Trekking the Wild - Finding the Treasure

Hello again friends! My sincere apologies for not keeping in better touch with you over the past few weeks. I have found the realities of writing and research to be much different then I had imagined they would be. I have been exposed to the heart of a matter that I've found incredibly inspiring, depressing, beautiful, and heartbreaking ..all at the same time. "How can that be possible?",you ask. Well, that's a very good question. One that I keep asking, myself. Let me try to show you.

Saturday, June 7th, "Tete" Zothansiami (She goes by "Siami"), traveling along with one of her older students, picked me up at the Sanborn's home in Chiang Mai. It was 3:30 pm. We drove around down town, buying supplies and running errands for a few hours. She then took us out to "The Rainbow House" - a home that HRDC (Hill tribes Resource and Development Center, the Ministry she founded) has in Chiang Mai. It is at this house, that some of the older high school age students live while they are attending school in Chiang Mai. While I was at the Rainbow House, I got to meet Missy - Siami's eldest child - who is in the 10th grade.

We waited for the rain to stop before starting our drive to Musekee. Siami told me that it was about a 5 hour trip, depending on how fast you drive. I was thankful that we were taking their big truck (filled with supplies) so we couldn't go too fast around the corners. (I'll Save the Dramamine for later)
We stopped in Pai (Pronounced = Pie) for supper and then continued on our way, arriving at the Center around 1:00 am. I couldn't see anything until I got to what would be my home for the next few weeks. A one room dorm on the second story of the Medical House. Here, I was greeted by American electrical outlets, dependable electricity, and a beautiful pink mosquito net! I even got to call home (with good reception) and talk to my mom for a bit before crawling into bed. It was amazing to be back after a year's absence, and I was anxious to get started on the story.

The next morning at 5:00 am, I was woken up by a song - better then any I've ever heard on a radio alarm clock. Tannin, Ah Tee, and a group of girls were strumming away and singing at the top of their lungs outside my place. The roosters joined in as they made their rounds, and soon I could hear the cow bells ringing as they barreled out to pasture. Rain pelted down in sporadic sheets on every side...making the morning as fresh and sweet as it's sound. I went to church twice that day, as is the custom in Musekee. The Center's service starts at 9:00 am with worship and prayers, a little devotion, and then more singing. (I think these kids sing more then they breathe.) We joined the community (village) service across the street in the big church too. The evening always ends around here with devotions in the Chapel, and then homework (usually English lessons) in the cafeteria. So they've got worship, like two solid bookends at the beginning and end of each day.

Siami gave me a pretty hefty load of literature to catch me up on the history of her people (the Mizo from Mizoram, in NE India), some papers on Karen culture and customs, local history and information about the area, and essays that have been written over the years about HRDC. So I've had my work cut out for me this week, and I'm not even close to half way through the reading. But I'm hoping that she'll let me take some of it with me...on loan. I don't want to miss any of this research, but I don't see how I can get through all of it in my time here. Don Fox, (one of the founders of the Hand Clasp Organization that has worked with HRDC for many years) said that I could have a look at the letters Tete has sent to him and his wife over the past 25 years. They're back in the states right now, but I can get them later. That will add more texture to the story...so I'm glad he's saved them.

I've done some conversational interviewing, taken lots of pictures and trekked around to various key locations in the area. We went to Wee Nam Som, and Wee Pa - branch ministries of HRDC - several hours drive from the Center. We brought half a dozen large bags of rice, a truck load of cement blocks (for the building of a new toilet facility), medicine, and cookies for the kids. While we were there, some of the staff took pictures of the kids who are still waiting for sponsors. (You can sponsor one child through Hand Clasp, for $20 per month. For more information you can email at: yada.root@gmail.com) Siami is also working to gain "Foundation Status" as a ministry (which she is more then worthy of); this would allow tax deductible donations and child sponsorships to be made directly to her at HRDC.

I've gotten to go along some different medical runs, and have learned a lot, while getting to see another way that Siami has impacted this area. People call all the time with different needs...and she is always willing to help. This is definitely a "church" without walls - a band of disciples both young and old who are actively practicing what it means to "love their neighbor as themselves."

As the days go on, this panoramic is becoming more colorful. I'm learning the meanings of so many things. Like the importance of the letter Z, for example. Yesterday, I found that people in Mizoram who's name begins with Z, are of the utmost importance. They come from a very significant family origin, and are very respected. Siami's full name is, Zothansiami Ralte, meaning, "Make the Mizo Famous". (or, One who will make...) I thought that was interesting.

Everyday the story develops a little more. Inch by inch. Although many times I feel like I really am in a "black room" and would like to shine a little more light on the subject. Other times I find things that I wish I didn't know. The truth can be painful, the world can be cruel, and people (even the good ones) can let you down. I keep reminding myself that I'm not here to write fiction, so it's good that I'm not looking at the situation (historically, politically, strategically, and otherwise) through rose colored lenses. Ajan (teacher) Tete hasn't become who she is over night. And just the same, I can't expect to grasp the essence of who she is and all she's done..so early in the game. Still... the more I get to know her, the more I want to know her. And that says a lot, right there.

For the past week I've been back in Chiang Mai. Siami has been working on a tourism project that will bring financial help to the hill tribes, while helping to preserve the culture. So we've been checking out other tourist places in town, seeing how they run their business, and planning ways to make her future endeavors run effectively.

Tomorrow (Monday, June 23rd) , I will be driving back out to Musekee with Siami. There are many things planned for the week. And I'm hoping, personally, to have more time to talk with her and hear the rest of her story. I still have a lot of questions.

The 28th, I will be coming back down to Chiang Mai for a quick overnight, before taking a bus to Mae Sot. I will be there for about a week meeting with some really brave men and women who've founded ministries that reach out to the Karen refugees in Burma and Thailand. If you'd like to look into who they are and what they do, here are some of their websites:
www.partnersworld.org
www.freeburmarangers.org
www.prayforburma.org
www.compasio.org

I hope to be able to meet with all (or as many) of these organizations as possible, to gain a better understanding of:
1.) Who the Karen are
2.) How they've gotten to where they are today
3.) What obstacles (governmental, political etc.) are holding them captive
4.) What these organizations are doing to counter-act the problems
5.) How we can help them to help the Karen people
6.) ETC.....


Please keep me in mind and in your prayers over the next few weeks. My journey is far from over. I will do my best to keep you posted more frequently.


Joanna

pictures in order:
-Siami and Soradaat - her husband
-A child from the Wee Nom Som Center
-a jungle over look
-A Karen woman who invited us into her home for tea
-Tete's Uncle Peter