After breakfast with the Walkers (is it really 3 years since
we were white knuckling?), all we knew for sure was that we should stay in the
hotel because a surprise was coming, so after breakfast we planned to be in the
foyer, in the room or by the pool. Then the
phone call came and it was Natashja – come down she said, I have a surprise for
you. And what an unforgettable surprise – June and Jame had made their way from
Mukdahan to Bangkok on the overnight bus, that’s 9 hours travelling to see
us. Because we will be missing family
camp, they made this special journey and at 9 p.m. will be getting back on the
bus for Mukdahan again arriving home at 6 a.m. What absolute troopers! We had an emotional reunion,
lunch, pool, Sky train and Terminal 21 shopping and rehydration stop before it
was time for them to return home. They are now no longer children as such, but
lovely young adults, one already at university and the other in the last year
at school. We are moving into new Siam Care territory now, child sponsorship reaching
into higher education, something I feel even more delighted about, as the
result of the project impacts on whole villages and changes the life trajectory
and expectations of the young people we have known since their infancy. The change is tangible now, not a vision, a
reality.
Today’s profound feelings reminded me of those experienced 11
years ago on the day I met June and Jame in their primary schools, when they
were allowed out of school to join the Siam Care team at the Ploy Palace in
Mukdahan. I reminded them of how they both disappeared
into the bathroom for ages and when I looked for them they had been spraying
the room with the bum-hose, and it was flooded.
Lots of water under the bathroom door since then.
It was a very happy meeting too with Siam Care’s Natashja
and her boys, I am full of admiration for her and her husband as they quickly
assume the awesome leading role developed by Adrienne over many years. Time came round very quickly for our goodbyes
again, and this time we walked back to
the hotel and enjoyed another delicious Thai supper.
More sponsors, delegates and speakers have arrived today, so we are looking forward to
more reunions in the morning. Bye for
now. x
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