Moving

It's looking right now like I will be moving soon. We're finding a village up in the mountains that I can use as my outpost for medical work. We'll see what opens up. This is exciting as we've been wanting to spread out more with the work. There's thousands of dirt poor little villages up in the mountains filled with refugees. Many of them have really no way whatsoever to get any kind of medical care.
The next two weeks will be busy ones! It's my goal to be able to read Karen by then, do more language learning, and I'll also possibly be making a trip up to Chiang Mai for medical supplies.

Christmas

Merry Christmas, everybody - nice and late!:)
I had a good, if not very Christmasy one. Got up early, made another delectable (not!) rice and curry breakfast. Some of my family left early to take some patients to the hospital in the refugee camp. Took care of a few patients. Did several motorbike trips into Mesolite for bags of rice and baby clothes for people who didn't have any. Went to pick up my sister in Methawa (about 20 minutes away). Did some Christmas shopping at a few little shops and used the excuse of the day to celebrate with ice cream with Em. Went down to the creek to rinse out laundry and while at it sang Christmas carols under the blazing sun (90 degrees indoors!). Came back up only to debate with the guys over the banana cake that'd be gotten up in Chiang Mai for a treat. We must have spent the next 20 minutes discussing how to divide it.:) And so forth, so on... Was a good day! But if or when I get back to the States I will have a Christmas, even if in July!:)

Patients and Patience...

Here comes my long-delayed blog. I haven't been as good at keeping things updated as I hoped to. Somehow time just seems to slip away and whatever I wanted to say seems kinda outdated by the time I get around to actually writing it down.

Last week we went up to Chiang Mai (about a 7 hour drive or so from our house). We've been having mechanical difficulties with our vehicles which has really been creating some difficulties with the medical work so we had to go up and try to fix things. At the same time they were holding a media seminar up there (something I've always wanted to do) that I was able to attend. I discovered that as much as I like computers and cameras, I don't like staring at them all day.:) It was great training though!
Monday I came down by minibus together with a friend ahead of my family. Then by surprise a couple of the guys came and picked us up on motorbikes in Mae Sariang. Now that's a fun road to ride!:) It's got it all - about 3 hours of good road, bad road, and worse road, together with pincurves and many a hill.:)
So here I am back on the border. I've been keeping busy doing patient care again. Sometimes it's quite slow, but other times you're doing just to find time to brush your teeth in the morning. We've got so many pediatric patients. Just a guess, but I think I could say that probably 80+% of them are either babies or small kids. Yesterday I a took 4-month-old into the hospital that was having pretty severe breathing difficulty. He ended up having bacterial pneumonia. Today we took in 2 more. A one and two year old. One of them was just recovering from measles and really didn't look good. That's the first time I've seen skin "tenting" in real life. She was acting very lethargic and I considered her to be an urgent patient. We have to stick with the patient in the hospital to make sure that the doctor actually carefully evaluates the patient. Often they will just look at one thing and make their diagnoses just because they're so busy, rather than taking all the symptoms into consideration. For example, almost everyone that comes in complaining of stomach pain comes out diagnosed with gastritis. Just as a rather hilarious anecedote, my mom went in because she was having some trouble with her lungs and thought she might have pneumonia and the doctor diagnosed her with having an allergy to the cold. She thought better of informing him that she came from Montana.:) Anyways... On this one the doctor wouldn't believe that the patient was dehydrated or had measle complications. He diagnosed her with having just a common cold. So tomorrow we'll be taking them back to a different hospital.

Pics

Josiah and one of little boys, Poketaw, thrilled after receiveing some warm clothes!

Josiah again with one of the older students, Gechawmai.

Some patients on the front porch.







Please forgive the descriptiveness of these pictures. I don't mean to be overly graphic, but this is what it's like here.

This is the little boy (we thought he was a girl) on the far right in the above picture. He's 5 and has had this infection for 5 months. You can't even begin to imagine the pain...

....

I ran out of time to finish this, so to be continued....
"This morning dawned cloudy in the borderlands between Thailand and Burma, but as the sun breaks through, the beauty is breathtaking; high, rugged mountains; thick green jungle; rich fertile valleys surrounding freeflowing rivers. The beauty is so exhilarating it nearly makes us forget why we are here. It seems almost impossible to believe that this apparent paradise is a place more like hell for hundreds of thousands of people around us. The conflict of emotions caused by the contrast between the beauty of the land and the enormity of the tragedy of the oppressed and displaced people nearby is made even more acute by another bittersweet contrast - the brutality of the regime which inflicts immeasurable suffering on countless suffering victims: dignity in deprivation; generosity in destitution and a love that transforms brutality into miracles of grace." (Taken from the book "A Land Without Evil")
I was thinking that I'm not sure everyone that reads my blog has a very good picture of where we really are and what we're doing. In the past I felt like I couldn't speak very freely due to safety issues, but, at this point, it isn't really a problem with where I'm staying right now. So I thought I'd give a little better explanation of where we are and the situation over here for those who are interested.

