It was my intention to have updated photos of Baan Puk Dek Nakrean following our trip out to the village this past weekend – but I bought the wrong SD card for my camera (4 gig – when it can only handle 2 gig …some might say I was being too greedy) but it is sorted now and next time I will overload you with new photos!
This past week saw the significant purchase of a car for Connect in Thailand. The car cost just under $5000 AUD and will allow our family (Harrisons) to visit BPDN more regularly and with better time efficiency. Previously the trip was taking up to 10 hours (via trains, motorbikes and buses)- now it will take 6. We can use the time saved teaching English, training Samson in leadership and playing with the children. It also means our family can be together on weekends rather than one or two going off separately. We will also use the car for transporting volunteers. Thank you to David and Lexi Edwards for initiating the raising of funds for this vehicle and thank you to all who gave specifically for this.
This past weekend we took two young adults with us that we knew from our time at Bamboo School. It was great to have them visit the home/school and to hear them speak in Karen with the students. They shared some of their life journey and encouraged the students to work hard at their studies and to embrace the opportunity before them.
We also brought three letters and a parcel to hand out to students (sent from sponsors). The children are getting used to the idea that letters and little gifts come from their sponsors and they love it! Actually one of our students, Pet, broke his arm and foot last week and without knowing this his sponsor family had sent a parcel which arrived in time to give it to him on Saturday...great hey?
The Karen man we took to hospital is doing really well. He went for another checkup this week and despite still needing another 6 months of medication for what has now been diagnosed as TB, he is putting on weight and is getting stronger. Samson says 'he is soooo thankful teacher’.
Samson continues to do a great job. There is an air of peacefulness and unity among the leaders and students. Samson is doing extremely well at raising up leaders. Each younger child has an older student alongside them. The older student ensures they have brushed their teeth, washed and ironed their uniform and done their homework. It is beautiful to watch the younger student come and sit next to their ‘helper’. If Samson asks the younger student to say grace, it is common to see the older one quietly line feed the younger student. What a great way for them to gain confidence and understanding in prayer! I am enjoying training Samson in leadership and then watching him train others who then in turn train up others……!
Connect is working hard at keeping things in balance financially - with the rising costs of rice, petrol and such - along with hoping to continue to build and complete this first project. This past Saturday I had a fairly strong talk with Samson regarding our finances. I explained to Samson that the students need to be diligent in sticking to the budget and saving where they can. This will allow us to then use excess funds to keep building rooms to take in another group of students. I encouraged them to help us help them (as the saying goes)! I shared that many people around the world are sacrificing so they can give to the Karen people. I challenged Samson and the students to consider how they to can sacrifice in order to see more of their people embraced, educated and empowered. In response, the children have agreed to take a small bag of rice to school each day rather than buying their lunch (as every other student does) in an attempt to lower the food budget slightly. The children will also watch their use of electricity and such.
Finishing this first home/school project is in reach. We are only about $20 000 AUD short of being able to do this. $20000 will complete a room for Samson and two rooms for volunteers. It will also allow us to build a replica dormitory with bathrooms for another 24 students. It will set up the rooms with beds and extend the electricity to the dorms. We realize we only have another 6 or 7 months before the new school year when we hope to take in the next and last lot of 24 students. We feel the land will be at its capacity with 48 students and a few leaders. Further building is presently out of reach financially for Connect but we have continued to set up BPDN in other areas. Your continued giving is allowing us to have the existing dam dug out so it can be stocked with fish this week – again lowering the food budget. And we have purchased a fridge so leftover food won’t spoil and vegetables and meat can be bought for 3 or so days at a time from the local market rather than on a daily basis.
We are excited to have got this far so quickly and to already be looking forward to building a second school in the near future. Your financial gifts, prayers, letters and encouragement have and continue to leave a long-lasting mark on the Karen people. Please don't stop. The need is so great. $20 000 is still a considerable amount of money and we are also aware that many of you have and continue to give substantially - so we ask something different and perhaps a little more difficult from you. We need you to tell the story of the Karen people and Connect's work amongst them. We are asking you to do some PR work for the Karen! Through this we hope that more people will partner with Connect as we seek justice for the Karen people. Until next time....thanks again for travelling with us.
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