50 for 60

My parents have always wished people a very real Christmas. Not a happy, prosperous or merry Christmas…but real. This year I finally get it. I think this is what Jesus hopes for each of us. A very real Christmas. A Christmas where we would stand apart from what society says Christmas is and not just accept it. A Christmas where we would dodge all that consumerism throws at us. A Christmas where we would respond to bringing about ‘peace on earth’ and not simply sing about it. A real Christmas. One that we really make about Jesus. His life. His hope. His love. His call for us to be imitators of him. So…Connect invites you to have a very real Christmas alongside of us. It may not be as glamorous, or pretty or flash. It may not be as full of boxes and paper and toys. However a real Christmas is deeply satisfying, soul nourishing and grand. It has in it the potential to change the trajectory of lives…of those giving and those receiving. A real Christmas. Sounds sort of daring….don’t you think?

To see how you can be involved alongside Connect this Christmas....read details to the right!

Mary

Part of my hope for Connect continues to be that Australians, Americans, Kiwis and the Irish (we currently have sponsors from all four countries) and others, would alongside of us, urgently seek to bring justice to people who need it. Furthermore that those responding would extend beyond adults to include children. Colin and I have 5 children and expect that each one would have an acute awareness for the urgent need to seek justice. Our hope is that their faith would not simply be about carrying a membership card in their back pocket but rather it would be a faith that has implications for every aspect of their lives.

Ben and Natalie are a couple who have given substantially of their finances and their energies to the Karen people. Through their generosity they have significantly impacted lives here in Thailand. However, I believe, some of their greatest impact has been in their family. Their girls (they have three little girls under the age of 5) watching and listening to their parents have begun to copy (as children do) the behavior of their parents. Their eldest girl is Mary and recently, after saving for a long time, she gave all of her pocket money ($46) to Baan Puk Dek Nakrean. I was able to use that money last week to buy a volleyball net and ball for our students. This was an exciting gift for each of them and they were so thankful. The students were grateful when I told them that even children in Australia and other countries are seeking justice for them and showing generosity toward them. Mary had thought she would use the money to buy Care Bears but having watched her parents give to the Karen people, she wanted in also. What a huge challenge for us as parents. Are our children always asking for the next thing? Are they always saving for the new toy? Perhaps to foster generosity in their hearts, we need to first foster it in our own?

Below is the letter from Natalie.

Mary has saved her money and she has $46.00, she would like you to "give the money to the poor people please". Mary said "they can buy whatever they want". We will transfer the money to your account now.

Mary would like to keep on giving her money to the poor people, Mary and Katie would like you to say hello to our sponsor child Supapon.

Thanks Ruth, l was tring to write exactly what she wanted to say... l'm very happy that she choose to give you the money instead of buying some Care Bears!!!

Fear or Courage

Ken, Anna, Levi and Noah Bunney joined with our family last week and together we spent a week at Baan Puk Dek Nakrean. It was a wonderful week. We were able to teach English for three days to the children in the surrounding villages (actually it was more like a 3 day fun club for those familiar with the Walker Fun Clubs!). The leaders of the villages expressed many thanks to Connect for our involvement in the education of their children. Anna lead the way in establishing a more substantial vegetable garden and the students followed her enthusiasm (and Anna was spurred on by theirs). We played games and taught bible in the evenings. When we were not teaching we had time to sit and get to know the individual students at BPDN. We watched as our beautiful white children joined in the games of the beautiful brown children and vice versa – it didn’t take long for the white and brown limbs, the blue and brown eyes and the blonde and black hair to blend into one fantastic group of children laughing, teasing and loving each other. We were reminded again how significant this work is. For many of us, of late, our thoughts are on our finances...or perhaps more accurately...the impending lack of them! The world is certainly in turbulent times. Just recently we watched the movie, Amazing Grace, for the second time. In the movie William Wilberforce’s wife encourages him to continue in his fight to abolish the slave trade. She reminds him that because the war is over, people are less fearful and are rediscovering their compassion. This is a true enough statement, sadly. Fear quickly changes our focus to ourselves. We find ourselves saying ‘when this is over...when things are back to normal...when we are back on our feet...then we can think about others again.’ The problem however is that injustice doesn’t wait...hunger doesn’t stop...violence isn’t put on hold...and the hope to keep attending school doesn’t wane. So, it will take courage, real courage, to seek justice when everyone else is seeking to protect themselves. It will take courage, real courage, not to lose our compassion when fear is crouching close by. For those of us who live as Christ followers, boldly proclaiming that we trust in God...these are great times! This is when we get to test our faith. Courage or fear...fear or courage...

