My role as director took a somewhat official turn not long ago.
I’ve been getting my feet on the ground for 3 months now, just figuring out all that needs taken care of. There’s a lot!
Angie , former director, will be taking over a different aspect of our service in Laos (that of women). Her son, Amos along with Modester, are working on the youth. Daniel continues with his constant traveling to work with CHAD (Community Health and Development projects.). His work highlights village visits with Laos staff to establish water wells, toilets, help with raising animals as income and applying for other means to help rural communities. (That’s just a small part of his presence here)
For a very long time, the Language Center has been the office and meeting space for all projects here. It’s been crowded but cozy and has allowed me to truly get a good grasp on all that we do here, not to mention getting to know people on a more personal basis.
Well, things have changed.
The 6 Laos staff and book keeper Joan (from the Philippines) have now been split up, with a big move to the office buildings next to the church a majority of us attend, the one 35 minutes away by motorbike.
This decision was to allow the Center to receive more classroom space and concentrate only on education, not other outreach projects in Laos.
It was rather an interesting, rushed move, swiftly done in a morning with a majority of the furniture left at the Center. My biggest worry had been that I’d lose some of “my” 49 stackable chairs in the entire center which I needed for the Sing in English Friday afternoon with the grade school children. What a relief that Angie, bless her, said to keep the Center chairs and they’d borrow from the church a few chairs so staff have something to sit on. (As you can see, I need my chairs!)
Lunch is On Connie!
Thursday saw us all together for the last time as Angie. Daniel and others dug through cabinets, moved files into boxes, grabbed office desks needed, loaded up one working computer and a bookshelf or two. Friday was the big move in the morning with my afternoon with the kids. There would be no time to truly have a moment of a last team farewell so on Thursday, it was all out to eat at a nearby open-street restaurant, on Connie!
For just 310,000 Kip ($15.00), we had a substantial meal.
What did we have?
Tiny, thin Khamxay, my wonderful office manager, gobbled down a plateful of rice topped with meat and egg. Others enjoyed a huge bowl of noodle soup with veggies and pork hunks thrown in. I had an all-vegetarian soup which the owner graciously created just for me.
And as a added bonus for our patronage, the our cook threw in a heaping plate of pork bones which she uses to create the lovely broth all her soups come in.
With enthusiasm, several dug in to grab up and gnaw away at the left-over fat and meat still clinging to the osseous matter.
Nor did the Laos joy end there.
Several of the staff have dogs at home. Plastic bags were filled with the remains of the bone pile. These were hung on motorbike handlebars for after-work delivery, with the drive being between 30 – 45 minutes to where a majority of the staff live. I could just imagine some very excited and appreciative canines, enjoying the leftovers of lunch on Connie.
How very pleased I was to have our Laos joy spread both near and far.
The New Routine
At present, the two locations have the Laos staff spending some time with me, other times at the distant office.
Khamxay, my administrative officer, and I are 5 days a week in the Center.
Monday, Tuesday and Friday, we are joined by bookkeeper Joan, material translator (among other duties) Khambang and spoken/report writer and translator for CHAD, Santi. Santi’s hours are from 11 – 7 p.m., which gives Khamxay ability to leave at 5 while Santi remains behind to help with Laos-speaking parents or newcomers studying at the Center.
Two other staff remain at the second office 5 days a week: Nyai, our treasurer, and Chantao, also with CHAD.
New Equipment Needed
With this split in office came a split in equipment and some office furnishings. You can see below what left the Center and what I will be needing to replace.
The items of greatest need at the Center: Another motorbike for staff use as we lost 2 to the other office; Office book shelves to store all the Center folder reports; a desktop computer (we now only have 1 for office use, which can’t be shared among 3 people, obviously); cork bulletin boards for every classroom; a Center-only updated cell phone (no landlines here – Khamxay has often been using his private phone for people to call concerning Center business and signing up for courses); a cabinet of some sort for Connie. My office needs a larger space for storing items in. I just have a small one, which is doable for now but I need something bigger.
The numerous dollars many of you readers have given through the Center’s donation number, what we call the Advance within the United Methodist Church, is going to allow me to get the computer and cellphone fairly quickly. We’ve already been shopping for prices. Next week, I will request the funds from our treasurer and complete the necessary paperwork of purchasing. See below what we enjoyed scouting out at both the computer store and the D-mart, which is similar to our USA Walmart.
Closing Off
Yes, as you can see, so many exciting things happening here. Stay tuned for more “settling in” posts. I always enjoy sharing.
Connie in Laos
connie's space 
Connie,
Bless your heart! You are so adaptable! In so many ways! Growing already in reaching more people in more areas. It is so good to know the many ways your group is helping others.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
Peace,
Jean in Texas