Laos Humanitarian Projects

TEACHING ENGLISH

A major reason for our visit to Laos was to observe first-hand some of the humanitarian projects that have been conducted by our couple missionaries. In order to obtain visas to enter Laos, our missionaries agree to teach English to Government employees on an ongoing basis. Both couples teach in the mornings on Monday and Wednesday, and then have an open enrollment class for anyone who wants to attend on Tuesday and Thursday evening. Elder and Sister Riser have been doing this for over a year in Laos. Elder Riser was an elementary math school teacher for over 35 years and Sister Riser also has a lot of teaching experience. Elder and Sister Fountaine have only been teaching here for a month, so it is more challenging for them to prepare. Each couple teach separately a beginning and an advanced class, so there are four classrooms going each Monday and Wednesday at two different locations. President Khamphee helps provide the transportation to the more distant location. One school is within walking distance of the couples apartment.

Elder Fountaine works to get class participation (about 20 students). He is very animated and gets the students involved in learning their grammar and vocabulary.

Elder Riser is using the overhead to help teach verbs and their meaning.

Sister Riser is working on personal pronouns. We think the language of these Asian countries is difficult, but we are told by experts that English is more difficult in many ways because of the many exceptions to the rules and the different tongue, lips and palate positions that English requires.

The age of the students vary. They are government workers and are apparently in their 20s and 30s. They receive certificates at the end of their training. The missionaries work under the name of Deseret International Charities in Laos, or DIC. We are working to be recognized as a church, but that has not yet been achieved.

WHEELCHAIRS AND PROSTHETIC LIMBS

One of the Church humanitarian projects that is very popular around the world is wheelchairs. We have been surprised to see how many disabled and elderly must do without wheelchairs because of their poverty conditions and lack of chairs. A majority of wheelchairs are manufactured in China for shipment to many countries. Some countries produce their own. This reduces the freight costs and customs duties. This is the case in Laos. We visited the manufacturing facility that we partner with for these items. They are known by two acronyms, AAR and COPE. They are recognized by the Goverment as NGOs and work with many of the poorer segments of the country. Laos has had a long history of war and hardships. During the Vietnam War, the United States sent thousands of air strikes on the Ho Chi Min trail that went through Laos, almost obliterating the countryside. Many of the bombs resulted in the loss of limbs for people living in the area being bombed. Even today, farmers and children find unexploded bombs in the fields and often experience tragic accidents when they explode. The factory has a museum that shows a map of the bombing and artifacts depicting the hundred of round bombs that dropped out of a large bomb after it was released from the plane.

This is the building that houses COPE and its museum and prosthetic labs. Every Tuesday, citizens may come to this building and apply for assistance with limbs. Doctors will interview and examine them, and if they qualify, fit them for an artificial limb. When they receive their limbs, they may remain at the center for a few days for training in how to use their new device.

The wheelchairs are not mass produced, but made to order in this facility. DIC provides 250 wheelchairs each year for the country.

This tricycle is powered by a lever that enables handicapped users to move more on their own. I tried it out, but didn't pull back quite right on the lever so almost crashed. I think I would need an extra week or two of training.

Each wheelchair has the DIC label on its side. Although blurry, you can see the traditional charity label. In most countries, we are registered as LDSC, or Latter-day Saints Charities.

A bench has been made out of two large bomb casings from the Vietnam era. (Dismanteled of course)

This is a graphic example of the cluster bomb. Each little ball is a bomb filled with explosives and shrapnel to inflict major damage on persons. Hundreds of them come out of a large bomb after it is released from the plane. Thousands of the large cluster bombs were dropped in the 1960s and the smaller bombs are still being found in the countryside.

COPE symbol for its prosthetic activities.

A panorama of limbs. What a wonderful service COPE provides. We fund about 250 limbs each year as part of the wheelchair projects.

Each casting is individualized for specific beneficiaries.

RURAL VILLAGE SCHOOL CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION PROJECTS

One of the great needs of the many rural villages in Laos is help providing clean water and restroom facilities for their students. Existing wells are often just open cisterns with the water very contaminated. The bathroom is the bushes surrounding the school. DIC has been going into 14 schools each year, digging a new well with a pump, building a pump house and a holding tank, and providing a modest restroom facility that provides privacy and water buckets to flush the toilet. It is still primitive by our US standards, but a great improvement to what they have had for generations. The students are taught hygiene so they can reduce the effect of disease on their lives. After each facility is finished, the school and village have a ceremony where the missionaries are invited. The missionaries "hand-over" the well and restrooms and the village residents honor their guests with entertainment, food, and recognition. We were able to attend one of these turnovers for a Village that has had two schools improved this summer; a primary and a secondary school. Although school was out for the summer, over 100 students attended the ceremony and after the speeches and recognition, each age group danced for us. We took some videos as well as the still pictures, but as yet, we haven't been able to include the videos on the blog. We will keep working on it.

