Udon Thani Orphanage -- March 29, 2009

Wow... It's hard to believe that a year has already gone by since I packed up my bags and headed to the Udon Thani Orphanage to love some awesome kids. Now as I sit in the warm weather of Thailand... I can't wait to greet the team and see the kids again.

Yep... we have a team of 30 people heading to the Udon Thani orphanage again this year. Five of us are going ahead for some prep work and the remaining team leaves Seattle on Sunday, March 29, 2009 for 18 hour plane ride to Bangkok and then flying another 1.5 hours to Udon Thani the following days.

If you are wondering how you can help... ..pray... .pray... .pray... but also follow this blog to see what is happening. Also, you can still donate some of the following items up to March 28, 2009 or just provide funds so the following items can be purchased for the orphanage while the team is in Udon Thani.

1. Toys.
2. Shoes.
3. Drawing books.
4. Color pens and pencils.
5. Plastic swim pools for the 2-5 year olds. (Chase is going to love this.) We can purchase while we are over there.
6. Clothes for kids newborn to 20 years old.

Whew who.... Cheers! Joy Allen

Video Slideshow of the Trip!

Love the Kids...

As I think through the now passed days at the Udon Thani Orphanage and my Dr Seuss routine of here, there and everywhere… I recall Mil and Naeda always greeting me with surprise hugs upon my return from errands, playing checkers and the explosion of construction paper confetti which born the squiggly cut out metallic gold heart on Fred’s chest.

I remember sitting in the library updating stuff and Heather coming in crying saying, “It isn’t fair… why… my girl, Bo, had three teeth pulled out this morning… she’s holding her mouth in pain… it isn’t fair… she hasn’t a mother to comfort… to hold her tight.. to say it is okay.. why her….” I responded only in speechless tears. As you read in Heather’s blog below and she told me later that day, she realized that she was sent to hold Bo tight that day.

I remember the last day, as a troupe of girls came out on stage to perform a Thai dance for us. Just prior to the music beginning, I notice one of the girl’s beaming with delight… and as a smile emerged on her face followed by a tentative raise of hand as to say “Hi Mom”… I followed the gaze of the girl to one of my teammates, Janelle, whose response was a proud smile, wave and the raising of her camera for a photo. As you read in Janelle’s blog below and as she too told me later, it was as if this was her girl’s first time to perform for someone and she was so proud of her girl.

I remember following the dance, a few of us talking with the director of the orphanage and the question being asked, “What nonfinancial item can we provide for the girls?” The director responded quickly, “Come frequently… play with the kids… love them.” As I heard her words, I recalled Fred’s story the night before of one of the older girls who has only one year left at the orphanage and who is still in school and working part time. Fred asked her, “How can we help you? What can we do for you?” Her response, “Love the kids.”

As I return to my Dr Seuss life in the States….here, there and everywhere… I continue to hear the chorus of the kids pure laughter… to feel the pressing of a small hand in mine… the surprise bear hug around the waist. These are not faint memories but very much alive and vibrant... and which only solidify what resounds in my mind and is etched in my heart… love the kids.

~ Joy Allen

culture shock

It almost feels impossible to sum up and convey my thoughts about this trip...so many stories and feelings that I want to share! I will stick with the highlights, so here it goes:

