Progress

Ron arrived at the safe house in Mukdahan, Thailand last Friday and began assessing the work he needed to do at this safe house.   He found things the contractor did not finish after we left there two years ago.  He also found things that needed to be done, i.e. a water pump that needed to be replaced and other things.   It was too hot for him to sleep in the guest room so he got them to install an air conditioner so the room can be used for other workers when they visit there in the future.  He ordered materials and got workers to do the actual work and he is busy every day overseeing it.  He expects to be there another week but he said he could actually work there for a couple of months before it would be like he would want it to be.   I constantly remind him that their standards are not necessarily our standards.   For example, they have  moved their kitchen outside under a shed.  While it would be difficult for us, the heat of an inside kitchen makes it ideal for them to cook outside.  This is a common system in Thailand.  It is not as sanitary as it would be inside.    Many Asians have lived their entire lives without fridges so they see no need to refrigerate leftover food soon after a meal is finished.  They contend with flies which we cannot tolerate.  They have washed dishes in river water or just cold tap water and they see no need for hot water and soap.   It is hard to provide changes for people who have done it a different way all of their lives.    Ron wants every safe house to be up to our standards but it is not always possible or practical.

Ron is still waiting to see if he can get a VISA and go to visit workers in Laos for a week before he comes back to the U.S.    He wants to go, but he is also eager to come home since he left at the end of October.   I think he is getting weary at this point in his trip; three months of "camping" after being spoiled by me at home. 

In the Philippines, they are busy restoring what typhoon Odette destroyed.   The canvas is going up on the frame to restore the tent they use for worship and school classrooms.    

It is a very large (and heavy) piece so you can see why they could not remove it before the typhoon hit.

They have replaced the gates to the property and restored the concrete block wall that fell.  The property is secure again for the children to be safe.  

The children had a good Christmas right after the storm.   They helped clean up the flooded houses and enjoyed their presents (which had been purchased beforehand) even though they had no power.  They played games and had a wonderful time.   

Each month, they have a birthday party for the children having birthdays that month.  These children have not had such a joyful occasion on their birthday before so they are shown how special they are and how happy everyone is for their lives.