I like swimming

This weekend, as with every time we go to visit BPDN, we taught English. The children are learning words such as running, walking, writing, drawing, swimming and so on. This time we asked them to do an activity with a difference. We asked them to write and tell their sponsors if they liked swimming or writing or drawing. They thought this was a great idea and set to work. While the concept that somewhere in the world someone cares for them specifically is,understandably, too much for them to fully take on, we do catch a sparkle in their eyes when we share bits of information about you all. Zach, Jordan, Casey and Kenz went from student to student helping spell your names. Zach helped little Doon draw some pictures and Doon and Zach smiled at each other often (they don't speak the same language), delighting in each others work. It was also fantastic to watch the students write your names. Currently I know most of our sponsors personally and as I saw the students write your names, I was able to imagine you 'seeing' your letter. It certainly felt like you were close by. It reminded me that you are truly seeking justice with us. So....letters are coming and I am sure they will light up your day.

In order to send out these letters I need your home/Po Box addresses. Can you make a point (if you are sponsoring a student) to send me an email with your address on it please. connect3e@hotmail.com

Below is a sneak preview of the letters to come.

a message from the students

Rather than me writing another blog....I thought you could hear from two of our older students at Baan Puk Dek Nakrean. One girl wrote to her sponsor and the other made a Mother's Day card for me (Ruth)....but both are indicative of how the students feel towards those who serve them. So whether you pray, give, volunteer or tell their story of injustice....these messages are for you...enjoy.

My name is Prada Jarrood. I very hppy have a time to writing to my sponcer but I not know you clear. Thank you so much, if you don't spencer me I cannot study more. I thank God, about you help me. Every day I pray for my sponcer for you and God give me a good day, and also God give you a good day also.I realy thank God and thanks you so much to help me. with love and miss Prapa

I would like to said I love teacher so much, love teacher like motherly, I thanks "God" about we have good teachers and love us, I would like to say thanks teacher about you care us to study and a place, also for foods, thanks so much and your love, you give to us, I never forget, and I'm realy love our teacher.

These students have written what they wanted to say in their own language and had Samson translate - then have re-written the english into their card. Fantastic hey?

Fish and a Fridge

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.

Sick for Three Years

Firstly a very big thank you for the incredible amount of support given to Connect by each of you. My (Ruth's) trip to Australia was very beneficial primarily due to the fact that people (in most cases our family and friends) got behind Connect and gave of their own time, energy and finances to better embrace, educate and empower the Karen people of Thailand. Thanks again!

This past weekend, with four volunteers in tow, our family went down to Baan Puk Dek Nakrean. Sean and Lydia (my brother and his girlfriend) and their 2 friends played a number of games with the students while Colin and I spoke with Samson and caught up on things. In the afternoon we (Samson, Colin and I, Sean, Lydia and Tate (our adopted son) went to a neighbouring village for Tate's birth mother to see him. She wasn't there but before we could leave we began hearing of a man who had been sick for 3 years. He had just recently walked over the border from Burma and was now living with a family in the village. The people of the village looked at us expectantly on behalf of this man, who gaunt and expressionless, now stood hunched over before us. He looked as if he had a few days to live. With a number of thoughts running through my head such as: a trip to hospital and medication isn't covered in the budget, do we get deported if caught with a man with no ID for Thailand? Is this even our responsibility or in doing something for this man are we moving away from our vision?.... we responded the only way we could. The need was before us and while there were a number of thoughts....we knew we could not cross to the other side of the road as it were and ignore the man or this village! We said that we would come back in an hour (we had hired a car for the weekend) and take him to hospital. The man's stay in hospital (in isolation) and medicine came to a total of 9600 baht....about $300 Australian dollars - a lot for our little organisation to spend on one man. However this was possible because of your support. While you are primarily supporting students at Baan Puk Dek Nakrean and/or University you are also allowing Connect to serve the wider community. Many Karen die in their bamboo homes...unable to access health care. This man is now on the road to recovery...thank you.

Other news - we are putting up a water tank to collect rain water thanks to one couple's donation for this specifically. We are starting to build 3 rooms, one for Samson and two others for volunteers or another leader. The funds for this still need to come in. We have been asked by a young lady if we could organize sponsorship for her to continue attending Bible College. We need another 2 sponsors at $35/ month to cover this for her. We still need about 20 people sponsoring the school as a whole at $20/ month. Samson still needs another couple of sponsors so he can be paid $105 AUD/ month for his work. We also need prayer. Prayer for the students, for Samson, for Pidah (cook) and her husband, for Arjan Ponpun and Namchai (local church workers)and the villagers, prayer for the sick man and others that right now are having to escape over the border. Prayer also for Connect's involvement in their lives. Thank you again and again. Ruth.

Rongaharn Setlaow! The Kitchen is Finished!

