Sorry no word. We traveled a long way into NE Thailand. We are on the boarder of Laos. We visited a prison on Monday (Swang Daen Din). We taught some English and heard some stories from the prisoners.
Tuesday (day 11) 9 of us left early on the bus to travel to Sakon Nakhon Prison about a 1hr drive. We were in pairs and we taught at five stations for 30 min in am and again in the afternoon. It was so much fun. The rest of our group went with Stacey and toured around the country, harvested some rice and visited some local people. Then they taught ESL at a church from 5-7. It is very hot here. The group of 9 who taught at the prison got to stop at an aquarium on the way home that has all different types of fish found in the Mekong River... creepy and prehistoric to say the least.
Wednesday (day 12) all of us traveled to the prison to teach again for the morning. A different group of five left with Stacey to make the trip back to Nakhon Phanom to tour an abandoned prison (what they used to be like) and to teach again at the church.
We have traveled a long ways in the past 12 days from Phenom Penh Cambodia to Siem Reap (by bus...) Cambodia. Flew over to Bangkok and then flew up to Udon Thani. Then in the bus to Sakon Nakhon and then to Nakhon Phanom (about 2.5 hours from Udon Thani). After we make it back to Udon Thani we will board the night train to Bangkok. It really feels as long as it sounds. But what a great time. We are seeing and doing things that the average tourist does not get to see. We have had great hosts along the way and very appreciative of their ability to speak the local languages.
Talk to you soon and take care.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Day 9 - update
After church today we came back to the hotel to have orientation with Stacey. She gave us a couple of books, one explained cultural facts and the other some Thai words to get us by on our short mission. Some of the things we had planned have fallen through. As Stacey says "You need to be very flexible in Thailand because nothing is for sure until you show up and they let you in the doors". Stacey also reviewed some teaching lessons that we will be using in the prisons, at the school and the church. We will be separated into pairs and half of us will go to a school and the other half will go to the prison. Each day we will trade locations so we all get a chance to visit the prison. On Monday, we will go as one large group and teach a 1 hour lesson of English with Stacey.
Approximately 70% of children in the Udon province are involved in prostitution. There are alarming rates of HIV and STD's. There is little education to deal with this issue here and many families sell their children thinking they are going to the city to work in factories.
Many of people are in the prison system here because of drug related offenses. Drug charges carry the longest sentences because they are considered crimes against people. If you committed a crime against one person you would get a much smaller sentence.
After orientation we went to John and Joy's for supper. John and Joy are missionaries and have been in Thailand for several years. We ate a traditional Isaan meal which John, Hank, Craig and Fred went to get from a market. They made a stop along the way for Hank to run in a buy a watermelon. Hank expressed that apparently there is no word in the Thai language for watermelon so it was challenging to actually find it.
Isaan is an area, a people group and a language in North East Thailand. Most people in the larger centres also speak Central Thai.
Approximately 70% of children in the Udon province are involved in prostitution. There are alarming rates of HIV and STD's. There is little education to deal with this issue here and many families sell their children thinking they are going to the city to work in factories.
Many of people are in the prison system here because of drug related offenses. Drug charges carry the longest sentences because they are considered crimes against people. If you committed a crime against one person you would get a much smaller sentence.
After orientation we went to John and Joy's for supper. John and Joy are missionaries and have been in Thailand for several years. We ate a traditional Isaan meal which John, Hank, Craig and Fred went to get from a market. They made a stop along the way for Hank to run in a buy a watermelon. Hank expressed that apparently there is no word in the Thai language for watermelon so it was challenging to actually find it.
Isaan is an area, a people group and a language in North East Thailand. Most people in the larger centres also speak Central Thai.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
October 26, Day 9
Yesterday, Oct 25 we traveled from Siem Reap to Bangkok and then on to Udon Thani which is in the North East part of Thailand. We met Stacey who is our new Blaine. Stacey is originally from Florida and has spent two years in Thailand and is a missionary. We have a very busy week ahead of us teaching English in a school and a prison.
This morning we will be going to the international church and then Stacey will give us an orientation to teaching English.
Thailand is very clean compared to Cambodia. In Cambodia there is garbage everywhere!!! Thailand seems more advanced and the computers work here. Tonight we will post the events of today and give you an idea of what is ahead for the week. Take Care.
This morning we will be going to the international church and then Stacey will give us an orientation to teaching English.
Thailand is very clean compared to Cambodia. In Cambodia there is garbage everywhere!!! Thailand seems more advanced and the computers work here. Tonight we will post the events of today and give you an idea of what is ahead for the week. Take Care.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Oct 25, Day 8
Hi all,
I lost a day - not sure I have all of the dates right on the blog (oops). But today is HANK's B-Day!!!
We visited the Angkor Temples - Very Incredible!!! Some of us rode elephants into the temple. Going through the temple gates on an elephant was so amazing. This was the last night with the Deer Park group. We are sad to say farewell. They will email Joleen blog posts and hopefully we can continue to follow their journey.
Some closing comments from Blain Sylvester (he will take the DP group back to Phenom Penh):
After meeting the people we have met on our travels we should take away from this... the faith and availability to stand on the edge and take a risk if called upon to do so. It just so happens that the folks we have met are 70 year old grandmas... we should all take some lessons from that alone!!
I lost a day - not sure I have all of the dates right on the blog (oops). But today is HANK's B-Day!!!
