Missive 1 - 2015

Missive 1 – 2015 We’ve been doing this every year since 2005 (bit different last year because of health issues) but it never seems to get old. The same enthusiastic welcome, the same hundred hugs a day, the same gratefulness for what we come to do. Our flights went well and our plan for the parts of the team from Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth to meet at a preordained spot at Suvarabhumi airport nearly went well. Eric, an older bloke (87 – doesn’t do any work on the jackhammer but has been very generous to House of Mercy) from Perth got his wires crossed and after searching all three levels of the airport amongst about a million people we finally found him waiting outside. We had a mini-bus waiting for us and set off on the 5 hour journey to Phetchabun with just a couple of comfort stops and to stock up on Coke and other health foods. We arrived at 2.30am and that’s where a minor problem began for me. Our house, creatively called “Ron’s Place”, is used spasmodically when Colleen and I aren’t here so we suggested it might be a good to use it for girls who are attending university and need to develop independence by not living under the direct control of one of the “Mums”. To make this possible and still be available for our use they have been working hard for a couple of months modifying the house with an extra room and making the bathroom facilities suitable for joint use. I knew all this, but not what the modifications looked like. We received a text message the evening before saying which rooms the other blokes were sleeping in in the guest house, and that my door would be left unlocked. So I dragged my luggage down to “Ron’s Place” (gravel path), tried the door and found it locked, and noted that there were girls’ shoes on the front verandah. Unperturbed I took out the key which I carry with me and went in. Presuming our room was still our room I went in and turned the light on – two of the girls were sleeping there! More cautious this time, I looked into our second bedroom and found the third girl sleeping there. So I went out the back and found a new room, finally found the door – and it was locked! So I dragged all my luggage back to the guest house, found a bed a grabbed a few hours’ sleep. I was let in the next morning and the room really is lovely with a new bathroom independent of the rest of the house. All credit to Chris Stolte, an old building team member who is now married to one of the Thai girls. Our body clocks had us up reasonably early and although the plan for day one was to take it easy we were on site, and I was on the jackhammer, by 10am. Our task this year is to build another accommodation building on a slab that has been unused for 12-15 years because of a mistake that made one end 200mm higher than the other. In the ensuing days we have jackhammered through the concrete to put in the plumbing, completed the plumbing, boxed up around the slab 250mm out, barrowed in 20 cubic metres of sand to save concrete on one end, dug a trench 80m long and 600mm deep for the power, woven 10m by 10m squares of mesh for reinforcing the floor, and washed and painted the steel for the trusses and door frames. It is the New Year school break at the moment so Glom (manager) has been very keen to have the kids come out and help us. For some of the above jobs that has been very helpful. I had a group of the older girls and some of the boys to do the weaving. We lay out 10m lengths of 6mm steel rod 200mm apart, then weave other 10m lengths through it – much coordination and teamwork required. We then shift the resultant square of mesh onto the slab – a great sight with about 40 kids and workers holding it above their heads carrying it to the slab. On New Year’s Eve we had a big party on the quadrangle with each house set up with their bucket barbecues and a supply of charcoal. We were just about to get started when we got a phone call from Why who had bussed across from Khon Kaen. I went into Lomsak to get her and to enjoy a warm reunion. When we were driving out of the bus station Why received a call from an upset Whun who had gone into the Phrae bus station to try and get down to see me but all the buses were full. She had to get back to Ban Meata (Phrae) and try again the next day – this time she was successful and another great reunion occurred the next evening. It was so good to see her again. Why is doing much better at her studies this year although I want to talk to her about good study habits before she goes back after the New Year break. Please keep praying for her, that her dedication will see her begin to excel again. Whun is not in a good place. She is finding it very hard doing the teaching that is required of her as well as the other duties that go along with teaching 3 year olds as well as some 2 year olds – this includes changing nappies and toilet training. “Why can’t they sit and listen like they do in Gemma’s class?” she asked. When in Australia she spent a day observing a JP class at St Michael’s where our grandchildren go. I have spent some hours with her talking through a few problems and re-setting some goals. She has become so disenchanted she has gotten a job in Phrae (25kms away) selling phones. The road in and out is notorious for drug deals by the roadside so please pray for her protection and for her future. She has agreed to do this job for 2 months and then go back for a fresh start and enrol at Uni for some study. As expected Glom asked if I could preach on the first Sunday we were here. Thanks to Ps Mark Schulz for his idea of wrapped gifts to explain the gifts that come with Christmas – love (a heart), the Cross (a Cross!) and new life (egg). It was well received in Thailand as well as at Glenunga UC! A final building update – the slab has been repoured, the boxing has come off, the walls have been marked out on the slab, the corner blocks have been laid, and half the door frames are standing in place. More news next week.