Mackenzie and I went out to Baan Puk Dek Nakrean this weekend. Yet again the upcoming possibility of dodging elephants was heavy on my mind and this was added to when I discovered that we had a flat tyre! We had no phone reception and no house, car or mechanic in sight. Just me and my 6 year old daughter and a hire motorbike! We decided to climb the mountain with the flat tyre, taking the numerous corners slowly. Much to my dismay I couldn't 'rush' through the elephant zone to get it over and done with...but had to take it really slow! Thankfully we didn't encounter any elephants but we did see a tonne of monkeys. We got our tyre fixed at the top and continued onto Baan Puk Dek Nakrean. Since our last visit the kitchen has been finished, more pathways have been laid and gardens put in. There is a rhythm that is becoming stronger. The children have a timetable that they stick to and without bells all 25 of them seem to go from one thing to the next smoothly.

Nathan and Sean are our current Australian volunteers. They have been there a few days and will stay into this coming week. They have been great friends for Samson, allowing him some 'down' time to play while the students are at school. Nathan and Sean bought the school a CD player and TV, along with some DVDs for children. Saturday night the children enjoyed watching Monsters Inc. I think watching a DVD will become a Saturday night special! Nathan is a filmaker and is busy videoing so as to make a promotional DVD for Connect and BPDN. Sean is a website designer and has offered to do a website for Connect and is busy drawing up site plans. We are so thankful for these guys coming and giving in such a practical way. We didn't know them before hand but they have very quickly found their way into our hearts.

I will leave you with a few photos.
Our new kitchen
Nathan and Sean with the students
SeySey and Kundej with toys that the LaBarge girls sent from America

I will be coming to Australia this week to update people on the work of Connect in Thailand. If you would like to attend any of the following events please email connect3e@hotmail.com.

# Melbourne - Sat 14th (Lomah Cafe. Ascot Vale)
# Cairns - Wed 18th (Woree High School.)
# Sunshine Coast - Sat 21st (Lakeshore Community Church. Nth Buderim)

Our Cook

Our cook is doing a fantastic job making sure all our students are fed well. She is keeping the kitchen clean, doing the weekly/bi weekly market shop, and is preparing a wide range of meals for the children. For most this is the best they have ever been fed! The wonderful part is that she lives just next door and comes early in the morning to cook their breakfast and then again in the afternoon for their dinner. She is the mother of 5 girls and knows how to run a household well. Her husband is also very involved with BPDN - this is also a gift as he is the leader of the village!

If you would like to sponsor our cook -
please email Connect at connect3e@hotmail.com
We need three people to cover her wage of $105 each month.

Great News

I (Ruth) have just returned this evening from the weekend down at Baan Puk Dek Nakrean. Jordan and I took the train to Hua Hin and from there hired a motorbike and rode the hour and a bit trip up the mountain. I prayed hard as we went through the stretch of road where the wild elephants cross regularly! Out at Baan Puk Dek Nakrean things are progressing really well. Samson, with the support of Ponpun and Namchai (leaders from the local church), have done got (and continue to work at getting) routine in place. The last couple of weeks have been spent getting 25 students and 4 University students off to their respective schools. Alongside this, Samson, Namchai and Ponpun (also students and volunteers) have have continued to work on the grounds and buildings.

This week ... the builders will return to complete the kitchen/multipurpose area! We will also be able to start shortly on Samson's room, along with completing paving around the grounds. Thank you so much for your generous hearts and for your continued support - both of which make this work here possible. There is so much to do here so please continue to remember Baan Puk Dek Nakrean. When we can, we would like to purchase a tank to collect rain water and save on having to purchase drinking water each day. We would like to begin building a couple of rooms for volunteers also. We will be patient...but continue to dream...at the same time!

Another great step this week was asking a Karen lady (who lives next door to the school) to come on staff as a cook. Samson, obviously, has alot on his plate and so this lady will take some of the burden of caring for 25 students from him. We have the funds to pay the first couple of months for this lady and from there we are hoping to have three people sponsor this lady (she has a name and I knew it this morning - but now I have forgotten~) - if you are interested please let me know via email. We have also taken 2 extra students from the village whose parents are both alcoholics. These little boys are now eating three meals a day, sleeping in a bed at night (rather than somewhere in the village - on a slab of cement) going to school and being taught how to care for their new clothes. Oh...it is so so exciting to see this....and it is happening because of your partnership.

We are also starting a general sponsorship for Baan Puk Dek Nakrean at $20 each month. If you are interested in this (it will help cover extra expenses such as medical costs, books, clothes, electricity and so on)let me know. We still need some sponsors for students (as our 4 university students all needed 2 sponsors each to cover fees) Again, if you are interested in sponsorship, email me. We still have many opportunities available!

