This month we are living and working in the Khlong Toei (prounounced a bit like"toy" with a long "e" at the end) District of Bangkok. This are of the city is known as the largest slum in Bangkok and it is interesting as we have had many taxi drivers refuse to take us home because they "do not go" to Khlong Toei. It is known to be a home to drug dealers and crime, but we have not felt unsafe at any time being in the neighborhood. Our first full day at Step Ahead, they took us for a tour of the slums. It was bizarre as we were on a major road with tons of food vendors that appeared normal and then we ducked down a narrow passage and it felt like we had entered another world.
People live in the shacks in the background. The green isn't grass, it Alleyways between "homes"
is slime on top of standing water on a former playground.
Khlong Toei used to be the home of the only major port in Thailand. Others have now been created, but most of the slum land is owned by shipping companies or the city. At any moment, the people be evicted. People live off the narrow alleys in small shacks and rooms. Most sit in the alleys talking with neighbors or in doorways removing the bones from chicken feet.
Yes these women are deboning chicken feet. There are a lot of footless chickens. Yes, I have tried chicken feet in Thailand. Not a favorite.
We were informed that for many of these people, they can remove the bones for approximately 40 pounds of chicken feet each day and are paid the equivalent of about $3.40. It is tedious work and we saw many students who should be in school, but on that salary the parents cannot afford the $1 per day it costs to send students to school. Instead, many of the children manned stores or assisted in the family work.
I expected Khlong Toei to feel like a place of desperation. Instead, it felt like a place of close community where everyone looks out for everyone and is struggling to try to improve life.
We eat street food for lunch and dinner and the people smile and work hard to greet us. They are friendly and warm and we feel very welcomed in the community. It is amazing the gratitude families feel for our simple service of teaching English to their students as they know they cannot afford the lessons.
I am thankful each day to be in Khlong Toei and for the chance to build into the community and to walk a few steps in the shoes of those far less fortunate than I am.
On a prayer request note: John Quinley the head of Step Ahead is having angioplasty done tomorrow. He would normally be overseeing our time, but he had a heart attack the week before we arrived and then unsuccessful angioplasty last week. The Dr.'s are hoping to be able to succeed tomorrow or it will mean bypass surgery sometime down the road. If you would pray for John and his family, that would be great.
