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I had brought in 10 little boxes called “Buddha Boards” which I had purchased in Hawaii. They are a little easel in a box with a small brush. You dip the brush in water and paint on the easel. When the paint dries, the painting disappears. The children really liked this little gift and soon they all were trying their hand at creating a picture. There was no fighting over the boards; they all quietly waited their turn.
Lucky and Po Po decided to take a walk through the camp and get some candid pictures with my second camera. Lucky was amazed at all the children in the camp and he wanted some personal interaction. Po Po’s mother and I visited as we leaned against the open window area. She invited me to come to the camp and stay with her after Po Po leaves for the U.S. She told me we two “old ladies” would be cared for by the younger family members. I was very touched by her offer to have her family take me into their home. I told her I would stay with her every time I came to the camp as long as I was allowed to stay overnight by the camp leader. She told Lucky and I she wanted to give us new names. Lucky was to be Ler Keh Paw which means "wonderful" and she named me Has Blu which means "blessing". Lucky and were very pleased to have our new names and kept practicing them on each other.
Po Po and Lucky came back and asked me to walk to the river with them. There are 2 long tail boats ferrying people back and forth across the river. Some of the people were carrying heavy loads and it wasn’t feasible for them to try and negotiate the swinging bridge so they used the boats to get across. I had been telling Lucky that in the past we had always traveled by boat up and down the river when we visited the various villages. After 1995, when the Burmese Army seized and burned the Karen Headquarters compound, it was no longer safe for us to travel by river. There were always soldiers waiting to shoot at boats carrying Karen up and down the river. Po Po told us to climb into one of the boats and the driver took us for a short ride up the river. It brought back so many memories of the days before everyone had to go to live in the refugee camps. It seems like it was just a short time ago, but it’s been 13 years. When the boat pulled up to shore, we jumped out onto the muddy bank and walked back to the house. Our driver was waiting for us on the other river bank, so we packed up, said our good byes and walked back to the bridge and crossed it for the last time for this trip. I always wonder if each trip across the bridge will be my last. I am so thankful the Lord keeps bringing me back to these wonderful people.
Everyone crowded around the truck to tell us good bye as we headed back to the front gate. Pastor Kasu was waiting for us by the camp office and he had a man and little boy with him. He asked me if I would take the boy’s picture. He is an orphan and really needs a sponsor. I found a sheet of paper and put a number on it and took the picture. Another young man was also waiting for me. He was one of the 7 students we had helped pay tuition for at Spicer College in India. He has graduated and is back helping his people. I have always been thankful that the Lord made it possible for us to help these young men.
I always feel sad when the gates of the camp close behind me and this time was no exception. I felt that we had touched a lot of people in a small way just be coming to visit them, regardless if we have money for all of them or not. I came away feeling way more blessed than the small blessings I had been able to give them by our visit. The love of the Karen people is very precious to me.