Bamboo School

We are overloaded somewhat by the enormous pain and oppression experienced by the children here. Each child has a story of neglect, rejection, abuse or escape. We are better understanding the school and its role and I want to share some of that with you. The school has two arms to it. First there is the orphanage that has about 60 children living on campus. Some of these children have been abandoned by parents, some have never known their parents and others have loving parents who are not able to afford to have them live at home. Alongside the orphanage is the school. Each night we have devotions and then schooling from about 6.30pm-8pm. One week they learn Thai (to better equip them to go to school here and to get jobs later on) and the following week they learn English (for similar reasons). We teach for the English week. Many children in the surrounding village come to the evening classes. Every student at the local primary school (approx 200) have first been to bamboo School to learn enough Thai to assist learning. The village is helped also by Bamboo school. Gifts and donations of clothing go to them often. The village consists of about 480 homes with 11 (average) people living in each home. When teams come to the school they will put in a well or a few hawg narms (toilets) to lessen disease and poverty. We are currently beginning to build relationship with a village about an hour away to begin serving them also. We will go in the next few days and take them clothing and ask if they would like a visiting medical team to come to their village and we will speak to them of the possibility of us building a well and toilets. As we do this we are able to establish credibility with them - to then share about a God who loves them and sent his son Jesus, for their peace and life. These people loose many of their babies and others to disease. Please be praying for us as we begin relationship with this new village.

The police came to the school the other night...asking why there were other foriengers (Colin and I) drivng around and asked if we had visas and work permits. We do, so all was well. There is a constant threat of being stopped at the check points and the ute then searched for Karen people who have escaped over the Burma boarder. Many of our children have and so there is constant prayer as we travel on the road. Three little (as in 6 ot 7 years old) left the school without permission the other day. They wandered in the jungle trying to visit their parents. They returned unharmed (until they were smacked by Momo Cat) and warned not to do that again. There is trouble currently at the boarder only a kilometer to our west. They girls were warned they could have been picked up by police and then the future is very unsure.

The children (our 4) have started schooling. It is a bit sparodic...but it is happening. Eating rice and vegetables is hard at 6.30 in the morning...as is the getting out of bed. OUr children were not eating much rice for breakfast and then finding it hard to concentrate on schooling. I bought porrige yesterday and so this morning the Harrison family had a secret porridge meal in our hut (we ahve an electric kettle also) before heading up to breakfast. Concentration was more visible today! We go into a bigger centre fairly often and will get specials (junk food) every now and then. We have to constantly treat scratches and cuts...as tropical bugs can lead to serious infection. Normally you begin a treatment of atibiotics immediately. Jordan has a cut presently...but we are keeping any infection at bay.

We bought a few DVDs in our travels (they cost $.80) and these have become a treat when schooling is finished. Our four children gather around the laptop and watch a movie.....ahhhh heavenly.

Thank you for emails and phone messages...they become such precious gifts to us. Our mailing address can be used...so if you have a moment to write letters to us or the four children we would really appreciate news and contact from home.
PO BOX 2
Amphur Sai Yok
Kanchanaburi 71150
Thailand.

If Lifegate or Mimos or individual families could put together a bunch of photos and letters telling the children at Bamboo School that you pray for them and that you love and follow Jesus also (even if it is a long way away) and send it to them....it would be a treat for them also and great for their faith.

Thanks to you all. We love and miss you. (Missing you all quite a bit this week actually)
Ruth - for us all. As I write Colin is at the wood shop getting Coconut wood to help build new guest houses and rooms for children coming into the orphanage. The children (our four) are with one of the Thai leaders at the market shopping for more rice and vegetables....walking by the exposed meat, toads, turtles, eels and cockroaches....hmmm we are glad we only eat rice and vegetables! Let me quickly finish with a story of a village lady who came to the clinic before we arrived. Oh....I forgot to tell you that there is also medical clinic attached to the school for anyone who needs anything from a bandaid to quick surgery to infant formular. This lady brought with her a tape worm that she had apparently spent an hour 'pooing out'. She had been given medicine to get rid of it earlier. This lady was convinced of the need for good hygiene when she saw a four metre tape worm...the reason behind her stomach cramping. For this reason we don't eat pork from around here either!!!!!