The Road to Manistry
After a bit of briefing from our contact and his wife, we
headed off for the land we would be calling home for the next week or so, while
we worked to prepare the land for the construction of a children’s home. On our way out we saw a sign for “White-Water
Rafting.” After a quick conversation
with our contact, the 16 of us guys made a quick U-turn.
headed off for the land we would be calling home for the next week or so, while
we worked to prepare the land for the construction of a children’s home. On our way out we saw a sign for “White-Water
Rafting.” After a quick conversation
with our contact, the 16 of us guys made a quick U-turn.
Matthew, the Prehistoric Man… out front of the “Rapids Launch”
A Mandatory Detour or “Rapids?”
After bargaining for a decent price, it was decided that
some Rapids might be a necessary beginning to our next week or so of living out
of tents, bathing in the river, working hard, and playing hard. Because our bags with our swimsuits and
towels in them were strapped to the top of the truck, we decided to just wear
what we had on! We proceeded to put on
the life vest we were given, and told we would also need to wear helmets much
to our chagrin. After an over testosterone-ified ride up the river, we loaded
our two rafts and took off down the “rushing river.”
some Rapids might be a necessary beginning to our next week or so of living out
of tents, bathing in the river, working hard, and playing hard. Because our bags with our swimsuits and
towels in them were strapped to the top of the truck, we decided to just wear
what we had on! We proceeded to put on
the life vest we were given, and told we would also need to wear helmets much
to our chagrin. After an over testosterone-ified ride up the river, we loaded
our two rafts and took off down the “rushing river.”
“Hold On” or Bored to Chaos.
The beginning of our “Rapids Adventure” was a little…
unadventurous. Although the “rapids” (as
they call them) were not enough to keep us entertained, our boredom led to an
all out battle royale between the two boats. Water began to fly, and people began to fly… from boat to boat taking
out anyone they could grab… until, the guides got scared and told us to hold on
because the next part would be dangerous… they finally jumped ship, and the
chaos continued.
Shovel in Hand, Camping in Thailand.
Arriving just after dark at the land we would be clearing,
we raced to pitch our tents and set up by candle light and headlamp. As tent
city erected itself, the pastor and his wife came with food. Each of our meals everyday were prepared by
the pastor and his wife and were definitely a new experience, but it was nice to try authentic Thai and Karen dishes. After a good
nights sleep, each day we would wake up for some morning worship before we
ate breakfast and began our day.
we raced to pitch our tents and set up by candle light and headlamp. As tent
city erected itself, the pastor and his wife came with food. Each of our meals everyday were prepared by
the pastor and his wife and were definitely a new experience, but it was nice to try authentic Thai and Karen dishes. After a good
nights sleep, each day we would wake up for some morning worship before we
ate breakfast and began our day.
At the dinner table…
Snakes, Spiders, Deep Holes, and Falling Trees…
Because the land we were clearing was to be used for a
children’s home, it needed to be safe and free of debris. The disposal of debris meant fire. Sixteen
men, the absence of women and any general idea of caution, with the addition of
fire, meant a great time for all. From
the moment we arrived, to the day that we left, at least one fire would stay
burning.
children’s home, it needed to be safe and free of debris. The disposal of debris meant fire. Sixteen
men, the absence of women and any general idea of caution, with the addition of
fire, meant a great time for all. From
the moment we arrived, to the day that we left, at least one fire would stay
burning.
16 guys and a fire in the middle of nowhere… What can you expect?
Having those deep, life changing conversations around the fire.
At one point we were gathering all of the coconuts that had
fallen all over the land, to replant the living ones, and burn the rotting
ones. We formed an assembly line of
sorts and began tossing the coconuts. As one was thrown to me, something began
to come out of it, and would eventually slither down my arm. First snake citing. Stifling any notion of
fear, the pursuit began… Snake one, DJ
zero.
fallen all over the land, to replant the living ones, and burn the rotting
ones. We formed an assembly line of
sorts and began tossing the coconuts. As one was thrown to me, something began
to come out of it, and would eventually slither down my arm. First snake citing. Stifling any notion of
fear, the pursuit began… Snake one, DJ
zero.
Coconuts Waiting to be Replanted.
