes and i have special people in mind for them back in
australia. i get very home sick when the kids play up, im learning to
address them in a stern but loving way when their being naughty and letting
them use my electronics at certain times. i love them so much and im praying
about sponsoring 4 boys instead of just one. im looking at a practical way
of doing this when i come home. im visiting the Doulos on saturday! i look
forward to it. the team have been great: they carry water with the kids and
have a program at 1pm every day for the kids. and they have been praying for
bulartoo and the others. there are 3 girls switserland, finland and south
africa, and two guys from germany and a country near russia starts with t i
think and ends with stan. this ones name is jumpshit and momo and i never
like saying his name! we joke about it because we're the only ones that
understand its english meaning. i usually just address him straight avoiding
saying his name and momo just says jump... and smiles.

oh iv heard from my friend Darjet that my other good friend one chai who has
been out of the refugee camp is now back in it and he is hoping to visit us
really soon. iv been waiting 6 weeks already i just want to see him!
any way i dont think theres much more to talk about, but im differently
being stretched and im carrying 4 normal sided buckets of water a day at the
moment with maybe one big bucket if my shoulders feel up the challenge with
the bamboo. momo saw me do it today and she wanted to get a photo to show
mum but i told her mum has already seen that cos i carried it with onechai
last time i was here. ok so god bless! pray for me everyday because everyday
there is something new for me to do, which reminds me yesterday i had to
clean dang's fathers wound without momo being there! now a few weeks ago
dangs father returned from burma, dang has been the best little guy EVER
since his back and its built a deeper friendship between him and i for some
reason, i think he can see i am really welcomeing of his father being around
and i encourage dang to spend as musch time with him as he can cause they
have a year and a half to catch up on. but he is great right now and last
night his father slept at the school and he was playing guitar and singing
and dang was lying next to me and says "teacher, my father" and pointed down
stairs with a smile. i said "yeah i know his really good", because he is.
and then he gave me a tight hug. anyway the wound his father had... he got
an infection in his bone and they treated it in hospital and he stayed there
a few days. then yesterday he came for wound cleaning and my boy came along
and helped me and i was sooooo nervous! but i did everything right and his
coming back today so momo can do it today. so yeh i had a taste of medical
yesterday. iv also tought the boys how to make books! so ill get them to
put covers on them soon and bring them back to australia sell them and earn
the boys some money.

Alive and well

The Cat — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 04:23:00 +0000

We are into a new month, now with a new Prime Minister in Thailand... we didn't notice the old one had left, unless we went into bangkok. You can imagine my surprize when I drove down last week, to see the tanks and soldiers everywhere!! I knew nothing. No news is good news, ignorance is bliss" until that sight met the eyes.

Our kids are now onboard the Doulos, and the boys sound as though they are having a ball! I spoke to them this morning. They are working on board as volunteers, giving help instead of receiving it. A great development tool! They are also having their eyes opened as to the number of christian writers and resources there are in English language. This ship, MV Doulos is a floating book shop.

Back home we are finishing examinations and preparing for holiday time. Many of the kids will go off site to visit family and friends for two weeks. However a group of about 20 will remain home as they have no where to go.

Ice Creana will go for work with Mrs Udom in Bangkok. It is a great opportunity for her to earn her independance. She is a little nervous about her first break away from us. Na is still away, but she wrote to me, she will try to run away back to here. Her father has put her to work "for the family needs".... he says that now we have got her an ID card, she doesn't need any more education. I am so disappointed as she had only three weeks to finish elementary school!

Zac is a big boy now. When Mowai came home from CAA this week, Zac declared his brotherhood, and promptly packed his little bag, going off to visit Muwai's family for a night. It is the first "stop over" for him.

Baby Johann is now at last sleeping through the night. We top him up with milk at 9pm and he sleeps through until 4am. A vast improvement in lifestyle for us.

We are trialling a new diet for school. When Nigh came home, I made Bilay and Nigh work with Somsee to make a better vegan diet for the school. It is having a few comments, but my kids are good at eating what they are given!! Not that they have an alternative!

I am counting down the days of visitors prior to returning home to NZ and Australia for Christmas. Now I have the tickets in hand, it is real to me... God is so good.

Bibles vs Cell phones

The Cat — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 04:15:00 +0000

I just received this neat message:

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bibles like we treat our cell phones? What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to go and get it if we forgot it?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we used it to recieve messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave them to the kids as gifts?
What if we used it as we traveled?
What if we used it in case of an emergency?
What if we upgraded it to get the latest version?
This is something to make you go.... hmmmm.... where is my Bible?

Oh and one more thing... unlike our cell phones, we don't ever have to worry about our Bible being disconnected, because Jesus already paid the bill!

