A Braided Cord

On one of our many days traveling, Casey our 9 year old daughter, pulled out and began playing with a thread from her shorts. After a while she commented saying 'Mum, it's funny how you can easily break the thread if it is single but if you double it up you can't break it as easy'. I agreed and spoke to her about how the bible speaks about this also. In Ecclesiastes 4:12 it says 'A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.' As I pondered my chat with Casey my thoughts went to each of you. This last week has be SO GREAT and SUCH A PRIVILEGE!. We officially purchased our land, designed buildings, welcomed some of our students, taught English, played with and fed village kids, watched as trees from our land were felled to use for the roof of the dorms and kitchen, bought building materials for our first building, dug holes, ate rice, washed in the river, saw a Cobra, burnt alot of palm fronds, drank coffee, heard of elephants nearby, laughed, administered first aid to a village elder, sheltered under the tarp from the rain, balanced a 20 litre bottle of drinking water on the motorbike (along with a rake, 2 adults, gasoline, and a bag of shopping), learnt Thai, prayed, had a broken nights sleep with Kenzie vomiting and 'diarrea-ing', began a second bottle of sunscreen, tried to sing the Australian national anthem (David, Lexi, Col and I couldn't remember, our kids came to the rescue!), listened to stories, told stories and laughed some more. Tomorrow sees the building of the girl and boys dormitory begin. We hope then to have the funds to build a kitchen/dining come classroom. While there a just a few of us physically present on the land, we don't for a moment feel like we are alone. You are thought of often. It is you joining with us that makes this project possible. If it were just our family the thread (that many Karen have taken hold of) would break easily and would have very little result. With you alongside of us the thread is strong and is impacting the lives within Lucee and surrounding villages. The elders in these villages are beaming with the prospect of their children and grandchildren being educated, loved and mentored. Your prayers, your financial gifts, your encouragement, your sponsorship, your thread entwined with ours is makes a strong cord of connection with the Karen that will not be easily broken. Please know that we thank God for you often.

I (Ruth) head back to the jungle tomorrow (after two days away) with another volunteer (Janet Vaughan) from Australia. Finances are needed still, volunteers are needed still, prayer is needed still!

Enjoy the photos.