Our trip to Thailand has been cancelled

With mixed emotions, I must report that the trip to Thailand has been cancelled.    Ron has spent hours working on the reservations and trying to get a VISA to get into Thailand.   American Airlines changed the reservations several times but he finally thought he had the trip worked out to Hong Kong.   The problem was to get into Thailand from there.   Some airlines were flying from Hong Kong to Thailand but VISAs are required.   We got our pictures made for the VISA applications.  Ron tried many times to submit the applications to the Thai Embassy on-line but each time the computer said the website was not operating.    He read all the things we would face, such as a 14-day quarantine in one of their designated hotels.    All of the hotels were expensive and it would be at our expense.   I do not know for certain, but I imagine the meals will be preset and there would not be "room service selecting from a menu."   There might not be internet service connection either.   Being stuck in a motel room in Bangkok for 14 days under these circumstances would be difficult for both of us and delay the work.    

We have a small window of time due to our age to make another difficult trip to Asia.   Ron will be diligent to make a Plan B and determine our next steps in regard to the building of the next safe house.  No doubt, God will open doors for us and things will work out according to His will. 

The upsurge of the virus numbers in the U.S. will keep us close to home throughout the winter months.  My autoimmune disease (Sjogren's Syndrome) and our ages (82 and 83) put us at high risk for recovery from the COVID-19 virus.   Our health is important, not just to each of us, but for the SAS work to continue without difficulty.    We will continue to work from home to maintain the work and oversee the workers to increase the number of girls we care for in each country.    The virus seems to be must less in Asia at this time so our workers can maintain the care of the girls without difficulty.

We ask for your prayers for us and for our work in Asia.     We pray for our workers and for the girls in our care.    We also pray for our supporters and sponsors because YOU are the backbone of our mission work.    We are the people who go and get the work going and maintain it, but YOU are the reason we can do the work.    Without the support from loving, generous Christians, no mission work can be successful.    

THANK YOU for being on our team for the Lord's work.    Be safe during the months ahead.  Maintain your focus on service to our Lord and the work of carrying His message to the lost.  Continue to support our work as you are able.  

God bless you with love from Ron and Pat Brown!

Fall has come to Georgia

We are having some very chilly nights in northern Georgia.    The days warm up to the low 70's but nights are in the 50's and 60's.   The burn ban is not on so Ron is breaking up fallen limbs and burning them in the burn barrel Leigh Ann purchased for this purpose.    We hope to get the yard cleaned up and in good condition before our trip to Thailand.  Our leaves are not turning yet.  When we get the yard in better shape, I will post some pictures.   

The confirmation for our departure is now November 5, leaving Atlanta early for Los Angeles.   The flight through Dallas on November 1 was cancelled for lack of passengers going to Hong Kong.   International travel is not back to capacity and many airlines have cut back flights.    American could not make a connection from Hong Kong to Thailand but Ron has found several other airlines that do fly there from Hong Kong on a regular basis.   He will continue to work on reservations and hope something will work out before the first week of November.    We will end up in Lampang, Thailand but may have to go to Bangkok first.  I will post more about our plans as the trip gets closer.

We made a fast trip to Tennessee and Kentucky last week.    While it was good to get out and travel a little, we rushed a long trip in a short time and put many miles on the car in a short time.    We got home late the second night with only one night in a hotel in Franklin, KY.     We kept our distance and tried to only visit those we knew were safe, hoping to continue to escape the virus.   

Enjoy the change of seasons and the fall weather wherever you are.   God bless everyone!

All set - Go!

The title is a little misleading.   We are getting ready to go to Thailand on November 1, 2020.  But, we have a lot to do in the short time left.   

Ron is busy getting the maintenance done on our Tiffin RV to try to get it to a lot for sale before we leave.  RV service places are totally busy and its hard to get any help to do the repairs.   He has a man coming here on Saturday to try to find the electrical problems not working.   He has a man here today washing it and getting part of it ready to paint.   He will have to get someone to help him with the canvas awning that needs some work.   

I have a dental appointment in two weeks to get some small cavities filled.   I had a tooth pulled about a month ago that had an infection under a crown for a very long time.  I thought I just had some gum problems but it was actually a bad abscess under the tooth.

