First Lost Tooth

Tuesday...

it was wobbly and wiggly! 

Wednesday...

it fell right out!

Love those little baby toothies, and love even more that I got to be here and in on the excitement of Summer losing her first tooth. 

Big brother, Collin has already paved the way in leaving several teeth for the tooth fairy and helping her anticipate the fun!  I loved seeing how proud she was that she had now entered this new phase in her life and seeing her grin ear to ear  with that toothless smile. 

Bangkok Post Article on Moken's

We just became aware of an article in Thailand's English newspaper, the Bangkok Post,  today. This article is about two of the men in the village where we spend most of our time  on Koh Chang.  We are thrilled that the article states that Teng received hope when the Christian missionaries arrived as many Christian workers have poured into the sea gypsies.The article is very accurate in explaining the problem of the Moken's not being able to get Thai citizenship.


The most exciting of all is the links at the bottom of the article in which people can click on them and read about how to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus.  What an amazing opportunity and exposure for people all over the country who read this newspaper to learn of God's love for them. 


If you want to read the actual article- here is the link:
Hopeless lives of Sea Gypsies

Hopeless lives of sea gypsies

Published:

29/03/2012 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section:

Editorial Opinion

Teng Pramongkit's dream is to see his children grow up as equal to other Thais. But without citizenship, the door of equal opportunities is shut for his kids and thousands of other Moken, or sea gypsies.
"My mother doesn't know how to count days and years because we Moken count by our water system," said the father of two.
"Because I don't know my birth date, I was told I cannot apply for citizenship. As a result, my kids have no chance of being Thai," he said, looking distraught. "Is there any way to fix this so my kids can have a future?"
Back when national borders did not matter, the nomadic Moken or chao lay (people of the sea) roamed the Andaman Sea on their small "kabang" boats between what is now Thailand and Myanmar. When forced to settle, the Moken are faced with statelessness and a life without security or legal rights.
Living on Koh Chang, Teng is among about 500 Moken who have now settled on Ranong's small islands. There are about 10,000 Moken along the Andaman coast in southern Thailand. While forced to integrate into the modern world, they lack the means to do so _ citizenship.
"It's a very harsh life living off the sea," said Supap Pramongkit, a community leader. "We live a simple life and have little sense of ownership given our old nomadic way of life. That is why we're oppressed and exploited."
Fishing and diving to catch deep-sea fish and shells is their expertise. It's what they have always done. But now their seas have been declared marine national parks, the Moken are arrested and sent to jail for breaking the law.
They get very little for the fish they sell to the local thao kae, or middlemen. Fearful of all forms of power, they do not dare raise their voices in complaint. When they are hired for their diving skills to catch sea cucumbers off the Indian coast, most are cheated with their wages. Some have died.
It is why Teng's worst fear is to see his kids stuck in the same Moken life. For him, hope arrived with Christian missionaries who came to help and convert the Moken after the 2004 tsunami. Most Moken are now Christians.
But even with better education, the road ahead is rough without legal rights as citizens, said Supap. "We cannot get school certificates. We cannot have health benefits and other welfare. We cannot get good jobs because we don't have ID cards," he lamented.
When applying for citizenship, the Moken are told to provide legal documents like birth certificates and personal information such as birth dates and places of birth.
"But many of us were born on boats, not in hospitals, without witnesses other than our parents," said Supap.
They are also told they cannot use the same witnesses for different citizenship applicants.
"But we live in small family groups with little interaction with outsiders. If we cannot use the same people as witnesses, we have no chance of getting citizenship," said Supap. "The authorities should try to understand local realities."
In fact, the rules the Moken are led to believe in do not exist. Exact birth dates and places of birth are not required either. The only legal requirement is reliable witnesses to confirm the applicant has been living in the area.
But the authorities often argue that Moken from Myanmar will flock to Thai shores if they know they can easily get citizenship here. Such a view, if anything, reflects a refusal to accept that roaming the sea and crossing national boundaries is the Moken's way of life. Hence, their refusal to accept the Moken as indigenous people with full legal rights as citizens.
The problem the Moken face is not poor citizenship regulations. It is prejudice and discrimination. Unless this changes, Teng's dream for better opportunities for his children and his people's lives will remain an uphill struggle.
Sanitsuda Ekachai is Assistant Editor, Bangkok Post.

• 
  

So what is Mike up to?

My surprise trip to the USA came during a busy time for Mike.  We have a guest from Grundy Center, Iowa who came for three weeks of missions opportunities.  Harold and Mike have been busy visiting with some "Business as Missions" partners, and right now are down in Ranong preparing for the Kids Kamp that starts tomorrow. This year they decided to hold the camp at the Ranong Kids home in town so 12 children will be taking the boat in from Phyam island and 20 children from Chang island to join the 16 kids at the Ranong home for the camp.  Their theme is "Change Point" and they have a full program planned of Bible Stories and activities for the kids this weekend.  Mike just went out last night and bought all the food supplies to feed 50 children for 3 days.  Thanks to a new church (to us), McCord Road Christian Church in Ohio heard of the need to feed the kids and donated the money for the camp. Please pray that these young impressionable children will understand the lessons being taught to them and grow in their understanding of what Jesus has done for them this weekend.

