Mother of Perpetual AIDS Center, Thailand

Christmas Activities Mother of Perpetual Help Center and St. Michael's Church Nong Bua Lamphu Thailand

2011-12-26T23:13:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Staff from Mother of Perpetual Help Center prepared small gifts as a token of thanks for help received during the year from various departments in the city. Here Santa Claus (Mr. Boonklang) and other staff members head out just a day before Christmas to deliver these gifts to nurses and doctors at the local government hospital, the Tesaban and Social Welfare departments.
Here at the Social Welfare Department we greet the new Director and other staff members.

The Social Welfare Department is responsible for signing documents for us foreign volunteers before sending the documents to the Immigration Department.

Here at the Tesaban which is the City Municipal Offices responsible for City management of roads and also responsible for distribution of monthly monies to the elderly in villages as well as handicapped persons and aids infected persons. They can receive a monthly stipend of 500 Baht (approximately $15), a small amount but helpful to the poor.
Our youth at Ban Mae Marie can also receive this stipend - each have set up accounts and these funds are set aside for the future once they leave to set out on their own.

Nest and final stop to the Nong Bua Lamphu General Hospital to deliver our small gifts in appreciation for the work of the doctors and nurses in caring for patients from our hospice when hospitalization is required.

Christmas Crib in St. Michael the Archangel Church.

Christmas festivities began at our Sala which is used for parish activities, larger activities of the Center and used for play by the children of Mother Teresa's children home. A Christmas pagent was produced by youth from the parish along with youth from Ban Mae Marie and children from Mother Teresa's children's home.

Friday evening before Christmas staff from Mother of Perpetual Help Center enjoyed their annual Christmas party along with family members and teenagers from Ban Mae Marie.

All had a good time with music, singing and dancing. Patients from our hospice joined in as well in the karaoke singing and even some with dancing.

Gifts were distributed to everyone as well as the annual Christmas bonus to staff members.

During the year a new Foundation had been formed - members from the parish and government persons who had helped in getting the approval of the Foundation also attended our Christmas party.

Teenagers from Ban Mae Marie joining in the Karaoke singing.

Hospice patients enjoyed the evenings festivities and joined in well.

Evening festivities began in the early evening. This time of the year gets dark very early - usually by 6:30 in the evening it is already very dark.

Mr. Yo from Ban Mae Marie prepares a roasted pig for the ocassion.

Fr. Anthony along with youth from the parish and youth from Ban Mae Marie took a visit to Bp. George (retired) and Bishop Joseph in Udon Thani to give their Christmas greetings.

This year again they visited the Capuching Cloistered Sisters in Udon Thani. At each place they sang Christmas carols.

WORLD AIDS DAY - December 1, 2011

2011-12-01T16:20:00.000-08:00

Early morning staff from Mother of Perpetual Help Center gathered at a central location in Nong Bua Lamphu city preparing for the arrival of students and teachers from 12 different schools from the Non Sang District - these schools in 2011 have gone through the Aids Education and Awareness Program. Each school sent 12 student representatives with 1 or 2 of the teachers. Workers from the Health Department, Education Department, Sub Health Centers and other government officials also joined in the parade through the city.

This years theme was "Getting to Zero", "Zero New HIV Infections", "Zero Discrimination" and "Zero Aids Related Deaths".

Youth from Ban Mae Marie, healthier patients from our hospice, volunteers and other interested persons from the city joined in the mornings activities and the parade through the city.

Once everyone was present baloons were sent off into the aid with loud fireworks to begin the event. The baloons were meant to end up somewhere where no one new; however, as the fireworks went off the explosions brought the baloons down in the same area "mai pen rai" as is commonly heard.

All participants received a t-shirt to remember the occasion with the new SVD Foundation logo in the front of the shirt.

It took some time before all schools arrived. All lined up patiently and waited for the parade to begin.

Nong Bua Lamphu is not a small city, but also not a large city so marching through the main areas only took about 1 hour with police escort and loud Isaan music to attract attention. December 1st is also the founding day for Nong Bua Lamphu becoming a Province 18 years ago. There were other activities going on in the city for this purpose as well as preparation for the Kings Birthday which is celebrated on December the 5th. Mother of Perpetual Help Center has been the only organization promoting World Aids Day activities over the past few years.

Evaluation of Aids Education and Awareness Program

2011-11-22T17:59:00.000-08:00

Mid November 2011 Staff from Mother of Perpetual Help Center, Volunteers during our Aids Education and Awareness Program, members from the Health and Education Departments and other city officials gathered at the Center to discuss and to see what "Impact" our program in the schools throughout the Province has been. Our Aids Education and Awareness program with the youth in schools has been active in at least 20 schools each year over the past 9 years. Each year the Center concentrated on the schools in one District so that now all schools have gone through the program - some of the Districts now on the 2nd round. The schools involved have been Junior High students. Represented at this evaluation meeting included teachers and students from 20 schools in the Non Sang District.

It was clear through the discussions and input from teachers and students that this program has had a positive impact on those students who have gone through the program. It was clear also that it is necessary to continue with the program in other Districts in order to make further impact on those students who have not yet had the opportunity to participate in the program.

Nurses working in area Sub-Health Centers and the Province Health Department shared their experience of past co-operation with Mother of Perpetual Help Center with awareness programs in local villages and are interested in continuing this co-operation in the future as they feel it is still very important to reach not only the youth but adults in villages as well. The government while helping much with the aids antiviral medications for aids infected persons no longer have the same aids awareness programs in the Province, so it is important that our Center continue with the same level of education and awareness.

Mother of Perpetual Help Center is currently working on a new program to give training also to teachers in the schools so that they too can work along with their students and work in co-operation with staff members from the Center while promoting education and awareness during camps and follow-up work in the schools. The Center can only do so much each year so that if teachers can also be trainers they can have an impact on their students during the times when the Center cannot be available.

Flooding in Bangkok Thailand

2011-11-22T17:27:00.000-08:00

Recently while in Bangkok I took the sky train to the end of the line to take a look at some of the flooding which has inundated parts of the city. The photos shown here are not the worst of the flooding as small cars and trucks can still get around, but nearer to Don Muang airport the flooding is much worse with water over 1 meter. Don Muang airport has been closed for some weeks now as the runways are completely covered. The Northern part of the city is having the worst of the flooding so it is difficult for so many living in these flooded areas. The photo just below leading into the week end markets (Jatujak market) shows that the markets are also closed.

Mo Chit area at the end of the sky train line is flooded mainly on the roads. The inner city has so far been spared, but companies are taking precautions and preparing for the worst with having sand bags and other barriers put up in front of their buildings. The flooding has been going on already for almost 2 months.

Bigger trucks are able to carry passengers around in areas where normal vehicles have difficulties. Army trucks as well are helping to transport people to different areas.

Return from Fund Raising Event Techny Through Europe

2011-10-26T23:27:00.000-07:00

After the fund raising event which was held at Divine Word Missionaries in Techny, Illinois I returned to Thailand via Europe. The purpose for this travel was to visit several of the funding agencies such as Kindermissionswerk and Misereor in Aachen Germany as well as Missio Austria. All of these agencies have been and continue to be very generous to Mother of Perpetual Help Center, especially with help for children and our Aids Education and Awareness Program with the youth in schools throughout the Province of Nong Bua Lamphu. At the same time by visiting many of our SVD houses in Germany the opportunity of meeting up again with many of the retired missionary priests and brothers who had been working in Papua New Guinea.

