ALIVE GROUP TRIP TO NORTHERN THAILAND

by Cherylyn Tok

Towards the end of 2004, ALIVE [a youth group from St Ignatius Church] embarked on a very special project with the help of the Jesuit Refugee Service. JRS Singapore helped us to communicate and arrange with JRS Thailand to visit and stay at both an orphanage and a temporary shelter which were under their care. Although the trip lasted just a little under a week, it was a very special experience for all the members of ALIVE. It was the first time any of us had been away from home for a mission trip and we scarcely knew what to expect. Yet once we reached Baan Kae Noi Orphanage, the children melted our hearts as they grew livelier and warmed to us with a simple game of Frisbee.

As we got closer to the children, we carried the JRS mission statement through to the best of our ability. "To Serve, Accompany and Advocate for the rights of the refugees and Internally Displaced Peoples". In giving the children donated clothes, colour pencils and cooking some meals for them - we served them. In sleeping in their conditions, eating the food they eat, playing with them, taking time to communicate with and get to know each child – we accompanied them. In the way they touched our hearts, they gave us the inspiration and push to feel that we must advocate for them too and we have readily shared our experience with others to allow them to gain greater awareness of the plight of refugees and Internally Displaced Peoples.

Andrea Fam sharing a story

Hiresh Devaser brightening up a child's day

Sonia Tan at work

Each child had a unique quality; some were mischievous, some were playful, some were quieter than the others, but all had amazing strength – a fierce sense of independence and also a tender care for each other. Their generosity surprised us the most, despite their plight the children never ceased to share with us whenever they could. In order to accommodate us the girls had given up their usual sleeping quarters to huddle into a hut less well insulated from the cold. They insisted that we eat when they ate, and even 'force-fed' some of us. They taught us some phrases in their language and performed with native drums for us. Above all, they shared their laughs, their smiles and their undying optimism with us.

We found that there were many things we could learn from the children, especially that they were able to focus on the things which they had rather than the things which the lacked. They cared for each other, all of them for example, doted on the little 2 yr old – taking turns to carry him and play with him. They did not spend time moping about, wondering about their parents or their shaky futures, but rather played cheerfully with each other and were all-smiles most of the time.

Bringing smiles to the children

With every one of their smiles, our hearts smiled back too.

Joe, our guide from JRS Thailand, had indeed been right. The fact that we were there with the children, playing with them and simply spending time with them, was already more than enough for them. It was all they looked for and they were truly grateful and not afraid to show it in every way they could.

And we too, came back truly grateful for the experience, for it was an unforgettable one. Rarely do we ever see God in the actions and behaviour in another being – but we did, in each of the children. Rarely too, does a simple gesture as a hug ever mean so much – but it did, as one of the little ones came to hug me as I was crying desperately when it was time for us to leave the orphanage.

Let us all work to live out the mission statement of the JRS – "to Serve, Accompany and Advocate for the rights of refugees and Internally Displaced Peoples" because it is a fulfilling experience and the perfect lesson in humility for each of us. Borrowing the words of the lovely hymn – The Servant Song by Richard Gillard, "Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you?". If God could wash the feet of his disciples, so should we learn to serve others to lighten their load and make it more bearable – it is only the least that we can do.