Connect with others via God

The Cat — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 07:24:00 +0000

DOULOS

This Christian ship travels around the world, training young people, giving access to Christian books and resources, and bringing hope to the people. We are fortunate and blessed by contact with this group.

Emelie from Holland, came to visit us from the ship. As a result we will have a group of young people come to our school during the holidays to run village evangelism through vacation Bible school program at Bong Ti, as visitation to villages from where our children come from. As well, four young Bamboo people will join the Ship crew as volunteers for two weeks. It is exciting for Bilay, Somsee, Lukai and Kum to experience this lifestyle and learning; to gain a wider base of Christian friends and to see God’s work in motion.

If anyone wants further details please look at www.mvdoulos.org

Happy Sabbath

The Cat — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 05:40:00 +0000

It has been a great week for the school... yesterday we killed two poisonous snakes before they got the kids.... close stuff! The first one was in the girls dormitory, spotted by Nam Tip.... Timothy had hair standing up on his arms, just looking at it. We went off to do the shopping. When we came home we were greeted by the long body of a black hooded cobra, chased by the boys, but killed by our girl, MuMu Tway. Timothy has some great pictures to show off!

Talking of Timothy: He arrived on Tuesday and he is already into the swing of teaching, acting boys dean and helping with a manner of things. God is so good to send him back to us, more mature, and having a better understanding of life in the jungle.

This week our little student MoreBarEhChore will fly out to NZ as a refugee. He is Bilay's nephew, and he will be going to make a new life with his mother and friends. Bilay has headed away today to the camp to say goodbye to them. Every time this happens, I pray for Bilay as he has chosen to stay in Thailand to help his Karen people to know God. We think Bilay's real momo will fly out in the next few weeks also. It does mean I get to visit them in december when I go back to NZ for a visit.

Baby Johann

The Cat — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 01:17:00 +0000

Sleepless nights..... grumpy days, these seem to be the norm for us this week. Baby Johann is in training, he is trying to reshape our lives, we are trying to change his. Because he is blind and deaf, night and day are the same to him. So he wants to sleep during the day, and play at 1am ....... Sometimes it is convienent to have him sleep during the day, as we can give more attention to others needs. However at 1am when he is kicking and laughing, grizzling and stamping his little legs, it makes us all grumpy. He is 2 years old, and he has not slept through a night yet. Please pray that we win the retraining. His lack of sleep, makes us lack in sleep, so it is hard for some to get up cheerfully for worship.
Last night, we shifted him into the office area, and we did not run to his play.... it took an hour for him to quieten down to sleep. Maybe less time tonight. We really need this resolved before winter chills some, so he stays warm and snug.

Vegan vegetarians survive the Bamboo School Kitchen

The Cat — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 06:31:00 +0000

This week has been the continuous stream of visitors, each a delight and experience in their own way. This was for the kids a new challenge. We received an email from "now friends, but then strangers" who warned us that they had a number of allergies to foodstuffs. They needed to have a special diet. Could we do it??

Somsri and I poured over the vegetarian cookbook from Wiemar Institute, called NewStart. This had been donated by students visiting us 3 years ago. Then the shopping was done for two days. We met and we drawn to their friendly manner. They came for two days, but stayed extra. Praise God for the advance warning and the advance loan of a very good cook book. As a result, we will revisit our menu and dietary needs of the children.

I am tired , but as a result of this visit... It is all because of the snake bites and Baby Zac getting multiple bee stings in his eye. After two days, he is still one eyed, swollen across his face, and grumpy. Little Johann is doing well at present, and he too sleeps in my room. He now sleeps all night until 4 am, when he is ready to play. Zac sleeps until 6am, so it gives me special time with Johann for his exercises and touch relationship. We are still in wet season, and having many malaria challenges in the village. God has protected our school well.... no malaria there as yet.

I am enjoying the company of Kat 2, from Australia. She fits right in with the kids, and we will enjoy her first Sabbath together tonight/tomorrow. She is an uplifting girl, encouraging the kids and I. I appreciate the way she draws kids to her... Last night we sat up watching a video of the nearby refugee camp Christmas party and song service to Jesus... our room was crowded with kids. God is good to us all the time.

Sick, dying and dead

The Cat — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 00:42:00 +0000

Sometimes we are so tired, I can only look up for strength. This week has been tough. Somsri has had exams so she headed out to Mae sot on Thursday night. Renee had left for USA, to recommence her final year of college. Wittya was in Chiang Mai with his sister. So just Jamie and I were on campus, and Jamie cannot drive the car.