Above a unique small chapel in the offices of Misereor where I visited with persons responsible for funding programs for Thailand and East Asia.

Also in Aachen the offices of Kindermissionswerk where children from the areas go from door to door singing Christmas carols to collect funds for needy children throughout the world. Our programs with children have been fortunate over the years to receive help from them.

The beautiful chapel in St. Gabriel's in Austria. Our founder St. Arnold Janssen was influential in the construction of this very large seminary where in the early years 400 to 500 young men had gone through to study for the priesthood and brotherhood. The large structures were all built by hard work from the Brothers. Many retired priests and brothers from Austria retire here at a very nice infirmary with good nursing care.

Below an arial view of the entire complex at St. Gabriel's in Austria which in the early years also had a printing press, farms and orchards as St. Arnold was very strong on having self sufficiency.

Before travelling to Austria Brother Bernd Ruffing, Brother Hermann Hempenn and I made a visit to Goch where St. Arnold Janssen was born. Today there remains a meuseum which shows the birthplace of Arnold and some of the things which Arnold possessed.

The stove and kitchen where Arnold was brought up and below some of Arnolds personal books and rosary.

The room and bed where Arnold was born

At the Parish Church in Goch are stained glass windows of St. Arnold and St. Josef Freidnametz (the first SVD missionary to be sent to China).

The baptismal font where St. Arnold was baptized.

In the crypt below the main chapel at St. Michael's in Steyl Holland is the final resting place of Arnold.

Here the main chapel of our seminary at St. Wendel's in Germany. Another very large complex where again a great number of young men studied for the priesthood and brotherhood. This complex just outside of St. Wendel town is fixed amid a beautiful landscape of hills and forests.

Here at St. Wendel's many priests and brothers now retired from hard work in Germany and in the missions overseas retire here with good care. Here at St. Wendel's it was great to visit so many of the missionaries who again had been working together with me during my years in Papua New Guinea.

Apostolic Nuncio's Visit to Nong Bua Lamphu - October 19, 2011

2011-10-26T20:59:00.000-07:00

October 19th, 2011 was marked with the visit of our Apostolic Nuncio from Bangkok, His Excellency Archbishop Giovanni Daniello. We at St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Mother of Perpetual Help Center and Mother Teresa's Children's Home were happy and honored to give hospitality to him and our Bishop Joseph Luechai Thatwisai.

His Excellency was greeted by parishioners from St. Michael's, parishioners from the parish in Loei, patients and staff from Mother of Perpetual Help Center, Sisters and children from Mother Teresa's Home. After greeting our visitors everyone proceeded to our meeting room where presentations about the various ministries in Nong Bua Lamphu were given. Before going to the Church the Archbishop and Bishop Joseph toured the Center and Hospice, then everyone proceeded to the Church where the Archbishop gave a short presentation and talk to the crowd before going to the Sala to enjoy a meal together - again with some presentations and performances by the youth from Ban Mae Marie and the children from the home.

The days events were enjoyed by all and we were happy as well that many from Loei were able to attend since the Archbishop did not have time to travel to Loei. Soon after lunch he then went on to visit the church in Khon Kaen and other parts of the Udon Thani Diocese before making a visit also to the Diocese of Tare in the Province of Sakorn Nakon.

Distribution of School Uniforms and Supplies District of Sibunruang Northeast Thailand

2011-05-09T01:08:00.000-07:00

Today, May 9th began the start of the first distribution of school uniforms, bags, shoes and clothing to the Sibunruang District - one of 7 Districts in the Province of Nong Bua Lamphu. Each year these distributions are made to children of HIV families to give some help and support to the children when they begin the new school year. This year as in previous years the number has grown to 400 children of various ages - kindergarten up to high school. Some of the most needy families are helped also with milk and food supplement for babies and young children. we are grateful for the help which is made possible through different funding agencies.

More on the Modern Songhran Festivities

2011-04-18T19:38:00.000-07:00

April 17, 2011 - it's Palm Sunday. After Mass a follow-up with parishioners, children and youth of the parish with Songhran festivities.

The following pictures: Songhran festivities with the children and youth outside St. Michael's Church and Mother of Perpetual Help Center.

While Songhran still holds true to the original idea of a simple pouring of water over the hands of friends, relatives and especially the elderly - there is a fine element of having a real happy time and with the heat of April as one of the hottest months of the year - the water helps to cool everyone down. The pictures above give you an idea of the enjoyment had by the children and youth outside of the Church and Center walls.

"SONGHRAN" (Thai Happy New Year)

2011-04-14T18:57:00.000-07:00

Songhran is the Thai New Year - a happy time, a time waiting for the rains to come again after many months of dry - a time waiting to be able to get their rice crops planted once again. April 13 to 15 is a 3 day period of time off from work and a time when many people return to their home places to be with family and friends. Songhran is a festive time where water becomes an integral part of the celebrations. At times the water throwing gets a little out of hand, but at the same time enjoyed by all. The celebrations bring along with it many tragic accidents on the highways with many deaths and injuries as a result. The original Songhran festivals were simply pouring water over the hands of friends and elders and the tying of string around people's wrists with well wishing for good luck, good health and happiness.

This year I visited a well known family in one of the outlying Districts of Udon Thani. Four years ago the young father of this family was killed in a tragic car accident leaving his wife and four children alone to fend for themselves - the youngest girl at the time was only two years old. Below she pours water over the remains of his body at the temple - also a common practise during the Songhran festivals.

Above Brother Damien and Brother Bernd with two of the children and below new monks just coming out of the temple and below people givings alms for the new monks. It is customary for monks to walk through the villages in early morning and are given food by the people which they must eat before noon as they do not eat from noon until the next morning (other than water).

Below a painting done by a young man in one of the villages. It is interesting to see his interpretation of Buddha and Christ in relation to Christianity.

Preparation Meeting for Aids Education Camp

2011-03-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

March 15th 2011 staff from Mother of Perpetual Help Center and group leaders from various groups in Nong Bua Lamphu and outlying Districts met to prepare for an up-coming camp to bring about more education and awareness about HIV and Aids. There will be two camps - the first for young homosexual men - better known here in Thailand as "Ladyboys or Katois", the second for Junior High students in schools.

There has already been one camp in co-operation with Aids Net for "ladyboys" and follow-up work within groups here in the city of Nong Bua Lamphu. This second camp is to reach out further to groups in ouylying Districts and to create a network of leaders to do their own follow-up among these groups to bring about more awareness about the dangers of having multi-partner and un-safe sex.

The second camp to be held later among the youth in schools will have a two day follow-up in each of the schools. Camps and follow-up work has been done in all of the Districts within the Province of Nong Bua Lamphu already over the past six years - these new activities will reach out to an entire new generation of students in all of these schools. Thanks to Misereor in Germany and other funding agencies in Germany and America these important activities can continue and hopefully will help to bring about a decrease in the spread of Aids.

Arnold and Joseph Take on a New Look

2011-02-01T23:37:00.001-08:00

Arnold and Joseph Hall (Sala) at Mother of Perpetual Help Center. Sala being used as a multipurpose building for the Center HIV meetings and activities for groups too large for the regular meeting room at the Center, to be used for St. Michael's Church parish activities and for use by the children at Mother Teresa Children's Home.

