Thailand Mission and Cultural Trip 2014 - Journal 8

So many different things happened today -- and many the first for me in all my years coming to Thailand. First I need to say that we are so pleased with the school where we are conducting the English Camp. Nuny is an absolute wonderful director of the English program; and she is fabulously helpful. The school is also small, therefore, we are known to all – from Kindergarten to 9^th grade know us and attach themselves to us, and involve us in the life of the school. Today as part of the opening exercises there was a march against drugs. All the students, from grade one and up, belong to a scout troupe and were all dressed in their uniforms.

Weeding chili peppers was tough going, since we had heavy showers last night. The farm needed it. But hoeing in muddy soil was tough. Weeding by hand was easy, but back breaking if one has to bend down. So I hoed.

After lunch, Emil Kachchap (an Indian who has been in Thailand for 20 years, and has been most active in the University Church, and also very active in the lives of Uncle Prasarn and Aunt Nang) took us on a tour of Farm Chokchai, the largest private owned dairy farm in Southeast Asia. He is the person in charge of International relations at the farm. They have quite an operation going there. Besides producing a large quantity of milk and milk products, they have a

mini zoo; a great variety of dogs; thorough bred horses; organic gardens; coffee plantation; luxury campgrounds; etc. I thought the tour was going to be for about an hour. It took about 4 hours. But it was really awesome

By the time the tour was over it was almost 5pm; and seemed too late to go to the farm to put in some afternoon weeding. But this year’s team is an exceptional one. They felt bad that we did not put in more time on the farm. So we headed over there for another hour; and Emil joined us. By 6pm we had almost reached the end of the pepper field.

The end of another day where I’m tired and busted!