HANDCLASP NOVEMBER 04 HIGHLIGHTS

 

This last week Don and Kay worked in Huaypha to get the Guest House ready for the Aussie Invasion. We stole Tongeen, the #1 repair man, from Musekee Center. He installed 4 doors and 24 windows with old tools. I gave him a cordless drill to screw hinges and he loved it!!! Don, with a lot of help from Kay, installed 14 lights, switches and 4 outlets plus ran the main wires and switch gear from the generator. Lacheah's big brother in law built a room divider in a dorm to give us 2 smaller rooms. All plumbing done and it is ready. Completed in 3 days.

 

FUN MOMENTS Kay and Don went for an evening stroll and found a small orchid on a branch lying on the ground. We carried it home and Kay placed it on the front fence. Next morning the students went into the forest where the monkeys live. We thought they were gathering firewood. By lunch there were over 200 orchids on the fence!!! Kay took delight in arranging them with Lachaeh and I'm sure some student will be assigned to water them daily.

 

On Sunday we drove to Chiangmai over Doi Inthanon (highest mountain, 3000 meters). It was a beautiful day with low clouds and cool but clear to see the summit at times. As we hit the paved road, we were waved down by 3 young boys. Tongeen was with us so we had them sit in the tray to Meachem. They were surprised to have ridden with a Farong driver who got them there in short time!!! They may have been handy if it had rained and we needed a push.

 

Huaypha Center has 30 new students. Most arrived with nothing so we are gathering a lot of warm clothes for them today. They are so shy but adorable and cute. We gave them a volleyball net and tagraw ball. In minutes they dug holes and erected poles on the flat area. FACT: No student in Huaypha speaks Thai! The older ones move to Musekee and learn Thai there to get higher education. So they are all learning English and Thai while they speak Karen in Huaypha Village where almost no one speaks Thai either.

 

On Friday morning we had a drop of rain. This triggered the Gibbons (monkeys) in the valley to scream. Dozens could be heard across the hills. They cannot be seen as they can move faster than we can. We look forward to all the visitors this next year. The Guest House is a gift and the Huaypha Village folk are real proud of the men who built it. Come and see!!!

 

We leave for the hills on Wed with the Australian Team.

 

Don & Kay Fox

Thailand