On January 11 Bill wrote:
Dear friends, I'm still okay but have pushed too hard. So many people work relentlessly to aid the thousands here. I need to rest.
I'm no longer running the Volunteer Center, its disbanded.
lately I've helped:
deliver a woman to the temple to recover her husband's body (she had quite a story)
make some little children laugh including Jalan, 13 years old, who lost his home.
listened to a survivor/heroine of Kho Phi Phi relive her 48 hours without sleep, food or water. She directed the rescue of some 200 people who would have died without help. She's tortured inside for what she witnessed and by guilt for not doing more. She continues to drive herself directing relief efforts every day.
get missing data info from 6 hospitals in Phang gna
deliver supplies to a refugee camp
people from the US, Sweden, Thailand, & Great Britain by spending 2 days helping get and deliver food, water, basic survival needs to about 250 villages on an island far to the south
Bertie from the Swedish Lion's club distribute toys to beautiful children
other displaced volunteers to find ways to help
Here's something: We needed a truck, the one promised didn't show up. A Thai couple saw our need and offered their truck. We loaded their truck. They drove over 100 miles to our meeting point helped transfer the supplies to an Army truck, all this taking many, many hours. They refused any payment, not even fuel money for their efforts. Big, very big hearts here.
On Khao Lanta, Cin, a local woman stepped up to help us discover pockets of displaced families needing assistance. Eventually we stopped to eat. She refused. "My friends have no food, I will not eat." She drove to tell the families aid would soon arrive. We ate fast.
There are too many stories and too little time, but I hope this gives a glimpse.
Things are improving rapidly here in many areas.
I'm trying to rest today and tomorrow.
Thank you so much for your love and support.
Please see my next email for a way you can help if you choose.
love,
bill