Preparing for home

We spent our last day in the humid sunshine of Phuket Thailand where together as a team we were able to reflect, share and plan our "re-entry" to our normal society. We were extremely blessed by each member of this team and are so thankful to those of you that prayed for us and sponsored us. We are excited with the small footprints we have left in Thailand and Cambodia and hope that our small contributions may grow in the lives of the nearly 825 kids and leaders we treated along the We will see you all again soon. Please pray for our safe return... We are scheduled to be back on Saturday night at midnight! 

Tuesday Report-Chaing Rai

We woke this morning and were greeted with big hugs and sweet smiles in the "quad" of Happy Home Chaing Rai. Dave  the Wave led morning worship outside for the kids. 

After morning coffee and yogurt (red bean and corn) we opened the dental clinic and the hygiene training area and went to work. 

We ate fried rice and egg lunch with the kids then we headed off to the "Eden Home." This is a place about 1/2 hour drive from Happy home that hosts mostly children whose parents are in prison, most for life sentences for drug trafficking or other offenses. They stayed home for school the whole day waiting for us to arrive and when our urban assault transport vehicle rolled up they ran up to us grabbed our hands and wouldn't let go. 

The trainers did their Thai Hygiene magic and taught all the kids to brush well. Incidentally this home is looking for monthly sponsorship of their kids (really all the places we visit are) so if you want to sponsor someone, e-mail me at flossymolar@comcast.net and I'll get you the info...

After we arrived back at Happy Homes we brushed the dust off, threw on a fresh shirt and borded the UAV for a trip to the night market where we had dinner and bought our trinkets and fake Beats headphones. 

My phone was dead at this time so no pic to share so I'll show you what dinner looks like at Eden home...

Tomorrow we board the plane for our last location. Happy home Kho Kloi. We have had an amazing adventure across Asia but are admittedly getting a little homesick! 

Happy Home... truly!

We spent our first full day in Chiang Rai at Christian Happy Home, an amazing ministry started by Rose Martinez over 30 years ago. ( Fun fact: Rose, pictured below at left, next to Tyree, came to faith in Christ just outside of Eugene in the early '70's ... "Far out!")

The Chiang Rai Happy Home is one of five orphanages in Thailand and one in Poipet, Cambodia operated by Rose and the Mercy Ministry Foundation. She has a great team of wonderful emerging leaders, most of whom were young children who grew up in one of MMF's Happy Homes. (Including Kallaya, shown here next to Dr Mike (Lacey)

 We were grateful to be able to serve the kids from Toeng and Chiang Saen homes.  (Both are led by Happy Home alumni who each have marvelous stories of miraculous redemption!)

Our day of service wrapped up with a "thank you BBQ" for our dental trainers. 

We are humbled by the prayers and support of so many of you who have offered support and encouragement prior to our trip and during our time of ministry here in South East Asia! Lots of praises as we have been so blessed to share God's love with so many great kids and staff at these amazing homes and schools throughout our trip!

Tomorrow, we'll finish serving the Chiang Rai HH kids and provide a dental hygiene clinic for "Eden Home" (a new site for us) about 30 minutes away.

Thanks for your prayers! (Posted by Dave)

Our Dear Peggy's Home-Going

We awoke this morning to the news of our dear Peggy's home-going.  Little did we know that when we were studying Psalm 34, we would be taking to heart the fact that God hears us when we cry out to Him and that He is close to the broken-hearted. (See vs 17-18)

I couldn't help smiling/crying when I saw these sweet kids helping in the kitchen at the Home of Blessing! She would have loved it!

Peggy loved to serve! Serve food, serve kids serve our amazing Harlow staff am counselors... And serve The Lord!!!

Khap Khun Krub, Peggy!!!!

Thankful for the gift God gave us in you!!!!

Our "Over-Nighter" to the Yao Sanjarean Village

Yesterday we worked at the Morning clinic at Home of Blessing and finished up all of the dental work that the girls needed. And did a little laundry

We then packed up and jumped in three pick-ups and started the climb up an 8% grade to a tall mountaintop to a village that has a Church and many believers. 

They speak a tribal dialect that isn't Thai and due to that fact, often have trouble making it in Thai society. The government, now more stable under military rule has invested in some of these villages helping them with the infrastructure for raising coffee beans. We arrived in town just after all the residents were rinsing their beans after the daily harvest 

The Yao Village pastor, Kaokrean invited us into his home for fresh brewed, local roasted coffee

Followed by a nice evening stroll through the village 

They served us an amazing dinner in the Church, which was wild hog they "prepared" 3 days ago and saved for us...

Then it was time for Friday night Church! 

As it rolled into the wee hours of the night, the only thing keeping us awake was Pastor Dave the Wave super exciting  preaching...then bed. The ladies got the luxury suites

And the boys...the ceramic tiled church floor. Boy was it clean!

Snoring was replaced by the "firmness" replaced by a thin layer of ice between the bottom of our sleeping bags and the ceramic tile before (hyperbole there).

We arose to more fresh coffee

And a walk down to the waterfall...

Then the dental hygiene clinic...

And then the evening return to our Home of Blessing friends...and so ends Saturday night. A few of us have minor colds, but all are well! Tired but well! Thanks for your continued prayers!

Posted by Ron Ewert

Back Home to the Home of Blessing!

After a sweet airport arrival, we made the two hour drive from the airport to Chiang Kham, Home to the Home of Blessing, an incredible ministry started by Pastor Sayan and Mom Siriporn 25 years ago. 

At HOB, our days start with worship, teaching and prayer at 5:30 AM, (going through Psalm 34 each morning) then the girls do their chores, have breakfast and head off to school.

We made a trip to the morning market to get breakfast supplies for the team just before seven. An experience for ALL of the senses. 

Warning... Some of theses photos may not be suitable for everyone, esp. Those with weak stomachs. 

"Awwwww Rrrrrats!" Delicacy's in some parts of the world?

Dr. Lacey trains The dental trainers so that they can then train others. (Disciples making disciples making disciples... Multiplying multipliers!)

They learn so that they can teach... To be  Filled up so they can be poured out!

We've worked with many of these kids for many years, including Rungnapa , holding a dental chart that we started for her when she was very young!

We were blessed that night with a Welcome dance to "Shout to The Lord" 

What a way to end a beautiful day!

Thanks for your continued prayer support! Posted by Dave the wave. 

What's ahead... A post by Dr. Ron about our trip to a Yao village in the mountains!