A Village visit

When will I learn that the Thai's idea of time and ours differ ever so slightly ;-)  
I asked our friend how long it would take to get to his village- "not long,  maybe 2 hours"...
well, yeah...it's 2 hours from the last town...
which is about five hours from our place!!

We headed off at 7am and collected our friend who kindly translated for us. Amy, our volunteer, was excited as she was going to her first ever visit into a Karen village.

 

Some shots along the way...

 

 

 The Karen are persecuted people group and they are very close to our heart. Having had several Karen staff over the years, we were keen to see where two of our staff were previously working before they joined us. We had no idea the trip that was in store for us!

 

 After travelling for about 5 hours, we turned into a village and saw the Children's Home where our coworkers had last been working as House Parents.

This was the boys's "dorm." We were pretty shocked at the conditions.

The girl's dorm.

 

Inside the girl's dorm.

 

Our staff were very emotional as they greeted the children they had formerly cared for.

Our staff left and far right.

 

 Morning tea at the Children's Home.
 

 

One of the lovely Karen boys who lives at the Children's Home.

 

Toilet block at the Children's Home.

 

 

 The children cook their lunch. They had not eaten meat recently, only eating rice and the vegetables they were able to grow.

 

                                                Not  a good place for a chicken to sit!

  After our visit to the Children's Home, we travelled 30 kilometres up a mountain into the village.

 Our staff were greeted with such affection. Tears were shed. They were clearly missed by their family and friends.

We were shocked when we were taken to our accommodation. The Pastor who worked for us was plucked from his village when he was young and spent five months being taught the art of fine wood carving. It was a project spearheaded by the Thai Royal family!

 

  He won a competition and sold his massive carving of an elephant and put the money into building a house for Missionaries to visit/live in the village!

 

  We are constantly humbled by people's generous hearts both here and at "home"!

  

WE were treated to rice and vegetables with chicken that was quickly purchased for their honoured guests (us!!).

Our dinner

 

 

 

 Village

  

                                       One of little village girls.

 Village boys.

                      The village pig was tied up and well cared for!

 

We walked up the mountain a bit further to see the church and the view.

 

 

 

And the Compassion office!

 

 

And my favourite photo of the day...

 

 

 

 

Jordy was honoured with a beautiful home made Karen top made by one of our Co-workers.

 

Until next time,

Sam...