We will try to clean up the back yard before we leave.  There are many limbs fallen from the trees but there is a burn ban on now.   In October, we can break up the limbs and burn them in a burn barrel.  We want to get the yard in a good shape before we leave because it will have to be left until we return in the spring.   We will try to get the young neighbor next door to rake leaves in the front yard but the back yard is just natural and we will just let them accumulate there.   

We will fly from Atlanta on November 1st.   Originally, Ron planned to leave on Nov. 11th but he changed the reservations so we can leave before election day.  We will vote by absentee ballot as soon as it arrives in the mail.   We plan to leave early just in case there are uprisings or riots due to the election.   We don't know what will happen if President Trump is reelected and we believe he will be.   The Democrats and organized movements such as BLM and Antifa may try to destroy our cities.  Highways, airports and such like could be shut down to prevent us from even getting to the airport.    

We will have a short flight to Dallas and then from Dallas to Hong Kong.   We will have one night in the hotel at the airport and the next day fly to either Chiang Mei or Lampang.   I'm not sure if flights are available to Lampang but that is where we will end up and stay for almost four months.    Chiang Mei, in northern Thailand, is a tourist area where many expats go to retire.   There are beautiful communities there where rent is very reasonable for extremely nice houses.   Lampang is about l hour's drive from Chiang Mei.   I saw a couple of YOU TUBE videos about this place but it is small and I don't think there's much to see or do there.   They have beautiful temples in Thailand but they are not of much interest to us.   I do enjoy the food so I hope restaurants are open and the markets will be good.

I hope we will be in the hotel in Hong Kong on election night so we can watch the outcome on TV.

The virus was very light in Thailand and we are safe there but may have to quarantine 14 days upon arrival in a hotel.    Thailand will start issuing 90 day VISAs in order to get tourist back so we will apply for the VISA so we will not have to leave the country every 30 days, as before.   This 90-day VISA allows us to renew it again twice (1 month each time) which will allow us all the time we need.  Ron hopes to complete the house construction early in March so we can return to the U.S. 

Due to the Coronavirus restrictions, we may not be able to visit any other country on this trip.   There is still a shutdown in Nepal to some degree and the border between Laos and Thailand is still closed.

Cooler weather came to North Georgia this past week.    We had 50 degrees this morning.   We are not far from the North Georgia Appalachian Mountains.  This is probably a temporary cool spell and there will be warmer days in October.

We will miss Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays again.   I loved these celebrations every year with family and friends but since we went into the mission work, it has not been the priority of our lives.  As our children went their separate way, it was not the same if we had to spend the holidays at home alone.  We remember Tatum's birthday on December 22nd (our granddaughter) each year as she was the best Christmas present we ever received.   

September is a bittersweet month but mostly sweet.    Both Leigh Ann and Ronald had birthdays in September.   They are both such a blessing to our family.  Their births are vividly remembered each year and each day of their lives is a blessing to us.    I honestly do not know what I would do without them.  I thank God for giving us these precious offspring.

Ronald and Gigi are celebrating a 9th wedding anniversary tomorrow and through the weekend for a short getaway to a resort in the Philippines where they got a 50% off rate.   We could not ask for a sweeter daughter-in-law.   Gigi is precious to Ronald and to us.  I told them this week that I think God gave each of them to the other as a special gift from Him.  The chance of their meeting just had to be made in heaven.  

My mother died in September and after 37 years, I can vividly picture that time with her and her funeral as if it was yesterday.   We never forget our mothers.   I am always thankful for the life she gave me, the love and protection she extended to me and the teaching she gave me.   The loving care of a Christian mother is priceless.   There was never a time, not even for a minute, that I did not know that she loved me and thought I was one of the best things that ever happened in her life.    My Dad died when I was 3-l/2 and she always told me God sent me to keep her from being so lonely in life.    I miss her and cherish my heritage.

Keep us in your prayers as we continue our daily work with Save Asian Souls and Philippine Mission and prepare for the long trip to Asia again.    I will post another segment as things progress and I have more information to share.  God bless you all with good health and many continued blessings.