David and Lexi Edwards (volunteers from Australia) leave this week after a full three months of service. We are so thankful for their hard work and loving hearts. The students have enjoyed working alongside them, learning English from them and will be richer for having both Lexi and David in their lives.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You are indeed impacting lives here in Thailand. Let's stay the course together.

Urgent

When we leveled the land to begin building we came across a patch of dirt that was spongy...it was very unusual. The children could literally bounce on the ground as if standing on a water bed. The reason was the amount of water (and sewage from the village) running underneath that spot. While this was interesting when we were clearing the land... we had other words for it when it came time to dig the holes for the building. Having only dug a half meter deep we began to encounter the water. The holes had to be dug deeper but the more we dug the more the water came.

Similarly, as we have begun work here at the border of Thailand and Burma we have encountered an ongoing, seemingly never ending, more than we can handle, overwhelming number of needs. And they just keep coming.

Yesterday we came back thrilled but emotionally exhausted from another weekend down at Baan Puk Dek Nakrean. So much is happening, the dorms are nearly complete – they are very rough – but they will keep the students dry. The students have chosen their new rooms (4 to a room at this stage) and express enormous gratitude for what they consider is a privileged position to be in. We have three girls starting government university and another young man (all of whom are potential leaders for the Karen people) starting University in Bangkok. We could already fill the places for next year’s possible intake of students. Baan Puk Dek Nakrean is getting known very quickly and so we are hearing of further needs. We can’t respond to them all just yet, we know that. But the needs are there, we hear about them and we are constantly confronted with the injustice in our world. This weekend Samson was asked if Baan Puk Dek Nakrean could take a 2 week old baby. The mother is desperate to give the baby away so she can work and earn her $3 or $4 a day and live. Samson had to say no to the baby. We hear of people hungry all the time, but can't respond as currently we don’t even have the funds to get the BPDN built. However, when one of our laborers (whose wife has died) got sick and his family (4 children) therefore did not eat rice (their staple diet) for a couple of days we felt compelled to respond and so we bought rice for them to eat so their systems did not shut down and they continued to live. The needs keep coming and coming and coming. In an honest moment of expressing emotion and with tears, I said to Colin ‘I nearly wish I didn’t know.’ ‘It is too hard to know.’ ‘It would be easier to live without knowing.’ ‘There is truth in the statement ‘ignorance is bliss’. But we do know. And knowing means we can do nothing but respond. This is the heart of the Christian faith… Micah 6:8 says ‘What does the Lord require of you? To seek justice and love mercy and walk humbly with your God. So I write this blog with somewhat of a pleading heart that you too would know and would respond. Here is the current situation.

Since our last blog it has become apparent that we have to stop building. We have the finances to finish the dorms and to feed the children (that will always be covered via your sponsorship), but we cannot proceed any further with the kitchen/dining/classroom multi purpose area until more funds come in. We didn’t know that the 4 university students all needed their years fees paid up front and so paying this has sapped the remainder of funds.

I rang Samson yesterday and explained that we have nearly come to the end of funds and that we need to stop building for the time being. Samson (again affirming our confidence in him as a leader) said ‘No problem teacher! We can go slowly slowly’. While we appreciate Samson’s acceptance of the situation, Connect longs to finish this first stage of building for him, the students and the wider village ( village children and parents can come for English lessons and dinner once a week). The upright poles are in place for the multipurpose area but we need another $3000 to finish this building. Until then they will (remembering also that the rainy season has begun) cook, eat and learn under a tarpaulin. We need about $1000 to build a room for Samson (he will live in a tent till that building is complete) and another $1000 to build paths around the home to cope with the rainy season. Currently there is slipping and sliding on alot of mud. $6000 was given to purchase a vehicle for Baan Puk Dek Nakrean – but because this was not an immediate need we used the funds to build but will also need to recover these funds asap.

So can I humbly ask you to help? Every dollar (even $20) will help Connect cover these immediate costs and serve these people. Can I also remind you that every dollar you give goes straight into cement, blocks, rice, wood, nails, gravel, vegetables (although we have begun to grow our own vegetables to cut down costs in the future), petrol to run Samson’s motorbike, clean water and so on. None of our volunteers take anything and Colin and I use our salaries from our jobs to fund us being here.

So many of you have given so generously to Connect and you continue to give via your sponsorship commitment. Thank you. However we need funds over and above the sponsorship money and if you can help with this we would be grateful. If you can pray, we would be grateful. If you can speak to your friends about the needs here, we would be grateful. If you can come and learn, love and teach the students, we would be grateful.

