In May of 2004 three Missionary Sisters of Charity came to meet with Bishop George and to have a look at the work in Nong Bua Lamphu—Sister Giti, Sister Anima and Sister Madonna. During their visit the Sisters could see that there was a good possibility for them to take on the work of the children’s home here in connection with Mother of Perpetual Help Center. The first Sisters to arrive for this work were Sister Elinita, Sister Philberta and Sister Arlete, Sister Anima arrived one month later and took over the leadership of their community. Until the Sister’s house and the home for children was completed the Sisters lived in a rented house in Khiang Doi village within the city where the Brothers also were living in rented accommodation. When Sister Elinita was recalled to Hong Kong, Sr. Jacqueline, a newly professed came to take her place and in 2006 when Sister Anima was transferred to Taiwan, Sr. Helga replaced her as superior of the community, Sister Arlete was later transferred to Cambodia and Sister Gabriella took her place—in 2009 a new recruit, Sister Clarissa took Sister Jacquelines place as she went on for further studies and religious renewal.
In March of 2004 the children's home was opened with two young boys as the first occupants. Within a short time other children were received , now numbering 21 whom 2 are girls and the rest boys from ages 7 thru 16. In the beginning connected with the children’s home was also the hospice for adults. It was decided that it would be better to separate the children from the adults so sometime in 2005 the adults were moved over to an area of Mother of Perpetual Help Center which then became the hospice care unit and the adults patients to be taken care of by the Center staff. It worked out well since there were two rooms available to accommodate up to 8 adults, each room with 4 beds and which enabled the separation of male and female patients. In the seven years since the children’s home has been opened only three children have died. The others are looking very healthy as a result of the aids antivirals received through the government hospitals. All children have the opportunity of attending the local schools, so each day the Sisters driver drives the children to about 4 different schools in the area. Initially there were some problems of discrimination and fear connected with aids children attending the schools, both by teachers and students—that problem has been resolved and now there is no problem other than normal child behavior from time to time.
The six rai of land on which the children’s home and Sisters house is situated was barren land with no road access until the bridge could be built and the land filled. Some parts of the land needed fill up to 5 meters, while the land itself was not so expensive, the preparation of the land to enable construction was costly—first the bridge, then the land fill. Accommodation was built for volunteers and the house for the parish priest and later the “Sala” a large open building as multipurpose for use by the children, use for parish activities and larger Center activities. Once the new priests house was built near the church, the volunteers house and the former priests house was turned over completely to the children’s home, while the Sala will remain for use as well by the Church and Center.
In March of 2004 the children's home was opened with two young boys as the first occupants. Within a short time other children were received , now numbering 21 whom 2 are girls and the rest boys from ages 7 thru 16. In the beginning connected with the children’s home was also the hospice for adults. It was decided that it would be better to separate the children from the adults so sometime in 2005 the adults were moved over to an area of Mother of Perpetual Help Center which then became the hospice care unit and the adults patients to be taken care of by the Center staff. It worked out well since there were two rooms available to accommodate up to 8 adults, each room with 4 beds and which enabled the separation of male and female patients. In the seven years since the children’s home has been opened only three children have died. The others are looking very healthy as a result of the aids antivirals received through the government hospitals. All children have the opportunity of attending the local schools, so each day the Sisters driver drives the children to about 4 different schools in the area. Initially there were some problems of discrimination and fear connected with aids children attending the schools, both by teachers and students—that problem has been resolved and now there is no problem other than normal child behavior from time to time.
The six rai of land on which the children’s home and Sisters house is situated was barren land with no road access until the bridge could be built and the land filled. Some parts of the land needed fill up to 5 meters, while the land itself was not so expensive, the preparation of the land to enable construction was costly—first the bridge, then the land fill. Accommodation was built for volunteers and the house for the parish priest and later the “Sala” a large open building as multipurpose for use by the children, use for parish activities and larger Center activities. Once the new priests house was built near the church, the volunteers house and the former priests house was turned over completely to the children’s home, while the Sala will remain for use as well by the Church and Center.
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