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.

Piglets!

As you can see from the video above, these piglets have already studied the Bible stories about the Exodus and taking the Promised Land (flowing with milk, and honey?) - they have now moved on to re-enacting:

* 40 years wandering around aimlessly, bumping into each other
* Marching around the enemy to get them to collapse, before...
* ...ATTACK!!

A rare photo that includes...me

These 10 piglets were born to the smaller mother pig from the children's home in Hoay Maw.

The large mother pig is also heavily pregnant and is due to deliver within the next month.

The safe arrival of these piglets marks a significant milestone for the home. These, along with the big mother's piglets-to-be, should provide the home with a regular supply of fresh pork, and for the possibility to sell excess pigs to contribute towards income generation.

These piglets have been produced from mother pigs which have been purchased specifically for the children's home.

We were also delighted to see that they had planted a small crop of vegetable on the South-facing slope next to the boys dorm. This, along with a crop of mushrooms they have ordered, will provide a healthy supplement to their diet.

It was encouraging to see that since our previous visit, obvious efforts have been made to use initiative and to take good care of the resources at Hoay Maw.

Bloomin' Pigs

The two mother pigs looked in excellent condition. They are both pregnant. The smaller will deliver next week. The larger is due in a couple of weeks. Wang Seh Lui is responsible for the pigs. He was working hard preparing the food for them. Lattanaporn had visited Chiang Rai and used the internet to discover a local plant that pigs love and is very good for them. The plant is like chewing gum to the pigs – and pigs love to chew. When the piglets are due and arrive, they will be watched 24/7 for a period to ensure that they aren’t squashed by the mother.

A quick slurp ...

"Yum, Yum, Bubble-Gum!"

Cabbage Patch Kids

When we last visited, we showed Joseph photos of a girls home where they were growing their own vegetables. We explained that the photo showed that they were making an effort to support themselves and were taking good care of their resources. We were surprised and pleased that some of the older children have planted an area behind Joseph’s house with Chinese greens. It isn’t really of a size to significantly impact the food supply but it is never the less an achievement. It shows initiative, is well looked after and the vegetables are growing healthily.

Grow Bags & Bananas

Money from the Norwegian charity 'Open Hands' will enable the purchase of more mushroom grow bags. Twelve thousand baht (£180, $360) will buy enough to provide 20kg of mushrooms a day over a period of 9 months. This provides a significant boost to the basic rice diet of the 128 children for a cost of only £20 per month.

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It was also good to see the banana plants coming up into season again. the children enjoy eating the bananas and the stems go to feed the pigs.

'In the Pink'

The government has rebuilt the Thai school in the village. During the re-build, lessons have been taught in the Chinese classrooms on the site of the home. Now they have a brand new school.

There is also a new medical centre in the village. We hope that the children will be able to make use of this facility.

On Saturday we had a training day at Hoay Maw, learning about the organic method of pig farming. We picked up Pastor Gae-Nu and his wife in Chiang Rai and drove up to Hoay Maw.

On the drive up we learnt that Pastor Gae-Nu's Church has about 450 members and they run cell groups similar to our Church back home. The congregation are Karen hill-tribe people.

First we took Pastor Gae-Nu to inspect the existing pig facilities:

Mother and babies

Suckling piglets

The above mother pig is not a good quality sow for breeding so we will hope to replace her. When we first saw this sow she looked near death so she has done well to recover and produce.

Quality Mother

1.5 month old piglets

There are 7 piglets aged 1.5 months from this good quality sow. The cost of the piglets was covered by Tom's Grade 7 class at school. The cost of the sow was covered by Links Christmas gifts. We have money for further piglets but these will be purchased once the organic method has been established.

There are also 9 piglets who are now 7.5 months old and are growing nicely although the male and females have not been separated and the females are pregnant! Not part of the plan but never mind.

28 of the children aged 12 and over gathered into one of the classrooms and Pastor Gae-Nu explained the formula and benefits of the Fermented Liquid Feed.

Pastor Gae-Nu with asst. Niti

Attentive students

Try some?

OK, I will!

We had a break for lunch and then gathered at the new pig pen in order to put into practice all that had been learnt:

First chop the veg

like this

Wan Pen

All have a go

Add brown sugar

Cover with saap paper

Then to make the natural floor of the pen:

10 bags of rice husks

to 1 bag soil

Mix well

girls have a go too

a sprinkle of salt

water with soln. of FLF

It was very satisfying to see the children put their new found knowledge into practice and to see them play an active part in a project that will hopefully go on to provide regular meat as well as a source of income and an increased level of sustainable self-sufficiency.

Pastor Gae-Nu also gave us some useful information to help us begin to formulate plans for raising chickens. Watch this space ...

The New Year has arrived and we realized that it was time to schedule another Visa run. We need to cross the border (leave Thailand) every 90 days and re-enter. The re-entry was due by 15th Feb, but I (Jenny) will be with a team in Cambodia for that week (more later). We decided that this weekend was the best opportunity to get the re-entry stamps for Adrian and the children and so hastily planned a trip with Niti.

Friday was a hectic day with Thai lesson, Cambodia planning, final preparation for children's work at church on Sunday morning and packing. We set off after school at about 4pm and had a good drive up, arriving at the resort in Mae Sai at about 8.30pm.

