Catching up

When you get behind in blogging it's tough to catch up.  So here are some quick bullet updates:

  • Nobody bought me the Lamborghini or gave $1.6 million.  Maybe next year.

  • The Well now has about 45 students in 4 centers.  One center alone has over 20. 

  • We've had some ups and downs with trying to prosecute the rape case mentioned in the last post. The police have been unhelpful--we ended having to investigate the case ourselves.  We believe we have enough evidence to pursue it--we've established where it occurred and that it could have happened within the period of time when the 3 guys claimed they went to fill their pickup up with fuel while our girl was in the back.

  • Prang and Michaela are bustin' out with The Well Center 4 in the Buriram province.  School teachers who used to tell kids not to go to Prang's house because of her Christianity are now friendly.  Local government officials are supportive.  She has been taking free government-sponsored business classes, and is looking into getting a spot on the local school board.

  • Mae, the 14 year-old I have chronicled about some, asked to follow Jesus just before Christmas.  Several of her family members are now at The Well, including our first "ladyboy".  More on that later.  Mae has settled into a responsible teenager and is planning to get back in school full time next term, towards her goal of becoming a doctor.  I bought her a couple of books as an encouragement--she loved it.  I still shudder to think where she might be if our visiting mission team hadn't found her . . .

  • We moved to a quieter neighborhood where our kids can play outside, and where you don't have to turn the TV or stereo up loud to hear over the motorcycles roaring by outside.  Ahh, Bangkok. 

  • We still have 3 students living with us, 13, 16 and 19.  Pear, our adorable 13 year-old, has been through a lot since her dad got out of jail just before Christmas.  Her dreams of a reunited family were quickly dashed, as she began to find out that her dad is actually a very immature, unhealthy man.  It was a bit tense for a while, as Pear only knows how to express her feelings through acting out.  One day she ran away from The Well and we spent about 3 hours hunting for her, but since then has settled down and seems to be coming to terms with things. 

  • Larry Behrens, a lawyer from Vermont, was in to visit last week.  He is looking to move here with his wife and 2 kids in July.  His wife will teach at International Community School, while Larry would like to help somehow with women's issues.  We met with a group of Christian lawyers who suggested a legal clinic, so at this point that's what we're looking at.

  • Sunday night I rode a bike at 3am out to the main street to call a taxi to send Larry to the airport.  On the way back a street dog started chasing me.  I rode faster, but of course the dog kept up and got closer.  I tried to swat at it, and indeed the dog turned and ran off.  However, at the same time I also jerked the handlebar and flipped the bike, hitting the asphalt with my chin.  A half hour later I was getting stitches.  Not pretty, but it could have been worse--no broken teeth, for one.  As an old boss of mine used to say when I spent a summer assembling grain bins, "If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough."  I should have just stopped the bike and turned on the dog.  Oh well.

  • Soon I'll write about the frustrating case of a sweet young woman, another of Mae's relatives, who is selling herself to pay of $8,000 in debt that her mother has accumulated over about 8 years.  

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Marie
Posts: 10
Comment
1.6 million
Reply #10 on : Fri January 25, 2008, 16:52:08
The reason no one gave you the Lamborghini is that they had a shadow of doubt, thinking you'd drive off into the sunset with it. (lol) It's also a case of not yet having inherited the 16 million of which the 1.6 would be a tithe. But maybe soon.
Bill
Posts: 10
Comment
Argh!
Reply #9 on : Fri January 25, 2008, 01:01:46
It gets messed up when I post. Sorry, Jim, but your Fiat is a little mangled.
Bill
Posts: 10
Comment
Take 2
Reply #8 on : Fri January 25, 2008, 01:00:56
Darn. It didn't look right. This is better. It's not a Lamborghini, but here's your Fiat, Jim

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Bill Graver
Posts: 10
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Here's what I had in mind
Reply #7 on : Fri January 25, 2008, 00:56:28
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Roy Bessell
Posts: 10
Comment
To Bill
Reply #6 on : Thu January 24, 2008, 23:23:44
At 1.6 baht, your lamborghini must be a paper cut out at whole sale price.
Bill
Posts: 10
Comment
RE: lamborghini
Reply #5 on : Thu January 24, 2008, 15:52:37
I was thinking more like 1.6 Baht
Jim Larson
Posts: 10
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To Bill
Reply #4 on : Thu January 24, 2008, 15:08:29
A Matchbox Lamborghini worth $1.6M? That would be something.
Bill
Posts: 10
Comment
lamborghini
Reply #3 on : Wed January 23, 2008, 13:08:06
I'll get you the Lamborghini, Jim.

We're talking about a Matchbox car, right???
Edwin
Posts: 10
Comment
awsome
Reply #2 on : Wed January 23, 2008, 04:09:08
i was checking in here time to time, and when i was about to give up, you showed!!!


God is pleased for your love and humility in which you guys lowered yourselves for these girls.... rare in this time and age.....

but why would anyone wanna keep Prang away from people because of our faith???

and sorry about the stitches, get well soon and say hi to everyone there!
Roy Bessell
Posts: 10
Comment
Re: Catching up
Reply #1 on : Wed January 23, 2008, 01:17:46
Thanks for catching up. I prayed that God would multiply your ministry. It looks like he has!

I know about street dogs. I got rabies shots for my second trip to Thailand.