Jill sent this email that seemed like something we should share:
"In case you hadn't seen it at Zuni Hills, on the back wall behind the camera stand, there is a quote by Aung San Suu Kyi that says: 'We will surely get to our destination if we join hands.' How appropriate since Aung San Suu Kyi is from Burma and we are assisting Burmese refugees. It just made me feel that we are on the right path."
Arriving from the Refugee Camp in Thailand
The Mying Mying family
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Update from Jill - April 12
On April 5, I went over to see the family and we had fun with them telling me how to say some things in Karen and me telling them how to say the English word for items in their apartment. I also took them some clothes and it was good to see I got the size right on a lot of them. We made plans for me to go back on April 10 so one of them could get shoes and I now know the Karen word for shoe: "kaw pee".
On April 7, Ron and Judy and the case worker Win met with the family and made plans for them to deliver some bicycles sometime in the next week. We had been hoping to find a television for the family, so I sent an email this week to some people in the church and awaited a reply.
On April 10, I went back and brought along a book of the alphabet. It turns out the children had learned the alphabet in the camp and they had good pronunciation of some of the basic words by sounding them out. So that was good for them. Using my grasp of the Karen word for "shoe" and the help of the little 10-year old neighbor friend, the oldest daughter (Mu Doh Paw) and I finally got on our way to find some shoes, and she found what she wanted pretty quickly. Later that day I got great email news that someone had a television for the family. She would bring it to church on Sunday.
April 11, we received the tv. The challenge was how to get the tv from the car to the upstairs apartment. My husband has a bad back and so does Ron. I called HaRon (who has been mentioned in earlier blog entries) and asked if he and a friend could help me. In the end, he said he could do it alone so we got to the apartment at the same time as Judy & Ron. They had an antennae for the tv and I had purchased a converter box. HaRon carried the tv on his shoulder up the stairs and then had the added benefit of finding out that even though he doesn't speak Karen, Mying Mying did understand Burmese but didn't speak it! So he was able to explain things a little more quickly than we would have otherwise, and also interacted with a neighbor who speaks Karen and Burmese. He was also able to give encouragement about learning English since he came in January 2008 and couldn't speak English and now can act as translator! (He has done super at learning English and taking classes and practicing.)
What joy there was at receiving the tv. The neighbor children came in and the family hugged Ron, Judy and me. Ron and Judy also brought 3 bikes. It was fun to have us all there at one time. I am happy we have a group helping. Giving felt really good.
I am including a picture of everyone in front of the tv.
On April 7, Ron and Judy and the case worker Win met with the family and made plans for them to deliver some bicycles sometime in the next week. We had been hoping to find a television for the family, so I sent an email this week to some people in the church and awaited a reply.
On April 10, I went back and brought along a book of the alphabet. It turns out the children had learned the alphabet in the camp and they had good pronunciation of some of the basic words by sounding them out. So that was good for them. Using my grasp of the Karen word for "shoe" and the help of the little 10-year old neighbor friend, the oldest daughter (Mu Doh Paw) and I finally got on our way to find some shoes, and she found what she wanted pretty quickly. Later that day I got great email news that someone had a television for the family. She would bring it to church on Sunday.
April 11, we received the tv. The challenge was how to get the tv from the car to the upstairs apartment. My husband has a bad back and so does Ron. I called HaRon (who has been mentioned in earlier blog entries) and asked if he and a friend could help me. In the end, he said he could do it alone so we got to the apartment at the same time as Judy & Ron. They had an antennae for the tv and I had purchased a converter box. HaRon carried the tv on his shoulder up the stairs and then had the added benefit of finding out that even though he doesn't speak Karen, Mying Mying did understand Burmese but didn't speak it! So he was able to explain things a little more quickly than we would have otherwise, and also interacted with a neighbor who speaks Karen and Burmese. He was also able to give encouragement about learning English since he came in January 2008 and couldn't speak English and now can act as translator! (He has done super at learning English and taking classes and practicing.)
What joy there was at receiving the tv. The neighbor children came in and the family hugged Ron, Judy and me. Ron and Judy also brought 3 bikes. It was fun to have us all there at one time. I am happy we have a group helping. Giving felt really good.
I am including a picture of everyone in front of the tv.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Jill met the Mying Mying Family
I finally met the Mying Mying family today. I was glad Judy had supplied the picture so I recognized the mother right away when she answered the door. The family does not speak English or even Burmese, but just Karen. Thankfully, there are some neighbors who can translate.
It's a little challenging when you don't know any of the language, but we already shared some smiles and laughs because of my gesturing to explain things and demonstrating the vacuum cleaner I had brought. They would like a television and some bicycles for the kids. They have learned the word for bicycle already. (Michelle's note: our experience has been that televisions are wonderful ways for them to start learning English).
I am happy that the apartments are within easy walking distance of the Fry's supermarket. None of the other families have easily been able to walk to the store.
They seem like a very nice family and I look forward to getting to know them a little more.
It's a little challenging when you don't know any of the language, but we already shared some smiles and laughs because of my gesturing to explain things and demonstrating the vacuum cleaner I had brought. They would like a television and some bicycles for the kids. They have learned the word for bicycle already. (Michelle's note: our experience has been that televisions are wonderful ways for them to start learning English).
I am happy that the apartments are within easy walking distance of the Fry's supermarket. None of the other families have easily been able to walk to the store.
They seem like a very nice family and I look forward to getting to know them a little more.
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