What a joyful week the staff and I have had!

We have a Caretaker!

With the departure of Lalaine, who previously lived at the Center out of the kindness of her heart, I’ve been searching for someone to take her place.

Briefly, if you recall, Lalaine was from the Philippines and already had a full-time job as an English teacher here at a secondary school. Her help to watch and clean the Center was enlisted 2 years ago by Angie, the former director. She didn’t receive a salary but stayed for free in a small room. She approached me 6 weeks ago about wanting to leave and get an apartment nearer her school. I absolutely agreed! Her service to us was a blessing but it was time for her to “have a rest” (as the Chinese say), take care of herself, not have those 5 a.m. wake-ups to clean before the sun came out or late night lock-ups when we all had left.

During this time, the staff and I have been taking over: sweeping leaves, bagging those for trash pick-up, emptying out garbage cans, mopping the offices and classrooms, scrubbing our public toilets . . . . While sharing duties has been a blessing, it’s just added a little extra to our days.

As for me, the director, a few more duties were with Lalaine’s exit.

I’ve had to come during the weekends to turn off the night security lights on Saturday and Sunday mornings, then come in the evenings to turn them back on again. Every time I motored over on my Honda Scooby, I dreaded turning down our little alleyway. I had this fear the gate would be broken into, I’d enter to find broken office windows and glass doors, and our beautiful new computers gone.

Or, worse yet, the place burned to the ground due to faulty wiring.

Or a part of the roof caved in due to the torrential rains we’ve been having.

Or . . . . . (My mind was always racing as to what disaster I might find.)

How fortunate for us that one of our Laos college scholarship recipients, 23-year-old Suher, was looking for a place to stay after his recent graduation. He just finished 4 years in Business English. He was hoping for a Laos hotel position (we have so many foreign tourists here and business folk) and is applying now. He also is putting his brother through college, who is in his second year, and needed funding for that.

Perfect timing for all of us.

Suher graciously accepted the position last week and has been busy cleaning the grounds. Everything is immaculate. Weeds gone. Tree limbs removed. Fallen coconut tree palms hauled away. Not a single leaf in sight on a daily basis. My classroom is sparkling. Toilets smelling of Clorox and all porcelain entities shining.

Suher also has been tasked in his job description to take care of my rambunctious children when they arrive 20 minutes early. I am teaching the junior high at that time and they’d been a bit of a nuisance, pounding on the classroom door or shouting out, “Teacher!! We are here!!”

Without supervision, it was becoming a problem.

Suher to the rescue! He keeps them occupied at our outside tables with board games, playing badminton or tossing the ball around. All that pent-up energy from a full day at school is released before yet another classroom learning session with me. Finally, my never-ending irksome annoyance of interruptions is no longer.

And his first overnight with us, he discovered this disaster, which happened in one of our unused classrooms.

Water was leaking throughout the classroom toilet area so Suher quickly turned off the main valve. Had he not been here, inspecting that room or others on a daily basis, our water bill would not only have been through the roof but this mess wouldn’t have been taken care of for . . . days? Weeks? Months?

As Suher continues to look for a suitable job, he will stay here for free and be paid a small salary (one we can afford) to help him with his future as a college graduate.

Thank you, Suher, for all you do and for accepting this vital position to help the Center thrive! We are so very, very fortunate to have you.

VIM Team Visit

Suher’s timing couldn’t have been more perfect. He came on Thursday, just in time for a Monday visit by overseas’ visitors.

Last Monday, a Volunteer in Mission (VIM) team from West Ohio visited the Center for a few hours, bringing with them 6 used laptop computers for our future computer courses. And teaching supplies for Connie. (Surprise!)

The staff and I had been preparing for their Center visit for 6 weeks. We made snacks available. We carefully set up the classroom. We bought simple gifts. I prepared a power point of the Center’s activities and our needs.

The group was on the tail end of their 10-day stay in Laos after leading several Laos women gathering events.

I was so pleased to host them as a director, even if for a few hours.

Connie’s Treat: Staff luncheon Today

In celebration of Suher joining our staff and a very successful VIM visit, I suggested we have a Friday luncheon on Connie.

Khamxay chose an Indian restaurant around the corner from us. We were joined not only by the Center’s staff but by the other divisions of my placement here, including community , women and youth development.

The Center is located in Vientiane but the other offices are located on a 35-minute drive from the city, at the church that I attend in the countryside.

It is not often that we all get together so this was a very special event. We were only missing Daniel Yang, one of the community program developers, and his wife, Christy. The two had dashed over to Thailand for a quick over-the-border exit and re-entry so Christy could get her 1-month tourist visa renewed. Khamxay is still working on her permanent spouse visa, good for a year. While waiting for that process to take place, the option of the 1-month visa is what most foreigners in Laos do before a permanent visa can be completed.

Look at our happy faces (and all that great food)! 

What a great way to end the week here at the Center:  A new staff member, computers and teaching supply gifts from abroad, marvelously cleaned buildings and compound (now looked after on a regular basis), great food and even better, having a unique and much-needed fellowship time together.

Ah, yes! And did I forget to mention that office manager, Khamxay,  is getting more requests from parents and others about adding future classes to our class schedule?  Not only that, but I have 2 new students!

Despite still being the only teacher for the next few months, our reputation is growing.   I’m expecting our next Global Mission Volunteer to arrive in August so this places us in a good position to add those extra courses parents are begging for.

As I said, lots to celebrate, which hopefully more of those on the horizon.  Stay tuned!
Connie in Laos, closing off.