New Life Outreach

As scheduled, we'll head up once again to Phetchabun this friday to bring warm clothes to the children as well as to run another installment of our MILK! mission.

Whenever I head up to the refugee camp, I feel a big heaviness in my heart. A sadness for the Hmong people who may only have less then 2 years before being sent back to Laos. That is where their fate remains terribly uncertain.

A friend sent this video link to me and I guess it deepens my resolve to help these people before their time runs out.



My opinion is that as long as there is no international oversight in the resettlement, we cannot be sure if the Hmong people will safe. For me, I choose to take the worst case scenario.

We've been just informed that the cold season has arrived in the mountainous Phetchabun and today we're starting to feel the cold even here in Chiang Mai.

I'm really glad that we've managed to bring all the blankets to the Hmong people and we know for sure that each family has a blanket from us to tide them through the cold nights.

It has not been a easy task, but when I look back... its truly worth it !

Our next task ? To bring the remaining warm clothes up in the next 2 months !

Some of the readers have asked for our routine outreach schedules so they can join us if their schedule permits.

So here it is
Date : 2 - 4 Nov 07 (Friday- Sunday)
Type : Routine + Fact Finding
Outreach Focus : MILK! & Distribution of warm clothings

Date : 16-19 Nov 07
Type : Routine
Outreach Focus : MILK! & Distribution of warm clothings

If you would like to join us, please drop me a email for more details. These trips do not include sightseeing and all cost quoted will go into the refugee outreach.

From 17-19 Oct, the volunteers arrived and assisted with the packing of blankets and warm clothings. Of course this was not all without fun !

On 19 Oct, we loaded the remaining 600+ blankets and made the push to Phetchabun with 3 trucks and a team of 17 people.

Left : Our logistics and preparation for the MILK! mission

Bottom : Children running up in anticipation of the food they'll receive








When we arrived in the refugee camp, the children were already crowding in the hundreds around the exit. Each hoping to be the first to reach us for the milk & biscuits.

Its a tearful scene when you see the children are allowed to come out.. Many children started running towards the shed which we have prepared the food.

On that special day, 1000+ children from Zone B, D & G were given milk and food. (Numbers closer to 1400 as some hungry children from other groups sneaked out too ! In hope of getting the milk from us)


Just as we were about to leave, we were informed that the nights are turning extremely cold and our blankets arrived just in time !

It may not be much, but at least we know that each family in the refugee camp has at least a blanket to see them through the cold.

Just on our previous trip, the leader of Zone E surprised us when he asked for more blankets.

At first we though that our census figures were incorrect, but after doing some checks, it was correct. At least for the last couple of days !

The leader and the military informed us that every other week there are new families. And to complicate matters, a baby born in the camp every 2 days.

With the ever increasing demand for blankets, it is not only challenging but also ineffective to "chase these needs". What I've done instead is to buy 100 more blankets, this would be distributed to the refugees equally. Just to tide these people through the cold season.

I'm thinking it would be only effective to run a blanket mission once every year over the Aug-Sep, just before the cold season. Let me know what you guys think !

p/s : Blankets will be brought up this weekend with 8 of our volunteers. Pray with us and standby for more pictures when I get back !

After working with the Hmong refugees for 3 months, I see a huge amount of needs. Needs which cannot be fulfilled by just a one off relief effort or even a 3 month stint. To make a significant impact, it demands regular and consistent commitment.

I had given much thought to this issue and I decided to commit further and give up the prospect of having a cushy well paid job.

This is my plan. I'm starting a commercial company to allow us to do the following :

Now, this is a huge step for me and foolishness for many, but maybe through my small ways I can make an exponential impact and difference to the lives of these people !