May 14, 2006
We arrived safely and in good spirits! Over the weekend, we have been busy in this tropical paradise by videotaping wonderful people who are doing tsunami relief work, learning about what has been accomplished and the overwhelming problems that still exist. Children live in such desparation here, there is great need but it is difficult to know how to help! Our 24 boxes of toys and donation money now seem so inconsequential compared to the extreme povery that I have been witnessing here. Tomorrow will be making a long trek in a truck filled with boxes of toys to a village schools on the mainland It promises to be a long, hot day and it will start our toys for Thailand mission.

Maria Miller

May 18, 2006

Yesterday, after a 3 hour drive into the middle of nowhere we arrived in Kapong at the Kaowawit School, a boarding school project for Tsunami and Aids orphans and for children of the poorest of the poor. 82 kids lined up in the rain to get their little package of recycled love. The thought crossed my mind of toys that were no longer wanted going to children no one wanted--then looking at their smiling faces of joy and listening to their happy song of thank you for the gift and attention from strangers. I must say, was quite an emotional experience for me!

Judy Eberhart

We went to visit the Yaowawit School in Papong with two representatives of Childline and Klaus, our contact and benefactor while in Phuket. Klaus Orlik is a German man who owns a dive shop in Phuket and whose life was transformed, as were many, following the Tsunami. He has his little band of "crusaders" (they call themselves) who are passionate and dedicated to helping the children of the Tsunami. Klaus hadn't heard of this orphanage since is was so remote and only 6 months old. After we distributed the toys he spoke to the headmaster and made a list of needs. The boarding school is very new but bursting at the seams with kids and we got a long list of needs.

Judy Eberhart

May 18th

Week II started out driving north of Phuket island to deliver 3 bicycles.We went to the homes of the kids instead of giving them a bicycle at school which would not be good for the child as you can imagine.Our last delivery went to a little girl named Marsha who had lost her dad in the Tsunami and her mom just didnt show up one day. Martha lives in a little cinderblock room with an alcoholic uncle. She said many people had promised her a bicycle but she never got one. We had parked the bike in front of her door with a white bear with angel wings in the basket. When she got home from school she hugged the bear enthusiastically to her face and gave the red bike a test drive. I think Santa Claus really must get a kick out of his job!

Judy Eberhart

The Ban Bang Muang School that we visited lost 50 children in the tsunami and had 49 orphans living with extended family. This was the first day of the new school year and they all politely lined up in their new crisp uniforms for their toys by class. At the end we gave the women teachers an unexpected toy and the male teachers tee shirts donated by Oceanside High School. The women teachers were giggly getting these little toys as were the children (see below).

Judy Eberhart