I once again woke up at 4am the next morning. I lay on the floor listening to the camp coming to life outside the bamboo walls of the little house. I had no idea what time we would be leaving the camp, but suspected it might be early. Before it got light outside, I quickly dressed. Since there are no doors on Karen homes, there is also no privacy. It was a good thing I dressed quickly, because as soon as it was daylight, Naw Way brought me a cup of hot chocolate and some cracker type biscuit. We were heading out! She apologized there was no time for a real breakfast, but the little snack would suit me fine. I knew I'd never go hungry and it sure wouldn't hurt me to skip a meal!

We had a long parade of people walking out with us to where the truck was waiting. I love walking through the camp with children calling out "Wallogay Pee Pee", ("Good Morning, Grandmother"), and women shyly shaking my hand and thanking me. Old people smiled toothlessly at me as we passed. Its like I'm in a different world and my life in Hawaii is just a dream. We piled into the truck, hugged everyone good bye and promised to write. Off we went, out the gates as only free people can. Po Jaw has an ID card so he could travel with me.

We stopped at a military training camp called, Mu Aye Pu, so I could see the small hospital there and encourage the soldiers. I was told we could drive right up to the river separating Thailand from Burma, load into a boat and take the short trip across to the Burma side. I was pleased to see how easy it is to access. We just climbed out of the boat and walked up a steep bank and there we were. Some of the places we've gone into in the past took many hard hours of hiking. I was anxious to see some of the young men I had spent time with on previous trips and we had a great reunion. Po Jaw assigned a young man who spoke very good English to stay with me as guide/interpreter. He had been nicknamed "Mike" and he was very happy to have an "American name". Mike took me to see a huge cave that was the topic of an ancient legend about a snake who had kidnapped a young girl, Naw Mu Aye, and drug her into the earth through the cave. It is a long story so I won't tell it here, but the camp got its name from this legend.

Mike then took me to see the hospital and meet the head medic. It was nothing more than a dirt floored bamboo structure with typical leaf roof. I stopped and spoke with the 3 patients who were laying on bare split bamboo platforms. I noticed there were no mats, blankets or mosquito nets for them. The medic showed me his "pharmacy" that held one bottle of Paracetamal (aspirin) and small container of antibiotic. I talked with him at length and told him I would try to raise funds to help equip the hospital. I asked him to pray for donors in the U.S. to come forward to fund this new project. I would like to supply mats, nets, blankets, sweaters, shirts, nees, cooking utensils, cups etc as well as personal hygiene items. We said our good byes and drove back to the border where I was staying in a little hotel. It was great to have a hot shower and call home to share all the news. Tomorrow was going to be another very busy day. It will be General Bo Mya's birthday celebration at Wollakwee camp and I was going with Po Jaw and the General's family.

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