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(28.5.2008)
I left Thailand on May 18 to go to Dundee, WI at the Vista camp, on Little Cedar Lake. It is from this camp that the Ceboriders will depart on early Saturday morning on June 7 for over 100 miles of biking. I think that the leader Sam Mueller already has the route marked out, and I hope it is shorter this year, because there are some killer hills east of here! This is the7th ride, one each year.
I also hope Sam and Molly (who won't be riding, since she will deliver in August) and their friends stay in shape for another 15 years. This ride is absolutely vital for ARV medicine. Even though we get government medicine for the children with AIDS, the medicine is no longer used in first world countries, and as the virus mutates in their bodies, medicine from companies like Merck has to be bought with private funds, since the government is affording only regular meds. Also, beside our 60 children with AIDS, we have another 15 or 16 in other villages staying with their grandmas or aunts. Some have folks still alive, but weakened with AIDS. We also treat another 100-plus young people and adults who have AIDS. Ceboride buys medicines, supplements, and in many cases, food and rice for these people. We really appreciate the effort that Sam and Molly and their fellow riders put into this ride. We were really lucky in 2001 that they went to Thailand and volunteered at Sarnelli House. Sam also set up the sponsorship program for me, that allows us to have a photo and the history for each child for sponsors. Old Uncle Mike is a lucky man.
Back in Thailand, some of our AIDS-infected kids had a rough start in the year. Lyn nearly died, and wound up in the Khon Kaen U hospital. She is home now, and able to eat again. Dottie, the Baby Buffalo has been having problems with severe bacterial infections. She is 3 years old, and virtually runs the place with her whims. Miss Tokyo, who gets straight 4's in all her exams, has a bad skin reaction from her special ARV medicines, and she just has to put up with it. Bee had her 4th surgery on her face, with one more to go. She is a tough little kid; never cries or complains of pain. Little Mr. "Boy" (we have three "Boys") has TB of the bone, and both arms are badly infected with the TB virus. Josie continues to sleep away, and gets weaker by the day. But, thanks to Ceboride, we can get these kids all the needed treatment and medicines.
We blessed the new two-story "House of Hope" nursery. It is big, airy, with places to play and much more lawn space that we had before. It has a modern kitchen. It also has a wading pool. The kids play nude, and the first trip into the pool turned out to be a disaster, when a 2-year-old fat little oaf named "Kane" took a huge dump in the pool, sending all the wee ones screaming shoving in their rush to get out. Miss Don Rak is demanding that he be banned from the pool for life!
Again, thank you and we pray for you and the good people who help the abandoned children of Sarnelli House.
Gratefully,
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