Wilderness Drive-Thru Safari

Ever since my arrival here in Arkansas, it had rained everyday.  After 5 days, we were so happy when the sun came out on Saturday and we all decided to go on a family outing.  The weather was beautiful for the last day of their spring break and a perfect day to visit the Gentry Wild Wilderness Drive Through Safari 

The Foltz family had never been there and the kids were really fascinated with all the animals.

There were a lot of animals and they came up real close to our vehicles.

There were more than just zebras, but that just happens to be when I got my camera out.

Since there were 11 of us, we divided up between two cars.  Aunt Jen's sunroof made for some pretty fun viewing. 

After riding through the 400 acre's on the 4 mile drive, we walked through the petting park where we could feed and play with the animals.  The monkeys were so funny! 

The kids were at such fun ages to enjoy the animals.

I thought the Llama's were pretty cool.  God is so creative in making each animal so unique.

I love Collin's progression with the snake.  As soon as he spotted it, he was so scared from what he had heard other's say and yet so excited.

He asked the attendant right away if he could hold it and was hardly hesitant at all.  Look at that look on his face.... I think Marisa better be preparing herself  for some pet snakes in the future.

The girls really enjoyed feeding the goats.

Collin thought it was so funny how they wanted to eat the bag too.,

The kids love having this time with Aunt Lori, too.  We all recommend the Gentry Safari for a great family outing! 

Enjoying the Fam!

Got to have lunch with Ben today and visit his place of work.  Here he is giving us a little tour of the shop with our safety glasses on. 

Then the girls and I got to visit a few fun antique shops. Here we are at "Daisies and Olives"!

American antique shops are such a deja vu for me as I see so many familiar things from our parents and grandparents homes that use to be ordinary to me- but are now valuable to people who kept them.  If I only would have known that my daughters would have enjoyed them so much- I may have tried to save more of that old stuff. The reminiscing was fun.

We are all missing Mike and wishing he was here, especially Nathan with his "I love Papa shirt"! 

Tonight was Collins turn to spend the night.  We are getting some one on one time with each of them at their aunties apartments as they get their turn for a sleepover.  They all love Bethany's bunny, Khloe.

Reuniting

Just being with my grandkids has been all I dreamed it to be-- but I will say when you get all 11 of us together- there is quite a bit of commotion and relational dynamics.  This is especially true since they all live in small apartments right now. Just gotta share what the grandbabies are looking like now a days in my first day with them.

Nathan has changed the most in the past 7 months since I saw him last.

He just turned one year old

 He is already "all boy"  in personality.

He is a happy little guy....

.....who is still not sure of who this new stranger in his life is- but we are becoming friends.

Moving on to Hayley who just turned 3 and  melts my heart!

She is silly and so much fun!

I arrived on Summer's 6th birthday- so fun for her too that I came just for her birthday! :)  She got to choose all the meals on her birthday... Bkst was cinnamon rolls, lunch was mac-n-cheese, dinner was spaghetti with lots of garlic bread.  Oh, and an angel food birthday cake with a Barbie standing in the middle!

She wanted to go to Boinga Bounce on her birthday.

It was a fun place for the whole family!

Presents from everyone for the 6 year old! 

Collin is 7 1/2  and obviously "all boy" too.

He still has a sweet tenderness to him that loves his Nina and I love him so! He is listening to his sister's secret here- as we played a few rounds of "telephone" after Summer's birthday dinner.  I'm in Grandma haven right now! 

S.U.R.P.R.I.S.E.

Happy 35th Wedding Anniversary to me!

A trip to America!

Surprise- I'm in Arkansas!

Just last Thursday eve., Mike and I were sitting at our kitchen table for dinner when Mike first told me that he wanted to use our accumulated free miles to send me to the USA.  We had been discussing for a few weeks how we wanted to celebrate our 35th coming up on May 21.  By the time he had suggested it to me, he pretty much had his mind made up that he wanted to use the miles for me to visit our kids and grand kids.  Me (being the frugal, cautious, conservative person that I am) gave him my list of reasons of why I should not go.  Since my reasoning was not too convincing, he was pretty persistent.  By the end of the evening he had gotten permission from our director, we had prayed about it, and the reservations were made. 

The timing has turned out to be good in many ways....

Thailand  has just stared their summertime "hot season" school break, schools are closed, and most of our staff are out of town on projects. March is a "down" time in Thailand.