Then the devil starts his games. Firstly, I lacked sleep from the trip to the airport on Sunday/Monday morning. Then malaria season call outs with sick babies, swollen necks, and high fevers…every night a broken one. Finally Thursday events which started at 1am and finished at 9.30pm. I felt exhausted and hot, cross and pained in the neck. By Friday morning I was the patient, with a viral infection affecting my throat, my ears and headache. I was to the stage where I thought about ordering a coffin, but had to wait for Lukai to get home from school to drive to the coffin making temple! I got Na to help me take a bath and wash my hair, I was ready to die before Sabbath!

I woke up, fever gone, chills instead 35 degree Celsius, and Zac not in my bed. It was 3am on Saturday morning. Slowly I am recovering and I discovered two things.. Jamie can manage things without me! And the kids really care, for the numerous little things they keep putting inside the doors. God is good, and He heals us, if we wait on his glory. I was dead to everything for hours, but I am glad I am alive for today. Bilay gathered up some of our village neighbors who came to pray and visit. We received many bunches of bananas and some fresh bean gourds as well as other vegetables. God is good and He brings out the best in each of us.

A motor accident!

The Cat — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 00:34:00 +0000

15 students and 2 teachers involved in a motor accident while traveling to Sai Yok Noi

The students were traveling in the van owned by Sai Yok hospital when it reportedly collided with a truck. Bodies of students were strewn across the main road, holding up traffic for more than an hour as police, rescue crews and ambulance staff rushed patients to the nearby hospital (some 11 kilometers away). Momo had taken another patient to the hospital, and was waiting in the corridor when the first patients arrived. Baby Zac cried out when he saw Teacher Somsri being wheeled in with her left arm in a cast. I know God is good all the time, but!!!

It was only a mock up, training event to stretch the staff of the local emergency teams. They were surprised when they had to contend with moaning American teachers as well as kids! At the hospital, onlookers thought it was real, and could not understand why this morbid white person was running around with the camera, photographing injured children. We were paid for the role playing by the children, 3000 baht. God is very good to us.

It was my third trip to Sai Yok in the day; the first transporting the sick; the second to transport Lukai to school early as he had been chosen to represent the Sai Yok district. He came home triumphant, winning second place in the regional finals for singing English songs. I think we all know the words to “Take me to your heart” after all the practices.

The day ended on a sad note. Just as school was commencing in the evening, a mother came with a screaming baby. Somehow the mother had managed to drop boiling water over 80% of his body. We rushed him to Sai Yok, where he was on the IV within minutes. We had applied some special burn aid dressings en route, which helped the areas where they were. However we did not have enough dressing to cover his total affected area. As we now approach the “burn incident” times, as the weather cools, we would like to get some more of these dressings.

The Lakeside

The Cat — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 08:37:00 +0000

We are into the development of the lakeside property, about 8 kilometers from our school campus. God is so good to us.

The land will provide recreational space for the children of Bamboo school. As well it will allow the students to learn about environmental management, project development planning and building work.

At the upper level of the land, there is space for the establishment of a church building, a small medical clinic and a training room. There is a Burmese Karen community consisting of 20 families, within 4 kilometers of the land.

At the lower levels, just above the high water line, small bamboo bungalows will be established for guest accommodation, and student housing. A short pier will be established for fishing and for landing of rafts (bringing guests from the main road along the opposite shore)

We are also starting a new project at the home base.... a playground for the little ones. We are being driven crazy by wet weather blues.... with many small ones underfoot. Toys every where!!! Anyone want to come to build??

.

Just-a-

The Cat — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 05:27:00 +0000

Well, the doctors are saying it's just a........epidermal inclusion cyst with
foreign body granuloma. whatever that means.. I had the surgery on my neck, in the lymph gland area behind my left ear a couple of weeks ago, and the report is back. However the "just-a" has come again next to the scar of the old one. So I think it is "just-a-case of relying more on God." Wouldn't all our worries reduce if we all took a sizable dose of His medicine "Just-a"

In the meantime, We have a serious case of LOVE.... the hormones are alive, alert and we are going without sleep looking for kids in the dark. It happens ever year as the older ones get older, and I enter into second childhood. We now have taken serious measures, securing the girls dorm at night, having deans sleep in the dorms (thank you Jamie and Kum) and leaving the ways light up. We pray that things will settle back into sense soon.

Nigh has gone for three months pastoral training in Chiang Mai. Dong and Na both want to enrol in the next course. God blesses us always. Praise him for the challenges and the joys. Blessings come in mixed packages.

