Thailand Journal 2011 #9

What a day! Yesterday’s rains wreaked havoc on the farm. The dump truck was unable to deliver any new loads of gravel today because of the mud on the farm roads. Our own truck got stuck – over and over again. We spent the day leveling out the gravel that had been delivered yesterday and hauling the stone to the edge of the gravel to try and extend the road faster. Vie got a crew busy cutting the tall grass reeds to lay down under the gravel to create a bit of a foundation for the sand and stone we were laying. It was hard work!

Our funds from this trip are paying for 10 loads of gravel (at $45.00 per truck load), but it was quite evident today that this amount is going to fall far short of what is needed to make these roads passable. When the team learned that only three more loads are being delivered they quickly talked amongst themselves and started making phone calls home. Within a few short minutes they raised enough money to buy 10 more truck loads. These are such amazing people to work with. Just one of the greatest teams I’ve had EVER.

After working on the farm we went to Tesco Lotus for the afternoon. Picked up some supplies and then set down for a wonderful pizza dinner. They’ve worked so hard this week and although they’re exhausted they somehow found the energy to enjoy a full dinner of salad and pizza. Then the team brought out a lovely cake, complete with candles, to celebrate our 41^st wedding anniversary.

We are tired but it is a good tired that comes from a full week of hard labor and service. This team is working so well together and want to push to do as much as they can with the time they have here. Tomorrow we’ll spend the day with the university’s nursing students assisting them with a mobile clinic about 30 minutes from here in a local village. We’re looking forward to yet another wonderful adventure.