It is so good to be home! We like to travel, but it seems like such a relief to be home again, treating patients all the time, playing with the kids….
Last night we went to the children’s worship at the school. It was the first time I had made it down there since I was sick for so long. It was really neat. It is in an open building, with a very dim light bulb lighting the place. ( kind of like candle light, not bright at all) The kids sing their hearts out! I wish that you could hear them. They are not shy at all about singing, they just sing with all their might. After worship, the kids flocked around us, hugging us, exclaiming about how big we are, and showing me their injuries. Then, we all hiked up to the big house to do the evening foot clinic.
While I was in Chiang Mai, Jason asked me to buy some violins for his students. So, Jason is here and he has 4 violins! The kids could not be happier! The little ones gather around Jason and Travis and they give them a violin, and show them how to play. So, while I am trying to decipher the Karen language so that I can figure out what needs to be treated, there is a continuous chorus of squeaks and squeals from the corner of the room.  Then, the kids had Jason and Travis play while they sang songs. It was so cute, I wish that I could have gotten it on video. In fact, I told Travis afterwards that he is going to have to start making that video that we have been planning! I want to be able to share the experience with everyone.  The kids seem so normal and so precious. It is hard to imagine what they have been through. While I was listening to the kids sing, Maria told me a little about one of the cutest little girls there. She told me that while we were walking up the hill, the little girl had told her that her mother does not love her, and her step dad beats her. She was one of the few that had no real home to go home to, so was still here during their Christmas vacation. I say few, but there are about 30 students who had nowhere to go. It makes us very sad to think of that. This is one of the reasons that spending as much time with them as we can is so important. They need to be loved and played with. We certainly love being able to give them that love and attention!
Today we decided to move down to the school. In fact, while I was driving out the driveway to come here, I saw my bedroll bouncing down the hill on a little boys head, on it’s way to our new hut!
Gayle had to take some patients to the hospital, so Bradley and I came to town and I did some quick shopping in order to get the things needed to set up housekeeping on our own. I now have two sleeping mats, one rice pot, 4 bowls, some spoons, two plastic containers for storing food in, and two dish pans. I think that I am all set! I just hope that I did not over do it! ( I am still feeling rather guilty about my one inch foam pad to sleep on!) So, hopefully I can get to know these kids better and be able to tell you more about them.