Humanitarian Projects in Thailand - Chiang Mai

Elder Coffey and I were given the opportunity to visit our humanitarian couples in Thailand and Lao. Elder and Sister Ellsworth serve in Thailand, and we traveled with them through Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Khan Kaen and Roi Et. 

Chiang Mai:

After visiting with one of our key NGO partners in Chiang Mai, we 

traveled deep into the forest to the Maetaeng Elephant Park where the we became intimately acquainted with our new pachyderm friends.

The slow rhythmic lumbering took us through the jungle and into the river.  The elephant handler, perched comfortably on the elephant’s head, urged him forward with continual grunts, nudges and rocking from his body. 

Check out our You Tube video of the elephant ride at THIS LINK.

The Ellsworths on their elephant ride. Thanks for all the photos of us!!! 

The return trip back was by oxcart.

On the way to visit a branch member, we visited the terraced farms of the Chiang Mail hill tribe people.

Typical dress of the Hmong people.

Terraced farms are both practical and beautiful.

We visited the chapel in Chiang Mai, as well as the Elders apartment. 

Chiang Mai is a lovely area.

Elders Apartment in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai Old City Wall

That night we visited a member of the Chiang Mai 1 branch – Somwang Singmainichau (we call him Brother Noy). Brother Noy is 33 years old and from Lao.  When he was 16 he was in a motorcycle accident. The damage from the accident has slowly led to infection in his leg. He joined the church later and came to Thailand for medical treatment for his leg. Doctors say they need to amputate his leg. Branch members and President and Sister Stokes of the Mission Presidency are helping him with his medical needs.  He is nervous about the upcoming surgery, but hopes with a prosthesis he can lead a more normal life.

As we traveled through the countryside of Thailand to the next project, we passed acres and acres of rice and sugar cane.  It is harvest season for the rice, and farmers and their families will spend hours hand harvesting in the heat and sun.

 Next stop - next post - Kohn Kaen for mosquito net distributions.

Missionary Sabbath

You might call today a “Missionary Sabbath”.  It was a great day.  We left home at 9:15 am to make our way to the Kwai Fong chapel where we met for a “Finding” activity – our first for Elder Coffey and myself. We were formed into teams and sent out to various areas not too far from the chapel. Our mission – to find Filipinas in parks or subways and invite them to learn more about the Church – or attend Church with us. 

Elder Coffey and I went with the two full time sister missionaries to a nearby park and found Jena.  

Jena is a domestic worker, and has Sundays off.  Like all domestic workers, on their day off they are not allowed to stay in their employer’s home, but must stay outside in parks, street corners, subways or wherever they can until the day is over.  After visiting with Jena briefly, we invited her to take a quick tour of the church building, and invited her to join us for services at 2:00. 

She was thrilled to meet fellow Christians!  At 2:00 she came back, and to everyone’s delight, she already knew a friend – someone she had met in the Philippines before they came to Hong Kong.  She instantly felt at home surrounded by dozens of Filipina domestic workers, a friend to call her own, Christian fellowship, and the presence of the Spirit.

Jena fits right in with all the rest of these sweet sisters!

Jena and her friend Catherine

Today was also Mary Jane Mondragon’s last day with us (shown above in yellow). She is going home, and while we will miss her terribly, we are thrilled for her.  Jane is preparing for her own full time missionary service, so a full blown missionary farewell was given in her honor after church services. Lots of hugs, lots of photos, and tons of food. Jane is such a sweetheart and we just know she will be a fantastic missionary!

 

Mary Jane Mondragon with Elder and Sister Coffey

More photos - always more photos!

 And what would a missionary farewell be without food??????

Then of course comes the clean up - one more hour to go at the end of a long day - no paper products with this crew - everything is hand washed and hand dried.

Our bright and cheerful dish washer committee - all volunteers!

At the end of a long and very wonderful Sabbath day. Cleaning up from the farewell....

 We got home at 9:00 pm - nearly a 12 hour day. The Peninsula 3rd branch is probably the best branch in the entire Church!

The Elder Coffey Birthday Hike

Seems Hong Kong loves holidays.  Today is a national holiday - the Chung Yeung Festival - the day people go to the graves of their ancestors and family members and pay their respects.  And then have the rest of the day off to relax.

So no office for us today.  And since it was Elder Coffey's birthday - we celebrated with a hike to the Ng Tung Chai Waterfalls. It was a perfect day for a hike.













In Hong Kong, to prevent mudslides and erosion, the government puts a cement slurry or wall over hills and slopes to keep them in place, then registers them. Every hill and slope has a number.  What?? Don't you register your slopes too?? 

We were off to check out some waterfalls, and along the way we passed some typical graves.  The bones of the deceased are in the ceramic pots. You can see the paper "money" hanging in the center at the top -- blessings from the family to their loved ones in the spirit world.

Some grave sites are cared for better than others....

 This part of Hong Kong is lush and gorgeous - 

with ferns and moss lining the path.

 

There were three main waterfalls along the way and some smaller ones as well. This was the lower waterfall.

The path became extremely steep with irregular stone steps, narrow in parts and rather exhausting! But beautiful!

But finally we made it to the main waterfall.

 I love the woman here who is practicing yoga or something in the

 middle of the stream!

A huge elephant ear plant.

And after a homemade Chinese dinner, we had apple pie for dessert!

  The end to a perfect day! Happy birthday Elder Coffey!