DARE and First Grade Testing

the DARE officer

 Today was a busy day, the DARE officer came and taught the 6th and 7th graders about avoiding drugs, and the first graders had teachers from other schools come and test their reading ability. This is also the last week of classes before testing next week. This semester seems to have flown by. The students seemed to learn a lot from the DARE officer. I learned that I never want to go to Thai prison after watching a video with them about what life in Thai prison is like. Hopefully the students will take away the same message. He had me speak for a few minutes about the DARE program to the students as I'm the only teacher at the school that has studied and graduated DARE. Thailand has taken the US DARE curriculum and adapted it a little bit and uses it in Thailand. I'm so glad to see the students here being educated about drugs and ways to say no, as drugs can be a problem in this border area.

activities

prizes

drink break

first graders testing

Work on the second floor

stairs on the opposite end finished and

pouring for the stairwell

 They have once again been working hard. The poles on the second floor are finished, and getting ready to pour the beams that will be the ceiling/roof. Steps are now in place on both ends. I took them cake one day this week, so maybe that has motivated them to work hard :) I enjoy the friendships that I've made with them over the last few months. Some people have changed in the last week or so, ones that used to be here aren't, and there are several new workers, but I still enjoy talking with them and encouraging them.

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posts going up and getting ready for the beams for the roof

sand in the front hallway ready for cement to be poured

with the height and the weight of the metal rods they are

putting them together right in place instead of preparing them

on the ground and lifting them up

Church with the Hmong

Students from the dorm singinII

I was asked to accompany some missionaries as well as some students from the dorm to go and visit a Hmong church about an hour away. We had a good time encouraging the members of the small church. They invited us for lunch in their home and had prepared a meal for us ahead of time. On the way back we stopped and visited a disabled girl and her family. They had recently found out the dad grew up a Christian, but there isn't a church near where they live now. He was very happy to hear a message and to hear the singing of the dorm students. The disabled girl enjoyed the singing as well, and even tried playing the guitar. The dad said he would love it if we could come once a month. While that isn't feasible, I think there will be more trips to visit this family in the future to encourage them.

Jit preaching at the rural church

the small church building

the beautiful view

encouraging the family of a disabled girl

Over the long weekend

 Last week I went to a meeting in Chiang Mai. I was very anxious this morning to get back and see the progress made on the building. They have prepared many things and started pouring cement for the poles on the second floor. Progress is being made slowly but surely.

pouring cement into the poles

lifting cement from the ground to the

second floor takes a lot of teamwork

first selfie on the second floor

making progess

Second Floor

beginning to see the second floor

 This week they put in the stairs up to the second floor. They still weren't dry, but they had a rickety ladder sitting there that I was able to climb to get some pictures of the second floor. They poured the cement in front of the classrooms and have the cement floor boards mostly in. I'll be leaving for a meeting tomorrow and can't wait to see the changes when I get back.

steps going up to the second floor

view from a rickety ladder as the steps weren't dry yet

the cement in front of the classrooms is poured and

the floor boards for all but one room are in

materials are ready for the walls

window and door frames