We have families wanting to jion us, some for short term mission experience and one for a longterm work.... praise God for the richness these will bring to our school and to His kingdom

God is in control

The Cat — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 06:32:00 +0000

Currently I am fighting for my health again, I think God reminding me of His control in my life..... a biopsy taken last Thursday from a lymph gland.... He has done it all before, so to Him be the glory. The kids are being awesome helpers, and He had sent extra blessings in that we were directed to dig a new well at the top of the hill....a ridiculous place to dig... at The TOP. However when we did, only 7 feet into the soil, no rocks until the last minute... taking only 4 hours of digging, the stones started and then the water flowed!!!!!! So we can pipe this water down to us, down to the rest of the village. Now we are getting the things ready to build a reservoir, tank, filter in line, and pipes to the school. we want to seal the well, and put on a solar powered pump and a hand pump for emergencies. Now we are working out the costings and suppliers. Already God had sent people from USA who are interested in helping raise the finances and help for this one. Thank you God for Steve and his family. Also we have continued to progress the new property at the lakeside. A church group from St Helena have offered to bring a short term mission team to help next March time... in time for us to build a church up there in time for Passover!! God is so good with all the timing and help we get.

Today I brought Cher Tha Pwee into follow up his health following the surgery last month.... He is now allowed to play as normal and will be able to attend school for the first time in his life.

Sadly another young girl, SiSi, had a bad report from the eye specialist... she was given the wrong medicine in Burma, leaving her slightly lame and partially blind.... The medicine caused her brain damage, so we can do nothing for her sight, nor her leg movement. However she is full of cheer and energy. She likes to take care of Baby Johann. The same, same she says!

To those who have not been here yet

The Cat — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 03:13:00 +0000

God is good all the time.....
Please understand that we do not have a telephone service where we are, so email is a once a week luxury.... not every week.

Thailand price comparisions: $100 is 3800 baht. I can feed a child for 100 baht per week. A resturant would feed you for 100 baht per meal. KFC would charge 100 baht for a "meal"..... food is cheap. Your donations go a long way here.

Some things we take for granted are unobtainable here... especially in the medical field. Other things like pineapples are incredibly cheap.... we just brought 10 pineapples for 40 baht!

Shoes and clothing are also cheap. We can buy dress shoes (elegant ones) for ladies at 120 baht; plastic flip-flop shoes are 19 baht; tee shirts are about 80 baht; jeans are 200 baht for designer brand names.

Electronic goods are also reasonable priced: I bought our computer system (desk top) for 19,000 baht. Our DVD player cost 2100 baht.

Our school/ clinic and orphanage is set up in the mountains near the border of Thailand and Burma. I have in residence as at this morning 24 girls, and 44 boys, the youngest being 8 months. We also take care of two elderly ladies and one young widow with two kids.... she actually takes care of me!! I have two USA teachers now, two thai teachers, one puppy, and myself. Off campus, supported by us we have one student Muwai at Chiang Mai Academy; we have two students in training at Bangkok Hospital; and I have a further 5 students at Mission College/Rajapat University.

We have the only car in this village so we act as the ambulance/ hearse and transporter of goods. My car is old, a donation from USA, but reliable.

I am the local midwife, and love it when medical teams come to help us. We run mobile medical assessment clinics, transporting serious cases to the Sai Yok hospital (25 kms away). We are supported by this hospital by free treatments and free medical supplies.... God is so good to us. The first year I paid more than 10,000 baht per month for supplies, but now it is free!

We run a language school, teaching our uneducated kids to read, write and speak both Thai and English. Before only 14 kids from the village went to school as no one could speak Thai in the homes.... they only had the mountain dialect of Karen to speak. Now more than 200 kids go to school at the local government school, this month 8 students were selected to represent the area in speech competitions.... all are from our school!

Because of the fighting and unrest in Burma against the hill tribes, we get sent many abondoned, injured, or orphaned kids.... hence the need for a boarding/ orphanage set up. I have two deaf kids, one blind boy, 7 kids bearing scars from guns or emergency bush surgery, and many with emotional scars of being left behind when parents have ran for life.

We try to run our place as an enlarged family home. Everyone works together to cook, feed, cloth and educate the kids. Our buildings are a testiment to their construction skills, the gardens are show of their beauty; their singing comes from within. My older ones teach Thai and Karen to the young ones. My legless pastoring kid, Bilay, leads bible study and worship. God surely blesses his ministry. Now he gets invited all around the district to teach Bible. So he has to have a driver.... so now my 18 year old, Lukai, is preparing for his driver licence.

So what do I do? I get free massages every morning, I get my food prepared, my washing done, my hair washed and enjoy my life as a taxi driver, teacher, and nurse. Its the best retirement plan a person could wish for.

Come experience the difference. God is in control, we are along for the ride.