September was a very wet month for Thailand, and the Mekong and other rivers flooded with the unrelenting rain, and also the fact that the Chinese released water in their dams to such a volume that cities and towns along the Mekong River were badly flooded. It took weeks before flood waters went down, and the grim job of cleanup could take place before schools could open again. The housemothers were faced with the presence of children home from school, and unable to go out and play due to the huge downpours of rain. I’ve been in Thailand for 58 years, and this monsoon season has been the worst I have ever seen.
The solar panel well pumps have all been successfully installed in the fields. Although we certainly don’t need them now, they will be a big help during the dry season as we plant crops to make our own animal feed. The feed is really expensive and the price of animal/fowl feed keeps going up, as does food prices in stores. Thank God we plant our own rice, and raise our pigs, chickens and ducks. Our chickens are laying enough eggs to feed the motley crew.
When I made Miss Peh the head of the farm crew, after finding the former head man selling animal feed I bought, we have had a lot of success. We have a nice little herd of cows, most of whom are preggers, and mama pigs that are giving birth to many little piglets. Right now, we have four more mamas ready to give birth and not enough pens for the immediate future. I also learned some disturbing facts about trying to sell pigs on the market. The Chinese have moved in and sell their processed meat, etc., to supermarkets at cheaper prices than local pork. So, individual pig farmers have to belong to some pork association, and buy their animal feed, or fold up their operations.
Nurse Kate is still home in Sydney taking care of her ill mother. Her mom is a lovely person, and she and Kate are very close. Kate’s husband Brian has returned from his own trip to Ireland so will be minding the fort. Ben and Angelique from Holland and four German volunteers are also here: young people from two churches in Germany. We have a boy and a girl from the Lutheran APO Church in Oberhausen, and two girls from the Redemptorist Mission in Bonn. We have been blessed with all these young people throughout the years. They are selfless and dedicated, and great role models for the children.
And people have been writing, asking me about my health. A while back, I had a reaction from the third dose of Moderna, and came as close to death as I ever imagined. I lost my hair and was swollen and bloated. I couldn’t walk, and could hardly eat. I was blessed with the presence of Ben Ummels, an assistant therapist from Holland. Ben and his wife come for 5-6 month intervals. Ben told me that if I didn’t get up and try to walk, I may as well die. It was a long process from stumbling around the kitchen table to, at the age of 86, exercising three days a week in the gym, lifting weights and doing leg exercises. And my hair grew back, black! This, thanks to the ladies who would come and mix up some concoction and rub it into my scalp. This is the second time Ben was here to help. Six years ago, when I had my stroke, he helped me to walk again and use the right side of my body, hand, arm and leg to get back to being quite normal. That year I went home and even played golf during the visit.
God bless you all!
Fr. Mike, children and staff of Sarnelli House
