This month team YETI is working at the
Tree of Life Orphanage in
Buriram,
Thailand. The
orphanage was founded by Roger and Phong Walker about 10 years ago. Roger is
from
America and Phong is
from
Thailand.
The orphans they have taken into their home have become part of their family
and are treated just like their children. I just wanted to give you little
introduction to my new “family” for the next couple weeks, and share with you a
few of their stories.
Eileen
joined the
Walker
family when she was just a few weeks old. Her mother was in a relationship with
a man other than Eileen’s father. He told her that he didn’t want the child,
and made her choose him or the baby. Shortly after she was born, her mother called
the hospital and said that she was either going to drop her off at the hospital
or throw her in a dumpster. Roger and Phong received a phone call from the
hospital and Eileen arrived at the orphanage shortly thereafter. When they
picked her up she weighed only 5 lbs. She was still wrapped in a towel and had
never even been bathed. Since she arrived two days after Roger’s mother’s death
she was named Eileen after her. Her nickname is “monkey” because she loves
piggy back rides. She has a very happy sweet spirit.
Fil
and Fern twins. We just celebrated their 9th birthday last friday. Both of their parents died of AIDS and have been
with the Walkers since they were 3. They worried that the children may have
contracted HIV but thankfully they both tested negative. Roger and Phong are
currently in the process of adopting both
children.
Fil
is a 3rd grader at the local elementary school. He loves to play and
sing, and boy can this kid dance! We had a dance party the other night and he
was tearing up the dance floor! He is so stinkin funny!
Fern
is in 3rd grade as well. She loves to laugh and be silly. She’s a girly girl who loves Barbie’s and anything pink. She’s
constantly playing jokes on people, but has a soft spot for cuddling as well.
She is very loving and sweet.
Sam
is Roger and Phong’s biological son. He is very energetic and has a strong
personality. He loves sports and interacting with the volunteers. He and Eric
have hit it off quite well.
Mon
is 15 yrs old and an absolute sweetheart. She is extremely kind and caring and
is very active in sports and events in her school. Mon has a good grasp of
speaking, reading, and writing English.
Clinton
has been teaching her how to play a few worship songs on the guitar and I can’t
believe what a quick learner she is. She’s also extremely helpful with cooking,
cleaning, and caring for the younger children.
Gai
is 16 and came to Tree of Life at the beginning of the 2006 school term. Her
parents could no longer afford to look after her. They had learned of Tree of
Life through the principal of a school that
Rogers provided Bibles for. Gai has kidney
problems and needs constant observation and medical treatment. Her parents work
in
Bangkok and
keep in regular contact with her. Gai is very loving and sweet. I love getting
big hugs from her every day when she gets home from school.
Thienchai
(20) is Roger’s stepson. He is a weekend student and works in a computer shop.
He was recently married to Guy, and plans to attend University to study
Computer Engineering. He lived with Roger and Phong in Saudi Arabia from age 4,
in the United Arab Emirates, so he did not have Thai schooling, However, his English
skills are exceptional and he serves as an interpreter for all foreigners who
come to visit.
Guy
married Thienchai on the 25th of November 2005. She is a student at
Rajabhat
University studying hotel and tourism,
and is very active in the church. Both of her parents are disabled.
Tawnee
(14) loves to sing and listen to music. She enjoys writing to friends and
penpals. She is very good at speaking English and even a little French. She is
great helping out with cooking and taking care of the younger children.
Clinton has been teaching
her on the guitar as well.
Much
of our ministry this month is going to be devoted to developing systems that
will provide more structure and organization to the orphanage. We will also be
involved in a few community projects such as painting schools, and teaching
English at elementary schools.
