On the 16th of June, we visited a monastary to donate 200 school bags. This monastary runs a school for over 600 street children--those who are too poor to have uniforms and pay fees to attend regular school. Over 200 live at the monastary--because they are orphans or because their parent cannot take care of them.
We were taken upstairs where the head monk lives--always barefooted in a monastary and visited with him for a few minutes--through Dr, Win interpreting--before some children were brought in. This little boy, about three, treated him like a grandpa. He had several sores on his head, but looked happy. A number of the children sleep in this room, because of the overcrowding.

Hands together is a sign of reverence and these children had been trained. They were wearing what looked like summer pajamas. The "thanaka" which is on their faces is a kind of astringent that protects from the sun. Usually the children have their heads shaved completely. We were told that leaving a patch of hair on their heads allowed them to identify "their" children from other street kids if some are accused of mischief, etc.

We were amazed at the numbers and the sound in this huge classroom. There were maybe 6-8 teachers over groups, and each group was reciting loudly. It's hard to understand how learning can take place in this kind of condition.

The girls who live at the monastary are dressed in lighter color robes and do have their heads shaved. They are not required to go out daily barefooted to fill their bowls. But they do go out and ask for food or donations. Again--loud recitation and crowded conditions.

We were told that the bags themselves would be donated to the neediest, but the notebooks, pencils, etc. in the bags would be divided so the contribution would go further. These bags are mostly a goodwill gesture on the part of LDSC. We have taken them out to villages, but there simply aren't enough for all the children, so they become "awards" for outstanding students, not necessarily the neediest.

As we left, Carl and the monk shook hands warmly. Two good men who enjoyed each other's company.

On June 14th we traveled out of Yangon to another completed water project.

We often aren't together as each of us is shaking hands, or Carl's asking questions, but there are occasional moments.

At each of the ceremonies we've attended, ribbons are stretched, we're handed scissors, and wait for pictures to be taken and then cut the ribbon. After that, the pump is turned on and the water begins to flow.

Getting to this village required us to leave the van we traveled in and go along this path/road? for a mile or so. The monsoon season has begun (rain nearly every day) and the fields are being planted with rice. That requires each field to be flooded for the planting to occur. At a number of spots, there was enough mud to cause the tractor/truck driver to have to spin the wheels to move forward.

Instead of having us climb into the back of the truck, we were placed in front with the driver, an intended courtesy. However, as the wheels were spinning to go forward, mud was flying backwards, and we arrived at the village, mud splattered. More so when we left the village.

We are always greeted so warmly and given gifts. Here are pineapples and red bananas.

And more bananas. You can see that there are different shapes and colors and tastes.

This is the basket that was sent back with us--so full that it took two men to lift it. So after a long, hot day, we came home dirty and tired, but with warm memories of the happy faces that we saw when the pump started bringing water to their village, and lots of reminders of the generosity of the people.