The picture below before the renovation of the Sala

The picture below after renovations completed. A stage has
been built in as well for various performances during gatherings.
The newly renovated Sala was first used for World Aids Day
activities on December 1st, 2010. Christmas activities were
made more festive because of the changes and below photos
during the gathering of religious from the Diocese on February
February the 1st, 2011. (Bishop Joseph - new Bishop of the
Diocese of Udon Thani, Thailand).

One of the youth from the parish performing a Thai cultural
dance during the gathering of religious.

Below pictures during the renovations.

Gathering of Religious of the Diocese of Udon Thani

2011-02-01T17:47:00.000-08:00

February 1st 2011 all religious from the Diocese of Udon Thani, Thailand gathered together in Nong Bua Lamphu - hosted by the SVD (Divine Word Missionaries). The Diocese covers a wide area comprised of 5 Provinces, Udon Thani (Diocese Headquarters), Khon Kaen, Nong Khai on the boarder with Laos, Loei and Nong Bua Lamphu. The day began with the celebration of Mass and renewal of vows as a group. In the Diocese there are 16 different religious groups of nuns, priests and brothers as well as the local Diocesan priests. While many of the religious gather together after Christmas this special day has taken place so that everyone could become more familiar with each other. The day was a great success and enjoyed by everyone.

After Mass everyone gathered together for a meal at our Sala. The meal was prepared by the people of the Thabom parish. In the Diocese there are 16 different religious groups - the most of any Diocese other than Bangkok.

One of the Vietnemese workers from St. Michael's parish and one of the youth dress in traditional Vietnemese attire.

Celebration of Mass in St. Michael's Church, Nong Bua Lamphu.

Group of Philippina nuns entertaining during the meal. In the Diocese are two groups of Dominican nuns - above is one of the Dominican "Singing Nuns", along with Sisters of Mother Teresa and Augustinian Nuns.

About 65 priests, nuns and brothers enjoying their meal. More nuns than priests and brothers. Altogether 16 different religious groups working in the Diocese of Udon Thani.

Above some of the SVD's eating along with the Bishop. Brother Ron has been cut off the picture (sorry), Brother Bernd and our guest from Australia returning to Germany is Brother Herman. The SVD's are the only religious group to have Brothers working in the Udon Thani and many other Diocese's in Thailand.

Father Anthony, SVD as Master of Ceremonies for the day with the Sisters of Mother Teresa giving their introduction and entertaining with a song. The Missionary Sisters of Mother Teresa are looking after the HIV children at Mother of Teresa Children's Home in Nong Bua Lamphu. Once the children become teenagers they are received at Ban Mae Marie under the care of the Divine Word Missionaries.

Vietnemese religious introduction and entertainment along with two SVD's, Fr. Truc and Anthony. Fr. Anthony and Truc celebrate a Mass once a month in Udon Thani for the Vietnemese people living and working there along with Fr. John Tabor, an American Diocesan priest who had worked in Vietnam previously.

Fr. Paul Nathan, CSsR (Redemptorist). Fr. Paul was very helpful in the beginning when the SVD arrived in the Diocese helping us to get funding toward the building of St. Michael's church and very supportive in many ways.

Use of Drugs Explained to Youth by Police

2011-02-01T17:29:00.000-08:00

Sunday January 3o, 2011 after the Sunday morning Mass a policeman from the city was invited to speak to the youth of the parish, Ban Mae Marie and the children from Mother Teresa children's home about the use of drugs in Thailand. Some of the youth asked very pertinent questions which led to a fruitful discussion about drugs. Drugs at times can be a real problem here in Thailand, including our own Province of Nong Bua Lamphu.

Christmas in Nong Bua Lamphu Thailand - HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

2010-12-28T22:21:00.001-08:00

Christmas Eve 2010 at Nong Bua Lamphu - activities held at the Sala with a Christmas play portraying the birth of Christ done by the youth, children from Mother Teresa children's home and teenagers from Ban Mae Maria. These activities followed by the Christmas Mass in St. Michael's church and later a meal with gift exchange again at the Sala.

Christmas Eve as well staff from Mother of Perpetual Help Center extend small gifts of appreciation to hospital doctors and nurses who have been helpful during the year with our patients from the hospice. As well small gifts were given to people at the Social Welfare and Education Departments for their help to the Center during the year.

Christmas morning at Ban Mae Marie our teenagers eagerly open their gifts. Each received small gifts with two bicyles for the common use and an envelope with some baht for them to purchase something which they might like. A week before Christmas a trip to Udon Thani to Central Plaze where they were given enough baht to purchase some clothing followed by their choice of having a lunch at KFC.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year 2011

2010-12-20T23:06:00.000-08:00

Christmas greeetings from the staff of Mother of Perpetual Help Center and Ban Mae Maria.

Christmas crib erected in St. Michael's Church.

Christmas play by children from Mother Teresa children's home and youth from Ban Mae Maria.

Christmas at Villa Marie Hospice at Mother of Perpetual Help Center.

Visitation to St. Vincent De Paul home for the elderly in Udon Thani

Visitation to the Capuchin Convent of Cloistered nuns in Udon Thani

2010 has come and gone by so quickly. One last blog to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year for 2011. 2010 has been a good year once again and of course all of our good benefactors have helped to make this possible - THANK YOU and GOD BLESS YOU! Mother of Perpetual Help Center and Ban Mae Maria would not be able to continue all of the services which are extended to so many needy people here in the Province of Nong Bua Lamphu.

In the New Year we will continue to care for the aids patients who come for care at our hospice. More new patients will be sent to us I am sure. It is rewarding to see how many of them become well once again after many months of good food and loving care - many are able to return home, others stay on and are now helping to look after new patients and have become members of our staff.

Ban Mae Maria is slowly accepting new teenagers, both from Mother of Teresa children's home and others who come from other homes and institutions. Once Ban Mae Maria reaches its capacity there will be 24 young teenage men and women. All are attending the local schools and doing well. Once they complete high school some of them will no doubt continue on with college and higher education , others attend local vocational schools to learn different trades.

Recently our youth along with youth from St. Michael's parish visited a home for elderly men and women and the Capuchin Cloistered Sisters in Udon Thani and sang Christsmas carols to them. At the Church there will be many activities in connection with the Christmas Eve mass. The youth love to perform so they will have a Christmas play before the mass for all to enjoy - after mass all will participate in a meal with good food brought by all to share.

Meeting "Human Rights for Women and Child Protection"

2010-12-01T19:40:00.000-08:00

November 25, 2010 various departments from Nong Bua Lamphu working with children and women's groups met at Mother of Perpetual Help Center. The Center invited the new head of the Social Welfare Department and various heads of departments as well as different Foundation groups who work with children and women. In all about 40 persons attended the meeting including radio, newspaper and television people. The head of the Social Welfare department was asked to give a presentation about laws and regulations for agencies and groups working with children and human rights. After his presentation healthy discussions took place and many exchanged ideas about their problems dealing with homeless and displaced children. It was felt that one of the root problems being faced by those working with children in particular is "family life". Because of the poverty here in this area in particular so many mothers or fathers are forced to take up work in other areas; thus, leaving children on their own or in the care of others. At the end of the meeting all felt that it would be good to continue these discussions in co-operation with each other to help bring about some solutions - a long term goal!

