REFUGEE OUTREACH - March 2007
Page 3


~March 17th~

I woke up at 2:30 am and couldn't get back to sleep. I got up after only 4 hours sleep and had my devotions. We met for breakfast and I made arrangements to meet with Rudy, and 4 others who lived in Thailand, for lunch.

I took Nan and Chris on an hour long Tuk Tuk ride around Bangkok. I just can't describe what it's like to be careening around in traffic on one of those little things! It was really hot and I think they were glad to get back to hotel and meet my friends for lunch.

Many friends of mine in Thailand are involved in humanitarian aid in one form or another and Rudy's pet project is a school on the border called "New Blood School". It was started to give the border migrant workers a place for their children to go to school.

Dr Tim called and we made arrangements for them to meet us for dinner at our hotel. I also was able to talk to my Karen son, Po Jaw, and he will meet us for dinner. PoJaw left the border and his work as a Karen soldier 4 years ago to work in Bangkok. He had to leave his family in the refugee camp. His wife joined him for a few months last year with their youngest daughter, but his two older children haven't been able to come see him.

After a brief rest and foot massage we headed down to the lobby to meet our friends for dinner. It was so good to see Dr. Tim again and to meet Carol. They both will be a great addition to our little team.

When Po Jaw got there, he and I held each other and I thanked God for keeping him safe. His wife had to return to the camp for the registration for food rations. Each person in camp is physically counted and food rations for each family depend on number of family members and their ages. Rice, yellow beans, oil, salt, fish paste, and charcoal are distributed the first of every month. He said they are on the list to immigrate to Australia, but they have no idea when they will go. He hasn't seen his two older children in 4 years. He and I discussed ways they could be brought to see him. Life is so hard for all the Karen, I am glad his family may be given a chance at a better life in Australia. Po Jaw speaks 7 languages and is an electronics whiz. It costs about $75.00 for a "people mover" to smuggle 1 person to Bangkok from the border. I gave him $200.00 of my personal money so he could bring both children for 1 month each during their school break.

 


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