Thursday, March 26, 2009

Tuesday, March 10th



Our original plan for this day was to drive to Huaypha and stay the night there at center then head down to Chaing Mai on Wednesday. However, Elaine suggested I get down to Chaing Mai so I could see a doctor. So we drove to Huaypha, spent time with Lacheah, and went to the school before continuing our drive to Chaing Mai. On our way to Huaypha we stopped at Huaiya school, where Praweet is, the kid Kevin and I sponsor. They were having a graduation for all the 9 grade graduates. It was fun to see what was happening there as I had been to that school the first time I came. We then took food to a family. The family wasn't there, but when we were stopped I noticed they had the coolest little piggies. I know I took way too many pictures but I was just having a Charlotte's Web experience. Then we continued on to Huaypha.





Huaypha is where I have spent a majority of the time on previous trips. This center is primarily sponsored by members of my church, so it is the one we are most invested in. It was fun to see it and the things that have stayed the same as well as those things that have changed over the years. It was great to see there were now cement walkways between buildings. I was also glad to hear the kids helped in the efforts. The ground is a red clay dirt so especially in rainy season it is very hard to walk in. The kids now have walkways! Lacheah is more than 9 months pregnant as her delivery date had passed when we arrived. It was cute to see her pregnant belly. For those who don't know, Lacheah was sponsored at Musekee as a child. She then went to college and felt God calling her to start a similar center in Huaypha, the village she was from. She and her husband spend their lives working with about 50 kids each day. When she started she wasn't married, doing it primarily on her own (obviously a lot of support). I have always respected her so much for her life of sacrifice.


I also enjoyed going to see the kids at school, though we all were sad not to have time together that night. Even though all I wanted was to lay down, I so loved seeing the kids that I mustered up the strength to sing songs and play heads up 7up with them. Before taking off, Kevin Turl showed us a new building by the church that they will use in the village for events. I am so glad to see all they are doing.









We then got back into the truck and drove to Chaing Mai, Don dropped Kay and I off at the Ram Hospital so I could see a doctor. It was a great experience. The whole thing cost me $70 (for a doctor visit and 4 prescriptions). All the staff was nice and worked at speaking to me in English. After I saw the doctor I was given a number to go and pay as well as pick up my prescriptions. Kay and I were paying attention to the screen where the numbers were being shown, as I didn't know what my number would be as they announced them in Thai, but when they got to my number, the computerized voice had been changed for me, and it said two hundred seventy eight. I was so impressed that they were able to change it based on the patients language. Kay and I then went to a mall close by to eat at the food court so I could take my pills. I went to bed early that night so I could let my body rest.

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