World Aids Day - December 1, 2010

2010-12-01T18:57:00.001-08:00

World Aids Day December 1, 2010 began early in the morning with a march through the city of Nong Bua Lamphu. Students, teachers, staff members of Mother of Perpetual Help Center and volunteer workers all joined the march which was escorted through the city by the police. The march took approximately one and a half hour before entering the Center grounds. Student representatives from the different schools who took part in the Aids Education and Awareness program during the year came for the days activities - a total of about 200. The first activity was singing competition followed by a meal at noon. The afternoon activities were reading of letters to HIV persons from different students taking into consideration human rights and dignity for all. Prizes and awards were given for the singing competition and for the best letter. During the year our Aids Education and Awareness program in co-operation with Aids Net had a complex program to education "lady boys" better known as "katois" in Thailand (within the homosexual community). To end the program the "lady boys" put on a fashion show which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. In closing awards were presented to the winners in all of the various competitions.

Aids Education Follow-up With Youth in Schools

2010-12-01T18:29:00.000-08:00

This year another 20 schools have gone through the Aids Education and Awareness program. Nong Bua Pittyakan High School (the school where Br. Ron is teaching English) has over 3,000 students so the follow-up program is taking place on 4 different occasions in order to reach a good number of the students.

Each follow-up session takes place for 2 full days with about 100 students taking part with small and large group discussions - the small group discussions being reported back to the entire group.

One of the main and most effective activities of the follow-up as well as the activities taking place during the 3 day camps is the exchange of water. This is an interaction where each person is given a small glass of water and a saringe - students exchange water with different persons 4 to 5 different times so that at the end of the exercise a chemical is inserted into each persons glass - if the water turns red, it means that the person is HIV. This activity demonstrates clearly and is understood by all that by having sexual contact with multiple partners the HIV germ can be spread to many persons.

Drilling for Water

2010-11-25T19:10:00.000-08:00

Often the city water supply to the Center is no sufficient due to our long dry seasons as well as the growing number of businesses and new homes. The city has not always been able to keep up with the growing needs. Sometimes the Center can go for several days without water. With our Hospice care program at the Center this can cause big problems. A day or two without water is difficult for the patients not only for not being able to wash properly each day, but for cooking and keeping the area clean. A few months ago with water problems also at our new Ban Mae Maria we decided to drill for water there too and it has worked out very well - as well as reducing the montly water bill. It took just two days to drill for water, some extra time to relocate the water pipes, join the electricity for the pump so now we look forward to a good and regular supply of water for the needs of the Hospice and Center.

Tribute to a Great Lady

2010-11-03T19:16:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate over the years to know Marie Quinlan, indeed Mother of Perpetual Help Center was fortunate as well. Marie had a great love for Mother Mary and this was shown explicitly by her collection of statues of Mary. Included in her collection was a statue of a Thai Madonna which I had given to her.

Over the years Marie has been very generous to Mother of Perpetual Help Center. Her generosity reached an endless number of people, not only in Thailand, but many other missions and missionaries in America and overseas. Her generosity will not go unrewarded - Marie will have a high place in heaven for sure.

Our Villa Marie hospice and intensive care unit for adults with HIV/AIDS was named in her honor. It was an honor to be present at her funeral in September while I was in America doing fund raising. Marie was 98, she had a good life and enjoyed the fine arts. Marie enjoyed her many years as a teacher and had kept in contact with many of her students over the years as well.

Teenagers Outing

2010-10-27T19:43:00.000-07:00

Staff of Mother of Perpetual Help Center in Nong Bua Lamphu, Northeast Thailand. Left to Right: Kuhn Petawan, Brother Damien, Kuhn Fon, Brother Bernd and Kuhn Boonklang. Below photos of our teenagers from Ban Mae Maria after an evening of bingo and off to the carnival in the city for some relaxation. The day after some of the staff along with the teenagers took a three day trip to visit the father of one of the boys and a pilgrimage to the site of the Thai martyrs.

Fundraising Event - September 26, 2010

2010-10-26T17:44:00.000-07:00

This year the 8th annual fund raising event took place at the Mission Center at Techny, Illinois. Our "Friends of Thailand" committee worked very hard along with staff from the Mission Office to attract many new comers. Their hard work paid off - there were many new faces along with many of the regular attendees and inspite of the economy as it is these days the result was satisfactory. The event while being a financial benefit for the work of Mother of Perpetual Help Center, the new Ban Mae Maria's home for teenagers and our hospice for adults is also a great occasion for Mission Awareness.

"Thanks" to so many who worked hard and helped to make the event a happy and joyful time as well as being a success. "Thank You" to all of our regular supporters!

Back in action

2010-10-26T00:44:00.000-07:00

It has been almost three months since I've been able to up-date this blog. While in America I did not have an opportunity to do any work on the blog, but now that I have returned to Nong Bua Lamphu and have caught up with a back load of work, I would like to up-date the blog with new information.

The purpose for my time away from Nong Bua Lamphu was for a bit of rest and relaxation, but the primary reason was to help organize the fund raising event which took place on September 26th. Our Mission Office staff and the wonderful committee members of "Friends of Thailand" worked hard to make the event the success that it was. There was a great turn out of old friends with many new comers who we hope will be able to attend next year's event as well. I hope you will enjoy the photos from the event even though they are a little later than what I had hoped to post.

HIV/AIDS Camp With Youth From Schools July 2010

2010-07-18T21:05:00.000-07:00

July 14th thru the 16th a 3 day camp was held at a government center at Erawan. This was an annual aids camp sponsored by Mother of Perpetual Help Center to educate and give an awareness to the youth in schools throughout the Province of Nong Bua Lamphu. This year, 2010, 12 of the larger schools in the city district of Nong Bua Lamphu and several schools from one of the nearby districts took part in the camp - 3 boys and 3 girls as well as 2 teachers represented each of their schools. During the camp sports activities and exercise programs are held to familiarize the participants with each other and to help them feel relaxed with each other. Other activities which bring about a good knowledge about aids and its dangers are a big part of the camp - with small group and large group discussions the students become aware of aids and each group is able to give a report back to the entire group. Our aim is to make the youth more aware about aids and its dangers and to bring about a change in sexual behavior which will hopefully bring about a decrease in the spread of aids.

During the coming months a 2 day follow-up will take place in each of their schools with those having taken part in the camp as resource persons and persons who will help staff from Mother of Perpetual Help Center to impart this knowledge to the rest of each student body in each of their respective schools.

SVD Foundation in Thailand

2010-07-07T18:55:00.000-07:00

Paper work has been forwarded to the proper authorities in the Province for the establishment of a new SVD Foundation which will facilitate many aspects of the work of Divine Word Missionaries here in Thailand. The Foundation will make possible the purchase of properties in the name of the SVD, the Foundation will facilitate the yearly renewal of visa and work permits for missionaries, which at times can be a long and frustrating process.

Interview Brother Damien for Parish Bulletin

2010-07-07T18:13:00.000-07:00

Can you tell us about your missionary experience before coming to Thailand?

Before coming to Thailand I spent many happy years in Papua New Guinea. In 1969 I received my first missionary appointment to Papua New Guinea. The first 15 years there were as finance administrator for the Diocese of Goroka in the Eastern Highlands with Bp. John Cohill, SVD. In Goroka as well as being financial administrator I looked after Kefamo Center which became a retreat center as well as a home away from home for other missionaries in the Diocese. After 15 years I returned to our mission Center in the USA, after 4 years I returned to Papua New Guinea for a further 10 years – this time being assigned to work with the Bishop’s Conference in Port Moresby and after one year was recalled by the SVD Provincial as Provincial Treasurer for the Province of PNG where I worked for 9 years.

When did you come to Thailand and how did you begin in the HIV/AIDS ministry?

