Kids at Childlife and "AKHA" Thanksgiving

We have have been spending so much time working on our home that I haven't written about much else. Two weeks ago we got up early on Sunday morning and traveled on our motorbike to Childlife which is just outside of this small border town of Mae Sai.

We had to take it pretty slow on the dirt road as with all the rain the road was in poor shape. Daeng was driving and managed to miss most of the big mud puddles and pot holes.

We arrived about 8:00 AM, the Church service starts at 8:30 AM. That was nice as we got to talk with some of the kids we know. School was out for mid-semester break so many of the kids were visiting friends and relatives. About a hundred and fifty kids live there when school is in session.

Childlife is a special place started about 11 years ago by Guljohn Jeamrum to help "Street Kids". We were lucky because he was also at Pastor Lota's service and we got to say "Hello" and give him a big hug. If you would like to read more about Childlife just CLICK HERE. Our friend, Pastor Lota, teaches the spiritual meaning of life at Childlife, as well as many other places in Thailand and Myanmar (Burma). He is really great with the kids and they love him.

Because Childlife is out in the rural area they have to make their own electricity. Here is their present power plant.

The church service is always great as Pastor Lota completely involves the kids so they have fun. We believe, and so does he, that if the kids don't have fun they won't stick around very long.

One of the little girls is seven years old. Here is a picture of her standing by the water treating system. We are amazed that she is so in touch with her situating at 7 years old. She is one of five girls who's Father died. Two of the girls are over 15 and moved to the big city of Bangkok to earn a living.

She and two sister live at Childlife most of the time.

She does see her mother on a regular basis. She plans on living at Childlife until she is 15, finishing public school and then move to Bangkok to work, also.

She says she has fun at home with her Mother but living at Childlife is even more fun and she has lots of friends. This seven year old girl talked like an adult, completely in touch with the reality of her situation. It was refreshing.

One of her friends was missing her two front teeth. We tried and tried to get a picture of her smiling but we weren't quick enough with the camera.

After the service, Pastor Lota, invited us to a Thanksgiving celebration at his "Akha" village about 20 Km away. We told him we would love to go with him.

He had a short bible study class while we walked around Childlife. Then we hopped on motorbikes with us followed him. Most of the trip was on paved roads.

There is no set Thanksgiving Day here in Thailand but most village celebrate the rice harvest in the fall with a Thanksgiving Celebration of some kind involving eating. About 60 percent of the population are farmers and this small country is the largest exporter of rice in the world. Jasmin rice is Thai rice.

The "Akha" ladies had on their full celebration outfits.

We did eat to much chicken and pork but it was fun being involve in this celebration.