This, by far, is the most daunting project Colin and I have ever pioneered. I am confident that I could say the same for our director, Ken Bunney. When Ken came over to Thailand last week we spent the evenings chatting, under the tarpaulin. The three of us spoke of feeling that we finally understand a little of what it is to follow Jesus obediently. Today, as I recalled our chats with Ken on the land, I remembered a feeling I had as a little girl. I remember having good news and telling my mum that I wanted to get a loudspeaker and shout out my good news to the world (apparently confident that the world would want to know). That feeling, however, has never left me. At times (even as an adult) when I learnt something or experienced something new – I wanted to get that loud speaker and go to a mountain top and shout it out to the world - so people could experience the joy with me. Never has this feeling been as intense as it is now though. More than ever I want to shout out what I know. So here goes for those that want to hear. I know there are people that are hungry here at the border of Thailand and Burma. I know that these 24 students have a future to dream about because they were chosen to live at Baan Puk Dek Nakrean. I know that there are many more students hoping to come next year. I know it takes money to respond to the needs. I know that the parents and grandparents have hopes for their children. I know that we have only scratched the surface here. I know that we have students who need to see a dentist. I know that we need volunteers to come. I know that the Karen make great leaders for their own people and that they simply need us to partner with them. I know that God made the Karen and has a plan and hope for their futures just as He has for mine and yours. I know that I must keep learning and ‘knowing’, that I cannot shut off to any of this. But more intensely, even though I am immature in my faith, I know and have a new found, deep joy that comes with responding to injustice, to loving mercy and walking humbly with my God. I am aware of the numerous needs around our world. If you are responding elsewhere, well done. If not and you are able to make some room in your budget - I thank you for responding alongside of us.

Ruth.

27 days without a shower!

We have just come back from having lived (camped) and worked at Baan Puk Dek Nakrean (Home for Students). I came and went (organizing volunteers) from the land, but Colin (who upon arriving home stated he hadn't enjoyed a shower for 27 days), David and Lexi have all spent the good part of the last month working, playing, learning, teaching and laughing with the students and builders. So far, your financial gifts have enabled us to purchase land, build 6 rooms (each with room for 4 students) and build a kitchen/classroom/dining multipurpose area. We now need to concentrate on getting 24 students and 5 (off campus) university students into their prospective schooling. This means buying uniforms and shoes, paying school fees and buying books and pencils. Your sponsorship will help cover this. We are still unsure as to who the last 14 students will be and consequently we have not been able to send photos and details as yet. Samson is having to work out who he can say 'yes' to for this first intake of students. We have many people asking if their child/ren can come. One man who is building at BPDN (we are paying him above award wage at $4 a day) if one or two of his children could come to the school. His wife has died and their family are strugling to get the money to even eat rice each day. Pray that Samson will have wisdom on who to accept. We will know by the 14th of this month and we will then get the sponsorship details sorted. Samson continues to shine as a leader, he is extremely relational and so the building side of things is exhausting him some, but he continues to show wisdom, maturity and joy.

Currently we use Samson's motorbike for everything - and once the dorms and kitchen are finished we will purchase (as the funds come in) a car for Baan Puk Dek Nakrean. Following that we need to put some walls on the kitchen area. We need to build a room for Samson (he will live in a tent for the time being - making room for the 24 students). We need to build beds for the students (until then they will sleep on the cement) and we need to build a room for our volunteers that are beginning to come on a regular basis.

David and Lexi have and continue to be a great asset at Baan Puk Dek Nakrean. They are the Jack and Jill of all trades. They teach English, sing songs, build tables (out of a variety of materials), shovel cement and the list goes on. Their greatest impact is their willingness to love, laugh and be silly in general with the students. The students are enjoying their friendship. The students at Baan Puk Dek Nakrean also thouroughly enjoyed Pee Pee (Grandma) Janet coming. Janet was out at the school for over a week. She embraced the students, taught them English, shoveled gravel with them (cement has been a common theme in the month!) and they embraced her back.

Following writing this blog, my task is to make a DVD to send to each of you. On the DVD you will see Janet, David and Lexi and Ken in action, along with the students, Samson and Ajarn Ponpun. Our director of Connect, Ken Bunney, has also visited this month. Ken was appreciated so much by Samson and Arjan Ponpun (our leaders of Baan Puk Dek Nakrean)along with the students. Samson took Ken out for a day on the motorbike to other villages to introduce him to the great number of needs the Karen people have. Ken has returned to Australia with a clearer understanding of Connect's role here in Thailand with the Karen people. Ken has been deeply moved by his time here and is motivated to grow the Connect network of supporters so we can continue to significantly impact the lives of the precious Karen people here.