I can't stop thinking about the amazing kids we were able to meet and spend time with. The minute we arrived we got "picked" by some girls and for most if us they stayed glued to our sides the entire time we were there. I was concerned about the language barrier, but amazingly communication wasn't that difficult. And what we couldn't say was definitely communicated in feelings. My 2 girls were May and Dinae (which i discovered on the last day was actually Jenny!!). May is 11 and Jenny is 12. I wish I could tell you their stories and how they came to be in the orphanage, but I don't know their stories. It doesn't really matter how they came to be there, the fact is they are. I can't imagine what it must be like to have no family - no parents to comfort them when they are ill, to be proud of them when they do well, to tell them a bedtime story at night. In spite of this, they are happy, well-adjusted young girls! On our last day there about 12 of the girls performed a traditonal Thai dance for us and both of my girls were dancers. The tears came for me when May, standing up on the stage scanned the crowd and when she saw me her eyes lit up and she got the biggest smile on her face and gave me a little hand wave. Then it occurred to me that this was probably the first time she ever had anyone in the crowd that she wanted to perform for and make proud....even typing this now I can't help but cry. And I was so proud of both of them!! They are beautiful young women and my continuing prayer for them is that they will get a chance to succeed in life and not end up in the sex trade as many of the girls in Thailand do. We are working with the locals there in trying to set up scholarships for the girls so they can attend a trade school there in hopes of providing them a way to make their own way. It's hard not to feel helpless in the grand scheme of things, but I know that our time there just playing with and loving on the girls has made a huge difference and more importantly a lasting impact. To those of you who supported us finacially and prayerfully, I can't thank you enough!! You gave me the opportunity of a lifetime and impcated these children that you don't even know in ways that will affect their entire future - thank you.

Now on to the lighter side! Thailand is a beautiful country and if you ever get the chance to go don't hesitate! We had some amazing food - hot peppers, bugs, ant larvae and all!! And the Thai massage was incredible! Those of you who are my clients (I am a massage therapist) look out!! I stole some pretty good moves from them - get ready to be twisted like a pretzel! As you've seen from previous blogs, we got stuck in the elevator (the sign said capacity was 10 people, but I don't think they meant big Americans!!), fed elephants on the streets & had some fabulous R&R in stunning Krabi. I had a foot massage and pedicure right there on the beach and I went on an elephant trek where I got to ride an elephant (her name was Kamoon) through a rubber tree plantation. Then we got to see how the rubber was made, then explored some caves and went swimming in a mineral springs pond - amazing! Joy and I spent an extra day in Bangkok where we got to explore a bit and then went shopping in the weekend market. We had to cut the sightseeing short though because I was ill - I had been badly sunburned in Krabi - yes, I wore sunscreen!! The sun there is much different though and being a freckled red-head 45 block was no match for the blazing sun! I had heat exhaustion and wasn't able to sweat through my burned skin and sort of went into shock. Fred got me in to see and acupuncturist though and that helped tremendously! This cute little 80 year old Chinese man fixed me up with some acupuncture and some "medicine" that they made for me on the spot - it's like a really foul tasting tea that I'm taking twice a day for the next week - and it's helping! I feel so much better and must say that I'm happy to back in the deliciously cool Seattle weather!

this was a trip of a lifetime for me - thank you to everyone who made it possible!!!

Janelle Wehrman

Back Home...

Well the bulk of us flew back today and arrived safely in Seattle this afternoon. The trip was amazing and a blessing and I am so glad I was a part of it. Just wanted to say a quick thanks to everyone on the trip, it was a blast getting to know each of you! And I can't forget to thank all of you who supported us in every way from home, there is no way it would have been this successful without you guys!

Thanks everyone and I sure hope to be going back next year :)

~Randall

Elephants and Fishes...

Well, after a fun yet hectic week or so in Udon Thani we arrived at the unbelievably beautiful Krabi. God definately had fun when he created this amazing place. It was nice to have a few days to wind down and rest before heading back home. I got a foot scrub and pedicure...ON THE BEACH! It was so great, except that I got so sunburnt on the top of my feet and legs. Whoops! We then went for a sunset snorkel cruise. I actually got in the water and snorkeled - for me that's a pretty big feat. We watched thousands of bats exit their island mountain home to head out for a night of feeding - imagine, standing on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean watching thousands of bats, some as big as dogs, fly overhead. After a great night's sleep, it was time for some elephant trecking. I rode an elepahnt named Chayu through a rubber plantation, explored a cave, swam in the deepest natural pool in Krabi, and got an impromptu lesson on how rubber is manufacutred. It was so fun to get some local flavor and see how some of the Krabi inhabitants make their living. All in all it was an amazing trip. I miss it already, but as I sit typing this in the Bangkok airport I know that I miss you all very much and am ready to come home. SEE YOU SUNDAY!
Loves and Blessings,
Ande