The month of May is in the rear-view mirror, and the monsoon rains have come in time this year. Our rice beds are growing and will be replanted in the rice paddies in a few weeks. Our garden has been plowed, but with the volume of rain, vegetable planting is postponed indefinitely. Our corral for the cattle has a new roof and a cement floor. The old roof was blown off in that March storm that nearly killed a couple of children. All repairs and renovations from that storm have been completed.
The children have returned to school, to the joy and relief of exhausted housemothers. The kids follow them around, complaining that they are bored and want action. We take them to Waterworld, movies and other venue, but not every day. One of our German volunteers, David, was coaching them on playing soccer, and at the Pai Si Tong church feast this year, they won a trophy for winning their game. It has been a long time since they won anything.
During the school vacation, we bought uniforms and shoes for the kids, and when we took class photos, I was surprised at how few older children we have but the great amount of kindergarten and grade school kids in first to third grade we have. We are still getting children from various parts of Thailand, sent to us by their social services.
We are really happy with our young German volunteers. These are kids who just completed high school, and volunteered to come to Sarnelli House for aa year before beginning college. I marvel at their maturity, especially their devotion to show love and interest in the children, old and young. They are Lutheran kids from Oberhausen and Catholics from Bonn. When I was a young lad their age, my main concern was, being underage, what tavern I could talk into selling me a case of beer!
We pray for all the friends of Sarnelli, asking God to bless you all with good health and happiness.
Fr, Mike and all the staff and children
