All in a days work

This past week I got a chance to travel for work to a city located about 2 hours from Bangkok. We had several refugees we planned to meet there to interview and begin gathering their information. Normally I don't go on these trips as we have plenty of very capable staff who are far better than me at interviewing and completing the necessary paperwork but I volunteered to go as an effort to improve these skills that I don't get to use very often stuck behind the desk reading over files, compiling and sending reports, and ensuring the work in the field is progressing.

The original plan was for me and one coworker to go with 2 interpreters. We had 4 families to interview, one family of 7, one of 2 and 2 single individuals. My coworker volunteered to take the family of 7 since they typically take longer (bless him). I was to take the family of 2 and one of the singles. Two days before our trip it became apparent that we would need to take a side trip to a nearby location to take fingerprints of 2 individuals who had already had their interview. It was already going to take us all day just to conduct the interviews we had originally planned and I didn't know how we would also have time to make this side trip so I recruited another coworker to come with us who had fingerprinting expertise. I figured we could send her to the second location while 2 of us were conducting interviews. Then she could return to our location to do the fingerprinting and take photos of those we were interviewing there. With her help we were sure to be done by 4.

The day before our trip another file landed on my desk of a family in the same area. We made contact with the family and they were told to meet us at our interviewing location. We now had 5 families to interview! It was going to make for a long day. And, as if that weren't enough, when we arrived we found that one of the "singles" was actually married and had 2 children! Our long day just got longer! I had a feeling that not only would I not have time to wander the city to see the monkeys that run wild in the streets and along the roof tops, I was also not going to be back in Bangkok for the plans I had made. I was right.

I sat down with the first family. The questions began. I gathered all the biographical information, dates and places of birth for each person, family tree information, work history, education, etc. Then came the hard part, gathering the information about why they left their country of origin and why they are unable to return. It often feels like cruel and unusual punishment to ask individuals to relive their horrific experiences. But we must capture these stories if they are to be considered for resettlement to the US. Hearing the stories of various individuals has been difficult for me at times. I've spoken to a woman who was gang raped several times, a man who was forced to porter for a military he did not support. I've read of a girl whose father was killed as he saved his 16 year old daughter from being raped by soldiers, and the stories continue. This particular day I heard stories of people who fled into the jungle to hide from the military. The military sprayed chemicals into the jungle which caused their bellies to swell and killed many. Another lost her parents as they were too old to flee and fell into the hands of the military. She was informed by cousins and neighbors that her parents had been killed. You can see why this part of the interview is so difficult.

Well, we finished up our interviews by 6 pm and I got home about 9 pm. Now, lest you be left reading this entry with heavy heart let me lift you spirits with the outcome of one family.

The church I attend is also attended by many families who are fleeing persecution in their countries of origin and have fled to Thailand to seek safety. A few weeks ago I was introduced to a family from Sri Lanka who had finally been approved to resettle in the US. They were being sent to none other than Salt Lake City! You can imagine my excitement for them. I did my best to prep them for what life might be like for them. I told them about the cold, the current economic situation and of course about the wonderful folks in Salt Lake who would assist them through their resettlement experience. They left for the US this week only to get delayed in California due to the snow in Salt Lake. They skyped me from California to let me know of their delay and mentioned how cold it was in California. You think California's cold...oh boy!

I suspect they have made it to Utah by now. My heart is full of many emotions for them. I'm excited and nervous just as I suppose they are feeling as well. Will they be welcomed by their neighbors and school mates? Will the adults be able to secure jobs in a hurting economy? Will they have enough warm clothing and blankets to survive their first winter?

At this point all I can do is pray. I know they are headed into good hands. Hands of well trained individuals who are professional in their ability to help refugee families through the initial stage of resettlement. I tried to forewarn the family that the process they were about to undertake was not an end of their struggles but I fear they didn't understand...afterall, they are going to America!

Please keep your eye out for those who are in need of a little of your support today. A little extra support today will mean a more productive tomorrow, for all of us!

Happy New Year!

Ok, I'm long overdue for a post! Here is a quick update of the last month!

