Our most recent outting was to villages near and surrounding a refugee camp. Due to the
changing of the Military leaders of the camps, we were unable to enter the camps to do our VBS'. Our
first VBS stop was to a young childrens school (2-4 year olds). Then we went to another school near the
border town of Mae Sot for two consecutive days. This VBS was for children and teens from 2 to 18.
Then we drove 4 hours or so to a village closer to the border. We were actually within 5km of the Thai-
Burma border. It was quite eye opening to think that just 5 kms away there was fighting between the
Karens and the Burmese. We were at this village for 3-4 days. Pastor Edmonds, the Baptist pastor there
was very welcoming and helped us a great deal with translating and putting on the VBS. Out of every 70
children there were roughly 30 christian ones, the others were Buddhists. So there was a need for christian
influence. The Karen also have a very interesting belief from the past. Their story goes sort of like this:
'God had 3 sons, the karen, the Burmese, and the younger white brother. On day God called his sons
together and gave them each a great book. The Karen got the gold book, the Burmese got the
wood book and the Whites got the leather bound book. On day the Karen took his book out
to the fields and accidently left it there. The termites came out and ate it all except for the
portion about agriculture.'
Thats the basic run down...each Karen group has its own version that slightly varies from this but they are
all relatively the same. So the Karen are actually waiting for the White people to bring the rest of the book.
So that is why white people are so accepted by the Karen, and they agree after reading the Bible that this
is the lost book. The creation story also goes hand in hand with their creation story. So its neat when things
like that work out; So here are the pics and i have tried to put them in order of the places that we visited.
Hope you enjoy!
First School
This kid apparently didnt like his airplane
I think im ready to be a dad!
Got Milk?
k ready....one..two...three... chewed cookies!!!
George and his pupil
'look Ma' i blew a bubble!'
At least these kids know how to wait in line!
Thats right Karens know how to do the 'crazy train' too!
Nads i think shes sick of Piggy back rides....infact....i think shes gonna be sick!
Shanna forcing the kids to sit in the pic with her!
Nick and Mike doign their daily work out!
do these kids look as scared of Wes as i think they do?
yup definately a dad!
Second School
After tye dyeing roughly 200 shirts. Lis in the blue, and myself in the Green. We added
Andreas hand in there for effect.
Yup, Georgio the Biker!
Dont know what went on here, but apparently its funny!lol
The art of whipping at its best.
'Let go.........NOW!!!'
Lis and her new family!
Im glad that we werent the only ones worn out!
PARTY!
This girl kept trying to steal my camera everytime i took a pic of something!
doesnt look too impressed with me for takin the pic w/ no warning!
Mike exerting his gentle side
Nads doing a one on one counselling
Paper bag princesses!
and some princes!
Plett and kids
MORE PARTY!
ROCK ON!
I think his balloon is too tight!
At least someone likes getting their pic taken!
Yup, we didnt loose too badly...1-0
BUT we beat them in a shoot out after 7-2
Two teams become friends!
'Please mister can i have your camera?'
here are a few of the tye dyed shirts!
Candy, candy and more CANDY!
the VP of the school we visited!
ZOLTAK! (apparently its a Canadian greeting....?)
Klaw Tah
(Pastor Edmonds village)
Sexy men in skirts! Dont show too much leg Jordan
Another tight balloon hat
and one thats too big!
Ya this picture taking thing can go two ways!!
Canada, love of God (written in Thai[top] and Karen[bottom])
making floor mats with the teens
Georgio sleeping after a long day
Our driver with a hair clip in
Me...with hair clips!
the fog rolling in
They have nuclear insects too!
the team with Pastor Edmonds on the far right
The hair clip clique
mmmm bubbles
again...nuclear lizards
mmm more bubbles
people wanting to join the 'hair clip clique'
Jordan telling secrets!
Thai national flag
two cute couples. ....;
Pastor edmonds and his wife, jodie and wes
yes zac i pee'd my pants i was sooo scared!
Andrea stunned by the balloon!
Our drive (still sporting the hair clip) playin w/ kids!
Pastor Edmonds and one of his daughters
Josh George and Greg playin vball
I think he was going to shoot me! Whats with people not wanting their pics taken!
Jen and some of the people that live at Pastor Edmonds
yes andrea Jesus does love you!
Our Karen friends!
all the people that live at Pastor Edmonds.....and melissa
Melissa wants ot be a ballet dancer!
The little one
Nads' self portrat.... kind of of centered
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Driving in a truck. Nick looking impressed as always
WATERFALL
Zac jumping off the falls
