Visits to safehouses last week

A week ago, we went to Vientiane, Laos and spent several days and nights with Phet and the girls who live with her and go to school.   The first day we arrived, we had Phet stop to buy the girls an ice cream cake.   With 100+ degrees, we know they enjoyed it.

Our room was on the 3rd floor but we left our heavy bag with clothing on the lst floor and one of the girls took my small make-up bag to our room.  It was very hot for the entire week, but we did have a small air conditioner in our room.   We slept well.     

This is Phet, our wonderful housemother (beautiful and sweet) in this locaton:    

Phet got us tickets before we arrived so we could take a train to Luang Prabang one day.     

In Luang Prabang, all the way down small alleyways, old houses have been turned into guest house hotels.    The houses are beautiful with original wood doors and floors.  In our room, an old picture of a family hung on the wall.   I think it was the family who owned and lived in this house as much as 100 years ago.    It is awesome to think of what life would have been like there at that time.    Our room had a balcony the entire width of the house overlooking the alley.    They grow many beautiful plants and there are flowering trees and potted plants everywhere along the sidewalks.

We were close to my favorite restaurant JoMa's which is much like Panera Bread, having a dessert cabinet displaying wonderful desserts.   They have wonderful salads, sandwiches, wraps, breakfast, all kinds of delicious drinks, including smoothies.    The green tea smoothie is absolutely delicious.   We had breakfast there two mornings and lunch there two days.   

After school, we took a tuk tuk to Chansouk's house and visited with them and the girls.    

Chansouk, his wife and baby girl are such a delightful family.   

After a short visit, we went back to our guest room and later met them and one of their students at another restaurant in the night market area.    We had delicious food and a wonderful visit together.    

The student that came with them speaks almost perfect English.    She is now working at a restaurant as as waitress and taking an English class, preparing herself to either go to Bangkok to a Bible school or to Singapore to attend Four Seas Bible School.  She is very smart and happy.     

The next day, Ron stayed in the room all morning to catch up his email, but Phet and I ventured out to sightsee in the city.    We went to the King's palace.  Many centuries ago, Luang Prabang was the capital city of Laos but it changed to Vientiane in more recent years.   Buddhism is strong is this city and many beautiful temples are open for tourists.  I tried to read up about the history of this city, but it is very complicated as it has been under several different country's rule and changed kings and leaders for centuries.    We were not allowed to take pictures of the palace and we had to rent the typical Lao skirt to wrap around us for proper dress to go through the palace.   Pure gold was in display all through the building in display cases of swords, vessels, clothing and many types of articles used during these periods of time by the royal families.

We walked through one Buddhist temple and along the shopping displays on the sidewalks.   The day was very hot.   A pure coconut shake was well worth waiting for as a girl made them just for us.

Later that evening, we went back to Chansouk's house and spent about two more hours with the girls.

It was so good to meet all of them and learn a little about their lives.   Most of the girls are from the Mekong River villages.   Boats go up and down the river all day and it is the only transportation to their homes.

Here are the type of villages they come from....

No electricity, running water or toilets, etc.

The girls are not unhappy to live in houses that you would consider unsuitable because it is far better than what they had at home.   In the safe house they have friends, they can go to school and have no worries about having enough to eat.  It is a good life and they are very pleased and appreciative of their sponsors' support.     

We took the train back to Vientiane and as soon as we arrived and headed to Phet's home, we were treated to a late lunch at a very good restaurant close to Phet's house.   Seems as if we are always eating but restaurants are just a good place to get everyone quiet long enough to look at the camera.

I've posted pictures of Kham before.   She is the girl who was born blind and had surgery about four years ago.    She is being trained by Phet's sister to shampoo, cut and blow dry women's hair and cut men's hair.   She gave me the best shampoo I've ever had, massaging my head and neck.   I showed her a picture of a short bob haircut and she trimmed my hair before styling it with the dryer.  

I did not know how to pay her and didn't want to make a show of it in front of the other girls.   I asked Phet to give her a proper amount of money for me.  Phet told me later she gave her 60,000 kips, but she would normally get about 20,000 kips.    60,000 kips is about $3.50 U.S. and 20,000 is about $1.16.   I don't know how anyone can live on the wages their receive.    I hope she will be able to set up her own shop in Luang Prabang and be successful in the future. 

We visited two other safehouses in Vientiane on our last day in Laos, but girls were at school.   We met with the house parents and discussed the work they do.   We did see the girls in January when we visited with our friends who came from Houston, Texas.

Ron waiting at immigration, getting ready to return to Udon Thani...

This week, we have worked to get the yard and the house in Udon Thani ready to show to potential girls and their relatives.    A vanload came today and the three girls said they were excited to come live here.  Two are 14 and in the lst grade.   The third girl is 16 and in the 6th grade.   Unfortunately, the girls have not been able to go to school because of severe poverty.    

TG took pictures today so I will post them later after she sends them to me.    

These girls will come May 1st and have two weeks to buy school uniforms, book bags and school supplies before the new term begins May 15th.    They will register as new students in the school about 3 or 4 blocks from the safe house.   It is a very short 10-minute walk to school each day.   The girls know each other so it will not be as big an adjustment as it would if they were strangers to each other.  It is a good start to have a few girls as they can share with other potential girls how nice it is to live here.  We hope we can find enough poor girls to fill the house eventually.   

We have a little over two weeks to spend with TG answering her questions and preparing to return to the U.S.

Thank you so much for following our journeys in Asia.