We visited the Angkor Temples - Very Incredible!!! Some of us rode elephants into the temple. Going through the temple gates on an elephant was so amazing. This was the last night with the Deer Park group. We are sad to say farewell. They will email Joleen blog posts and hopefully we can continue to follow their journey.
Some closing comments from Blain Sylvester (he will take the DP group back to Phenom Penh):
After meeting the people we have met on our travels we should take away from this... the faith and availability to stand on the edge and take a risk if called upon to do so. It just so happens that the folks we have met are 70 year old grandmas... we should all take some lessons from that alone!!
Just a note
Hi to All:
I just read all of the comments people have shared... to be honest, haven't had time to look because we are so busy. Thank you for following - I know our group likes that we are staying connected to all of you at home. For those of you who haven't heard - Craig did not get on the flight with us on the 16th. His passport was to expire 10 days short of 6 months. He stayed in Calgary and went to the passport office. The booth he got to was a lady who attends the Airdre Alliance Church and knows all about Place of Rescue in Cambodia. She fast tracked his passport and he got it by 2 pm that day. He boarded the plane Sat am and caught up with us on Monday. Wow - a little divine intervention there I must say. Take Care all.
Joleen
I just read all of the comments people have shared... to be honest, haven't had time to look because we are so busy. Thank you for following - I know our group likes that we are staying connected to all of you at home. For those of you who haven't heard - Craig did not get on the flight with us on the 16th. His passport was to expire 10 days short of 6 months. He stayed in Calgary and went to the passport office. The booth he got to was a lady who attends the Airdre Alliance Church and knows all about Place of Rescue in Cambodia. She fast tracked his passport and he got it by 2 pm that day. He boarded the plane Sat am and caught up with us on Monday. Wow - a little divine intervention there I must say. Take Care all.
Joleen
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Day 6 October 23
Happy Birthday to Donna Rodatz!!!! Today we got on the bus for Siem Reap. David Ens (Marie's son) is with us to help show us around and translate (THANKFULLY). We had a five hour bus ride from Phenom Penh to Siem Reap through the country. We saw a lot of little villages and really cool things. Right now the country is under water - literally. We stopped at a market for a break and Brent O'Çonnor ate a fried Tarantula. They had lots of interesting things to eat (just to gross out the tourists). That night we went to Pub Street where there are many neat restaurants to eat in so we all chose what we liked and went our separate ways. Hank tried to find a burger, but I think he was out of luck. Joleen got to eat Mexican Food in Cambodia and it was great!!
After the Tuk Tuk ride home, we met to eat some desert and talk. Not a lot happened today, but great to see the countryside. Cambodia is a beautiful place.
Jennifer has had some interesting adventures getting in and out of a Tuk Tuk. She has started a collection of Tuk Tuk and Role stories to share when we return.
After the Tuk Tuk ride home, we met to eat some desert and talk. Not a lot happened today, but great to see the countryside. Cambodia is a beautiful place.
Jennifer has had some interesting adventures getting in and out of a Tuk Tuk. She has started a collection of Tuk Tuk and Role stories to share when we return.
Day 5 October 22
We have had some Internet difficulties so sorry about the delay. Today we went to the Military Hospital which is otherwise known as the poor persons hospital. The hospital was dirty, but much better than it was a couple of years ago. Marie Ens (Place of Rescue) has a team of people who visit the hospital each week to pray and advocate for medical supplies for the patients. People in this hospital must have a family member to care for them because there is no nursing care provided. Their families bring them food, blankets, etc. We broke into small groups and visited different parts of the hospital. The rooms were moldy and hot. Many did not have pillows or blankets. Some of our group mentioned that patients in the emergency care ward did not have casts on their broken bones, they were just laying on the beds until the wounds healed. The conditions of this hospital were not what we have in Canada - so those of you who complain about a nurse or the level of attention provided to you in the ER, just be very thankful you are not a poor Cambodian.
At evening debriefing Jay talked about reaping what you sew. From Job 4:8 "If you sow trouble you will reap it". The reverse of that is when you sow good, you reap it. This is very true for all of the people doing good things in Cambodia.
The Administrator for the hospital is a highly decorated female in the Military. Very Cool!
Sue called from the House of Smiles to inform us she signed a lease for one year with the increased rent so the children will be able to remain in this facility with the help of donations from members of this group of 300.00 per month.
Blaine - our very awsome guide had some words of wisdom before we landed in Cambodia... While in Cambodia, practice patience and politeness. We have been doing a lot of that.
We also got to visit Place of Rescue's new transition house that they are just building to get ready for the children graduating so they have a safe place to live if they go on to College in the city. It is going to be great. It is very nice house.
At evening debriefing Jay talked about reaping what you sew. From Job 4:8 "If you sow trouble you will reap it". The reverse of that is when you sow good, you reap it. This is very true for all of the people doing good things in Cambodia.
The Administrator for the hospital is a highly decorated female in the Military. Very Cool!
Sue called from the House of Smiles to inform us she signed a lease for one year with the increased rent so the children will be able to remain in this facility with the help of donations from members of this group of 300.00 per month.
Blaine - our very awsome guide had some words of wisdom before we landed in Cambodia... While in Cambodia, practice patience and politeness. We have been doing a lot of that.
We also got to visit Place of Rescue's new transition house that they are just building to get ready for the children graduating so they have a safe place to live if they go on to College in the city. It is going to be great. It is very nice house.
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