SUMMARY OF MAY 2001 TRIP TO THAILAND
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I woke up at 5 AM to the sounds of Phu and a young boy chopping vegetables in the kitchen preparing us breakfast. Phu had ridden to the market and bought fresh fruit and vegetables at first light. After a breakfast of fried egg, toast, lichee and mangostein I was pleasantly full. Mangostein is a new fruit for me and I found that I loved it! After breakfast I packed my bedroll and half of my clothes in my small roll on bag, filled my back pack with day items and was ready to sit and wait. We prayed that God would open the doors for us, but it was hard waiting for His answer! About 10 AM Pastor came by and said he still hadn't found a truck. We walked over to Gilbert's to see about permit and he said the Thai are not issuing any permits for foreign visitors. I was so disappointed and was trying to think what to do when there was a knock on the door. A young girl was there saying there was a truck ready for us. Pastor Law Gler and Gilbert said "Praise God" and Gilbert told me he would radio the camp leader and let him know I was on my way in! I guess "no permit, no-entry" didn't mean I won't go! I continue to be confused by it all, but just go along with whatever I'm told! We quickly piled all our gear into the back of the truck and we were on our way. I wanted to "get out of Dodge" before anyone changed their minds about me going into the camp. I prayed along the way that the rains would hold off till we arrived in camp. Law Gler told me we must get through Thai soldier's checkpoint to get into camp and for me to be praying, so I was!

It was a nice 3-hour drive. The higher we climbed up the mountain, the more breath taking the view.
The road was pretty hairy at times and we got stuck once, but compared to my trip in here last year, it was a snap. We took a different route in this year, past Ban Mae Sam Lap village. I felt a tug of nostalgia as we passed the village clinging to the banks of the Moei River. I hadn't been this way since we were all evacuated from this area back in 1995. I remembered all the wonderful hours I had spent in the long tail boats going up and down the river. Since the Burmese took control of this area, I hadn't been able to return. The scenery was as breath taking as I had remembered.

We approached a Thai checkpoint clear at he top of the mountain and Pastor whispered to me to start praying. He climbed out of the truck and went up to talk to the soldiers as I started fervently praying we'd be allowed entry. In less than a minute he got back into the truck, the iron bar blocking the road was raised and we drove through.

We all breathed a sigh of relief as it came down behind us. I was back in Mae Rah Moo camp! I was so excited and eager to see all my old friends. None of it had changed much in my year's absence. Maybe a few more homes had been added. It is a huge camp with over 25,000 people living there. As the driver pulled up in front of Pastors home, Moo Moo and some of the children came running out to greet me. Creehatha was sitting on the porch, too shy to approach me. When I saw her sitting there alone I could hardly believe it was her.

CREEHATHA (age 5) with BETTY.

She had grown so much and was a beautiful little 5 year old! She was wearing an outfit that her sponsor had sent her and looked so cute in it. When I hugged her she clung to me as I gathered her in my arms. Moo Moo told me that when I had left last year, they found Creehatha in the house by herself crying for her Pee Pee. That made me hug her all the tighter.

It wasn't long until the house was once again full of people coming to see me. It was like old times, everyone sitting around on the floor laughing and talking. Some I remembered by name, some just by face. The young couple Pastor had brought to teach in the school were going to be using the room I had used last year, so Moo Moo had made a make shift room for me in one corner of the big common area. They brought a curtain over from the church, put a bamboo pole up and made me a nice cozy little corner. I even had a wooden platform to sleep on this year! No sleeping on the split bamboo floors while I was there. I felt thoroughly spoiled! The young teachers were full of life and kept everyone laughing with their stories. One of them translated for me when I didn't catch something. Pastor's son, Saw Moo and his wife Sandy were expecting their first baby and I sat and visited with them a long time.

(Photo of SANDY)

They have their own house next door but spend a good deal of their time here with Pastor and Moo Moo. One of the women who attended our church is Sandy's prayer partner and she was interested in finding out about Michelle and her family.

We had dinner and visited until about 8 PM I was so sleepy I could hardly keep my eyes from slamming shut! The camp generator goes off at 8:30 every night, then the candles are brought out. Pastor has a big battery that he can direct wire 2 fluorescent light tubes to, so they don't have to use candles as much as they used to. This is real luxury!

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