I could hear faint ukulele music coming from Mi Mi's house so I ran over there and slipped into the home and joined them in their morning worship. All the children were sitting in a big circle bundled up in sweaters and blankets. It is very cool before the sun comes up. It was a wonderful way to start the day with the candles flickering and casting long shadows on the bamboo walls. I love the morning family worship tradition of the Karen.

As soon as it was daylight, we all started out on the walk to section 7A.

Women were sweeping the dirt in front of their homes, carrying water and visiting with each other as the children set out for school. Some of the children walk an hour to get to school.

(These photos show the suspension bridge that leads into section 7A.)

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When we reached the high suspension bridge connecting section 7A to the rest of the camp, Mu Kreet was there waiting for us. She tucked my arm in hers and started chattering away to me. I caught a few words, just enough to know she had everything ready for our breakfast and the children and parents were anxiously waiting for me.

The children once again had a surprise for me. My time in section 7A is always heart warming and the tears flow easily as I see how poor the refugees are and how warmly they open their homes and hearts to me. The women had probably cooked for hours to prepare all the food they had set out for us. I learned many years ago to never protest about how much they prepare, this is how they show their love. I always slip the hostess enough money to buy several weeks worth of food to replace what they have given me.

The picture on the bottom left show a typical Karen kitchen area with women cooking rice and the photo on the right is a closer image of the type of stove used in the homes of the Karen.

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We had a wonderful meal, then we set up our registration table, which is a low table and we sit on the floor. Our system of having 1 or 2 English speaking helpers register the children and send them to me for the picture taking worked very smoothly. I had already made notation on the cards how much money each child should get, so after I took their picture, I slipped them the money and had them sign their card. It took us over 2 hours to get all the sponsored children done.

The photo on the left shows mother's waiting in line to bring their children through for pictures in the hopes that they will get sponsors.

Pastor then told me there were several who I had taken pictures of 3 years ago who still did not have sponsors, so I took all their pictures as well, updated their cards and flagged them for priority sponsorship.

After we were finished, the table was moved out of the way and the children lined up with yarn leis and presents for me. The little ones would shyly slip the lei over my head, hand me the present and shake my hand. I got down on my knees so they could reach me and tears were running down my cheeks as I looked into the sweet young faces who were showing me their love. By the time we were finished, I had leis clear up over my chin.

Then everyone wanted to have their pictures taken with me. Pastor whispered that our driver was waiting, so as we said our good byes, Pastor took pictures of us all. I will post a lot of them on my web site. (actually, my daughter, Robin will do it. Without her there would be no website!)

A long line of people followed me to the river and waved again and asked me to please come again soon. As we traversed the high suspension bridge, I looked back and everyone was still there waving to me. Our driver smiled when he saw me and remarked that I was really loved!

We climbed into the truck and he took us back to Pastor's home where I packed up my bags, then to Mi Mi's to get the rest of my things and say my good bye's. It is always so hard to say good bye when I have no idea when I will return. I hope to go back early 2007.

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