Thomas' wedding was beautiful! The happy couple were on cloud 9 and the ceremony was very nice. It's crazy to think that my baby brother is now married! What happened to the days of my little brother running around in my high heels, getting into my stuff, picking on me...well, that didn't really ever stop. Thomas is now a man...a married man. If there had been enough time at the luncheon I was going to tell the story about when Thomas was little and how he would never obey me. In fact there were times when i swear he would do just the thing I asked him NOT to do. It got to be a serious problem for me and I complained and complained to my mom until she too finally recognized this. She asked Thomas one night why he didn't listen to me and he simply said "She talks too much"!...WHAT? I talk too much? ok, I admit, I was bossy and a very annoying older, and younger, sibling....but can you get away actually saying "she talks too much?" Well, what could my mom do but look at me and laugh? We both knew it was true. Emily...beware. Don't talk too much! :-)

Anyway, moving along...After the wedding I spent Christmas at older brother Bryce's house. What a fun Christmas it was! Christmas Eve we made goodie bags for the neighbors which the kids delivered. In the evening we all dressed in robes and put on our best shepherd attire. We sat on the family room floor and discussed, as shepherds what it must have been like to see an angel and a bright star and to be led to see the Christ child. We read scripture acted out our parts as shepherds and enjoyed a meal of shepherds pie. It was humble...just as it was the night of Christ's birth. I felt it a very appropriate celebration.

In the morning the kids opened a variety of gifts but I think the highlight was the new pool table for the kids, the canoe for Bryce and the TV for Lynnette (sister-in-law). We played a lot of pool that day! Unfortunately I came down with a cold and kept my tissue box very close!

Overall the trip home was wonderful! I returned with suitcases full of new sheets for my bed, a nice fluffy bath towel, peanut butter, microwave popcorn and taco seasoning! :-) If only I had enough space to pack a few friends and siblings! I returned to Bangkok with mixed emotions after having such a wonderful time but focused on how much I enjoy being here and the sadness quickly dissipated.

I spent New Year's Eve enjoying dinner with my old boss who is working out here and then meet up with some new friends playing games and just hanging out. At midnight we headed to the top level of the apartment complex where we were to enjoy the 360 degrees of fireworks at various places throughout the city. It was a great view! Afterwards we played a few more games and then decided to head home. At 2:30 AM the streets were packed with people and finding an available taxi was impossible! We ended up walking home since the sky train was no longer running... and, as usual, I wore very impractical shoes which i finally decided to take off half way home. Walking barefooted on the streets of Bangkok is not recommended...it's quite disgusting. But it was either amputating my feet after walking home in high heels or risking all manner of diseases by going barefoot. Luckily, I can report that I survived the experience without catching any weird foot diseases! phew!

I finally arrived home at 4 am and fell into bed (forgetting to wash my feet!!) not awaking until after 10 the next day. I ate breakfast and returned to bed to sleep the better part of the day. What a waste of a first day of the year!

Sunday was a much more productive day. I took time to consider what I had accomplished in 2009 and found that it had been a very fulfilling year. It was a very hard year but I had very few regrets. I reconnected with many old friends, enriched my friendships with current friends, tried new things, went outside my comfort zone, felt fulfilled and challenged professionally and in the end I achieved a life long dream...I sold off the majority of my possessions and moved overseas! After looking back over the accomplishments of 2009 I planned for 2010. I listed out my hopes for the new year and prepared mentally for the hard work that I will need to put into this new year. I know it's not going to be an easy year. I need to make new friends, learn a new language and culture, learn a new job and continue to challenge myself to grow and improve. Luckily I have an amazing support system of family and friends who are behind me, praying for my success. And, along with all the challenges that will define this next year I am super excited for all the amazing, wonderful fun stuff I have to look forward to! A trip to visit my sister in Korea in April , a trip to Mongolia in June and that's just scratching the surface! I wonder if there is a world record for the number of massages one has gotten in a years time. I think i'll consider breaking that record. :-) New friends, new experiences...wow! It's gunna be a GREAT year! 2010 is the year of Bangkok...I live in Bangkok!! SWEET!

I hope you've each taken the time to assess 2009 and plan for 2010. It's such a pleasure for me to look back and see how blessed I have been. I'm not sure why I'm so blessed but I hope I never forget to express my gratitude for all that I have.

I wish you all a very Happy New Year! Here's to 2010! Cheers!