There's too much to tell! Let's see:
1. Donations: to date $5725.00 US dollars (about 217,000 baht) Excellent!
2. Pictures: Thanks to everyone who gave ideas for picture posting. As a result, we now have a website thanks to Davis Dewey in Massachusetts! www.tsunamihealing.com with pictures!!!! Only a few so far as it took me FIVE hours to transmit 15 pictures, but its a start.
3. Collaboration: Remember I said other foreigners (falangs) and us (you and me) are collaborating? We are a group of 4, two American, one German and one from Switzerland. Together we dramatically increased the number of boats under repair.
In addition to Butch, Richard and Nathalie, the other three foreigners, we have support from Pui, Cin, Noot and Jep; all Thai women pitching in translating, helping with purchases, transportation, translating documents, making phone calls and much more.
4. Greenfield Savings Bank: Lisa McKenna and her staff who receive all your donations, created a system to track donations and keep them on file for me later and work with me to wire the money over here to Thailand. A big Thank you to all of them.
5. Boats: DRUMROLL PLEASE: Boats in the water! Fishermen from Koh Bhara (site 2) launched 11 repaired boats. They looked brand new. Teamwork dominated as 30 men wrestled the huge boats from the repair area, over rolling palm tree logs, down to the seashore. Shouts and cheers filled the air. I pitched in and feel it in my back and shoulders already.
Later, the headman looked me in the eye, took my hand and said (through an interpreter) "I don't know how I'll ever thank you." I pass that on to you personally. Please take a moment and savor your accomplishment. I cannot thank you enough. I wish you were here to share the joy.
I then launched myself into the water for a celebration swim.
6. Next Step: Many, many boats await repairs. As of yesterday, 40 boats are under repair. Its very expensive. To those who've donated, thank you. To everyone else, please do send what you can, and forward my appeal and generate donations. The new website has the appeal and bank address. Just today, Butch paid 90,000 baht ($2368 US dollars) for lumber. Tomorrow I'm going to Krabbe, a city 2 1/2 hours away for materials and expect to spend another $2600 US dollars.
7. Me personally. Many have asked, so...I'm thrilled with the project, Its really happening! I do lots of coordination, riding all over the island, purchasing, picture taking, on-line time, documentation...its endless, hard and completely worth it.
I hate the dirty bumpy dusty roads, they're hell on the body and lungs. I ride a motorbike everywhere.
I'm getting sick too often, currently a serious ear infection and yesterday stomach terrors.
I'm exhausted most of the time, and am hanging in.
There are some wonderful times too:
Two nights ago, several "collaborators" visited a tiny island, only about 4 feet above sea level, sat in awe of the full moon rise over the Andaman Sea between two distant islands.
Several nights ago, I sat alone on the beach under the bright moonlight and meditated for some hour and a half. I touched God ever so briefly.
I get to do THIS!
in service,
bill francis