I came to Thailand in March of 1999 with Br. James Wilkins, SVD and studied the Thai language for one year. In March of 2000 we arrived in Nong Bua Lamphu as an assignment by Bp. George Phimphisan, CSsR to work along with the staff at Mother of Perpetual Help Center, which at that time was the only Catholic presence in Nong Bua Lamphu.

How would you describe your missionary experience here?

My experience here in Nong Bua Lamphu has been a very rewarding one. In some ways it was difficult as not having a great command of the Thai language, but on the other hand the work of the Center was able to go on well because of a very good Thai staff. The first couple of years I spent going on visitations with the staff and through this experience became familiar with the many needs for further development of the Center, both the physical structure as well as further development of programs.

You are known as someone who built many programs and buildings here, including the church. How did you manage to accomplish these things?

Through visitations and working along with the staff the physical needs as well as programs became known. During this time I continued to work on projects to funding agencies to keep the day to day programs running and at the same time seeking funds to build both the church and the center. Gradually funding was received so that the programs could continue and slowly funding as well for the physical structure. With the help from Catholics in Bangkok and a funding agency in America funds were in place for the building of the church, other funding agencies came through with sufficient funds first to construct Mother of Perpetual Help Center as it is today. During this time it was felt that a home for HIV children should be part of the plan. Two years after the SVD arrived the Missionary Sisters of Mother Teresa arrived and shared in the funding for the new home for HIV children and as a further need for a hospice for adults arose part of the Center was converted into the hospice to care for adults.

Some people say, “Brother has a lot of money”. How do you feel about that?

I find this comment very disturbing and sometimes I feel disappointed. Yes, it may seem that Brother has a lot of money. The money Brother has is money from generous benefactors and persons who are interested in helping the people here in Nong Bua Lamphu, in particular poor people and people with aids. Brother has money enough to keep the Center running and the programs running properly, not excessive money. All of the money received goes to keep the Center and it’s many programs running, such as aids education and awareness with the youth in schools, the hospice, the new home for HIV teenagers.

What is your biggest challenge for your working in Nong Bua Lamphu?

The biggest challenge still remains to have sufficient funds to keep the Center running and to continue the programs. My dream and my hope is that before I can retire sufficient funds can be in place to ensure that this work continues – this of course remains in God’s hands.

What has been most rewarding?

Most rewarding has been to see that so many people in need of help have been helped and so many because they have come to us have been able to return to their homes in better health. Rewarding has been to see a further development of the new home for teenagers – surely in this development can be felt the Divine Providence. The first years with so many funding request rejections, I felt at times to give up, but at the same time felt that if this whole venture was to be that help would come – it did!

What are some of the work that is occupying your heart and mind at this time?

The same works that have been going on and the hope that all can continue and change with the needs as they arise.

How does God and being a brother play in the work that you are doing in Nong Bua Lamphu?

Without God’s help I feel that none of what has developed here in Nong Bua Lamphu would have been possible. Being a brother I feel that I am an instrument in the development here in Nong Bua Lamphu.

How do you feel what you sit back and look at all the things that are now going on in the Nong Bua Catholic Community?

I feel good! Good and great to see that new life is developing in and around the Center with the St. Michael’s being an integral part of this new life in the Catholic community. New life at the Center and the Church with the arrival of more SVD presence and young SVD life to secure the future of the Church and the Center.

Ban Mae Maria - Home for HIV Teenagers

2010-06-13T19:25:00.000-07:00

Opening Address
By Br. Damien Lunders, SVD
Director Mother of Perpetual Help Centre
And
Mother Mary’s Home

*************************************

On behalf of Mother of Perpetual Help Centre and our new Mother Mary’s Home I am pleased to welcome you all and happy that you could attend our opening ceremony today. (January 2010).

We are grateful to Gary and Barbara Grendys in America for their most generous donation which has made this new Home possible. It is their donation alone which has paid for this entire project—a new home for teenagers having to some degree outgrown living in other orphanages. Here at this new home we hope to prepare these youngsters for their future outside of institutional living. It is our intention to help them to integrate into a life in the outside world and to help them prepare for normal and healthy relationships with the normal society. Here at the new home they will have the opportunity to continue their education in a profession which they might wish to choose, or a trade which will help them to find employment in the future.

Here at their new home teenagers will be expected to help look after themselves, cleaning, care for the grounds, gardening—everything which in normal life youngsters are expected to help in normal family living. Living along side with these teenagers will be some of the adults who have gone through our hospice care program. They will offer guidance and companionship throughout their time at Mother Mary’s Home.

BAN MAE MARIA (Mother Mary House)

Ban Mae Maria (Mother Mary House) the new home for HIV teenagers has now become a reality. January 28th 2009, the feast of our St. Josef Freinadametz was the official opening . The opening was well attended with our Bishop George Phimphisan, CSsR officiating along with the new Governor Somsak Suwansujarit of the Province and many other officials from the Health and Education Departments, religious and local guests from the area.

We are extremely grateful to the benefactors, Gary and Barbara Grendys from America who have made this new home possible. The existing children’s home with over 20 HIV children ranging from ages 2 – 16 has been in operation now for 6 years. We are grateful to the Missionary Sisters of Mother Teresa for their help and their care of the children there. It was becoming more and more evident that at one stage it would become necessary to separate the younger children from those becoming teenagers. We realized more and more that teenagers need a different environment and form of training as they near adulthood. The donation making this project possible has truly been “Providential”.

In early 2009 we located an area which would be suitable for the new home, purchased the land and in March the building of three family type homes were started along with a larger common building for eating and recreation, and staff housing. Buildings and overall land development was complete by the end of November 2009 and the first five teenagers began living in their new home along with two adults from the hospice.

Ban Mae Maria is walking distance from a Government Skills Training Center which will be very convenient for those students who wish to pursue further professional training with a trade of their choice after completing primary and high school. The Skills Training Center can offer trades in building, electronics, mechanical or plumbing skills for young men and cooking or sewing for young women.

While living at Ban Mae Maria the teenagers will receive training from staff of Mother of Perpetual Help Center and health personnel from the local hospital on the importance of good nutrition and the importance of continuing their medication seriously. Here at the new home they will be prepared for a future outside of institutional living. It is our intention to help them to integrate into a life in the outside world and to help them prepare for normal and healthy relationships within the normal society. Here at the new home teenagers will be expected to help look after themselves, cleaning, care for the grounds, gardening – everything which in life youngsters are expected to help in normal family living. Living alongside with these teenagers will be some adults having gone through our hospice care program. They now in good health, but no home or family to return to will remain at the new home and will offer guidance and companionship throughout their time at Ban Mae Maria.

