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!