President Khamphee rents this van to DIC. Three couples and Presdent Khamphee plus some branch members and government officials attended the ceremony.

Our trip took about an hour and a half from Vientiane. We went through many rice fields and across many rivers. This is one of the longer bridges we crossed.

Many villages and homes are build along the rivers. These are not the villager's huts. We did not visit these homes. This view is closer to Vientiane, but shows the size of the rivers and the buildings on stilts above the water.

We saw several water buffalo in the rice fields. They are used by the farmers to plow their fields.

The Government built schools are often very sparse, but this school is very attractive. This is the Village Primary School. The ceremony was held in the trees outside of this school.The Secondary School is about a mile away.

This is the new rest room. There are four rooms; two for girls and two for boys. It is very well built.

Throughout Asia, the "squat" toilet is still very popular, even in airports and public places.
We experienced this when we visited our daughter Kristy and Jason while they were in Mongolia teaching English for the Peace Corp. This toilet is a great upgrade to what Kristy and Jason usesd in their seatless"outhouse". Notice the faucet and bucket to "flush" the toilet after use.

This was the former water supply well. Open, and a rope and bucket to draw water that was often far from clean.

The water tank that holds the water pumped from the well and the sign recognizing DIC and the Church for its contribution.

The pump house with tank above.

The children were adorable. They sat quietly through the ceremony and then danced for us by class. Their costumes were colorful. They use their hands a lot when they dance. They learn as youngsters to bend their fingers way back and move them in a graceful pattern. When we get the video on the blog, you can see how talented they are.

We were honored by the village chief. Notice that the men have a colorful sash tied around their waist and the women are holding a box that contains a beautiful piece of material for a Laos skirt. Both Sister Fountaine and Sister Riser are wearing these skirts. Sister Smith used her fabric to order a skirt while she was there. We should be receiving it within a few weeks.

This picture shows the graceful way the young girls hold their hands as they dance. Their hands go in circles with their fingers taking many different positions. They all danced barefoot. These are the younger Primary students.

The music is a rythmic beat that leads the dancers to their graceful movements.

Here some secondary students, both young men and young women, show their steps and hand movements working together. Notice that each girl wears the special Laos skirt and the young men a colorful sash.

Several of the young girls had their long black hair pulled up into a cone and held with a colorful cord. They were very attractive.

This was one dance in which the older girls held their hands still in a clenched fist. Now the attention was diverted to their rythmic hip and feet movements. The dancing went on for about thirty minutes and we thoroughly enjoyed the time.

After the dancing, the students and their parents headed for their homes. Many walked, but many older ones had their scooters. Multiple riders was common as demonstrated by this mother as she takes her children home.

A very proud mom.

Now it was time to eat. Tables were set up for the village leaders and their guests. Lots of rice, fish with heads and tails, vegetables and some things we didn't know what they were (and we didn't ask). We enjoyed sharing the food that many women prepared for us.

Another view of the food.

Since this will be the last of three blogs about Laos, we'll conclude these blogs with this beautiful air shot as we left this picturesque land and headed back to the very different city of Hong Kong.

JenaVee's 77th Birthday Thailand Adventure

Our last visit to one of our countries this year came on JenaVee's birthday. Our trip started in Bangkok, Thailand and then went to Laos. We had visited Thailand in March as our first trip. In order to fly to Laos, we had to go through Thailand. We decided to spend a couple of days with our missionary couple, Ray and Judy Caldwell, reviewing the new database humanitarian program we are now on and then take a day of R&R on July 23 to celebrate her birthday. We spent the first two nights at the same hotel we stayed in during our first visit, the Amari Watergate. We did some training with the Caldwells on the 22nd and then had a Mexican dinner at the same restaurant we ate at in March. Some of the best Mexican food in Asia. The owner is a member of the Church from America. The picture below was taken at the restaurant. The owner is on the left.

The hotel features Thai musicians each night. The music that comes from these instruments is very distinct and lovely.

On the morning of the 23rd, we were picked up at 6:00 a.m. in this large rented van by the Caldwells and the Public Affairs couple, the Hardys, who arrived just a few weeks ago. Our day-long trip was going to take us south and east of Bangkok, through the countryside, and to the famous floating market, the summer palace of the royalty, a visit to the ancient ruins of Ayuthaya, and the promised elephant ride for Jena Vee's 77th birthday. The weather was pleasant. It was much hotter in March. We also had no rain. A driver came with the van, so we really had a day of comfort. The cost for the van and driver for the day was only $130 including gas. Pretty good arrangement.

