Ron and I are doing well and isolating ourselves as much as possible due to an upsurge in the coronavirus in Georgia the past few months. Since moving into Ronald and Gigi's house in Woodstock, GA, we have been very busy getting straightened out, doing minor repairs to the house, working in the yard and keeping up with our computer work for Save Asian Souls.
Our daughter, Leigh Ann, came up to visit from Florida over a long weekend toward the middle of August. She went through some things she left here when she moved to Clearwater, FL last October. We got to keep and use some of her things, she took a carload back with her and stored other things in the basement to get later. We have a very nice, livable place to enjoy with a wonderful bird sanctuary in the backyard. A snake appeared in a brush pile last week and we think it got our favorite little chip monk. The birds and chip monks put on a show for us right outside our breakfast room window as they fight for positions on the bird feeders and bird bath. They really enjoy the free food and water. I will research to see if I can leave a suet ball for them to enjoy this winter when we are gone.
We have enjoyed a rather nice summer and have not used any air conditioning. This past week, we have slept under a light blanket at night. We are enjoying 80's during the day and 60's or low 70's at night. Fall is in the air but no leaves are falling yet.
Ron has made reservations to return to Thailand on November 11th. If we are able to get back into Thailand as the virus is still an unknown at this time, we will return to Mukdahan for a short time for Ron to get someone to complete the construction work left undone on the house we built there this past year.
The house is more complete now and they have nice gardens producing vegetables on the sides of the house. The girls are learning to garden and grow much of their own food.
From there, we will then go to Northern Thailand where Ron will build a smaller house on church property. It will house about 24 girls. We anticipate taking a side trip to Laos to meet with our workers and renew our VISA to get back into Thailand for the last month. We hope to return to the U.S. the second week of March, 2021, God willing.
We do not think we will have sufficient time to go to Nepal or the Philippines this year. The house our son (Ronald Brown) has constructed for us on the campus of Casa Esperanza of Angels in Tanjay, Negros Oriental, Philippines is almost ready for occupancy. They are finishing up the final touches and building the bunk beds for the girls.
A Christian couple working part-time at Casa to relieve the house parents, have agreed to be over the SAS house of girls. He is on the left in the white shirt and his wife is in black in the center of the back row. Our son, Ronald, is on the right.
The new house parents have two teenage daughters. One is a Christian and both girls will be great examples for the girls we support.
Casa took two older girls in about two months ago when a Catholic girls' home closed. These girls (top right on the back row) will move over to the SAS house and be our first two supported girls.
In the Philippines, they also have a large garden underway and the older children learn all the aspects of gardening. They are being taught many practical things that will help them when they are adults and must take care of themselves. They are all receiving schooling and attend classes every day at the orphanage during the coronavirus shutdown of schools.
Surplus vegetables (more than the children and workers of Casa can consume) will be given to the community that surrounds the orphanage.
As soon as the virus ends and the church can open up to community services again, it will be helpful to have established a good relationship with everyone due to the good food program. Christians are generous to help others and it is a valuable lesson to teach others and our children growing up in our care.
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