Ron and Peggy Roloff

Tuk Tuk

Sunday we attended a very small church service at a hotel in the morning with Chalina and then enjoyed a wonderfully delicious buffet after. We take a short nap in the afternoon until we leave about 4:00 p.m. for the International service at the Chiang Mai Community Church. Probably 300 people from all around the world, who speak English, meet in a very nice, new looking, large building where Thai believers gather in the morning.

To get to the city of Chiangmai (I’ve seen it written as one or two words on signs) Sunday afternoon the four of us trek to the main road to wait for a yellow ‘Song tag’. Instead a Tuk Tuk driver is roaring past screeching to a stop. He backs up signaling us to pile in. We resist by waving our hands but with his beautiful smile and confident gesturing and insistence, we ‘pour’ into the Tuk Tuk… what a kick. The Tuk Tuk is a metal ‘cage’ on a motor bike. If two sit in the back with a bag in a small area next to the driver it’s full. Not on this day!!! Bud is half in half out in the area next to the driver. Judy, Ron and I are squished into the back seat.. almost impossible. We giggle as the engine revs up to the highest RPM and we hang on for dear life the next 15 miles. Hopefully there is insurance (why do I think not?)

Poured in

Monday morning Ron and Bud are off to ‘the Land’ while Judy and I go into the City with Chalina for homeschoolers Co-op day. There are more than 100 families in the area who home school and each Monday they offer classes in art, by a lovely French woman, science and several other interesting courses. The parents (mostly Moms) gather in a circle during the first hour, to listen and discuss things going on in their lives and the adjustment of living in a far away land. It seems to be very helpful. Mom’s with new babies as well as those with older children and many who have adopted or are fostering Thai children.

The situation of orphans is overwhelming. Not all parents are not living but mostly unable to care for the youngest children. This is one of the reasons there is a sex trade. Big money is to be made on vice and immorality. The Thai people are beautiful and intelligent so why anyone would think they could be used like this is devastating. I can see now why even in little Doi Saket there are eleven orphanages! The goal of ‘remember Nhu’ house and others is to give the children (mostly girls) a home like atmosphere with Thai house parents. They are taken to school each day and are able to advance as far as they are capable, to higher education. The purpose is not to westernize them but prepare them to care for themselves and provide a living.
The trek into the city and back is always an adventure. We’ve taken Tuk Tuks, yellow “song tags”, red ‘song tags’ but not yet a bicycle type thing which looks to me like a rick-shaw. (photo to right is on the street in front of Judy and Bud’s house. We are headed to school co-op with Chalina. Isn’t she beautiful?)
I am eager to hear Ron’s experience out on the land (farm).

Filed under: Uncategorized on November 11th, 2009