คำกล่าวรายงานของ ผู้อำนวยการ บ้านนิจจานุเคราะห์
บราเดอร์เดเมียน ลันเดอร์ส
“บ้านนิจจานุเคราะห์ได้สร้างบ้านใหม่สำหรับเยาวชนและแล้วเสร็จเป็นที่เรียบร้อย และได้รับผู้ติดเชื้อ HIV เข้าในบ้านหลังใหม่นี้จำนวน 4 คน เป็นผู้ใหญ่ 2 คนและเยาวชนอีก 2 คน ซึ่งในจำนวนผู้ป่วยทั้งหมดนี้ทุกคนยังแข็งแรงดี พร้อมกับมีเจ้าหน้าที่ประจำ 1 คน บ้านหลังใหม่นี้ตั้งอยู่ใกล้กับศูนย์พัฒนาฝีมือแรงงานจังหวัดหนองบัวลำภู
ขอขอบคุณเป็นพิเศษไปยังนายแกรี เกรนดี้และนางบาร์บาร่า เกรนดี้ สองสามีภรรยาชาวอเมริกาในความมีน้ำใจดีที่ได้บริจาคทุนทรัพย์ในการดำเนินโครงการซึ่งเป็นจำนวนเงินที่มากสำหรับโครงการนี้ทั้งการก่อสร้างต่างๆและการซื้อที่ดิน บ้านนิจจานุเคราะห์หวังว่าบ้านหลังใหม่นี้จะช่วยเตรียมเยาวชนที่ย้ายจากบ้านเด็กคุณแม่เทเรซาหรือสถานสงเคราะห์อื่นๆ ให้มีอนาคตที่ดีเมื่อเขาเหล่านั้นก้าวออกไปสู่สังคม
เป้าหมายที่สำคัญของเราคือ ช่วยพัฒนาเยาวชนเหล่านั้นให้สามารถปรับตัวและดำเนินชีวิตประจำวันอย่างปกติเหมือนคนทั่วไปในสังคม และที่บ้านหลังใหม่เรามีแผนกิจกรรมที่จัดให้พวกเขามีโอกาสได้รับการศึกษาที่ดีทั้งด้านวิชาการและด้านอาชีพต่างๆที่ตัวเขาเหล่านั้นถนัดและมีความสนใจซึ่งจะเป็นสิ่งที่ช่วยเขาในการประกอบอาชีพเพื่อเลี้ยงตัวเองได้ นอกจากนี้แล้วเยาวชนต้องมีส่วนรับผิดชอบและดูแลรักษาสถานที่ เช่น การทำความสะอาดบ้านและบริเวณศูนย์ ทำงานสวน หรือเกือบทุกๆอย่างที่สมาชิกทุกคนที่อยู่เหมือนครอบครัวเดียวกันในบ้านหลังนี้ต้องช่วยกันรับผิดชอบและดูแลรักษา ซึ่งเจ้าหน้าที่และผู้ใหญ่ที่พักอยู่กับเยาวชนที่บ้านแม่มารีย์จะช่วยในการสนับสนุนเยาวชนโดยการให้คำแนะนำด้วยความรักและหวังดีตลอดระยะเวลาที่อยู่ที่นี่”

บทภาวนาเสกบ้านแม่มารีย์
ข้าแต่พระคริสตเจ้า พระองค์ตรัสสั่งอัครสาวกว่า “ ท่านเข้าไปในบ้านใด ก็จงสวดขอสันติสุขแก่บ้านนั้น ”ข้าพเจ้าวอนขอให้ศูนย์นี้ มีบรรยากาศแห่งความสุข ความสงบเรียบร้อย เพื่อใช้อบรมบรรดาเยาวชน ให้เป็นคนดี มีศิลธรรมและคุณภาพชีวิต ขอพระองค์ทรงคุ้มครองผู้ที่อาศัยในสถานที่นี้ทุกคน
โปรดให้พวกเขา มีความปลอดภัยจากอันตรายทั้งปวง ให้ผู้อบรมเปี่ยมด้วยพระคุณแห่งความรู้ ความปรีชา ความยำเกรงพระองค์ และให้ผู้รับการอบรมในสถานที่นี้เปี่ยมด้วยพระพร
เขาจะได้เข้าใจสิ่งต่าง ๆ จดจำคำแนะนำ นำเอาไปปฏิบัติอบรมนิสัยให้เป็นคนดี มีความศักดิ์สิทธ์เพื่อเชิดชูพระเกียรติของพระองค์ เหตุฉะนี้ ข้าพเจ้าทั้งหลายวิงวอนขอพระองค์อวยพร และเสกบ้านเยาวชนแห่งนี้ให้ศักดิ์สิทธ์ไป และขอให้เทพสวรรค์คอยปกปักษ์รักษาบ้านและผู้อาศัยทุกคน

Aids Hospice and Intensive Care

2010-06-13T18:30:00.000-07:00

Since our hospice care program opened for adults in late 2005 over 130 persons have been cared for, some for short periods, others prolonged. Of the 130 persons about 45 have died—many of them at the hospice, others in their homes after leaving the hospice. Many have also recovered well enough and have found small jobs—these are few and far in between. We have found that a great number of them returning home have been rejected, uncared for, do not eat properly nor take their medication properly; thus, die within a short time. Because of this we have started a new program for those who have no home or place to return to—our program being the start of a self help program where some of them now live on our farm. On the farm they can now plant vegetables as a source of their own food, help with the care of the fruit trees, help with raising fish in the ponds and now raising ducks. We can see a tremendous difference in their attitude and outlook on life. They are happy, they feel fulfilled and are filled with hope. Not all will be able to live on the farm in the limited accommodation; however, because of a very generous benefactor a new Center is under construction for this purpose as well as teenagers. At the new Center they will be expected to work in the same way as partial self support. At the new Center part of the development will be also to plant fruit trees, raise fish, ducks, chickens and whatever they are interested in doing to help themselves.

Patients have been sent to our hospice not only from the Nong Bua Lamphu Province, but from many other Provinces as well, especially from the Northeastern Provinces. Other religious have sent patients to us for care, local hospitals from other Provinces as well, especially cases where they have been rejected by family and friends. Some of these cases come in very late stages so for many of these there is no hope. It is very rewarding to see some of our patients who have been with us for many months, coming in very bad condition and to see how they have improved both physically and mentally.

Aids is affecting young men and women in so many different ways. Many come with tuberculosis; thus, have to go through a long course of TB medications before they are able to get onto the aids antiviral medications. Others the disease affects their eye sight, their speech, hearing and overall their physical being.

We are fortunate in that the government is giving the aids antiviral medicines free to those inflicted with aids. These medications have made a tremendous difference in the life of so many. I remember in our early years here when we still were only working out of the office doing visitations and still had no facility to care for people—I remember in a period of 2 years having 60 of our HIV group dying. It was as if an entirely new group appeared and it was not long after this that the antiviral medicines became available through the government.

We are fortunate as well to have a very good staff; though, they are not fully fledged nurses, some of them have hospital work experience. We are not far from the local government hospital and take patients for check up and appointments frequently—almost every week someone has an appointment. Our patients have care 24 hours a day.

Since we have our own SVD parish priest and since the Center and Church are close together, he has been appointed as chaplain to our patients and visits them regularly to give any pastoral care and spiritual needs they might have even though they are all Buddhist.

The Province here is as earlier mentioned one of the poorest of the 76 Provinces financially, we cannot expect to receive financial help; however, from time to time individuals and some of the local businesses bring food and other goods to help our patients and the children—this help is much appreciated though not frequent.

Above one of the patients from Udon Thani who came for care, blind as the result of aids, the young woman in the wheel chair spent several months at the hospice and taken almost weekly to a large hospital in Khon Kaen Province (over 100 kilometers drive) for eye injections to treat her eye sight—she died some months later. In the center one of the first patients in the hospice, also died. On the right two patients doing handicrafts as physical therapy. The young women recovered very well and has returned to her family and young man still with us now more than one year has improved greatly and helping daily with gardening chores at the Center—he will be one of the persons to go to the new Center once completed.