God is good and life is enjoyable!

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.

Ron's eye check up was good!

Yesterday, Ron completed his check ups by having an eye evaluation at Emory Eye Clinic.   The eye that has been so painful and red for some months is not the result of the mole Ethan Wright discovered in his evaluation last summer.    The doctor said the size of the mole has not changed and appears to him to have been there for a long time.   He said to have it checked again next year. 

The son of a preacher we know had a brain tumor recently.   The first thing they checked was his eyes since they felt the malignancy had a primary source.   His eyes were not the cause of the melanoma but having a mole in the eye could result in such a situation.   We are relieved to get a good report and know this is not a risk with Ron's mole!

Ron has dry eyes and during the time we were in the Philippines, he did his work in an air conditioned room due to the excessive heat.  Apparently, his eyes got too dry and this was the basic problem.   I used the small sitting room to do my work in the Philippines and it did get hot in the afternoons, but my dry eyes were not subjected to the air conditioning all day.

We have not used air conditioning since we arrived in Woodstock, GA.     Ron got windows to open and we let the breeze flow through with the help of fans, part of the time.   The house has many trees and until noon each day, the house is nice and cool.   

We continue to get a few more things done and more settled into our life in a house again.    Without constant travel, we are getting more rest and trying to catch up with our computer work that got a little behind while we were busy moving in.

Ron has not yet sold the RVs but he is checking to see where it would be best to put them on the market.    I am concerned we will wait until this season is too far gone to sell this them year.   Like all vehicles, they depreciate more in value each year.

Our work is going as well as expected during this pandemic.  Our girls are all well.  Borders are still closed and some places still endure shutdowns of businesses and schools.   Our girls who are now in their own tailoring shops have not had much business to bring them income so we have had to help them with food and the purchase of fabric. 

Ron has sent newsletters out about the many families we have helped in Nepal and Laos with food.  We continue to provide food to some areas bordering India and Nepal and now some Christians in Thailand are requesting help.    Until people can return to work and make a steady income, this may continue to be a problem.

With the virus still causing as many as 50 deaths a day in Georgia, we are staying in as much as possible.   When having to do things, we wear masks and keep our distance, using hand sanitizers.  Ron had to take care of problems with tires on the car and we dealt with the restrictions at Emory yesterday in regard to his check up.

Whenever there are news or changes in our lives, I will post again.     We are doing fine and pray that all of our Christian family everywhere is safe and healthy. 

In Christian love, we remain as servants doing Christ's work on earth.   Pray for us as we pray for you.

Move completed!

Our furniture arrived from being in storage in Albany, GA on July 9th.    It was a tough day unloaded a U-Haul truck with two strong guys helping us.    We got it all in the house and set up a bed to sleep and went to bed.   This is our son and daughter-in-law's house located at 406 Justin Court, Woodstock, GA 30188.    Our daughter, Leigh Ann and granddaughter, Tatum, lived here until last fall when they moved to Florida.  The house has been vacant since they left so the yard was really a mess.    The young man next door cuts the grass but limbs were everywhere and things in general made the house look deserted.

We made the decision while we were in the Philippines that we would share this house as our base home with Ronald and Gigi as we both continue our mission work.   Due to our quarantine in the Philippines, we could not get here sooner or get the furniture moved here until now. 

Ron and I both knew this was probably our last chance to have the ability to handle a move ourselves without having to hire everything done.   We were almost forced to do it now because of the virus and our inability to travel to visit at various congregations.   Everything changed and we adjusted our plans accordingly.    I promised Ron that I would do everything I could to relieve him of the work.  He has helped or done the impossible for me to do but I have done my share of unloading box after box and getting the house in order. 

Here are a few pictures to show how lovely the house is now. The dining room furniture was loaned (or given) to Leigh Ann when she moved into this house.   She has no room for it in her condo.   She still has things stored around in this room that she will take with her when she comes to visit.

Leigh Ann left the glass table in the breakfast room and the backyard with the birds feeding is what we enjoy at each mealtime.

The next pictures are of the large living room.    The cubes to sit on in front of the fireplace and the gold chair were left by Leigh Ann,   

The glass table belongs to Ronald.   This house now belongs to the entire Brown Family!

