Archive for March, 2007

Thrilled Hearts

MomoCat March 27th, 2007

January 19, 2007 – By Christian Pozo

Our family has been here at the Bamboo School in Thailand now for over 10 days. It has been really neat being able to connect and make friends with the kids and be a help to the school physically and spiritually.

Momo Cat (Catherine, the lady who runs the school) has wanted her kids to have some good Bible study training. So she has asked Uncle Jon Wood to be the head of Bible studies for some of the older youth who are interested in Bible study. Others from our group will also be teaching. Yesterday morning, the Bible study class started down in one of the classrooms. There were 15 youth, both boys and girls, in the class wanting Bible study. Uncle Jon did the first Bible study on the State of the Dead with one of the students who can speak English and Karen very well to translate. The youth had their Bibles and were each given a notebook and pen to take notes. It went well. Most of the adults from our team were present. I was there also taking notes, because I always want to learn more. After the study and a break, everyone came back for the second session of the class. In this session, Uncle Jon had the class divide up with each of the members from our team, which included me. I really wasn’t expecting that, but I was glad or should I say privileged to do that. The reason for breaking up was to see if the youth had any questions or if they had anything they didn’t understand, and to go over what we just studied. Each little group had at least one of the youth who can speak English and translate. I had Lukai who is 19 and two girls, Nampeeng and Ma Eh, who I think are younger than me. It was really neat how our Father worked it out because I had already made friends with Nampeeng and Ma Eh and I already knew Lukai. The four of us went into another classroom and started with prayer. I asked them if they had any questions concerning the study we just heard. Nampenng had a few questions and I answered them as best as I could from the Bible. One of the questions she asked was when you died did you come back as something else. I had to explain it quite a few times for it to finally sink in that the dead don’t know anything and the whole thing about our body being made up of dust and spirit (breath). Lukai translated. Nampeeng really was getting into it but Ma Eh wasn’t. It was like she was in her own world. Awhile later, Uncle Jon came in and told us that we would be going into a home in the village tonight to give this same Bible study in one of the homes. My, were they nervous! Lukai kept saying “My goodness.” They couldn’t believe they would have to do this. Lukai asked “But what if they are Buddist?” So I really gave them counsel and talked with them about working as a team/group and giving it totally to Jesus. We had another prayer and went into the study and what they would talk about. I would go along for moral support, but they would be the ones giving the Bible study and doing everything. We practiced Lukai starting out the study, Nampenng continuing it and we didn’t get to Ma Eh’s part. Nampeeng would do the part on which she had the question about. They were very nervous!! We didn’t quite get to Ma Eh and Aunt Natalie came over and said it was time for lunch. I asked Ma Eh if she would pray but she wouldn’t, so one of us had closing prayer. I told them maybe this afternoon we could all get together and finish up the last part of the study, but it didn’t happen because Lukai went to town to translate for Momo Cat.

I was telling Uncle Jon at lunch about my group and he told me that Ma Eh had been abused before she came here to the school. Now it makes sense why she is so quiet and dower looking sometimes. But when she smiles it’s really neat.

