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Jennifer picked us up at 7 a.m. at our hotel in Mae Sot and we had an easy drive to Mae La camp. Evergreen had spread the word that we would be across the street from the camp entrance in the garden by 8 am and urged the children and parents to meet us there. Our reunions are always wonderful! It is so good to see my old friends and see how the children have grown. There are always many new families coming to be registered and get their pictures taken. Lucky came to see us right away and helped to get the parents and children organized.
Evergreen and Marvel sat on the ground in front of a low table and I gave them the children's cards by section number. Lucky kept those waiting organized and Rick started photographing the sponsored children. The photo on the right was taken when I took a group of new children slightly away from the others so we could keep the groups more organized.
Lucky's oldest daughter, Suzie, is pictured on the left with little Angeline. Suzie helped me with registration so all I had to do was take the pictures of the kids once they had a completed registration card. We had a great time laughing and talking with everyone.
Many of the families I have known for years came to see us and show us how their children have grown strong and healthy with the extra money from their sponsors. The parents of a young man I had known since he was a teenager came to see me and have their picture taken so I could send it to him. He had been re-settled to Oklahoma with his wife and 3 children. Along with the new children we registered that day, there were 50 pre-registered new children so all I had to do was get their pictures.
I had sent 50 blank cards to each camp so the children's information could be recorded before we got there. This worked really well and is something that I will do again next year. Everything went so smoothly that we finished in less than 4 hours. We were amazed at how fast it went.
Being outside under the trees was much more comfortable for us than having everyone crowding around us in the small wood and bamboo house we used to meet in. I do miss being able to go into the camp, but Lucky assured me he would make sure we got a camp pass next year. We can see more people if we are in the camp. Some of the people do not know to come across to the garden to meet us.
After telling everyone goodbye, Jennifer drove us back to Mae Sot where we met Rudy and Mark for a late lunch. We then headed back to Lampang, with one camp done and one to go!