wake from other boats and probably more speed to finish the trip so it was not easy sitting in the bottom of the boat with only a small cushion.
The last village was poor and we met with the minister and members upstairs in the room where they worship on Sunday. The climb up the hand cut steps was not easy...and I began to think going back down might be worse. The steps were almost pieces of wood and not even or smooth. At first only a few men came in the room. In a few minutes women started drifting in and sitting on the floor. Children started looking in the door and in a short while the room was packed. One mother nursed her baby right beside me and it was very natural for her to do so.
This was the only village where we saw a mentally-ill child. There was a girl, ten years old, sitting in the dirt at the foot of the steps. She was trying to talk but they said she cannot speak and she is blind. She was born with club feet so she was sitting with her legs and feet behind her. It was pitiful but there is nothing that can be done for her since she is mentally ill.
There were a good many who needed help and since this was our last village, we had held back enough funds to help most of them with what they requested. The need is so great and the number of people who need help is enormous when you add it up for all of the seven villages. And yet, no one got very much. When you have nothing and no hope until the next crop can come in, it is a lot to these people.
A widow's house ....
We left this village and made the hour trip back to the bank of the river in Luang Prabang very tired but thankful for a safe trip. Our task in this area was completed with this last leg of the trip to the last village.
We gave funds to help 56 families in need.
We ended up with enough for a bus ride back to Thailand but not much more.
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