The resort is simple, cheap (£6 for a room - and 2 or 3 in a room) and welcoming. They are getting to know us and the lady manager told Jessica to call her Yaai (Grandma). They have a pot of fresh ginger tea boiling on a charcoal fire in clay pot. They also had an adundance of sweet oranges from their own grove which is in season.

Jessica with "Yaai"

On Saturday morning we had a light breakfast at the resort which is included in the price. The lady manager gave us 3 10kg bags of oranges (1 per room). We asked if she had more to sell and bought a further 3 bags so as to have plenty for the children at Hoay Maw.

As usual, Thai guests at the resort took an interest in why we were there. We got talking with some Thai tourists from Bangkok who were going in the direction of Hoay Maw. They asked if they could visit the orphanage and so we gave them details.

Talking with Thai tourists

We then set off for more breakfast! A beautiful spread of pancakes, muesli, fruit, yoghurt, fruit, cheese and bakery with our baker friends. It was lovely to spend time with them.

Breakfast with the "Bakers"

Time was going on and so we headed for the border. Adrian and the chidren did the crossing whilst I went to the border market to buy some vegetables practising my immerging Thai.

We were running late so we headed up to Joseph's. We bought some pork on the way up to go with the vegetables and 6 large bags of oranges.

When we arrived the children welcomed us with cheers and smiles. We could be synical and say it was the food they were pleased to see but they did seem genuinely excited to see us and I think it was because of the quality time that we spent with them at Christmas. We hope to develop that more.

We were also delighted to find that the Thai tourists had arrived at Joseph's and had brought some gifts for the children. We have exchanged contact details with them.

Obligatory photo-shoot

Joseph has started the building of the pig pen and whilst we had agreed to build a small trial pen out of natural materials (i.e. bamboo), Joseph, liking to think big, had organised a builder to build a substantial pen using bricks and timber. Our priority had been to pilot the raising of the pigs using Pastor Kae-Nu's organic method and for the children to learn and practice this method on a small scale before making significant financial investment.

The floor of the pens will be filled with a mixture of soil and rice husks

As it stands, the building will stand them in good stead as hopefully the project will become established and grow. Niti did a brilliant job in verifying the Bill of Materials and picking up that a concrete floor should not be included!

Building Inspector - Niti

We gave Joseph a contribution for the building work from donations from Sally's Christmas cake sale - thank you Sally. The rest of the money will come from Open Hands and Joseph will cover the cost of the labour.

We will be arranging for Pastor Kae-Nu to come and train some of the older children in the organic method.

An inspection of the old pig-pen showed that the pregnant sow is doing well, as are the little porkers.

Blooming mother

Growing porkers

I enjoyed practising my Thai on Joseph's baby grandson - that is about my level i.e. "What is this called" - "This is called a nose", etc.

We had another good journey and were home just after 9pm. Just time to get the children to bed and make last minute preparations for doing the combined children's work (infants and juniors) at Church next morning.

On Tuesday one of our neighbours, Rudy, asked whether I was available on Wednesday afternoon to accompany him into the mountains South-East of Chiang Mai to deliver 500kg of cement and three guys.

Rudy and his team are involved in a successfully urban community health project in the nearby town of Hangdong, but are also involved in rural community projects in the remote mountains.

Video about their project in Hangdong

Wanting to see what he really gets up to, I accepted! So on Wednesday lunchtime, we set of, initially stopping off at various points locally to collect the three guys plus equipment (you can see one of the guys briefly on the above video - he wears a blue baseball cap and is helping clear stuff out of the house), before stopping off to load the 10 x 50kg bags of cement (remember those big really heavy bags!).

After a three hour drive through yet again beautiful country, up and over mountains (crossing the 1km altitude mark several times), we arrived at the village - see location on google maps

The villagers are from the Karen Hill tribe group living 15km from the nearest village, farming the land successfully for the last 200 years.

Rudy's team are only just starting their program in this village. One of their first tasks whenever they arrive is to address the basic sanitation issues, so have installed basic toilets, and are trying to address water supply issues - hence the cement to build a collecting dam.

Since their arrival in this community, the government installed electricity supply in the form of solar panels, car battery and inverter which is sufficient to power a light bulb and run a TV (to watch "Neighbours"?) for each house.

Having been 4 months since the last rains, the solar panels were caked with a layer of dirt. I was able to point out that if they clean the solar panels, they would get better changing performance - so I was useful on the trip afterall...

On a more interesting note, Rudy's team had helped them build a new pig pen using a basic bamboo structure. Simple, cheap, and effective. And it looks nice too. Problem was, all the pigs, except one new born piglet, were outside the pen instead of inside...

Anyway, Rudy and mine work done, we left them to it and set off.

More photographs here.

Tomorrow (Friday 26th) we are off to Mae Sai again, as our Visas are due for renewal on the 15th February and this will be our only free weekend for the next couple of weeks. Obviously we will take the opportunity to go up to the orphanage to see how the new pig pen is progressing, as well as deliver some cloths that some missionary friends have donated. Still no news on getting the paperwork to allow us to import the 200+kg of donated cloths currently sitting in the UK - we will ask Joseph again about his contacts.