dancer
We visited Bangkok first, escorted to a preschool in a slum area by Rev. Matsushita, a Japanese missionary. This is one of the preschool students who did a dance for us.
Date: 03/15/2009
We visited Bangkok first, escorted to a preschool in a slum area by Rev. Matsushita, a Japanese missionary. This is one of the preschool students who did a dance for us.
rev matsushita
Rev. Matsushita has been in Thailand for many years, doing relief work and evangelism among the poorest of Bangkok's inhabitants.
Date: 03/15/2009
Rev. Matsushita has been in Thailand for many years, doing relief work and evangelism among the poorest of Bangkok's inhabitants.
daycare dancing
We had fun singing and dancing with the kids at the preschool. It's here that the children get their health needs taken care of and are trained in "polite behavior."
Date: 03/15/2009
We had fun singing and dancing with the kids at the preschool. It's here that the children get their health needs taken care of and are trained in "polite behavior."
airplanes1
Some of the KGU students helped the kids build airplanes.
Date: 03/15/2009
Some of the KGU students helped the kids build airplanes.
newspaper toss
Another fun activity was a "throwing paper room!" But it was steaming--around 100 degrees F. that day!
Date: 03/15/2009
Another fun activity was a "throwing paper room!" But it was steaming--around 100 degrees F. that day!
songs
We also shared some songs the kids could move along with--a very fun time!
Date: 03/15/2009
We also shared some songs the kids could move along with--a very fun time!
church jump rope
We also visited Rev. Matsushita's "New Life Church" nearby, and had some fun interacting with Thai kids from the church who were studying Japanese.
Date: 03/15/2009
We also visited Rev. Matsushita's "New Life Church" nearby, and had some fun interacting with Thai kids from the church who were studying Japanese.
new life church
Our group and new friends at New Life Church, Bangkok.
Date: 03/15/2009
Our group and new friends at New Life Church, Bangkok.
akha friends
On the next leg of our trip, we headed up to Chiang Rai in the far north, to meet friends from Akha Churches in Thailand. We had fun boating up the Mekong river with them one day.
Date: 03/15/2009
On the next leg of our trip, we headed up to Chiang Rai in the far north, to meet friends from Akha Churches in Thailand. We had fun boating up the Mekong river with them one day.
collecting gravel
...though we did learn some new things along they way. Here is a normal job in Chiang Rai--collecting gravel from the river bed.
Date: 03/15/2009
...though we did learn some new things along they way. Here is a normal job in Chiang Rai--collecting gravel from the river bed.
mekong boats
One of the three boats we rode in up the Mekong.
Date: 03/15/2009
One of the three boats we rode in up the Mekong.
big snake
This was our "being tourists" day...
Date: 03/15/2009
This was our "being tourists" day...
afternoon treats
Some treats offered to a group of us by an Akha pastor and his family.
Date: 03/15/2009
Some treats offered to a group of us by an Akha pastor and his family.
lotsa stairs
The next day, we went to the Thai-Myanmar border and learned about the reasons why so many people from Myanmar want to come over to Thailand. The stairs to the lookout point were a little steep!
Date: 03/15/2009
The next day, we went to the Thai-Myanmar border and learned about the reasons why so many people from Myanmar want to come over to Thailand. The stairs to the lookout point were a little steep!
looking at myanmar
Learning about what happens across the border.
Date: 03/15/2009
Learning about what happens across the border.
bridge kids
Kids from Myanmar were crossing the border to beg over on the Thai side.
Date: 03/16/2009
Kids from Myanmar were crossing the border to beg over on the Thai side.
tired guy
An exciting, but obviously tiring day!
Date: 03/15/2009
An exciting, but obviously tiring day!
church visit
Back in Chiang Rai, we visited one of the shelter/church building projects we had worked on in previous years.
Date: 03/15/2009
Back in Chiang Rai, we visited one of the shelter/church building projects we had worked on in previous years.
question time2
This was a good chance to ask questions about how the building was being used to support the local community.
Date: 03/15/2009
This was a good chance to ask questions about how the building was being used to support the local community.
headin for the hills
The next day, we departed for the 3 hour trip to Hoi Chom Pu, an Akha village in the mountains of Chiang Rai prefecture.
Date: 03/15/2009
The next day, we departed for the 3 hour trip to Hoi Chom Pu, an Akha village in the mountains of Chiang Rai prefecture.
slash and burn
On the way there, many of the images were disturbing. A haze covered the skies as a huge number of hillsides was being cleared for planting. The government tries to control this, but isn't entirely effective.
Date: 03/15/2009
On the way there, many of the images were disturbing. A haze covered the skies as a huge number of hillsides was being cleared for planting. The government tries to control this, but isn't entirely effective.
village workers
Once in the village, we met our new friends and began working on the building which local carpenters had partially erected before our visit.
Date: 03/15/2009
Once in the village, we met our new friends and began working on the building which local carpenters had partially erected before our visit.
making concrete
Our job was to carry the concrete materials...
Date: 03/15/2009
Our job was to carry the concrete materials...
wood basket
The village was full of sights of simple beauty.
Date: 03/15/2009
The village was full of sights of simple beauty.
dinner
One of our meals was from a freshly killed pig, taken apart over banana leaves by the village butcher.