 I mixed in my furniture whether it really matches or not to complete the room.   As my decorator friend says, "some of it is early basement" style.    

I used gifts and pictures that have been given to us by family, friends and acquaintances, both at home and abroad.  My oriental corner and gifts from our friends cover the tables and include pictures on the walls.   The fun of decorating is remembering where everything came from and when we received it.   

Ronald and Gigi have their room in the master bedroom and it will always be ready for them when they return home.    I will have to take a picture of it and post it in the next segment.   

Here is my office set up in one of the bedrooms.    

I have a corner for reading and a bed for resting.    

Ron has a large table in the other bedroom and his office is set up with a cabinet for storage of offices supplies and a closet for his clothing with shelving on each side which provides a lot of space.   He does not have it neat enough for a picture but I will post one soon. We share whichever bed we feel like and sleep separately when we are tired and need to have uninterrupted sleep.   Our patterns of sleep are not good and as we get older, it seems to get worse.

There is another room upstairs that will be used for a guest room but I have not completed that room yet.   It is a big house with four bedrooms and 3 full baths but Ron and I will use less than l/2 of it, closing off unused rooms in the winter months and using radiator type electric heaters in our rooms.  

Ron still hopes to go back to Thailand for this winter but the virus situation and our health will determine what we are able to do by winter.   In the meantime, we have a very lovely place to live.  We feel very blessed and thankful for all that God provides for us. 

Here are some outside pictures to complete this blog.

Update from Woodstock, GA

We left Texas early on June 18th and drove to Mobile, AL   We can park at Regency church of Christ in the back parking lot where they have RV hookups.   We rested another day there before driving to Raintree Village Children's home in Valdosta, GA where they also have RV hookups.    On Monday, June 22 and again on June 23, we drove to Jacksonville, FL early each morning, arriving back at the RV late each evening.   Ron had appointments to check his heart, knees and a neurologist specialist.    Everything checked out well and we were pleased there were no complications and no surgeries needed.   He did not get to see the eye doctor because the specialist to see about the retina problem was booked until the middle of July.   They recommended he try to see someone at Emory while we are in Atlanta.    I hope he can see someone soon but his eye is doing somewhat better with a higher humidity and lower temperature.     Ron was 83 yesterday.

We drove to Woodstock, GA on June 25th.    Our RV is parked in our son's house driveway.  Some time this past year, we discussed with him about both of us making this our base home.   Our daughter, Leigh Ann and granddaughter, Tatum, moved to Florida in October and left this house vacant.  Ron thought Ronald should rent it but he had very bad renters twice before and he does not want to sell the house.   Ron and I have debated for the past 2-3 years where we should try to settle when we could no longer drive the RV and travel full-time.    We considered several cities but never settled on any place we really want to live.    Ron is not ready to totally give up the traveling but due to the virus, we are forced to do less the rest of this year.   Many churches are not meeting and we cannot visit and give reports on the work.

We spent two days unloading the RV into the house.    We go back to the RV to sleep at night until we can get our stored furniture brought here from Albany, GA.     We set up temporary offices in the house and are working to catch up our work.   We will move the furniture in soon and live here until we can travel again.   

Ron plans to sell or trade the larger RV for a very small RV that will be easier for short trips.   We will no longer live in an RV but take short trips in a much smaller RV if we can make a trade soon.  Ron feels the long drives and maintenance he has always done before is just too difficult for him now.

Because of our age and the high risk of getting the virus and not surviving it, we have been forced to stay in as much as possible.   We have to do banking and grocery shopping but those places are near and not in the middle of crowds.   We had groceries delivered when we arrived in TX and the Kroger store near us will deliver here if we decide to do that.   

We have a lot of computer work to catch up so we are very busy.   I hope to catch up before the furniture arrives from Albany.   Then, I will be busy for a few weeks getting things in place. 

We only have one phone at this time so if you really need to reach us by phone, Ron's number is 678-877-6300.   We are easily reached by email at ronbrown20@gmail.com or patbrown10@gmail.com.
The mailing address is 406 Justin Court, Woodstock, GA 30188.