On Thurs 25th – Fri 26th September we went to Mae Sai and Hoay Maw. We took Rosie on the trip. Rosie is from our home church, Arun Community Church, and is staying with us until mid-December.
Mae Sai
We spent time with the children at the Hope for Life children's home to share in worship and activities. The children made photo frames and we took their photo as well. We talked about how we are special to God and that He made us and loves us. We taught the Powerpack song “Shine” which we have translated into Thai with the help of the Ban San Faan children and staff.
I'm Special |
Hoay Maw
This was the first time that we have visited Hoay Maw without a translator. We delivered some chicken, groceries and hygiene supplies and then had lunch with Joseph and family.
Tentative Good News
Three years ago there was a project to set up a tea plantation at Hoay Maw. This project offered what seemed like significant potential for income generation. Unfortunately due to a number of factors, the tea didn't thrive. Subsequently there was a fire which destroyed one area of planting.
"T" for Tore |
When we first came out 2 years ago our intention was to try and develop this further but with the various problems, we had basically given up any thought of this bearing any fruit. Apparently not everyone had given up because Marit Hyttedalen has now told us that she has prayed for the tea from time to time including just before this visit.
We were surprised and pleased to hear that when Paul went out to look at the tea in the main area of planting, about 2/3 of the plants are now thriving. We will continue to monitor the progress and if it is possible to harvest some tea then it will be sold directly to Joseph's contact who owns a tea company.
Rosie's Basics
Having helped shop for the basic hygiene supplies, Rosie, an 18 yr old, had been impacted by the contrast between the basic requirements of the children at Hoay Maw and the quantity, quality and availability of toiletries and cosmetics taken for granted by young people in the West.
Rosie has taken this to heart and wants to take up this project for herself and make a difference. Rosie is praying about how to take this forward but would like to communicate with the youth (and possibly children's) groups at home as well as with her previous employers. We would also like to feature Rosie's appeal via our web-site ...
We talked with Rattanaporn in order to make a detailed list of the basic requirements. We found that the monthly supplies that we've been taking are close to what is required but we cannot sustain that ourselves in the longer term and at present Hoay Maw has zero budget in this area. We are not talking about cosmetics but rather basic supplies e.g. soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, needed to promote the health and hygiene of the children.
Essentials not cosmetics |
Medical
We took some Paracetamol for the home and were aware that they have no provision for basic medical supplies. This was brought home because there was a small boy with open sores all over his head which had become infected. We were able to arrange for a Thai speaking Doctor friend to phone back the next day to give advice.
House-Mother tries to clean sores |
It is our hope to address the following:
- Support for basic medical supplies
- Support for a small medical fund particularly for children who don't have Thai ID and would not be eligible for Thai assisted medical care
- Written First-aid advice for the staff in Thai language
- A First-aid training opportunity for the staff
- Ongoing annual refresher for staff and training for new staff
- An initial medical check and evaluation for the children
- Ongoing annual medical check and review for the children
Finances
According to the pattern of the past 9 months, they were 2 months in debt at the market. They have continued to limit monthly spending on groceries at or below 10,000 baht (NOK 1,330 = £160 = $320). We have been praying for support to cover the 30,000 baht market costs per quarter. This quarter we were 17,500 baht short however we are so grateful that indiduals have provided an unexpected 7,500 baht. This will enable the market debt from the previous quarter to be paid off but means that we are still commencing this quarter with none of the 30,000 baht required for food. This highlights that they are very vulnerable to fall into debt and that they are under-resourced to meet the very basic level of subsistence.
Whilst we will continue to strive towards increased self-ownership of responsibility and self-sufficiency, we are also looking to raise the level of regular support to a stable minimum level.
We continue to pray that God will lead us together with partners who share a heart and vision for this work.
Care
As good progress has continued to be made with respect to managing the home, accounts, staff and projects, the area of developing the staff's ability to provide quality care for children comes into the spotlight. We spoke to Rattanaporn and the House-mother about teaching the children in the area of personal hygiene and keeping their clothes clean so that the children don't smell. We will be praying about the best way to provide training ideally in partnership with individuals or an organisation with the appropriate language and skills.
Computers
We delivered the other 2 computers donated by Grace International School. The first computer of the 3 will be used by Paul and Rattanaporn to support the management of the home. Adrian spent further time trying to get the internet to work using Paul's mobile phone. It worked using another staff member's phone but not with Paul's and so we may need to get a different phone for Paul.
Adrian sets up computer |
The other 2 computers and Paul's previous computer were put in the “computer room”. This is in a building that Joseph built quite recently with the left-over materials from the work on the boys dorm. They had been given some computer desks which the children worked on constructing, with assistance for Rosie.
We also took a set of 8 Thai-English visual dictionary CDs. I had bought them from a yard sale to help myself learn Thai but as they work equally well from Thai-to-English, we donated them to the children which will help them learn a little English. Unfortunately, we found that the audio drivers weren't installed and so they couldn't use them immediately. We will address that next visit.
The children, in particular the older ones, will now have the opportunity to learn basic computer skills e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, powerpoint, etc. We hope that the Singapore team will be able to give some basic instruction when they visit in Dec.
Joseph was present and he couldn't have been more pleased with his new “computer facility”. The children enjoyed watching themselves on our video, “A Day in the Life of Hoay Maw”.
Computer Facility |
Summary & Future
- It was a milestone that we managed to communicate ourselves without an interpreter.
- “Computer Facility” coming on-line
- Continue development of self-sufficiency projects
- Forward money to enable commencement of fish pond
- Develop accurate, overall budget and encourage basic minimum level of regular support.
- “Rosie's Basics” project to provide basic hygiene needs.
- Address medical supplies and staff training.
- Address staff training needs to further develop quality of care.
- Develop policies for care and management at the home.