After a two hour drive, we arrived at the floating market. This is a famous Thai tourist attraction. The canal (river) is lined with shops on stilts, and the tourists rent small canoe like boats powered either by a paddle by the gondalier or by a motor for those who want to see more of the market. Most of the boats were tourists, but some were occupied by vendors selling their ware, mostly fruits and vegetables. We were early, but by the time we finished our visit, the water was crowded with boats. Each shop had its wares displayed so that the boat could come to the side of the shop to buy the goods. A very persistent salesperson, usually a Thai woman, was there to convince you that their goods were the best. I think the driver of our motor boat stopped at stalls of his friends or family most of the time. If we saw something we were interested in, the saleslady would use her ten key hand computer to put in a price. The game plan is to say no and ask for a lower price. The computer is then given to you for you to suggest a price. So, we put in a very low price relative to the original higher quote. Then the bargaining goes back and forth until we either bought the item or told the boatman to go on, often with the sales person still trying to make a sale.

The Hardys replaced the Facers who we met in March. They were a delightful couple. This was their first visit to these sights as well.

The shop wares included beautiful scarves, shirts, wooden objects, postcards, food etc. We bought two puppets; a wooden elephant and a Thai dancer. The puppets were held together by strings, but were not really made to be used in a professional way. We also bought some post cards, a floating market T shirt, delicious pineapple and mango slices, and smaller trinkets. We were really enjoying the sights more than being in a buying mode.

The fruit in front is star fruit. When you slice the fruit, each slice is a 5 pointed star. The taste is distinctive with a tangy sour flavor. Behind the star fruit is sliced red dragon fruit with the same distinctive black seeds. The red is sweeter than the white which is more common in Hong Kong. The round fruit is longan. It peels to reveal a white fruit with a hard stone. It is juicy, but not as juicy as its cousin, the leetche nut. (See earlier blogs for more pictures of Thai fruit). Much of the Hong Kong fruit comes from Thailand.

The bargaining begins. Notice the determined look on this woman's face. She wants to sell you a hat. Elder Hardy bargained and got one for a good price.

We bought some papaya and leetche nuts from this vendor. She was not in the river, but in one of the many stalls further on shore. JenaVee bought a beautiful blue reversible embroderied kimono from one of these stalls.

Beautiful pillow tops. We did not succumb to a purchase.

This was our boatsman. We had an hour ride for about $5 per person. He even left the market to rev the motor and drive through the residential canal area at a motor boat speed.

Many of the tour busses are brightly painted. This one was especially beautiful.

For lunch we used Elder Hardy's GPS to find an A&W Root Beer Restaurant.
There are just a few of them in Thailand. We really enjoyed a good American drink.

Happy Birthday gals, Sister Smith and Sister Hardy.

We had a sandwich with our root beer. JenaVee had a waffle chicken sandwich. You can see it on her plate. She said it was very good. Elder Hardy is taking the picture.

SUMMER PALACE. The King of Thailand has several homes and palaces. The one we visited has many acres of beautiful grounds and several residences for royal family members. You can walk the grounds or rent golf carts. We opted for the carts.

The palace is ornate. We weren't able to go into the main part, but did look through windows on the corridors around the large rooms. We saw many large carvings and artificacts that the royal family had on display.

An interesting feature on the grounds are the bushes that are trimmed to look like animals. They apparantly plant the bushes in the middle of the lawns and then trim them. Doesn't the elephant look real?

Here is a whole herd of elephants. This takes lots of planning.

Even a herd of reindeer

This panorama mural was on the palace inner grounds. The tower we visited is in the background.

We didn't learn the significance of the tower, but the three Elders did climb up a far as we could. It gave us a great view of the grounds. The Sisters stayed below and took pictures.

The women look pretty small from our lofty perch.

THE ELEPHANTS. We finally came to the elephant part of JenaVee's birthday. What a present. Never could we have guessed that we would be riding an elephant in Thailand when we were 77 years old! They had about twenty elephants at this ancient capital city of Ayutthaya. We rented an elephant and driver for thirty minutes. The Hardys also took a ride and the Caldwells took pictures. They had been here with family a couple of times. We mounted the elephant by going up a ladder to a platform. The elephant was brought next to the platform and we gingerly stepped onto the elephants back and lurched into the firmly attached "love seat". We then walked near the ruins as we swayed from side to side. A good view from up there. We took lots of pictures. Below are some of the better ones.

A friendly greeting.

The Hardy's are behind us. Click on this to enlarge the picture to see our happy faces.

We're having a blast!!!!


THE ANCIENT RUINS. These ruins of Ancient Thailand palaces date back to the 1300's. The capital was ransacked and burned by raiding tribes from the North. The Government has been restoring the site as part of its heritage preservation.

The Buddha head in a banyan Tree. See description below.

A fitting climax to the day. Back at the hotel, we had a visitor about 9:00 p.m. from the hotel staff. He had a cake complete with candles and a Happy Birthday song. I asked him how he knew it was my wife's birthday, and he said from the passport they had copied. I really think one of the couples arranged it, but no one admitted to it.

She gets her wish. I wonder what she wants for her 78th birthday???