Arkansas just happened to be having their week of spring break, I arrived on Summer's 6th birthday and get to be here for 4 birthdays (Summer, Michael, Marisa, and Ben) and Easter. 

As long as the trip was so last minute, we decided that 4 days would not be too hard to keep a secret and we made it a BIG surprise. A friend picked me up at the airport, (thanks, Mandy)  and we went to each house and surprised them with a knock on their door- capturing it all on video. Each home was uniquely surprised and the video's will be so fun for Mike to watch.  I will have to say the best was at Ben and Jen's who were in a dead sleep at 11pm and we had to bang on so many windows trying to wake them up- that they thought we were criminals of some sort- by the time they opened the door! 

Then to top it all off, Mike talked to Lori and decided to send her out, too... (much to my surprise) as I found out that she was coming  only after I had arrived. She was the topping on the cake tonight.

So thrilled and thankful for these next few weeks with my kids and grand kids!  No worries- that there will be plenty of photos to come! 

What would you choose?

I decided recently while reading John 14 - that it was definitely one of my favorite chapters of the Bible. It is just full of so many nuggets.  Like verses: 2-5, 6, 12-14, 15, 16-17, 26, 27. I decided that if I was stranded somewhere and could only have one chapter of the Bible with me- I may choose this one.

Not much later, I read Isaiah 40 and felt the same thing.  It too is an amazing chapter full of promises and reflections on God's greatness! So I decided I could choose one chapter from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. I'm all set now if I get stranded to choose my chapters!  I could take weeks to study and meditate on them!

I choose John 14 and Isaiah 40.  Just curious, what are your favorite chapters and what would you choose?  I'd like to enjoy soaking in your favorites, too! I'd really like to hear from you!

Viber

The world of technology sure does make it nicer for us people living on another continent from our family.  I know that those "back in the olden days"  stories probably get old-- but I really cannot tell you how much the I.T. world has changed since we first went overseas over 33 years ago. Our first year, we only talked to our family once (during the whole year) and that was on Christmas day.  International phone calls were just extravagant- and I don't think there even was an Internet.  (We're talking age of  DINOSAURS).  It was a big deal to announce our first pregnancy to our parents via a "telegram".  The turn around time for letters to send a get a response was one month!

Enter today.... we can talk on the phone via Internet with our girls as often as we want.  And the newest discovery this week is my new favorite of all VIBER!   Since we each have smart phones now, we can call each other on our phones and text each other "FOR FREE!!"  One by one each of the girls got it figured out this week and then we were so so very excited when we realized we could text!

Sometimes, I get quite frustrated with technology and the negative ways that it has changed my life.  Mainly that it is always changing and upgrading and I don't like the way many people are  always having to find the next best and fastest and cheapest and newest deal.  It can be so consuming - taking away from other activities. (Like reading) Also that we spend so much more time looking at our phones vs.  into peoples eyes.  But I will say for living so far from our kids and grand kids that I am very happy with this new discovery of VIBER!  There are actually several programs with free international texting- but most of them do not apply to Thailand.  I've recently discovered more options available also!

It's just another area in my life that I need to ask God to help me balance.  My desire is to enjoy this new found gift of texting with people halfway around the world- while still engaging with the people in this country right where I live.

Not Just St. Pats Day!

March 17 to me is not just the day that we wear green and celebrate the Christian family Irish heritage-- it is also the day that my dad, Leonard, died 3 years ago now.  It doesn't seem that long and I still miss him so very much!  He was the best dad that I could have ever asked for and I have such sweet sweet memories of him and my childhood!

I have so many treasured photos of his visit to Thailand- and am so glad that he came.  He loved it here!

I recently read this book that has been on the #1 New York times Best Seller list.  I also read some reviews that were a bit controversial about it.  I will say though that I enjoyed the more detailed images that it gave me of heaven and it makes me long for heaven just a bit more. I especially enjoyed the chapter on "The Throne Room of God".  It is amazing to think of my parents praying for me in heaven, from Hebrews 12:1, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses... let us run with perseverance the race marked for us."  I love the thought that they witness my life here and then they don't feel so far away and I know it is going to be an amazing reunion with them someday! 

The Best Part

We just got back home after spending  6 days at our office in Bangkok. 

They were  full days of meetings with the leadership team of Thailand CCC.

We did have evenings free though, and enjoyed Bar-B-Q Plaza with Dong and Zippee one evening.  We love spending time with our staff so much.  Their hearts encourage us in many ways, and they are one of the main reasons that we want to be here. Working side by side with them and seeing their growth is very rewarding and one of the best parts of our work here At times our cultures can feel so different and we have a hard time understanding each others methods and ways.  It takes a lot of hard work in communicating sometimes. It is only because of our underlying faith in Jesus that we are so united in purpose and vision. We are so thankful that God is our reason for being here and that he unites us through His spirit as we work together. 

