Clearing the Banana Grove

At the Bearing slum area, we have been running out of space for a long time. Our goal is to eventually purchase a lot in the community and build a structure for the kids ministry and - in the long term - a church. For now, though, we need some more elbow room. At one end of the two homes we meet in front of, there is a grove of banana trees planted a long time ago by the lady who lives here and serves as our 'host.' She gave us the go ahead to clear out that area and level the ground to give more space for tables and such for the kids.

So today was work day at Bearing. While the kinds ministry went on as usual, part of the team grabbed machetes and hoes and rakes and went to work.


In the background of the above photo from September, you can see the front edge of the banana grove.

Son and Mhewy hard at work,

Thanee is his stylish self, as he leads the project.

As soon as Vee and I returned from Ja Rurat, we joined in the fun.

Photographic proof that I did work. I also have the blister to prove it, as do most of the folks there today.


Derrick Adame eating a Thai ice cream sandwich. I am not kidding. In Thailand, when you order an ice cream sandwich, you get scoops of ice cream on a hot dog bun. Which, when you thing about it, makes more sense than the American kind. Oh, and this is long bean ice cream. Vanilla ice cream with pieces of raw long bean, a close relative of the green bean. Not that unusual when you realize that the most popular topping on ice cream here is (not kidding again) corn!

Derrick is a really great guy from Riverside California. He had a real desire to come to Asia and see the mission field for himself. Through some contacts in his home church, he arranged to work with some missionaries here, and he just took off by himself and came and spent a month. He went with J and I and Chris Mills when we went to Sangkhlaburi, but he stayed there when we went home. (He has a gift for language that is uncanny, and is obviously a genuine 'gift'.) Derrick got to live with Karen people near the Myanmar border, and really blessed on family in particular, by providing them with a new gas stove and providing the materials for a concrete sidewalk area around their house for the daughter in the family, who has Cerebral Palsy and is confined to a wheel chair. He's really made a difference here, and Thailand has really made a difference in him. Derrick leaves for the U.S. this week. Everyone here genuinely hopes he comes back!