Below are some photos of our month.....the building is further along now....but you will have to wait till the next blog. Just 6 months ago Colin and I asked Ken Bunney if he would be willing to be the Director of Connect. We thought that over the next couple of years we (and our group of friends and family) could perhaps help some Karen children/families through sponsorship for their schooling. Now, just 6 months later, you have enabled land to be purchased, dorms for 24 students to be built, a kitchen/classroom to be built, leadership development to begin taking place and 24 school students and 5 university students to be stepping into a whole different future than they thought. Thank you....Thank you....Thank you. Please continue to travel this journey with us......the need is so great here...it seems like the journey has only just began!

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.

Flowing With Milk and Honey!

When we asked God to guide us in buying land we could never have imagined what he had in mind. As our name suggests and as you have read on many occasions our hope is to ‘connect’ with the Karen in work they already have underway or at least are hoping to get underway. We never thought that we would fit into our ‘work’ so quickly.

Samson grew up in Paday Village only a hop, step and jump from Lucee village. As Samson grew up and as his faith grew he knew he wanted to go to Lucee Village to somehow share with the Karen village the message of the Christian faith. His hope was not to persuade them from their Buddhism but to serve them and to allow them the freedom of choice in their faith. When Samson first went to this village a few years back the Karen there fired their guns into the air to let Samson and his friends know the Christian message was not welcome. Samson was not deterred and where many Christians have continued to pass by and ignore the village, Samson and others have found ways to enter again and continue to serve the Karen in the village. Now with the talk of buying land and setting up a home that would educate, embrace and empower Karen children Samson’s mind went immediately to Lucee Village. In the process of visiting the village, wondering if there were any possibilities for land there, Samson reunited with a past friend. This friend had become burdened to serve Lucee village and had begun coming to the village to teach the children Karen and some English. He and Samson talked and found their common interest to serve the Karen people. They joined hearts and minds and dreams quickly and want to work together – so now there are two leaders that Connect has ‘connected’ with! Arjarn (teacher) Ponpon (Samson’s friend) then told Samson of land that would be perfect for Baan Puk Dek Nakrean. The land is about 2 acres – smaller than what we thought but big enough. It already has a dam on it and borders a creek controlled by a larger dam – this makes water no problem for the school. It has mango trees, citrus trees, coconut trees and more all bearing fruit – it is really a great fit for the school. It happens to be in the middle of the village and at the edge is a volleyball court put up by the Thai government. As yet no money has been taken from the Connect account. Colin and I support ourselves and volunteers are exactly that – volunteers. Currently there is about $22000 in the Connect account with $6000 given specifically for a car for Baan Puk Dek Nakrean. That leaves $16 000 and how much does the land cost? $15 500. This land originally had a price tag of $25000 but after Samson spoke to the owner, explaining its use, the cost was reduced. The step to buy this however did not come easily, on Tuesday (handover day) we will own land but won’t have much in the way of funds to begin building. So, we ask again for continued generosity to this work. All of your gifts will go directly to building. (Except if you are sponsoring children - that money will be used to set the students up when they arrive and will continue to fund their schooling and living expenses). Thank you so much for all that you have given, we have been humbled by the support for this project. We understand that we will go slowly in this project. We will begin building with bamboo to keep costs as low as possible and add onto buildings as funds come in. We hope to at least build a girl and boys dorm and possibly a kitchen/eating area, as well as toilets this month. We will only need a few thousand dollars to accomplish this. Samson and Arjarn Ponpon are very excited, as are many in Lucee village. We spent a night out at the village on Saturday and helped Arjarn Ponpon and Samson with teaching the children. The parents and grandparents in the village are ecstatic about the hope this teaching and the school brings to their children and now don’t mind that bible is taught also. The villages are coming to listen and learn as well. We were brought gifts of pineapples and coffee, flowers and papaya, sometimes given by people who didn’t smile, look very apprehensive, but wanted to express thanks. It was absolutely mind-blowing! Next week we will go and live on the land – we will begin clearing the land, trusting that God will give the money to buy materials to start building.

A note on sponsorship. We have had a bit of a change in the timeline and students that will come in our first year. Sorry – but this is pioneering work and that often means confusion until things find a rhythm. Some of you have not received the photos and details of your child - even though I have sent them. If you have not received your child’s details, please send me a quick email. Added to that- due to the fact that our students are refugees in Thailand they are reliant upon ID cards to allow them to travel outside their province. Some of the students have applied for ID to allow them to travel but this has not been granted. We have to do a reshuffle with students and will have to possibly resend photos and details. We suspect we can not do this until the end of April. The students will come and camp on the land with us and work alongside us (building their school) on the 5th of April and then we will begin to know exactly who has been able to get ID or not. Please be patient as we sort this out. Feel free to write letters or send photos, but these may need to be general for now rather than to specific students.