Just not a "Big City" girl

Mike has had meetings in Bangkok this Friday through Wednesday and since we are separated a lot, I decided to join him.  I have felt  a bit like a "fish out of water".  I have not had a lot of responsibility of my own- so it has given me some time to work on some other projects that have been on the back burner.  After being in intense meetings all day, Mike is usually ready to  hit the city for dinner or shopping.  Bangkok definitely has it's pros and cons.... can't believe that we actually lived here for 7 years- cuz it just doesn't feel like home to me at all now.  The pros are: more restaurants to choose from,  more brand names stores, and generally just more to do.  The cons are: traffic, pollution, masses of people everywhere, noise, and other big city (dirty) characteristics. It is real fun to visit for a few days, but doesn't take long for me to be reminded of my Iowa girl roots and to look forward to my quiet home in Chiang Mai.

Here are just a few of the brand name stores that we do not  have in Chiang Mai, but there are so many more. 

And aerial view of some of the street food.  Food is always available abundantly in Thailand- but the big city just feels dirtier to me. 

Discovering new restaurants (that we like) though, is fun for us and one part of the the trips to the big city that make it more enjoyable.  One more day of meetings and then we'll be back home where we'll find the best food of all in our own kitchen again. There's still quite a bit to get accomplished in these last two days of meetings as our leadership discusses some changes.  We've been praying for wisdom and sensitivity, always reminding ourselves that we are the foreigners here striving to encourage and support the nationals to grow as they learn to lead and trust God. 

New Homes Dedicated on Koh Chang

The homes that were built by the team from Iowa last month were dedicated to the new occupants last Sunday. This couple was living with their parents.  (Keep in mind that the homes are just one big room)  

They moved into the home beside the stairs on the way up to the church and will now have a place of thier own.  

This is the family that received the home on the water front.

Sawat, Latee, Uan, and Somsak (our Thai staff working with the Mokens) were there with them.

Adjan Somsak is praying a blessing on them and their new home. 

SOMETHING NEW TO PRAY ABOUT:

The schools are closing for the summer hot season break soon, and the staff have asked us to help them with a Kids Kamp again this summer. They want to do it  March 30, 31 and April 1. Mike told them that we did not have funds this year for the camp, but they could pray that God would provide it from an unknown source if God wanted the camp to happen.  Just this week a new church heard of the need and wants to give the $300 needed to feed the kids from both islands during the camp. Now we are in a scramble to come up with a curriculum, Bible stories, games, crafts, and workers.  We have three weeks to pull together this camp for the kids from two different islands and the ones from the Ranong Kids Home. Any ideas will be appreciated very much.  It will be such a blessing to the kids and it's not too late to sign up for this opportunity! :) 

That dreaded place

I am happy to announce that we are official aliens in the country of Thailand  once again  and have survived another yearly visa renewal.

For as long as I can remember, the Immigration Office has been one of our least favorite places to visit.

Our first introduction to immigration paper work was in the Philippines for seven years.  Our international staff there would cover all of our appointments in prayer for weeks before the visit.  That is where we were exposed for the first time to the atmosphere of government offices with massive amounts of humanity, waiting in lines, and  stacks of papers representing people. After moving to Thailand, we found that the Immigration office in Bangkok was no different and we would travel with the girls once a year to renew our visa. Again in Bangkok we felt like we were part of the massive  lines of  faces,  instead of real people.

Here I am sitting and waiting at the immigration office here in Chiang Mai today.

I've  tried to imagine how it would feel to work in one of those offices and shuffle through the paper work all day long.  Would I too, routinely  process documents or would I realize and see them as individuals with unique characteristics and personalities?

Our process this year was actually one of the least stressful.  The only hitch this time was that although included in our big stack of legal documents and filled out forms was our legal  Iowa Marriage Certificate- it was not acceptable.  We had to wait two more days to get into the US Consulate and have a notary  "certify" our marriage.

Here is the desired visa stamp in my passport, that is awarded a big sigh of relief when the process is done. 

I am so glad that God sees each of us as individuals with a unique reason to go to the immigration office and request a visa.  It is pretty amazing that the massive amounts of humanity in every immigration office around the world are seen by God as someone specially created by Him, each one with a different fingerprint from anyone else and individual dreams and and purposes for their lives.  It is so comforting to even try to imagine that I am not another sheet in the stacks of paper to Him.

Today we had a very special lunch with these three exceptional ladies.  They are part of our staff that we have worked with for years who will leave tomorrow to work in a new country.  They are facing a lot of unknowns and new adjustments just as we did when we first left our home country, and yet they are so excited and ready to trust God.  They were a huge encouragement to us and we are delighted to anticipate exciting results with them.