Our Intensive Care Unit with an additional two beds has been very helpful for more critical patients and allows as well patients coming with tuberculosis to be separated from the others. The ICU has been made possible through the help of the San Bernardino Diocese in California and the Lynch Family Foundation in America as well. It was a simple conversion of a small sala where the patients used to eat their meals into the room that it is now with an extension of toilet shower facilities for wheel chair accessibility. The ICU has been named “Villa Marie” in honor of a very dear benefactor in America.

Children's Home - Sisters of Charity of Mother Teresa

2010-06-10T00:34:00.000-07:00

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.

English Language Ministry

2010-06-10T00:28:00.000-07:00

The English language ministry began already in early 2000 when Br. James started to teach English to interested students in the neighborhood and not long after was asked to teach at the local government school, Nong Bua Pittyakan. As well as substituting for Thai English teachers he helped English teachers with their further studies. All schools in the area are happy to have a true English speaker to help them. When Br. Ron arrived in January of 2002 he also became involved with teaching many classes in the same school on a voluntary basis. For a period of time as well Ron spent some time teaching English at one of the local Buddhist temples to the novice monks there. Contact with local students and teachers has been a good witness value as a result.

Mission Vision and Statement of Goals - Divine Word Thailand District

2010-06-07T01:13:00.001-07:00

Fr. Tim Norton, SVD (Provincial Australia Province), Fr. Truc Phan, SVD (Vietnam), Fr. Anthony Duc Le, SVD (America), Br. Ron Fratzke, SVD (America), Br. Bernd Ruffing, SVD (Germany), Br. Damien Lunders, SVD (America

Following the example of the Divine Word, our mission in Thailand is to incarnate ourselves into the lives of the Thai people and thereby be of true missionary service to them.

Just as Christ the Word Incarnate, was born and grew up within a specific culture before he revealed His Fathers plan, so we, an international community through openness and respect for the local culture are committed to immerse ourselves into the lives of the people of Thailand, so we may grow in our understanding in order to serve them.

In union with the Divine Word and expressing our SVD charism, we grow and co-operate with the local church, seeking peripheral and neglected areas of Thai Society which the Church has not been able to reach out where the gospel has not been preached sufficiently. Our work will include special care for the poor, the promotion of justice and peace and dialogue with other faiths.

Through this work and through our witnessing as a prayerful international missionary-religious community, we support the Catholic Church in Thailand and its endeavor to understand and accomplish its local mission and to develop a wider vision of its universal calling.

Self-Help Occupations

2010-06-06T19:32:00.000-07:00

Mother of Perpetual Help Center is in its 5th year to help HIV families get started in self help projects. In particular, the cattle project has been very successful.

The original project began to help 5 families in each of the HIV groups with two cattle each—a mother and a calf. After one year the family was to give back to the project half of the cost of the original purchase and in turn the returned funds would be used to help other families within their groups. After the first year the Center was happy to receive a 90% return; thus, being able to continue the program and with a further grant from an interested funding agency even more families have been able to participate in the project.

To ensure that the program could continue each family receiving cattle signed contracts stating that after one year they would return half of this cost. These contracts have been taken seriously and so the project continues with success. Periodically visitations to the families are made and pictures taken in order to give reports to those agencies and persons who have been so generous to support this endeavor.

This self help project has given now over 80 families hope and a means of taking care of themselves. It is difficult for young men and women inflicted with aids to find work in the cities, in their villages there is little to do. Giving families a kick start with two cattle, both female gives them an opportunity of expanding their herd as well as a sense of hope. Initially other small self help projects were done at the same time—raising fish or chickens, but both of these have not been so successful.

WORLD AIDS DAY

2010-06-03T00:17:00.000-07:00

Every year on December 1st all the schools that have taken part in the Aids Education and Awareness program during the year gather at Mother of Perpetual Help Center for World Aids Day activities. Each of the 20/25 schools send student and teacher representatives to the Center for sports, art, singing and questions and answer competition regarding what they have learned about aids. Children from the children’s home and members from the various HIV groups attend as well and join in the activities.

When our Bishop is free he attends the event as do heads of the Public Health and Social Welfare Departments.

Awards are distributed to the winners of the different competitions. Art competition made up of drawings which show how much students understand about aids—the questions and answers competition about aids gives a clear indication of how much the students understand about aids and the dangers connected with the disease. The Center now has the only WAD activities in the City

Education and Awareness Program for Aids Prevention Among the Youth

2010-06-02T23:27:00.000-07:00

Mother of Perpetual Help Center’s program to give education and awareness to the youth in schools has been going on now into its 8th year. Starting out on a small scale as mentioned in the villages has developed into an important and essential activity of the Center with the hope that in the future the continued spread of aids will begin to decrease. The Center has now covered all Junior High School students in all 6 Districts—each year with 20 to 25 schools participating in the program. The Center is now beginning with a second round with an entirely new generation of students. The program is an intensive one which begins with a 3 day camp where student and teacher representatives from all of the 20/25 schools participate and are given training about aids and its dangers. After the camp those participating help staff from the Center in a two day follow-up program at each of their schools to give the rest of the student bodies the same education and awareness. During the camp and during the follow-up program students participate in small and large group activities in sports, small group and large group discussions. This program has been well accepted by the schools, by the Education Department as well as Health Department and other government agencies, including the Social Welfare Department. Follow-up in each of the schools takes a lot of time, but is well worth the efforts being made. At each of the schools a further 100 to 200 students go through the program so that at the end of the year 3 to 4,000 students go through the program. It is still too early to know the full impact of these efforts, but indications from teachers and other officials give a positive response to this project. Government programs are less involved.

Children's & Home Visitation Programs

2010-05-31T19:01:00.000-07:00

The milk and food supplement program began already in the year 2000 and continues today. At that time as well school fees and supplies were distributed to a small group which has now grown from 60 children to 400. Not all the children are HIV positive, but among the 400 about 60 are HIV positive and remain in the villages with either a single parent or with grandparents for those whose mother and father have already died. Families look forward each year for this distribution which helps toward the education of their children and are grateful for this support. This program is an important outreach which gives both physical and moral support to these families - it is the concern of the Center to help these children who need extra help in villages as those children living in the orphanage are well cared for with a secure future.

Often during home visitations many of the neighbors will gather out of curiosity to see what is happening—this is a good means of educating others as well as they listen to the counseling given to the person inflicted with aids. Everyone can ask questions to become more familiar with aids and hopefully they will lose some of their fears connected with aids and promote less rejection to those inflicted. Village life in Thailand is a very close and open style of living—there isn’t much that is not known by everyone living nearby. Inspite of education and awareness people are still afraid and there is still a lot of rejection.

Early Activities

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Beside weekly family and village visitations the Center had a yearly distribution of help to children of HIV families with school fees, school uniforms and supplies to 60 children. In the early years there was only the one HIV group which belonged to Mother of Perpetual Help Center. Because of the limited space at the small rented building such distributions were held at a large meeting room made available at the local government hospital. Later such distributions and larger group meetings were held at a temporary bush material building on the rented property of one of the staff members.

Development According to the Needs—HIV Groups

During the next two years as members became more stabilized and as members of the HIV group continued to grow the Center encouraged more groups to be formed. As the Center staff became well known for their knowledge and background with the aids disease the Health Department began to invite them as resource persons to give training and education about aids to village groups in outlying areas. With frequent contact also with local District hospital nurses and doctors HIV groups were formed in the District hospitals of Sibunruang and Non Sang, later in the Districts of Naklang and Nawang and lastly in the farthest District of Suwan Khu Ha. These groups met regularly each month and staff from the Center tried to attend their group meetings as frequently as possible. As the years went by and groups became confident within themselves they were able to write small projects to government agencies to procure funds which helped them with their monthly meetings for food, travel and visitations to members of the group who were not able to attend due to ill health.