Above all.....please pray. Pray for the Karen of Lucee village. Pray for the students to recieve ID cards. Pray that the sale of the land will go through on Tuesday. Pray for Colin and I and our children and pray for David, Lexie, Janet and Ken - all in Thailand building with us during April.

The photos below show you ‘our’ (yours, ours and the Karen) land. There are also a couple of photos showing you the people of Lucee Village. Arjarn Ponpon is teaching and Samson is translating for me as I preach

A job for you!

As we prepare to purchase land and begin building, there is something each of you can do as well. Currently students in Thailand are on holidays and will begin government school again in May. We are hoping to have enough of Baan Puk Dek Nakrean built to receive students at the end of April. Coming to BPDN will be a big transition (exciting, but big) for the students. We have an idea that may help. We would like to have a letter at the end of each bed and a board up with faces and letters from people who love and believe in each of them. If you have sponsored a student, could you write to that student individually. If you have partnered with Connect and this project in a different way, could you write a general letter introducing yourself and send a photo also. Please send letters/photos to Zach Harrison (volunteer with connect) and he will ensure that each letter is translated and placed at the end of the beds or pinned to the board. Address 128/3 Thanon Kokmor. Amphoe Mueang. Ratchaburi. 70000. Thailand. David and Lexia Edwards (volunteers with Connect from Nth Qld) arrive on the weekend. Stay tuned!

Postscript.....

This morning I received a call (as I do often) from Samson asking if there was any possible way we could take another lot of students. I chatted through with him what this would look like and said that we would need to have another leader in order take more students. He said 'I already have another leader who wants to study bible also'. There is such a great need and hunger for education and empowerment among the Karen - it is a little daunting. Samson and I decided that we could increase the student intake to 35 (5 of them as leaders) but that we would have to stop there until we get the home built and launched. Again...we are in need of sponsors for these children and for Amamoo (our extra leader). If you know of anyone who would like to sponsor or if you are able please email me (Ruth) at connect3e@hotmail.com. We are looking at land this week. Samson has his eye on about 2 acres of land costing 700 000 baht ($25 000) - he understands that this is too much for Connect to pay for so he is asking the owner to lower it to 250 000baht ($9000). Samson just says...'If God wants us there he will lower the price. If he doesn't we will find some different land!' Please be praying as we search for the best land to build Baan Puk Dek Narean. Thank you for reading....I will update this blog a little more regularly over the next couple of months....so check back often.

There is a need!

This morning I received a phone call from Samson. Amongst other things Samson spoke of a visit he had made to a family in a particular Karen village. The children in this family have been a part of Samson's bible study (when he had traveled on occasion to their village). On the phone Samson relayed the story of these children (early to mid teens) crying as they asked Teacher Samson if there was any way for them to come to Baan Puk Dek Nakrean this year. Their parents then told of their deep desire to have their children come also. This family is very poor, Samson told me, and unless the children could come to BPDN they would not be able to continue their education. Samson (with expectation and hope in his voice) said to me 'I said they couldn't come this year...is that right teacher?' Peacefully I replied 'We trust that God will give us what we need Samson. We have 6 leaders, we can take 3 more students, I think'. Samson let out a huge sigh...'oh teacher, Praise God! I will tell them they can come'.

So....precious friends....we need an extra 3 sponsors. We will have 24 students this year. We have 18 children/leaders sponsored already and have another 6 to go. If you can help with this...please let us know. Sponsorship is a monthly commitment of $35. It pays for their schooling, food, accommodation and much more.

Let me introduce you...

Yesterday, even more than previous chats with Samson, I was impressed with him as a leader. I had taken our two boys and traveled to the province of Prachuap Khiri Khan to meet again with Samson. As with managing any project there are various concerns/question and ideas to align with those who work with you and I wanted to speak through a few of these with Samson. Samson had also traveled to various villages and had taken the photos of the 21 students and I wanted to get copies of them to send to Mikiele Barr (a volunteer with Connect in Australia) who will forward the photos and details of your sponsor child/ren onto many of you. Already we have 15 of the 21 students sponsored. We are so thankful for your response.

The day started early with a coffee at Starbucks (I told you that Hua Hin was a touristy city). So with a good coffee in one hand and photos in the other, I was introduced to the precious, beautiful students by Samson (via photograph). He told me their names and a little of their story. This was, without exaggeration, a highlight of my life. Samson also had photos of last Sunday when a number of the prospective students and leaders (at one village)had spent the day eating, swimming (Samson paid for the picnic smorgasbord of food) and praying about their new school/home that would soon be built for them and future students in the years to come. My great delight was that our family and any other Connect volunteers were absent! Great because our absence highlighted again that this project is Karen led and while they have immense gratefulness toward each of us, this is their project as much as it is ours (Connect). So… they lead, they pray, they plan, they hope and they smile and grow as they watch God provide for them.

