My Thailand Trip 2004

 

Dear Friends and Family,                                                                       June, 2004

 

I want to thank each of you for your prayerful and financial support that enabled me to minister to the internally displaced people of the Karin in Thailand. The mission trip was powerful and meaningful. In both the spiritual and physical realms. I have listed in the letter below some of the events that took place that I think will also be meaningful to you.

 

The first two days were travel, after we arrived in Thailand we found a hotel and rested. Early the next morning we were ready to start. The medical supplies we took were inventoried and split among team members.

 

We split into two teams, team one headed by Lori Bryant and team two, which I was on, was lead by Danny Carson. We had breakfast together then had to wait several hours due to a timing issue at the Thai/ Burma border. Our Drivers/Guides were (Bon Tong) and (Soo Koo Tu).

 

 Our hosts were Partners, and a Karin military commander. After some discussion with the Thai Military, the decision was made by Partners personnel and the Karin Commander not to pursue a border crossing at this time. We did not press the issue, we were discouraged so we returned back to Mae Sot.

 

The following morning we left in two military vehicles that had blacked out windows and tarps to hide the luggage, there were 6 of us with medical supplies, toys, and gear and we were so excited. It was a 30-40-minute ride to the North when on an off-road trail that was so rough only a military vehicle could navigate the narrow passage. We finally arrived at the Moi River and crossed by canoe into Burma (The Karin State camp #101) our destination. The heat was boiling and the humidity was nearly impossible to bare.

 

We were met by the Karin people who assisted us with the luggage and medical supplies and they helped me (Sally) up a steep hill with hued out steps made of old wooden planks. We rested for a while and then met the commander of Camp 101. He welcomed us and made us feel comfortable, he was humble and a gentleman, and was grateful that we were there to help his people. He apologized for the accommodations and provisions, for they are a very poor people.

 

We had our first meal, lunch, which consisted of eggs, noodles, cucumber, papaya and chile powder. The food was served on metal plates and place on the floor where everyone sits around the food and takes what they want from each plate.

 

After lunch, Danny Carson, with Tom Talamontes assisting began teaching classes in CPR. During the breaks I shared with the young people about our church and played Christian CD’s. They totally know English and they liked the Grandmother figure that I represented to them.

 

That evening all gathered together, including the elders of the camp, to share testimonies and hear about the Lord. The entire camp wanted to share testimonies. They shared their stories and sang for us and we sang Amazing Grace for them. This was a powerful time as the Holy Spirit was present the entire time.

 

The following morning we had coffee and then took a twenty-minute hike to a medical facility in an area where there were goats. When we returned to the camp breakfast was waiting for us. CPR classes continued and two nurses, Ruthann and Robin took care of medical needs of the women and children in the area. The Lord supplied all the medical supplies needed. During this time I prayed for the healing needs of those being treated.

 

After dinner in the early evenings the young Karin girls escorted Ruthann, Robin, and me to the river. Here our escorts showed us how to bath in the river using sarongs.

 

The following morning (Friday) we were preparing to leave Burma and return to Thailand. Before leaving we were met by a Karin military commander who presented us with two live chickens for breakfast.

 

(This was a major sacrifice for the commander because they do not have much food, they are very poor and humble people) After breakfast we had a meeting with the commander, his troops, and the people of the community. They had us stand up in front of the room and EACH person in the community came by to shake each team member’s hand. This was a very moving time emotionally for all of us.

 

Arrangements were made for us to cross the river back into Thailand at noon, as this is the time the Burma Army troops were at lunch and we would less likely be detected. Once again the young girls helped us cross the river and up the riverbank on the other side. Final good-byes were tearfully shared once again as we headed back to Mae-Sot. In Mae-Sot we met up with the other team and after lunch headed for Chaing-Mai. We arrived at 9 PM after a very long ride and went to bed. 

 

The following morning I was able to visit with Donna who, prior to the team splitting up, shared with me, that she was feeling a lot of fear and anxiety and full of doubt about her physical condition, (knee surgery), not being able to contribute to the team.  I prayed for her to be totally healed and to be in the best condition not only for now but when we get back home. Praise GOD!  She told me that she was able to get around even better than she had at home and that she had joy and confidence and fear and anxiety were gone.  Donna was able to teach her Nursing classes with complete confidence and success. Praise GOD for doing His work in Donna!

 

The last day that some of us were leaving Thailand we all gathered to pray. This was Sunday and the nurses and majority of the team would be leaving for home. We had breakfast together then all left in a taxi together to go to the airport. Just before they left we had communion together with red soda and white bread. Now our team was reduced to myself. Alfred, and Dave for another four days.

 

Monday morning we started our day with prayer and devotion in the hotel lobby. The remainder of our time in Chiang- Mai/Partners.  We helped sort/organize in the clothing ministry area. We also had the opportunity to visit an orphanage in Chiang-Mai

for children with Aids. A young lady named Jessica, YWAMER from Missouri, welcomed us, she has been there for eight months and had three weeks to go to complete her term.  Jessica showed us around the facility and we prayed healing for the children with Aids, it was very moving.  Maybe this was the reason the Lord placed us there, at that time, to pray for the healing of his children with Aids.

 

Again, I want to thank each one of you for your prayers and support. It takes a team to send out one missionary and I have a team of friends.

 

 

 

Sincere Thanks,

Sally Stevenson