The afternoon passed with me thinking constantly about the evenings Bible study. Then after supper and evening worship, the Bible students got together ready to leave. Each group was given a First Aid kit to take to the home where they would give the Bible study. Again, something happened between Lukai and Ma Eh and she was not happy with him. At one point when we were about to leave, she left and went up to her dorm. I was concerned if perhaps she had decided not to go, but found out she was going to get a flashlight, Praise the Lord!! I was so happy because we had to go on a narrow path over the mountain not that far to a small village and to the very home my Mom, Momo Cat, and Lukai had gone to deliver the twin babies. Our walk there was quiet, as it was getting dark. The first hut we passed there were quite a few people in the hut and barking dogs on the ground. Never did I think that later that evening we would be stopping there. When we got to the baby twins bamboo hut, we climbed up the bamboo ladder into the open hut and sat down. The twins were asleep under the mosquito net and the mother went and uncovered the net and started nursing one while the other one stayed sleeping. Oh, she looked so cute!! Lukai had one of the girls start the study with prayer, and then he went on with the study. Before I knew it, closing prayer was said. I don’t think the study was even 10 minuets when I had heard it was suppose to be a half hour! I think he did just a little portion of the study. But I knew God had it all under control and I was not worried. We gave the family the First Aid kit, shook the three adult’s hands and started walking the direction of home. We were walking passed this one home in particular, which was pretty dark and there were some barking dogs, when Lukai and our team stopped at the door. Then Lukai asked me if we could do 2 homes. I asked if that is what Momo Cat had said and he said no. I then said “I’ll let you do what you think is best.” So we went in. The only light came from an oil can with a flame on top. There was a really cute baby girl that wanted to come over to us. To my surprise and thrill Nampeeng and Ma Eh led out in the study! Nampeeng would do the talking and Ma Eh would read the scripture. I was so happy and proud of them! When we left and were heading back, I asked Lukai what Nampenng had talked about and he said she talked about our bodies being made up of dust and breath from Gen. 2:7 and I think she did another text. They were all so thrilled at how easy it was, especially Nampenng. As we were passing one last hut before ascending the hill, the same hut I mentioned earlier with quite a few people inside and the barking dogs, Nampenng and Ma Eh stopped and were talking to Lukai. They wanted us to stop at one more hut to give a Bible study. Praise the Lord! And Ma Eh pushed on Lukai’s back, guiding him to the hut. This time Lukai did the Bible study which I’m sure was better and longer than at the first home that evening. It is so neat in a bamboo hut to look outside and seeing the beautiful, shining stars our Father has created. Lukai asked me to have closing prayer. Then, Nampenng went around and shook everybody’s hands and the rest of us followed. On our walk back through the jungle they were excitedly talking and I was just as thrilled if not more and proud at what an excellent job they had all done and how enthusiastic they were, especially Nampeeng and Ma Eh. I can’t wait until the next Bible study class and tonight when our group will go through the jungle behind the mountain to give Bible studies to Karen people, who Christ came to save. What a tremendous blessing!!!

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Our group: Nampeeng, Lukai, Christian, and Ma Eh.

Evening Glow

MomoCat March 27th, 2007

Sabbath 17, 2007 – By Christian Pozo

Our second Sabbath here at the Bamboo School was a blessing! In the evening as everyone was eating in the open dining hall I looked over to a mountain and saw a pretty, red glow above it. I remarked to my Mom at how pretty the sunset was. But, the red glow just stayed there as it was getting darker; and all of a sudden we could see sparks ascending to the sky and realized there was a fire on the over side of that mountain. Others in the dining hall saw it too. Mr. Callen pulled up on his motorbike and said there was a fire. He and his family’s hut is the closest to the hill, so Momo Cat said for him to get some of the older boys to help him clean up the rubbish around his hut. This is the Australian family who is staying here awhile to help Momo Cat. I went to help him where I could. Later, Momo Cat pulled everyone together for a meeting and prayer that the fire would not harm the Bamboo School. After that, I went and was standing by Mr. Callen’s hut and PorSue came by saying he was going to walk around the mountain and check out the fire and wondered if I would like to go with him. PorSue is a really nice boy and student here at the school. Ever since our first visit here over a year ago we have been friends. We are the same age. He and I went walking down the hill through the village and to the other side of the hill. When we were approaching and came to the flames they didn’t seem that big and we just stayed there and looked on. Awhile later we walked back to the school and many of the men were up on the mountain investigating. My Dad needed PorSue to go with him to the top of the hill to translate to some of the locals, so off they went climbing the hill in the dark with just a flashlight, following after some of our guys who had already left to go investigate. I wanted to follow but for some reason I didn’t. I was trying to help where I could. Later, long after they had left, I decided to follow after them to see if there was perhaps anything I could help with. I started up the hill, with just my flip-flops, a flashlight, and prayer. Starting out was just up hill in a plowed cornfield, which was pretty easy. Then I found their path, which led up through long brush, bushes and trees. Some of the guys had machetes and had plowed their way through, so it was pretty easy for me to follow the path. Soon I could feel myself starting to go down hill. I had made it to the top, and was now descending. At one place in the path, I had to really duck because there were these long vines with thorns I had to go under. Then, I could see the fire just down the hill, and I came upon embers and smoke. I could here voices on the other side but thought it not safe to venture further. I didn’t want the trees to all of a sudden catch fire and I be trapped. On the way back, I passed this one ember in particular, and once I passed it, it turned into a flame! I was thinking I should have stomped on it before it turned into another flame. I then prayed the flames wouldn’t continue and go over the hill. I continued on my way without any other incident. When I would turn off the flashlight for just a split second, it was pitch black. I was thankful I had a flashlight. The stars were really pretty against the black sky. It was really neat on the other side of the hill on the way down to see the school lighted up. Something I didn’t mention earlier; soon after we found out about the fire the electricity went out and as I was coming up over the hill I heard a cheer and the electricity was back on, praise the Lord!! Awhile after I got back, Dad and PorSue pulled up in the truck and said the fire was under control. Praise our wonderful, Heavenly Father!!!

