Thailand Diaries, Part II

Pawna mountain knifes the sky above Mae Sot. The sheer cliffs and volcanic-like face form a manly presence amidst the smooth hills and fertile fields.

After a gut-jarring bus ride, Ben and I arrived at the CFI Vocational School (Growth & Opportunity Foundation). We're surrounded by lush rice patties and rich mountains. Tolkien couldn't paint a more vivid picture. The colors captivate me.

On my birthday, the students gave me homemade cards, many folded origami style. Let me share what one of them wrote. Her name is "Victoria" Mercy Htoo. She's fifteen - an adorable waif with an intoxicating smile. Not one tax dollar of any kind was spent on her education, yet she speaks three languages and has beautiful script. Mercy writes: "Dear teacher Andrew, Happy birthday to you! Thank you for coming to help us. God will bless you and be with you. God calls you by name. You are his beloved child...the apple of his eye...the delight of his heart. Today you are in the exact place he has you to be and tomorrow he will be with you." She goes on to quote Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts I have towards you, says the lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Tad Sandford's blue eyes could cut steel. Six year ago, Tad visited a Karen village in Burma with a CFI delegation. He handed out little yellow t-shirts to the children and quickly earned affection as "Grandpa". Two weeks later, Tad got the call at his home in New England. The Burmese army had razed the village. Nothing remained. Photographs revealed the bullet-ridden bodies of fleeing villagers. Through the blood and ash, Tad recognized little yellow t-shirts. After forty years of ministry, Tad Sandford has found his purpose. "I love these kids," he says, "because of the bond I formed with those who died."

Roger adores his electric guitar and plays a mean Hotel California. While making movies with the students this week, he translated a Karen song for me. "The Burmese ruled our country and took our land. They kill our people...when will it ever end? We are like animals fenced in. We want to see things, but we can't see anything. If we want freedom we must reconcile with the Burmese. We will work together. We will drink from the same cup. We will be family."

The love in this school is intense. I can name each of the thirty-one students and tell you a character trait. The thought of leaving them makes me melancholy.

A new sun breaks over Pawna mountain, illuminating the valley, warming our school. A new day is about to begin.

Andrew