The Center continues to have regular contact with these groups and it is through these groups and the group leaders that the Center gathers information and knowledge as to the most needy cases who need assistance. When possible leaders from each of the groups are invited to attend training sessions at the Center in health care, the use of the new medications which are being provided by the government hospitals, child care, nutrition and hygiene.

The Center is fortunate in the sense to be working in the Province of Nong Bua Lamphu as it is a fairly small Province with only six Districts, so it is possible to have contact with HIV infected persons throughout the Province. It is estimated that the Center is in contact with about 500 families of which there are 60 infected children that are known to us. With so many persons infected the groups and their leaders are invaluable as helpers since it is impossible for our staff to have regular contact individually with so many people and to keep up with all the activities of the Center.

A monthly supply of powdered milk, eggs and other food supplement are distributed to the most needy children in each of the District groups. We have been fortunate to receive help for this purpose through Missio Austria and other agencies in Europe.

Mother of Perpetual Help Center

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Mother of Perpetual Help Aids Center began as a “Welcome House” in 1997 where persons infected with HIV/AIDS could come for counseling and moral support. The Center was started with the help of a former seminarian from the Diocese of Udon Thani and operated out of a simple rented family house where he and his wife lived on the upper floor with office and meeting space on the ground floor. In the early years there was a small staff of Mr. Ratanakul Photi with his wife Fon and two volunteer workers, one of whom was HIV positive herself and still remains with the Center today (2009). An HIV monthly group meeting was formed where those infected with aids could meet regularly as a means of group support and to learn about health care.

As time went on and the group grew the Center staff went out on home visitations weekly and eventually larger training sessions evolved where health care workers from the Public Health Department and the hospital were invited to give medical help and advice. Other training sessions began with village groups in order to give more education about HIV/AIDS so as to minimize the fear which became more and more evident as the sickness increased among so many.

The Center would have had to close its doors had not the SVD Brothers come to help with the Center, especially to enable projects to be written and presented in English. The local staff of the Center did not have sufficient command of the English language to write and present projects to overseas agencies. One of the first tasks of the Brothers was to write projects firstly for the day to day activities and salaries of the Center. It was a slow and difficult task in the beginning to become known and trusted among agencies.

With time and patience gradually enough grants were received to maintain the day to day activities of the Center and eventually grants also came to help with the building up of the infrastructure.

The first two years were spent listening and going on weekly visitations to persons and families with HIV. It was not always easy in the beginning to know just what was going on in particular with the language. The time was well spent and as a result a good grasp of the needs became clear and help being received which made possible the construction of the new Mother of Perpetual Help Center and at the same time the construction of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, the first in the Province of Nong Bua Lamphu.

First Arrival in Nong Bua Lamphu, Northeast Thailand

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One year later, March 1, 2000 the Brothers left Bangkok and arrived in Nong Bua Lamphu where Bishop George Phimphisan, CSsR had assigned the Brothers to work at Mother of Perpetual Help Center.

A few months before completing language studies the Brothers came to Nong Bua Lamphu to find a place of accommodation. With the help from the staff of
the Center a suitable small house with three bedrooms in the city village of Khiang Doi was found. The house needed a good cleaning and a some repairs along with a new paint job—this was arranged and done before arrival. The house though small was suitable for two persons and the monthly rent 4,000 baht (about USD 100).

Nong Bua Lamphu was formerly one of the Districts of the Udon Thani Province and in 1993 became an independent Province with six Districts of its own. The new Province was the least developed of the five Provinces within the Diocese. The only Catholic presence in Nong Bua Lamphu Province was Mother of Perpetual Help Center, which at that time was a simple rented house where the manager and his family lived on the upper floor, there was no Catholic Church and a priest from Udon Thani came to celebrate Mass at the Center once every four to six weeks with very little attendance.

Nong Bua Lamphu Province beside being the least developed of the Diocese was and still remains the poorest of all the Provinces in the Diocese due to little to no industry. The majority of the people are rice and subsistent farmers with little income. The area remains dry and arid with six to eight months of dry during the year making farming difficult. During the few months of rain it often floods—either too little or too much rain. Inspite of the difficulties for people to earn a good living, the family spirit and morale is high among the people in this Province in comparison to Provinces such as Bangkok and other larger Provinces. The level of education as well is not as high statistically according to reports gathered by the United Nations.

Because of the Poverty in this Province many of the young when completing school tend to leave the Province to find work either in Bangkok or neighboring countries where they are often exploited and return to Thailand jobless.

First Arrival in Thailand

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Language Studies

March 20, 1999 Brother James Wilkins and Brother Damien Lunders arrived in Bangkok to begin Thai language studies for one year in preparation for new assignments in the Diocese of Udon Thani, Northeast Thailand. Thai language studies were not to be easy, especially being a tonal language and to add to the difficulties—starting studies at an advanced age. The Union Language School is owned by the Baptist church and many of the students were either to work with other religious denominations, as well priests and nuns studying for future work in various Dioceses’ throughout the country. Other students from Korea, Japan, America, Australia and other countries for future employment with companies in Bangkok. Most students were to study for up to one year—those younger students and in particular Asian students learned the language much quicker and with greater precision.

It is imperative to learn the language as well as one can to communicate with the local people. One thinks of Thailand as having one language; namely, “Thai” however there are many dialects as well. Here in the Northeast there is a big influence from Laos being only 90 kilometers from the Laos boarder across the Mekong River. Consequently people in this area speak primarily what they call the “Isaan Language”. The majority of people of course understand the normal central language, but prefer to speak in the local dialect.

As well as the language being different, the people have quite a different liking for food—very hot and spicy, sometimes un-cooked—in Thai called “dip”, when cooked called “suk”. These terms referred to fruit as well, if fruits are not yet ripe, they are “dip”, when ripe “suk”.

Thailand - A New Mission Venture for SVD

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Some years ago Fr. General Henry Barlage in his introductory letter in one of the Arnoldus Nota’s encouraged members to venture out into new horizons, new missions.

Br. James Wilkins while in the United States met a group of Franciscan missionaries who had information seeking volunteers to work at their aids center outside of Bangkok. When I met Br. James during my home leave from Papua New Guinea he asked whether I would be interested in this project—not thinking too much about it I said yes I would. On my return to Papua New Guinea I visited the aids center there and at that time a Spanish missionary priest was in charge of the center. He said “they were no longer interested in volunteers as the Daughters of Charity had now taken responsibility for the center”. He said; however, “that if we were still interested he could give us contact with a Bishop in Thailand”. We left it at that and much later agreed that we were still interested, so made contact again with this Spanish missionary who then gave Bp. George Phimphisan, CSsR in the Diocese of Udon Thani as a contact. Brother James made contact with Bishop George who said he was very interested to have the SVD.

As time went on discussions were held with the Provincial of Australia, Fr. James Knight. He seemed quite open to this venture and was helpful over time with encouragement that this venture be persued; thus, negotiations began with Fr. Henry Barlage who seemed also to be somewhat in favor; though he initially mentioned that perhaps we might be interested and consider working in Vietnam instead. Over a long period of time and through much dialogue between Provincials of Australia and Papua New Guinea we decided that we were still interested in Thailand and eventually permission was granted for the Brothers to go to Thailand on an experimentary basis.