We're living in Thailand at the moment, right near the Burma (Myanmar) border. This map shows Karen State (inside of Burma - the white part) which is what we border.


At this time, we're mainly serving the Karen people, mainly the IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) here along the border on the Thai side.
Kawthoolei (Karen State), which literally means a 'land without blemish', has long been a land with mines and a killing field. The Karen people living in Burma have been forced to flee a military dictatorship. And, not only that, but the Burmese Army is set on exterminating the Karen (and all other ethnic minorities) as a people group. War and killing have been a regular part of their lives for the past 60 years, but they haven't given up. This is the longest lasting civil war in history. The KNU (Karen National Union) fights mainly only in self-defense. They don't want to fight, but this is what they are forced to do to protect their homes and families.
Karen State is a beautiful place where I have lived and worked before. They'd had the threat of attack for a while in the area I was in, but just recently (after I left - in June) the Burmese finally did attack, conquered the KNU and took over the area. We had to evacuate the Karen school that was over there (approximately over a hundred kids) and move them across the border into Thailand.
In the KNU's own words, they desire Kawthoolei to be a Karen State with the right to self-determination. They want all the people to be given democratic rights, politically, economically, socially and culturally. They want to have freedom and quality of all religions. Burma is, at this point, one of the least developed countries in the world. Incidentally, about 40% of the Karen are christians, while the remaining number are either Buddhist or Animist.
My family's living in a house right along the border (about 500 yds) right now. They're specifically doing medical work with the villagers nearby and also supporting and directing the school that was evacuated from Burma and is now located right next door.
To be continued...

"...To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free... To deal they bread to the hungry, and to bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked that thou cover him..." Isaiah 58:7,8

Happy Thanksgiving!

Last few days have been busy. Yesterday I stayed home to care for the villagers while most of the others went to the hospital in Maesot with several patients (generally a whole day project.) I did have a translator most of the time, thankfully! Looked in a sore mouth (quickly decided I was inept!), little girls with scabies, baby with diarrhea, a few women wanted there blood pressures taken, and did several malaria tests, among other things. Two little girls ended up with pf malaria so I got to give my first pills! That scares me. I don't take lightly to giving medications I don't know very well - especially to kids. But with the help of a few phone calls we got it figured out and it was good experience.
I've just recently learned of the possibilty of taking a 6 month medic course here. It's created for medics on the front lines, I believe, so it should be really great. I just have to have a little better grasp on the language first as it's taught in Karen. There's also a doctor here who I may be able to shadow to learn more.
Right now one of my biggest goals is to speak the language - Karen (pronounced as kurin) - fluently. I'm working on learning to read and write it. I forgot a lot of what I did know while I was back in the States and it was very discouraging to begin with, but most of it's finally starting to come back! It's such a huge handicap to not be able to speak. It's especially hard in Thailand as I speak next to no Thai. My total vocabulary basically consists of the words hello, thank-you, and vegetarian (truly vital!:) But I don't see myself learning a considerable amount of Thai anytime in the near future. Over here I'm not only illiterate, but, for all intents and purposes, most of the time might as well be deaf and dumb as well.:) It can truly be humbling at times, trust me...:)
But the possibilities are really exciting!
I'm in Maesot right now as we had to take a little boy from a nearby village to the hospital. I didn't even realize it was Thanksgiving 'til I got on the internet. Happy Thanksgiving everybody!:) I hope you guys are all having a great one and keeping in mind how blessed we really are!

