Until now, missions teams have come quietly…a few people at a time.  Mae Sot continues along without really noticing a dramatic change.

The West Kelowna/Emmanuel Gang!

That all changed when our friends from West Kelowna arrived in Mae Sot.  Not only did we fill small restaurants with 20 people (14 guests and 6 Koch’s), one restaurant closed its doors for us so that we could have a private dinner (my 40th birthday party).

The Thai border police instructed us to stay out of the Moei River (for the first time ever).  Never a problem before with a few people here or there, but this massive group of 20 could be a problem on the border…

The Irrawady Guesthouse courtyard, normally a quiet place to reflect for a guest or two, was filled with 12 happy children and teens along with 8 adults each night for team debriefing.

We spread out all over Mae Sot.  Dave Hanson helped with a water installation and repairing desks at a migrant school. Pastor Derrick preached at the Thai Four Square Church and we all came together for our main focus…the Life Camps.

We blazed into Huay Ka Loke school and with great energy and enthusiasm, put together a great camp for 54 boarding house children – 37 of which were orphans. (The others stay at the school during the week and go home to parents on weekends).

We were so grateful for the participation of everyone – from the youngest (that would be Cami) to the oldest (that would be…well you take a guess!)

This particular camp focused on 6-10 year old stateless Karen children in a rural school in Mae Sot. While 17 of these children go home to parents, 37 of them have either no parents or haven’t seen their parents in more than a year.  The camps were designed to help these children understand how special they are.  Through the songs, Bible stories, crafts, games, and food, the children were reminded that God loves them and so do we.  Along with this focus, we took passport-type pictures, beautiful portraits and fun camp pictures that will be placed in a specially created identification book.   Once our interviewers have spoken with the children individually and gathered important information about their families, place of birth, health records, and other relevant information, the photos and information will be placed in the “This is Who I Am” book that will be left in the hands of the headmaster from each school.  This book, along with the world-wide data base that will include the child’s information, will help bring status and stability to these vulnerable children.

Not only were Irislee and I excited about how well the camp ran, we were very thankful for the money that was raised before hand to help pay for the camps, for our Kwe Ka Baung field strips,  and for teacher resources.  For all of you who ate chilli and desserts and bought Christmas crafts- thank-you!  Your donated money was well-spent.

And to the team from West Kelowna…we love you and we miss you and we look forward to seeing you again in 4 months.  Mae Sot is a bit quieter now…I’m sure people are wondering where the whirlwind went.  When they ask we’ll just point them to the happy faces of children who go to sleep at night knowing that they are not alone.

God Bless You to all and to all a Good Night!

Here is Irislee’s version of the Life Camps