Many of my matters to discuss were addressed as I spoke with Samson throughout the day. In fact without prior knowledge of what Colin and I were wanted to question and possibly reassess, and before even raising the issues, Samson spoke directly to each and said on many occasions ‘I didn’t feel at peace about this……and so I prayed and prayed and now I feel peaceful about doing such and such.’ His alterations were exactly in line with what Col and I had felt would work better or would be a wiser direction to head. This too provided further confirmation that we were all walking where God would have us walk.

After a few hours of rapid conversation, goose bumps, intense joy, relief, questions, clarification, big smiles and thanks to God (all from both Samson and I), I excused myself to go to the bathroom and suggested we change coffee shops! As I walked to the restrooms such was my awe I could only whisper the name of God. I, myself, felt humbled and deeply delighted (but also on your behalf) that we were getting to play a small part in all of this.

One concern that we had was the registration and legalization of such a project under the Thai government, given also the unsteady status of Karen people along the border of Thailand. I had asked Samson to look into this and he has come up with an ingenious plan. The project will be called (in Thai) Baan Puk Dek Nakrean meaning Home for Students. Our requirements will be to attain seven signatures of various people in specific positions (such as lawyer/pastor/district politician) and we will be covered in the event of Border Police or general police investigating the project as we build and continue the work there.

Apart from providing sponsorship to these students for their government schooling, food, general care and accommodation, BPDN (Baan Puk Dek Nakrean) will focus on discipleship. Samson’s passion is for teaching and he has spent the last 6 years traveling (often an 11 hour round journey, on a weekend, on a motorbike) to teach children/teens in various villages about a God who loves them and the hope that it brings. He is beside himself with delight that soon he will have students in one place, where he can ensure they are cared for, taught, mentored, loved and given every opportunity of a future. Already he has had to turn students away, so next year’s intake is already building. Samson has relayed conversations to me also of parents who are deeply thankful for this opportunity for their children. Hopelessness is a powerful thing; it destroys a person’s spirit. Hope on the other hand is a more powerful thing and brings life where there previously was little. God is without a doubt a God of hope. Living and working here I am often reminded of the urgency to pass on the hope I confidently carry with me all day, every day. As I pass it on it seems to generate more hope in my own life. Perhaps this is what God meant in his Word when it says ‘give and it will come back to you, pressed down, shaken together and running over’!

Samson had pages of notes and we spent hours going through them. One page had his free hand drawing of a proposed building plan of BPDN. I am not sure if Samson is sleeping at night, but is rather awake planning and praying for BPDN. I wonder as his pages of notes included a freehand plan of where each variety of vegetable will be planted in the vegetable garden! I told you he was excited! Samson and the Connect team are still aiming at purchasing land in March (about 60km from Hua Hin amongst the Karen Villages along the border of Prachuap Khiri Khan and Burma) and beginning to build in April. We hope to have enough built to accommodate and feed the students who arrive 26th April. Our family is on holidays from mid March so we plan to buy tents and head to the land (once we have some) to assist with building a school in 4 weeks! We will bath in the river, cook on a fire and build in the day. The children (and Col and I) are looking forward to this. The students for 2008 range in age from 11 to 17 and we look forward to meeting them face to face. We have 2 university students who have also accepted (volunteer) leadership positions at BPDN. We also have a 25 year old girl (Juicena) who is coming specifically to lead. Below are some photos of students playing on their day out with Samson.

We have some urgent and specific needs. They are as follows;

*6 more sponsor families/individuals

*Financial gifts. This will allow Connect to purchase land, building materials, tools, plates, fridge, gas cooker, sheets, mosquito nets and so on and so on.

*Builders/Laborers. If you can build or work hard and have a couple of weeks off in April (or can get them off) PLEASE COME! We need you desperately. We will pay the Karen to build for us (which provides income for them) but it will be of great benefit to have some others (like you) on site also. April is Thailand’s hottest month – so this is not for the faint hearted. You will need to bring a tent and be willing to really ‘camp’. If you are up to the challenge and a month like no other, please email me at connect3e@hotmail.com. I can call you and talk through further details.

*Prayer. Please pray. Pray for the seven people we must find to sign the document allowing us to build. Pray for the finances to come in God’s timing. Pray for the future students. Pray for safety of those traveling and working. Pray for stamina, wisdom and discernment.

I will leave you now with photos. Please pass on this blog address to your friends….please tell as many people as you can about the Karen and this project. Thank you so much again for being in our lives. Thank you more so for being people who seek to bring justice and hope in an world with very little.