One thing I am really thankful about is that I am at the age where I can get in and help in situations like this one. I’m not just a little kid where I’m told I can’t go in and help and just to stay put where I am. I now am at the age where I am not told that, and I can get in and help, at least try. Also, when I was younger, I was the type to panic, fear, and worry, but all of a sudden I’ve grown out of that, and am not like that at all anymore. In fact, near the end of our stay in India when we were at the Division Headquarters, the parents were in a meeting with Pastor Watts, and during the meeting Mary Ann Wood hit her head really hard on a window shudder, making a little hole in her head, which started to bleed down her face. Krystle and I immediately started cleaning it up. I didn’t panic at all and was just fine which I was so happy about, because I didn’t use to be that way. And yes, Mary Ann was just fine! The same way when I was going and following after my father up the hill through the dark I didn’t panic and was just fine, Praise His Name!!

I was also thinking, this would be a wonderful story to tell the children at the Bethel Children’s Ministry School in Chembarambakkam, India next time we return; how God answered all our prayers and the fire didn’t harm or touch the precious Bamboo School. Praise be to our wonderful Heavenly Father!!!

Two Gifts in the Jungle

MomoCat March 22nd, 2007

March 13, 2007 – Tuesday -by Lori Pozo

This morning I had an amazing experience. It was amazing on a number of levels. I was awakened at 3am by Lukai saying Catherine needed my help to deliver twins. I threw on my skirt and t-shirt and ran down to the dispensary to help Lukai look for the birthing kit that Cat needed. As I was running to the dispensary I ran right into the electric fence that is in place to keep the goats out. Fortunately it came undone easily so I didn’t fall on my face. I got a nice big bruise above my right knee however, in remembrance of being a klutz.

We couldn’t find the birthing kit so I hopped on the back of the motorcycle (in my skirt) and Lukai and I went speeding down the road in the dark and onto a jungle trail to a village behind the mountain from our village. (Later I learned that Christian and Krystle were laughing as I rode off into the night). I removed my sandals and climbed up the ladder into the hut. The hut was dimly lit with a single kerosene lamp sitting by the mother and a second lamp across the room. The second lamp didn’t give any light for our needs. The mother was lying 3 feet from the door with Catherine sitting in a tight spot next to her left leg. The first baby was lying right up against the mother’s buttocks wrapped in a dirty blanket. Since we couldn’t find the birthing kit we couldn’t cut the umbilical cord. Cat jumped on the back of the bike with Lukai and raced back to the dispensary to get the much needed kit. (Christian and Krystle had another laugh when they watched Momo Cat get back on the bike in her skirt. She pulled her skirt up between her legs from the back and hopped on. Then she tried to pull her skirt over her knees as they drove down the road. HA!) The second baby seemed stuck because when the mother pushed the bulge looked like a thick membrane, not a head. I kept checking the first baby and she remained warm and pink. When Catherine was first called she found the first baby had already been delivered and the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. She way lying on the dirty floor without a blanket, without having been cleaned off and she was very cold. Catherine immediately unwrapped the cord from around her neck and asked for a blanket to wrap the baby in; she was handed the dirty blanket. Oh well, it was better than having the baby freeze from exposure. Even though it’s warm here in the jungle, the nights cool off quite a bit. (At this time, Cat sent Lukai back to get me and the birthing kit.)

