Dear Friends, In this photo, below, we celebrated another great past year of study, completed by all our students. Pictured above (left to right) Paul, Nui, Mai, Arnie, Penny, Jono.Jono finished grade 11 and is excited about being a high school senior starting Aug 18, in 2 weeks. Hard to believe he will be 18 years old in November. Arnie has worked very hard during his grade one year. He has learned to read and write this past year. Yay for Arnie! He will go into grade 2, also starting in 2 weeks. Mai also finished a great year of study, passing all her subjects. Due to rough start in life, she isn’t in the same academic year as Jono, although she is also turning 18, early September! We are so proud of her attitude and her achievements. Nui is still working at a local restaurant and loves the work, she is 19 and considering her future. Nui loves being at home, is thriving and we appreciate her contributions to our family.
Yanee (16 years) is doing well as she works alongside our staff helper, Supun, learning valuable home management skills. Yanee does enjoy being a part of cooking our evening meal each day, as well as helping with buying the groceries and outings to our local markets. Great life skills development for her. Above all, she truly comes alive when she has opportunity to go along with Penny sharing in visits to nearby villages or hospitals. And in other exciting news, after one year of ‘jumping through hoops’ we now have the visa we hoped for. We are grateful beyond words, this truly is miraculous, as we were told multiple times that this would not be achievable, without leaving the country. So please ‘do a happy dance’ Peace to you all in whatever you are facing. Stay safe. |
Let’s see them through…
with us, as we celebrate being able to stay in Thailand and also now having a renewed ONE YEAR visa. Let’s see them through… proud of the goals reached, with more to come!
Dear friends and family, we hope you will enjoy as we share some fun accomplishments of life with you all, so you can celebrate with us, as we enjoy the process of raising out fabulous Thai Kids.
I’m sure you’d agree that it is significant in life, not to give up, to keep persevering, with a goal that is tough to reach. We celebrated Jonathan reaching one of his goals, as an ‘Eagle Scout’. This was significant for him; tough, as well as enjoyable and worthwhile. He will be in grade 12, a high school senior soon.
Bom is doing well with his business studies are a local Chiang Rai university, and Bam is registered, ready to begin at the same time university very soon. Her first year classes start mid-year.
Hope and Mae, just this past month, graduated high school and are so glad to be all finished. Our current “third wave” of COVID-19 prevents any joint celebrations for them but we are none-the-less very proud of their achievements.
Foon writes… “Grateful for the opportunity to play soccer at Cornerstone University
Blessed to have such amazing coaches and teammates.
Thanks so much for your partnership in helping us see them through, Paul and Penny
Let’s see them through… full steam ahead 2021
 Dearest friends and family,Despite the obstacles presented in 2020, we feel like we are cruising full steam ahead into 2021. Grateful to have the opportunity to move forward. We trust you all had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas and have embraced this New Year with joy and excitement.Many have asked about our visa “troubles” and although not yet resolved, we are much closer to reaching our goals of having all the requirements in place by mid-year to switch to a new visa type that we now can qualify for. We hope to reach these goals by April/May, which will be simpler for us and will not require nearly as much government reporting.
Our precious Mae recently scored herself a great job, nannying twins, for a couple who live close by. She enjoys the job, and literally has her hands full! Bom is still studying business at a local Chiang Rai university, where Bam will also start her degree soon. Plus Jono, Mai and Arnie are back in classes at school, after a few months of online classes last year. Jono will be a high school senior starting this August!Thanks for standing with us, partnering and praying for us, as we share the ups and downs of life with these ones. Thanks for your care and love for us. Paul and Penny |
Foon is more than half way into his first year at Cornerstone University, (Michigan) we were thrilled for him that he was still able to travel to USA despite all the obstacles and arrive on time to start his degree. He has settled very well, has connected with a great group of students who are a positive influence on him. By all reports he is thriving on college life, living in at his campus dormitory. Making good grades and of course playing soccer.