Date: 03/16/2009
One of our meals was from a freshly killed pig, taken apart over banana leaves by the village butcher.
how is village life
We talked to the villagers in the evening, asking about daily life in Hoi Chom Pu--its joys and hardships.
Date: 03/15/2009
We talked to the villagers in the evening, asking about daily life in Hoi Chom Pu--its joys and hardships.
typical home
We were provided with homestays for two nights.
Date: 03/15/2009
We were provided with homestays for two nights.
rev morishima and his house
Here's the house Rev. Morishima, Mr. Kanda and I stayed in.
Date: 03/15/2009
Here's the house Rev. Morishima, Mr. Kanda and I stayed in.
chinese baptist church
One afternoon, we visited a nearby town--Wawi. It's a Chinese immigrant town, and they had their own Baptist church on the outskirts. Services were held in Chinese and Akha languages.
Date: 03/16/2009
One afternoon, we visited a nearby town--Wawi. It's a Chinese immigrant town, and they had their own Baptist church on the outskirts. Services were held in Chinese and Akha languages.
wawi mosque1
Interestingly, the town also had a mosque--the Islamic community numbers about 100 people.
Date: 03/16/2009
Interestingly, the town also had a mosque--the Islamic community numbers about 100 people.
wawi mosque2
We were able to talk to the imam of the mosque, who was fluent in five languages. He explained the Chinese migration to Thailand after the Maoist revolution.
Date: 03/15/2009
We were able to talk to the imam of the mosque, who was fluent in five languages. He explained the Chinese migration to Thailand after the Maoist revolution.
happy girls
We were often entertained by Akha young people with their guitars.
Date: 03/15/2009
We were often entertained by Akha young people with their guitars.
rice storage
In the village, many people do subsistence farming and day labor. Life is difficult. This is a storage facility for the rice harvest.
Date: 03/15/2009
In the village, many people do subsistence farming and day labor. Life is difficult. This is a storage facility for the rice harvest.
the gang
A gang of guys trying out their Japanese!
Date: 03/15/2009
A gang of guys trying out their Japanese!
happy crowd
The day the building was dedicated, we were given a gracious sendoff by the villagers. They had been so kind to us!
Date: 03/15/2009
The day the building was dedicated, we were given a gracious sendoff by the villagers. They had been so kind to us!
saying goodbye at hoi chom pu
Ready for the long trip back to Chiang Rai.
Date: 03/15/2009
Ready for the long trip back to Chiang Rai.
saying goodbye to dorm friends
Our students had stayed in an Akha dorm during their time in Chiang Rai. Saying goodbye is always hard after the trip is over.
Date: 03/15/2009
Our students had stayed in an Akha dorm during their time in Chiang Rai. Saying goodbye is always hard after the trip is over.
house of love
During the last leg of our trip, we returned for two days to Chiang Mai, in North-Central Thailand, where we visited four Christian ministries.
Date: 03/18/2009
During the last leg of our trip, we returned for two days to Chiang Mai, in North-Central Thailand. We visited four Christian ministries. Three were ABC/USA related ministries--the "House of Blessing" daycare for slum children, the "House of Love" AIDS orphanage, and the New Life Center, a dorm for young women at risk. We also visited a Japanese-supported AIDS orphanage called "The House of Hope."
day care center
Playing with the kids at the House of Blessing daycare center.
Date: 03/15/2009
Playing with the kids at the House of Blessing daycare center.
newlife center
We also visited the New Life Center in Chiang Mai and were oriented to the work with women at risk by ABC/USA missionary, Kit Ripley and Japan Baptist Union missionary, Emi Osato.
Date: 03/16/2009
We also visited the New Life Center in Chiang Mai and were oriented to the work with women at risk by ABC/USA missionary, Kit Ripley and Japan Baptist Union missionary, Emi Osato.
CMU exchange
KGU and Chiang Mai University have a sister-school relationship as of 2008. We did an exchange program this year with the CMU students studying Japanese! They were great.
Date: 03/16/2009
KGU and Chiang Mai University have a sister-school relationship as of 2008. We did an exchange program this year with the CMU students studying Japanese! They were great.
lanna cafe
I also had a change to visit Mike Mann, an ABC/USA missionary who runs the Integrated Tribal Development Program. Here he is with a colleague in front of Lanna Cafe, an NGO and coffee house in Chiang Mai.
Date: 03/18/2009
I also had a change to visit Mike Mann, an ABC/USA missionary who runs the Integrated Tribal Development Program. Here he is with a colleague in front of Lanna Cafe, an NGO and coffee house in Chiang Mai.
award from the princess
Here's Mike with his award from the princess of Thailand for his work with development among hill tribes villages.
Date: 03/15/2009
Here's Mike with his award from the princess of Thailand for his work with development among hill tribes villages.
all the children of thailand
Our trip changed us--making us realize our blessings and our duties to our fellow human beings. We at KGU will keep on working for and praying for all the children of Thailand.
Date: 03/15/2009
Our trip changed us--making us realize our blessings and our duties to our fellow human beings. We at KGU will keep on working for and praying for all the children of Thailand.