While Cat was gone I prayed and prayed. I prayed for the health of the mother and the baby yet to be born and for the health and safe keeping of the baby still attached to the mother but laying on the floor under her bent leg. Every time the mother had a contraction 2 men would push hard on her stomach. I motioned for them to stop. Catherine arrived back shortly and we proceeded to cut the cord of the first baby. We handed the baby to a woman outside the hut and Cat jumped in the truck to turn it around so we could get the mother to the hospital before we lost the second baby. While she was turning the truck I stayed with the mother. She cried out so I check and could see half membrane and half black hair. One more push and the baby came shooting out onto the dirty floor. The time was 3:30am. We weren’t expecting the second baby to be born as we thought it was stuck due to being in a wrong position. Guess we were the ones that were wrong. I hollered for Catherine to come back in. We opened a sterile drape and placed it under the edge of the mother’s buttocks so the baby wouldn’t be on the dirty floor and so we could catch the placenta when it was delivered. The second baby was also a girl and quite tiny. She had good color and a lusty cry. Praise the Lord she was okay. There was only one pair of clamps in the birthing kit so we tied off the second baby with dental floss. (And to think in America we use if just for our teeth.) We wrapped this second precious bundle in a nice soft baby blanket and handed her to Lukai. After a few minutes the placenta was delivered. We wrapped it in the drape and put it in a plastic bag to take to the hospital. Even though Catherine told them that both umbilical cords were attached to the one placenta the Karen midwife in attendance was determined that there was a second placenta so she and the men continued to pound on the mother’s abdomen. Cat had to get cross with them before they stopped. These people are so ignorant and even after they are taught they still want to cling to their old ways. The mother was prepared for transport and put in the back of the truck. Lukai held the second baby up in the cab because she was the smallest of the two and the first baby was placed with the mother in the back. I rode in the back with the mother as well as her friend who accompanied her to the hospital. In Thailand (and India) a friend or relative needs to be at the hospital with the patient so they can help them with their needs and buy them food from the outside. Food and necessities are not provided at the hospitals; the patient and family must provided these. (Another difference from America.) A sad side note: This mother has a 2 year-old little boy and now twin girls. The father left his family for another woman so now this mother has 3 children under the age of 3 to raise.

We went racing down the road in the pitch-black darkness of night with only the headlights of the truck to brighten our way. Catherine turned on her hazard flashers and drove as fast as was safe on the windy jungle roads. I thought I would be cold because the night was quite cool but I was so caught up in what had just happened that I was warm. I checked on mother and baby every few minutes and prayed. I continued to pray for mother and babies; I prayed for Catherine and her work here among the Karen people; I prayed for the work in India; I prayed for all the families on the team; and I prayed for my family as we continue to follow His leading in our lives and in His work.

At the hospital we found only one empty bed in the maternity ward. Fortunately we needed only one bed. The mother and babies were taken into an examination room. The first baby girl weighed 2.5 kg. /5.5 lbs. The second baby weighed 2 kg. /4.4 lbs. Even though the babies looked good after birth Catherine likes to take twins into the hospital to make sure they and the mother are doing okay, but the main reason she tries to take all babies born in the jungle into the hospital is because then they can get a Thai ID card and are considered a Thai citizen. The poor Karen people are a people without a country. They are being killed in Burma (Myanmar) and the Thai don’t want them. Only after Karen children attend Thai school for a number of years or babies born in Thailand and taken to the hospital, are eligible to get a Thai ID card. This is such a blessing for them because they have a home, a country and are not considered illegals or outlaws. As we were leaving the hospital Catherine and I looked at Lukai. He had a grin from ear to ear. He was so thrilled to have been part of this miracle. Even after arriving home and later in the day Lukai still had the huge smile on his face. Cat said she was going to name the littlest girl Lukette after Lukai. What fun!

I feel so blessed of God to have been part of this miracle. Every time a baby is born it is a miracle, a blessing from our Father in Heaven. I look back and am so awed by this whole story. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would be riding through the jungle on the back of a motorbike in the middle of the night to help deliver twins. Catherine told me in all her years of working here in the jungle she has only delivered twins 3 times, this time being the third. Here I am at the beginning of my missionary career and I get to help deliver twin girls. What a blessing!!! I look forward to seeing what else God has in store for me . . . and my family. Working for our Heavenly Father is such a thrill and a blessing. There is never a dull moment and He is always pushing us to our limit and past it so that we can grow in Him and our character can be perfected. And during this whole process He gives us little gifts . . . like twin babies in the middle of the jungle in the middle of the night . . .
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The three deliverers: Catherine, Lukai, and Lori

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Mother with her 2 twin baby girls and little boy a week later.

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This is how Lukai held and looked at the baby the whole way to the hospital.

Praise God for ID

MomoCat March 18th, 2007

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.