Settling In

Hello from Chiang Rai~

Today is the beginning of week number three for the two young volunteers at Promise Home. They are no longer strangers but are considered part of the family. They have been able to enjoy a lot of fun and activities with the children.

Last week, Big, the house father created a wall board with pictures of the family at Promise Home along with their names and birthdays. He told me he thought it was important to share "big" days with everyone in the home. Along with the pictures of the kids, he posted others with my nieces and the two volunteers included. They are officially members of the Promise Home family so he felt it only appropriate to include them in the pictures as well. The board also includes the five (5) rules of the family that Big feels are the most important. Here is the English translation:

#1- We eat together at the same time
#2- We will maintain a clean home duties or obligations either assigned to each
#3- We have Bible study every Saturday after work is completed
#4- We will take one and read the Bible every morning before we eat everyday
#5- We may talk politely, We will love each other, We will not quarrel

One the bottom of the page he has a note. It reads: "To honor others. Obedience to the teachings of their parents and other adults is something that every child should follow."

The board hanging on the wall inside the door

The Family Tree with birthdays 

Everyone in the family 

Family Rules

The college girls are great help with the lessons every night. They have jumped right in and have some fun, creative ways to teach the kids and this helps them remember their lessons. They joined the family for one Saturday evening of Bible study in the area where Big and his family lived before we hired them and all of his neighbors asked the girls if they wouldn't mind coming early on Saturday night to teach them more English as well. So this past Saturday, we all went and helped the kids with their body parts. We played head, shoulders, knees and toes and did the Hokey Pokey. Everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Along with the lessons, the girls play games after dinner before the kids study. They play soccer, badminton, run, chase, etc. All of the children enjoy their company and have developed a wonderful rapport with them. They also help with preparing the meals, Big is an excellent cook and he invites them in to learn how to cook all of the time. They will help setting the table, clearing it after the meal and doing the dishes. We know that all of these things are assigned duties and obligations for Palita and Nittaya so they don't try to do too much, but like me, they want to help out. Whenever Big catches me doing something he always goes, "Oh Mom, what are you doing?" I tell him I am just helping out and I am fine. He is so caring for not only the kids but me as well. On the first Sunday outing where we played soccer, I had on a different pair of shoes and they rubbed a small blister on my left index toe. When we got home, I asked him for the first aid kit so I could clean it and put a bandaid on it, he ran upstairs to get it. He brought it down and I was going to take care of my toes but instead, he took it upon himself to clean it and then he put the bandaid on my toe. How kind is that? Both he and Fon are very loving to the children and it is evident that the children love them as well.

Here are some pictures of our outing yesterday to Boon Rawd Farms in Singha Park. We didn't make it in time to take the trolley around to see the farm and go to the zebras and giraffes but Big said we would go again, but earlier next time. Enjoy!

The girls at the Singha lion

Madi and Sylvia with the family

Palita and Nittaya

Handsome men

The four kids

Madi and Sylvia with the kids 

Fon, Nam, Yim and Big

Big and the boys

Nittaya

Palita 

Ahmorntep chasing Tin 

Till next time.....

God Bless,
Heather