Thailand Mission and Cultural Trip 2012 - Journal 1

This is my eighth year leading a mission and cultural trip, supported and sponsored by Walla Walla University. It is one of the highlights of my year. If you have followed previous blogs, you can appreciate that statement. If you are new to my blogs, take a glance at earlier blogs to get a taste of what is yet to come. The following link from one of my 2009 blogs (http://blessingsfrompedrito.blogspot.com/2009/08/thai-09-journal-24.html) will give you a philosophical overview of the project.

We are stationed at the beautiful Asia Pacific International University campus. I usually arrive a day or two early in order to make sure that everything is in place for the arrival of the rest of the team, and the smooth running of the projects and program. This year we have a large group – 19 strong. So I had to rent two 12-seater vans to get us around to the projects and various and sundry activities. It won’t be the same, however, not having Vie at my right hand to keep me steady, and Lorraine at my left to keep my brain in place as she manages all the details and minutia. However, I’m excited that Spring Townsend is coming back. She will be of enormous help. It would be a bonus if Cierra Graham could have been here to be at my left hand! But the School of Social Work is looking into being an integral part of this annual trip. So besides a number of Graduate and Undergraduate Social Work students on the trip, there is Kisna Toruno. She is the Office Manager and Recruitment Coordinator in the SOSW. She will be invaluable.

Thanks for your prayers and support. If you bookmark this link (http://people.wallawalla.edu/~pedrito.maynard-reid/gallery2/main.php/v/thailand_mission_and_cultural_2012/pedrito_thailand_pictures_2012/) you can follow my daily photo blog. As usual, my photos are in descending order.