Saturday Jan 30 - Mercy Center Sport's Day

I awoke at 7 AM after 10 hr of sleep...feel great. After breakfast, I took a taxi to Mercy Center to view MC's sports day. Met Father Joe and attended Mass at 9 AM. I had 2 Thai teenagers as interpreters explain to me what FJ was saying during his homily which was given in Thai. Father speaks numerous foreign languages fluently. The homily addressed the virtues that everyone must follow...no lying, stealing and laziness. MC is one big family...the boys will respect the girls and protect them. Those breaking the rules and are judged by their peers (FJ does not get involved)...one girl was kicked out of MC because of an assault on a younger child, 2 boys who fought had to fight each other with one boxing gloves until they were exhausted and than were attached together with a string until they resolved their differences ( they are now best friends). After Mass, I spent an hour over coffee with Father and listened to him describe his ministry in the slums of Klong Toey. He does not suffer fools.

After sports day I went to Raja's tailor shop, to order pants, a sport coat and 4 shirts. After leaving Raja's, I decided that my body deserved a Thai massage....if I lived in Thailand, I would have a massage every day!!! I ended the day completed my day with a nice Thai dinner...

Friday, Jan 29 - First Visit to Mercy Center

After 5 hours of sleep, I had breakfast and headed for Mercy Center. Bangkok traffic is horrific...1 1/2 hours to go 6 miles.

Life is full of surprises. Arrive at Mercy Center (MC) as a small Polish TV crew was shotting a series about Father Joe and the Mercy Center's work wth the slum children of Klong Toey. By following the Polish TV crew, I received a full tour of the facilities and listened to interviews of the children, staff and Father Joe...what an eye opener. The MC can be summed up in one word...LOVE. Hundred of children ( 300+) attending K --> 3, meeting the Aids Brigade ( 60+ children) who are fully integrated into the community, a homeless Aids mother rejected by the outside world who now lives at the MC and is a surrogate mother to about 5 orphaned girls, a 40 + year old down syndrome man who lives at MC and assists Father Joe at Catholic mass, the Aids Hospice Center which treats the seriously ill ( 20 + patients), Thai gov't provides Aids medication free of charge to MC...it goes on and on. Father Joe's main assistant is Jewish, most students and staff are Buddhist and a couple of teachers are Muslim ( one the daughter of the local Imam)... Father does not proselytize..his motto is to accept everyone who needs help!!!

Attended requiem mass for the parents of two of MC's employees...all faiths included and Father's words welcomed all.

The unique statue you see in the photo is "Our Lady of Klong Toey" which is the representation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was cast in bronze and Mercy Center staff added personal items to the molten bronze...Father Joe's donation was his personal rosary which was given to him by his mother for Father's First Holy Communion. The statue has a baby sculpted on the Virgin's belly....her missing loving arms are your arms welcoming all of God's children.

Left about 5 PM and went back to the hotel...only took 1 hour for the return drive...ate at small Chinese restaurant and went to bed at 8:30 PM...exhausted...see ya... Tom

Flight to Bangkok ( Jan 27 - 29)

Left Washington Dulles on Wednesday, Jan 27, at 12:35 PM via Narita, Japan. Total travel time was 31 hours..only slept 3 hr arrived BKK at 2 AM, Friday, Jan 29. Read a great mystery book titled "Up Country" about Viet Nam ( recommended by my great friend Marcia Torpey)...provides an insightful view of VN during the Viet Nam war and in the year 2000. Food on United Air was terrible...one hour out offered rubber chicken lunch (ate only rice and peas), 8 hours out offered only 1/2 sandwich or a bowl of noodle soup ( I got both)...have begun my Asian diet plan.

Flight was the great circle route...VA-----> Chicago---> Alaska -- Artic Circle---> Korean Pninsula---> Japan (7,000 miles, 13.5 hr)...4 hour layover...Narita to Bangkok ( 3,000 miles, 7 hr). Attached is picture of froze Arctic...see family of polar bears waving :-} ... Tom

Hotel Grand Ville is nice,clean, and within a 1/2 mile walk to water taxi and flower market..... had delicious pineapple, watermelon, papaya for breakfast....