Missing the other side of the world

I hope my blog does not bring you down........ I am sooooo missing those children! Also just being able to lookoutside and see a far away world that I have come to love. I do not love the politics in Cambodia or Thailand....just the people. The everyday people. I even miss the nasty smells of unfamiliar food. Go figure!

As I am thinking about them I really want to share. It has come to my attention this week @ work just how many things I saw in person that are historical (Angkor Wat, The Killing Fields, Toul Sleng) and some that are so off the wall I never thought I would set foot in ( Bangkok, Burma [now known as Myanmar] and the hill tribe village....the Lahu people we visited and set up a "doctor's office").

I should share some of that.......the Lahu village was a place where the pediatrition (Dr. LaMont), and the rest of us visited. We set up a system.....a translater went with us....I forget her name. Anyway, she had a list of questions to ask the ailing vilagers.......many of them were adults and a few were children. She would then tell me, I wrote down the symptoms and asked more questions that I thought would help diagnose (via translator) and then sent them into the room with the Doc and the rest of the gang. He would read the paper.....take temps, listen to hearts and breathing....all of the doctor things and ask more questions if needed (via the same translator....so we had many interruptions). Then he would diagnose what he found.

You would not believe how many villagers had what they called "Gastro". This was from drinking the unclean water. They do not boil it first....maybe too much labor/time involved, maybe not educated enough........so they were told they MUST boil the water before drinking it. Not only that...but they were working so hard in the fields all day....but not drinking nearly enough water. So there was exhaustion, aches, etc etc related to that.

The thing is these people were sweet. They were welcoming and thankful for help. You would not have known any of them were suffering really. One girl had been stung by a scorpion that very day. She was smiling. There was an 80+ year old lady......she looked 60. It was quite astonishing. She was really active and taking care of a toddler.........I think they all help each other out. I had a moment where I just felt like I was looking down at the situation and could not have ever imagined I would be there.

Afterward we listened to some worship songs....led by Pastor Pong from the Thailand orphanage......all sung in In Thai ifI remember right.......so we just hummed along.

Three of the girls from the Thailand orphanage (older girls....early teens I think) had tagged along with us. We were riding in the back of a pick up truck that was somewhat converted into a transportation vehicle. There were lightly padded benches on either side and a roof. There were flaps that covered the sides that would zip down if needed.......but it was by no means comfortable. We rode in these a lot. The girls were sleepy and cold (as was I) on the way back. On the long ride backI just wrapped my arms around one girl and she held onto me like a long lost mother....or older sister. It was sweet. The girls there are so innocent....sweet, so precious.....all of them....even the teenagers. The ones who have been brought up in a decent place.......and not marred and abused and been hardened.

It baffles me that a lot of the world still lives in the conditions of this Lahu village. This is where most of the children at the orphanage come from. Each of them has a traditional dress outfit from their native village too. Tutu.....the orphanage administrator...and "mom" makes sure of that. Also....many of the children go back and visit their villages .....I believe 1 time per month. So it is clear to see why adopting them may be a difficult thing for them to bear too. We (Gary and I) now have Christmas decor (stockings and velvet-ish ornaments) made by the Lahu villagers. "Westernized" but still hand made by the Lahu people.

The girl I want to adopt......and my heart is forever connected to is from the Aka village. Her name is Tara Tip. There are a lot of children I would love to have with me all of the time....I just cannot forget that she fell asleep in my arms.

Ok.....more later. Good night!