Humanitarian Visits in Kohn Kaen,Thailand

From Chiang Mai we flew to Kohn Kaen. We were travelling with Elder and Sister Ellsworth, our Thailand humanitarian missionaries, and Elder and Sister Lyon, the MLS couple of the Kohn Kaen Branch.

View of Kohn Kaen from our hotel window.

There are more than 18,000 members of the Church in Thailand. We visited the chapel in Kohn Kaen - a thriving place!

One of our branch members is Nok.  Nok is a registered nurse and works for the Department of Communicable Disease. She is also a trained wheelchair assessor and trains other professionals on proper wheelchair assessments.

Kohn Kaen:

Our first humanitarian project visit was a mosquito net distribution in the village of Bau Thum.  This village leader (in military uniform) knows everyone in his village by name. 

We were traveling with the Rotary who had made the arrangements for the project distributions and ceremonies.

The Rotary worked with the local government leaders to help identify those in the village who needed nets the most, usually the poor, elderly or disabled. 

This woman (left, holding net) suffers from cancer, and was very grateful for her mosquito net.  Malaria and dengue fever are very prevalent here.

The second stop was at the village of Ban Nong Takai in the Sa Wa Tee district.  One hundred nets were distributed to a very grateful and humble group of villagers.

 

A spontaneous embrace from a grateful recipient.

This woman's smile depicts her gratitude.  I love the nail polish on her nails!

On Saturday November 7^th, we participated in a wheelchair distribution. Nok and two other trained assessors had worked with local government leaders to identify and assess those who could qualify for a wheelchair. Wheelchairs had been ordered according to the assessments, and arrived at the distribution with their names embroidered on the backs of their own individual wheelchairs. 

Ms. Da Wan, 45 years old, has been a diabetic for 20 years. Due to complications, two years ago she had the lower part of her right leg amputated.  This is the first wheelchair she has owned.  It will make a big difference in her life. Her smile tells it all.

This woman (right) has had weakness in her legs due to a car accident 26 years ago.  Medical care has not been able to help.  She has used a stick to hobble around with great difficulty.  This is her first wheelchair too.

This is Wat Pimkamlai (left).  She is 73 years old and had a stroke recently.  She is learning how to be more mobile and self reliant with the use of a wheelchair.  Family members and recipients received training on how to care for the wheelchair and how to maneuver it safely.

At the ceremony to distribute the wheelchairs, the Deputy Mayor of Khon Kaen spoke, as well as other key individuals. St. Josephs, a charitable NGO, helps LDS Charities in these projects by helping get the wheelchairs through customs and store them until they are distributed.  It is a triple partnership between LDS Charities, the Rotary, and St. Josephs - a combination that enables hundreds of people to be blessed throughout Thailand.

Other Scenes From Kohn Kaen:

Massive webs of wires are the norm here.

Little bamboo baskets with lids hold our sticky rice for us at meal time.

Traditional Thai food at a local restaurant - spicy!!!

Colorful and ready for business!

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!