Update

Well I'm not quite sure just exactly what to say, but I figured I should put an update on here.:) Might be a bit dry though.
The jist of it is: Arrived in Bangkok. All is well. As I stepped out of the airport I think the first thing that really hit me was the heat. I was decked out in my jacket, of course, straight from the frigid airs of MT!:)
So we're finally back on the border. It's been rather crazy the last few days. Guess they expected me to come back as a doctor or something... Which they're slowly, but surely learning I'm not...
Sabbath was anything but restful! We ended up taking an interesting trip to the hospital with several sick kids. We had a young girl who was lying in the bed of the truck going between unresponsiveness or hyperventilating and in agony with spasms in her legs. We were driving at quite exciting speeds. Altogether there were seven of us back there. I was perched at the edge of one of the benches trying to keep my balance as another sick child was lying on the other part of the bench behind me and Thai driving always manages to add some pizzazz to anything!:) Let's just say that it was pretty exciting. She ended up having severe pf malaria.
The porch here at the house is having an almost steady stream of villagers and students especially in the mornings and evenings. This morning our nurse was gone at the hospital with patients, so it was just me and mama there. To sum it up, I spent most of it wielding wicked looking poking devices and jabbing them without mercy into innocent little fingers. No, actually we had people with all types and sorts of various maladies. But I had to do testing on several for pf malaria. I was at my wit's end. The test isn't one bit like our handy-dandy glucometers back home. Instead it has this hole you've got to somehow deposit the blood into and it's the frustration of my life. I was so tired of it and the next in line was a squirming, wailing little kid who quite obviously already had a well developed fear of needles. All I wanted to do was run and hide. Couldn't stand the idea of having to poke this one over and over. But I gave it a shot and that was the first (and last, so far!) one where the blood came out in a perfect drop and ventured into the hole in like manner. Felt like that was God's gift to me this morning when He knew I couldn't take much more.:)

EMT training is finally finished. I am very greatful for the training and glad I came back for it. I leave for Thailand again on November 15.


:)

Snow...

First Impressions

Written on 01/28/09

I'm writing this as I'm sitting in the Seattle airport waiting for the last leg of my trip to Kalispell.
I flew out of Chiang Mai. Goobyes to my family weren't any easier than I'd imagined them to be. From Chiang Mai I flew to Bangkok, had a layover there for a few hours, from there to Taipai, Taiwan, and then the long flight to Seattle (about 10 1/2 hrs.)
Flying in here about all I could do was gasp, "Wow!" when I looked out the window and saw over the edge of the plane wing billowing gray clouds and behind them JAGGED, SNOW-COVERED PEAKS, and topping it all a glowing orangy red-pink sunset (one of the bestest colors in the whole wide world!:) I'm afraid the two ladies sitting next to the window never did quite grasp what all the fuss was about.
Let me just say...it's a different world.
I wanted to find a place where I could use the internet, so I was sitting there trying to figure out exactly how I was going toaccomplish this when all of a sudden it hit me that - Duh! - I can actually talk to nearly anybody I want and they'll actually understand me -- quite the novel thought! It feels very weird to have almost all the people around me chatting away in English. I actually almost feel like I'm intruding on people's conversations when I walk by people who are talking, or when I hear someone on the phone.
I might also add that almost everyone around me (including myself, I suppose) looks quite "weird" (i.e. huge people, big noses, strange haircolors,...)
Anyways.. I'll soon by "home" (not quite sure where I think that is anymore...)! Can't wait to catch a glimpse of that fluffy white stuff that covers the ground, though I'm not quite as sure about the cold.:) I've come this far safely and had a reasonably uneventful flight -- God's good! I'll get back with you later...

More Pics

These are just some miscelanious pictures of the school and kids I wanted to put up before this part of my life is past and gone.

First off, I'm going to mention that I wanted my format to be a bit different, but my computer's being a bit stubborn or something...

The biggest girl in the picture, Naw Paw Coo, is the oldest girl in Kindergarten. She's fourteen.

Let me introduce you to Dohpuhgloo! This little guy is just adorable. He's five-years-old.

When I first came to Lay Klo Yaw he was new there (he's GiGiThay and MooQheeLa's brother). He was a major challenge for me as he absolutely refused to talk. I honestly didn't know what to do as he refused to obey and answer at roll call or anything. Anyways, I was finally able to break through the ice and I wish you could have seen him then.:) Sometimes I was almost tempted to wish he was still quiet (not really!). He became my nearly constant little chatterbox companion. I wish you could hear his laugh! I don't think I've ever met a more affectionate little boy. He seemed like he was just starved for attention and I bet he was too. There was no one who paid him special attention or gave him hugs or anything. But once he opened up to me he would just beg for it. I'd have to say that 90+% of the time he was telling me he loved me, hugging and kissing me, or begging to be picked up -- but I loved it! He even began to call me mother sometimes (I really didn't know what to do about that)! He was definitely one of the biggest tugs on my heartstrings when I left.