Because there were many trees on the land, many would have
to be removed to make room for the main structure as well as any tree that
might be dead and ready to fall. Now you
have way too much testosterone, a mixture of machete and saw, 50 ft trees, and
the pride of bringing one down… more good times! It was quite a battle, but we brought many, many trees to the ground.
to be removed to make room for the main structure as well as any tree that
might be dead and ready to fall. Now you
have way too much testosterone, a mixture of machete and saw, 50 ft trees, and
the pride of bringing one down… more good times! It was quite a battle, but we brought many, many trees to the ground.
A View I’m Going to Miss…
We were able to help construct the first structure on the
land, which houses both a men’s and women’s toilet. The village lacks healthy and sanitary sewage
systems so we were able to build flushable toilets (bucket flushers) that will likely
be used by many of the people in the village. Since beginning the race, I have
gotten pretty skilled at digging holes and cement work: skills that I was able
to use for the toilets. We began by digging two 6ft deep holes that would hold the concrete tanks that we then pieced together. Next, we leveled the land for the foundation of the “toilet-house” and built a 2 ft concrete base around it to elevate the structure in case of flooding. We then handed it off to another group of guys who built the wooden hut, and ran the piping from the toilets to our tanks.
land, which houses both a men’s and women’s toilet. The village lacks healthy and sanitary sewage
systems so we were able to build flushable toilets (bucket flushers) that will likely
be used by many of the people in the village. Since beginning the race, I have
gotten pretty skilled at digging holes and cement work: skills that I was able
to use for the toilets. We began by digging two 6ft deep holes that would hold the concrete tanks that we then pieced together. Next, we leveled the land for the foundation of the “toilet-house” and built a 2 ft concrete base around it to elevate the structure in case of flooding. We then handed it off to another group of guys who built the wooden hut, and ran the piping from the toilets to our tanks.
“Please Tell Me, Where is the toilet?”
as they say in Cambodia, “Som Meh Teh Prob-Keyom, Tah Bon Koun No Eh Nah?”
Pooped, and sitting on the “Poop Tank…”
Clearing the Pond
One of the things the Pastor and our contact want to do with
the land, is to use it to teach sustainable and profitable agricultural
techniques. The land had an old dried up
fish pond on it, that was overgrown with bush and shrubbery that we were able
to clear away after a few days, and begin to refill with water that will
eventually house up to 3,000 fish intended for sale. The goal is complete sustainability so that
outside support will not be needed to run the children’s home, and that any
additional money might be put towards expansion and additional ministry opportunities.
the land, is to use it to teach sustainable and profitable agricultural
techniques. The land had an old dried up
fish pond on it, that was overgrown with bush and shrubbery that we were able
to clear away after a few days, and begin to refill with water that will
eventually house up to 3,000 fish intended for sale. The goal is complete sustainability so that
outside support will not be needed to run the children’s home, and that any
additional money might be put towards expansion and additional ministry opportunities.
The Soon-to-be Fish Pond… When we arrived, it was completely grown over with plants.
Village Visits.
While in Northern Thailand, we also had the opportunity to
visit some of the northern hill tribes and small villages of Karen people. At one of the churches we helped to throw a
Christmas party and give gifts to the families that are rather poor. We also were allowed the opportunity to
speak, do dramas, play with the children, and lead worship in some of the
churches to encourage the Christians there.
visit some of the northern hill tribes and small villages of Karen people. At one of the churches we helped to throw a
Christmas party and give gifts to the families that are rather poor. We also were allowed the opportunity to
speak, do dramas, play with the children, and lead worship in some of the
churches to encourage the Christians there.
River Football
After a… er… long day of work, we were able to run across a cornfield
and jump in the river, where bathing quickly became river football. And how refreshing it was! After, spending a
month with 15 other guys, believe me, you are ready to tackle anyone you can.
and jump in the river, where bathing quickly became river football. And how refreshing it was! After, spending a
month with 15 other guys, believe me, you are ready to tackle anyone you can.
The Bath Tub and Football Field…
I learned that if I swam with the current I could feel like Michael Phelps.
Stay tuned for “Manistry Month- Second Half.”
Tent City… In this picture only a few of the 16 tents are visible.
