On February 2, I will have been in Thailand for 59 years. Time has sure scooted by fast. I was a young, vigorous fellow then, and now I am an old man, leaning on a cane, watching the world go by.
On January 18, the village church of Don Wai had their annual celebration. This is a custom throughout the Kingdom of Thailand. So, the bishop, priests of neighboring parishes, nuns and lay people usually gather for a Mass, a noon lunch for everybody, followed by sports for the youth, such as soccer and volleyball. Since this is the 25th anniversary of Sarnelli House, we piggybacked the church celebration with ours on the same day, to help with church expenses, like the noon meal for everyone who attended, and flowers, etc. The day started out with the blessing of our latest house, which we built to house and give special treatment to the 5 disabled, abandoned babies we treat and care for. Then, the bishop and priests processed to the village church for Mass. This was a cold morning, and the church was packed with other people having to sit on benches and chairs outside. The sun had burned the cold fog off, so people outside were grateful for the warmth of the sun.
After Mass, people were fed in various big tents set up outside. A lady had ordered an 8 course Chinese dinner for the bishop, 15 priests, and 20+ nuns. After the Mass, I took off my warm jacket, to find that I had bled all over my right sleeve, and my jeans had blood on them as well (I had picked up a bad cut on my forearm when the door of a truck was slammed on it while I was taking my habit and rosary out of the cab). I decided to go to my house and find a big bandage for my arm, since I didn’t think the bishop and the priests and nuns would be thrilled to see me show up to bleed over everything. I hurried home and found a bandage, and cleaned the blood off myself and put on a clean shirt and a pair of clean jeans. Then popped open a can of beer since I was thirsty and knew there would be only water at the meal. I managed to rip open a forefinger on the tab of the beer can, and it looked like I hit a main artery. I got that bleeding stopped, but realized people would be half way through their meal, so I stayed home and drank the beer, and had some Wisconsin Colby cheese with the suds.
The children are all doing well, except for one baby, a beautiful 4 month old baby girl. Her mother was a drug addict at 16, and the baby was born nearly two months early. She has severe lung and heart problems, and I guess no one thinks she will last the year. The doctors at the Nongkhai hospital are doing their best and manage to revive the baby, but it doesn’t look good. Any prayers for little Miss Pim would be appreciated.
Here’s hoping and praying that God gives everyone good health and happiness in the Chinese New Year of the Snake!
Fr. Mike, children, staff and volunteers of Sarnelli House
