Our plan was to wake up by 6:30 a.m. but we were made aware, at 6:00 a.m., by loud speakers in the village that lasted for 30 minutes, that today was Election Day. Now, don’t get excited about free elections in Thailand. The elections are for the village council only. The Mayor is appointed; the Governor is appointed and the King is the Royal Family. Not so much democracy for a 6:00 a.m. wake-up call. Other than that the morning was fine. An order of scrambled eggs turns out to be an omelet with Thai spices accompanied by a “burning” feeling after the swallow.
Today was a four hour travel day back to Mae Sot. In total it was more like a three hour roller-coaster ride that makes Cedar Point feel like a kiddy ride. The hairpin turns; heights and depths of each dip with a noticeable bumpiness the whole way were a little much. Two of the team members who have never been car-sick, had their ½ gallon plastic bags ready just in case. Some of the team members have driven the whole length of the Blue Ridge/Skyline Drive; except for the lack of fall colors, the views beat anything they had ever seen.
On a more serious note, about half way back to Mae Sot the team stopped at the camp at Umpium. You will remember this is the camp were Kyu Kyu’s sister-in-law, niece and nephew are housed. They were able to meet us at the front gate and allowed to cross the road. We had taken photos of the family and stopped to give them to them. There, we encircled them and prayed for them. (As they say, “There was not a dry eye in the house.” – the team is uncertain how Min and Kyu Kyu were able to drive away after seeing their relatives go back behind the barbed wire. Pray for Min and Kyu Kyu and their family. Pray that one day they will be united with out barbed wire around them nor separating them. (We know they were able to leave because of their faith and trust in God that will one day answer their/our prayers.)
By the end of the of the four hour drive back to Mae Sot, the team had decided they would go straight to Wikalow Orphanage. The children at the orphanage now total over 180 (in 2008, our first trip, about 80 orphans lived there). Somchai told us, the persecution in Burma has increased and parents/families are sending their children across the borders to safe places. Wikalow is a safe place, but it is small, undermanned, and bursting at the seams. They need more housing and adult leaders. We hope we can make a difference in their situation as we tell their story and financial support grows for the Christian children housed there. Another new addition to the Wikalow community was armed check points on the road to the orphanage. But despite all that – the children were waiting for us to arrive. We sang songs; we photographed all of them (only 161 were willing). We will be traveling back to them later this week for games and crafts. The team commented on how obedient and cooperative the children were. It was the perfect ending after a long and tiresome day.
Tomorrow, Sunday, we will be in Mae La Refugee Camp. This camp holds over 50,000 refugees. The team will split up into three teams. Three of the team members will be preaching at three of the five Christian Churches in the camp. Min will lead and peach for one team; he needs no translator. Jerry and Larry will lead and preach for the other two teams – translators are a must – which means longer or shorter sermons. (Alex, at least we knew days ahead of time rather than minutes upon arriving at the camp.) Pray for the teams, their messages and their interactions with the people at Mae La.
By the way, it has not gone un-noticed, by the team, that you are having snow of “Epic Proportions” (as defined by the English speaking cable news networks) in the Middle Atlantic States. We have heard about some electric outages, etc. etc. For those of you who are in those areas, “We are Praying for you.” (Please have the snow removed by the time we arrive back home.) --- The Thailand Team
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