Thai ’09 Journal 9

Today we began all 3 projects and laid plans for the 4^th. The Public High School has a large number of students. We got to see them all as they were raising the flag and singing their National Anthem, and doing the Buddhist devotional. Our students worked with 80 seventh graders this morning. The team consisted of 5 Walla Walla University persons, assisted by 7 Asia-Pacific International University students and faculty. They fed us a lovely dinner afterwards. As you will see in the photo, the banner they had up, had photos of last year’s team, which they remember fondly and with great appreciation.

At the farm we picked custard apple (sweet sop in Jamaica). As I noted in an earlier journal, there is not much fruit this year; and the corn is still green. But we were able to still reap a few baskets of the fruit.

Tonight we led out at the English Language Center downtown Muak Lek, operated by the University Church. This program was started as a class project by students at Mission College a couple years ago. Tonight there were about 30 in the first section. There were not many adults for the later session. But our team had a blast with the kids as they conversed in English, taught them religious songs, and just became their friends.

Tomorrow Jon Bennit begins his work with the nursing students here. They have a number of options that will suit him well. He will be teamed up with a male nursing student, and they will work as buddies. I’m glad that we are still able to partner with the School of Nursing here.

Finally, today I saw some of the largest mangoes. But I was very disappointed because I expected much fiber, and found none! (For Caribbean readers, it even has less fiber than Julie.) I don’t think God intended that mangoes be fiberless. One cannot have a true mango-eating experience without a good fibered mango! Look what sin and human manipulation has done to God’s #1 fruit. Sad!