I had to start with this picture, because the scenery is so beautiful, and it makes me want to visit. When I was a kid, I swore I would never, ever visit Thailand after I heard a missionary couple talk about how their housekeeper mashed up a giant cockroach into their salad (on purpose, as it was a delicacy). Nevertheless, my friend Sheleen went to China and Thailand both, and contracted as many major illnesses as humanly possible without dying on the way. She’s had typhoid and giardia, the latter for seven years. Needless to say, she does not have a weight problem.
Thanks to everyone who responded to my plea to send Steve and Sheleen money. Sheleen is safely esconced in school and doing well on the Ford scholarship, and Steve just started work with Medical Teams International. Since they have been working as volunteers for ten years or more, it is a new experience for Steve to actually get paid. He hasn’t yet, incidentally, but when it happens, I’m sure it will be a big event.
I recently got a letter from the Akha Rescue Ministry, which is a New Zealand charity that helps the Akha Children’s Hostel in northern Thailand. The hostel is there to help children rescued from child prostitution. It is supported by a couple of charities and was started by Yakur, a Thai man who hated the way his country was going and what it was doing to its children.
Anyway, there were some sad events at the hostel recently, and Yakur is no longer there. The hostel still exists, however, and is still strongly supported. I’ve always wanted a website to link to, and the New Zealand charity finally has one, so now you can see pictures of the children and the amazing country they are surrounded by.
So, please visit the A.R.M website, check out the photo gallery and thanks for thinking of these girls (and now boys).
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