We left Mae Rah Moo refugee camp and headed for Mae La Oo camp where my Karen son, Mutha and his family live.

This is a Photo of Mutha and his Family.

I was shocked to see where the Thai had relocated all the people from Seh Lah camp. They had been flooded many times in Seh Lah and the decision to move them to a safer area was made. However, this camp was worse as far as I could tell. The homes were crammed together and went from the river bed all the way up to the top of the mountain and during monsoons, they would all probably be washed away. It broke my heart to think of Mu Tha and his family there during monsoons.

When we got to his house, his wife came running out and threw her arms around me. They did not know when I was coming and were afraid I wouldn’t make it.

This photo shows Mutha's wife and their youngest child.

She sent a child to go get Mu Tha and when he saw me he ran up and pulled me into a bear hug and told me, "Ya Eh Na, Mother Betty!"
"Ya Eh Na" means "I love you". Once again, the tears were running down my cheeks. He brought his oldest son, Joshua, forward to greet me. Mutha had asked me to name this child when he was born 6 years ago. I had named him after my grandson and have enjoyed watching him grow up. Here are some pictures that I have taken of Joshua over the years.

This picture was taken of Baby Joshua in 2001.

Taken during my visit in 2002

This picture was taken on this trip. It's amazing how much he has changed and grown over the years.

We walked to their home, I gave them the bag of clothes I had bought for them and the list of children who had money coming. The lay pastor from the local SDA church came in and we asked him if he would distribute the money. Mu Tha told me that UNHCR had accepted him and his family for relocation in Canada. I could hardly believe their good luck in being accepted. It has been his dream since Joshua was born to some day come to America and now it looked like some day he just might be able to do that. He told me he didn't know when they would go, but within the next year. The U.S. has also pledged to take 9,000 people in 2006. It was a short, emotional visit, as we were on a tight schedule. We could stay only a couple hours, but it was wonderful to see them all. I was afraid I would not be allowed into the camp and was so thankful that God opened the door for me.

As we said our good byes, Mu Tha told me he would contact me as soon as he knew when they were leaving and we would always know how to contact each other. I pray that I never lose track of him and his family. His parents are both dead and he looks on me as his mother. God has blessed me so many times with Karen children that I can never thank him enough.

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