Thought saluting was pretty cool or something.:)

Is that grin cute or what?:)

A few kids who came to say goodbye.

This is the kindergarten class taking a nap. You can't see all of them there, though. I thought it took resemblence to a battlefield or something. And quite honestly, it basically was trying to get them to stay put.;)

Namuda's a very special little girl.

The animals here have been really painful for me to see sometimes. These are some new puppies at the school. They're so cute, but I see all the wretched looking adult dogs around and I just hate to even think of what their going to become. They're devouring rice in the picture there.

One of the main forms of amusement is some type of rubberband game the kids play in the dirt.

One of the big boys, Saw Ha Gay, cut his head with a saw or something. Just one of the experiences that really made me with I was an EMT.

Relishing a snack of rice while sitting in an old worn-out suitcase.

Saying goodbye to one of the teachers, EhDohSay. I wasn't having near as much fun as it looks like, though.

More than a spoonful of love?

"I think I'm going to cry when you leave." DeeEhNyay said softly. I was trying to absorb this news when to my further amazement he added, "I love you very much!" He'd barely finished saying as much before he ducked back around the corner of the entrance of the hut. It wasn't long before one of his unmerciful playmates gleefully announced, "DeeEhNyay haw (cry)! DeeEhNyay haw!" before dragging him back into the room.
Of course Nicholway, or Namuda, or GiGiThay might be found crying...but not DeeEhNyay. Or would he? It had never really occured to me that he would truly care if I would leave.
I should explain that DeeEhNyay is a very sweet, if, as I knew him, not extremely demonstrative, little boy. Most of the other kids are nearly perpetually hanging on me, sitting on my lap, holding my hands, and hugging and kissing me; but for the most part DeeEhNyay pretty much seems content and absorbed with his friends. Asides from the occasional smile he might throw my way, I really didn't have much interaction with him in comparison to what I had with the other kids. I think I'd pretty much settled on the fact that he was just one of those kids that would either take a long time or I would never get as close to.
"Yuh hih nuh (I give to you.)" he said pulling out his unwashed (in fact, it looked as if it might have missed quite a few washings!) spoon.
For you to understand exactly what significance a spoon as a gift could have, and a dirty one at that, you would have to understand more of the culture here.
To begin with, there's only been one time since I came here to the school that I've ever eaten with a spoon. That was when I was specially invited to a special service and meal with the soldiers. Besides that, it's, well, left to your very handy hands. Above that, DeeEhNyay's family is very poor. With some twelve children (from two different mothers) to feed and clothe I imagine it must be hard to scrape together ends meat. Both he and his little brother, DeeLwehSay, wear some of the most ragged clothes. I would never have expected his family to even own a spoon, much less for Dee Eh Nyay to give me one.


Believe me, that's one gift I have no intention of disposing of anytime soon.



Dee Eh Nyay's the one on the left.

Teacher --> Student

So... I'm not a teacher anymore. I can't rightly decide whether I'm sad or glad. In fact, I'm descending back to student status again. Sounds amazingly inviting to just show up at classes, launge around in my desk chair, and study what I'm told to; versus trying to wrack my brain for new creative activities, spending my time dreaming up unconventional punishments, or panicking that I won't be able to fill up all of the time.
I left the school on Sunday night. Goodbyes were not easy. I didn't feel ready to leave at all. I'm just getting into the language, learning all the kids names and getting to know them personally and then I have to just pack up and say goodbye? I've really felt that the Lord's been opening up the doors for me to return. How to explain that to the kids was the hard part. I couldn't figure out how to tell them that I really do love them and want to stay with them, but feel that for now I'm supposed to be in the US getting more training. For several days Nicholway would intermittently burst into tears over my leaving. Some of the kids told me they would leave the school and a couple even claimed they would die if I left (not true, of course). Some of them would repeatedly ask every time they met me in their thin, dejected sounding little voices if I was going to America. It was truly heartwrenching at times. The morning before I left, Pockatow, forever the little man, came marching up and demanded as to whether I was going to America or not. When I sadly affirmed that I was, before strutting off, he drew himself up and declared with as much fierceness in his voice as he could muster (as best I can translate it), "My Maria go to America, I love not!" That one at least gave me a smile.
So, anyways... I'm in Chiang Mai with my family right now. I should be flying out sometime this next week. I don't know the exact date yet. It will definitely be an adventure! Afraid the goodbyes to my family are going to be even harder than they were to the kids though.