After the distribution, we packed up and said goodbye to our wonderful hosts and interpreters there in Uttaraditt. Then bussed back to Chiang Mai and our home (it seems now after so many trips) at Chiang Mai Orchid Hotel.

This guy was our 2nd recipient. He was paralyzed from waist down, and so had lots of upper body strength. He wanted a regular wheelchair. Luc, our in-country leader who is in a sports wheelchair had to be called in to help therapist Jackie convince him the sports wheelchair she picked for him was appropriate. He had to wait almost the whole day for repairs and revision to chair. I am following close behind him to keep him from falling backwards while he got used to moving it. Luc and John in the blue shirt had to instruct him on how to fall properly and get back in the chair. And also to convince him falling backwards is expected and not to be afraid. Being a part of that was new and impressive.
1, 2, 3 This is layout of the distribution, before recipients and dignitaries for the ceremony. There is always a ceremony at each distribution.

He was another of Annie’s recipients who had CP. This was his 1st wheelchair and once he relaxed in it his face lit up and he was having a ball facing a whole new world.4481 This was the 1st patient of the day for my team. He was a stroke victim. After we were all done and took this picture he smiled and gave us a thumbs up. His wife loved to smile and laugh, except when we took her picture.

Jasmine is calming this boy while he awaits his chair.

Here is one of Annie’s recipients with rheumatoid arthritis. Her daughter cared for her. She remained very stoic through pain and all.

Friday 26th distribution at Uttaraditt.

After the dam visit we went to see the oldest and biggest teak tree in the world. Yes, it’s alive.

Here we were feeding the fish just after we ate some of their cousins for lunch.

We went to the largest earthen hydroelectric dam in Thailand, the Sirikit Dam of the Nan River. Beautiful countryside even though it is the dry season.

Thursday 25th sightseeing day.

Wednesday 24th Flew to Chiang Mai in the North then bussed south to Uttaraditt.

After crossing the bay after dusk, in the dark, we got back home around 10:15. Tired but satisfied. The remaining team at the facility fit 42 wheelchairs with 4 fitting teams. Whew. Everybody rocked.

Mr. Cool was a little shy about Annie taking his picture but Annie was persistent.

2nd stop, Koh Yao where we fit 10 patients in about 2 ½ hours. The recipients (in a Muslim community) had been waiting since morning until we arrived at about 3:15. Still, lots of smiles and happiness though we worked feverishly.

Here is a 15 year old boy with cerebral palsey, has parents still together and caring well for him. And eager learn more care; such as a rolled cloth to enclose in his hand to keep his fingernails from cutting into his hand. The boy in his wheelchair will now be the greeter for the family store.

Meghan caring for a lovely Muslim lady happy to be mobile again after a broken hip 8 months ago.

1st stop, Koh Yai Island where we fit 4 patients.

Tuesday, 23rd. This was another day of distribution at the same regional health facility as yesterday. But one fitting team split from the group to distribute on 2 islands. Annie (support), myself (mechanic) and Meghan Lyndsay (therapist) were accompanied by Country Leaders, Judy and Gordon Soares with Joey and others from RICD team. Gordon and Joey served as additional mechanics.

We love the happy faces of the Thai recipients and family members. We fit about 43 chairs.

This is Joey along with me lowering the wheels on a chair. His father is one of the Pioneers missionary that we have partnered with from the very beginning 2005. Thailand is his home.

These are sisters, Muslim. The recipient (without the hat) was born with underdeveloped and weak legs. She lives in the house with her family, five siblings. As her siblings marry they add onto the house. She takes care of the household duties by crawling around. Her sister (with the hat) sobbed for joy when she was placed in the wheelchair because now her sister won’t be left behind and is now mobile, on her own.

This is Mat, the pastor’s son. He’s a translator for us. He is studying English in Bangkok University.

Monday, 22nd
1st day of distribution in Phang Nga at a regional health care facility.

Dinner was with some dignitary Thai physicians along with Dr. Samai, director of the disabilities ministry in Thailand. Stay away from the chicken curry.…it’s a really hot dish. Tomorrow....distribution....it's what we do.

This is the very famous stack at James Bond Island where “Man with the Golden Gun” (I think that was the one) was filmed.

One island with a pass through.

This sign made me genuinely curious. All the dwellings are on stilts and piers. Since all the islands were little more than sheer cliffs all around, how does one actually get to higher ground?4321 One island with a pass through.

These glyphs are over 3000 years old.

The rock is worn at the waterline giving many the floating look.

After lunch, we went on a boat ride in Phang Nga Bay where they have all those floating islands and sea stacks.

Sunday, 21st
Went to church. It turns out this church didn’t have services until 7:00pm. This wasn’t the church we wanted – it was catholic with a school on the grounds. We found our intended church a few blocks away in a commercial shop space. It was a wonderful and intimate time. A number of the musicians and service helpers spoke English. The pastor was a woman and her teenager son interpreted the sermon for us. Many of the songs were familiar as we usually find. About six of these church people will help us tomorrow at distribution as interpreters.

No noteworthy pictures. After nearly 24 hours on flights, we landed in Phuket late afternoon on Friday. We met our dear in-country friends and jumped in vans for a short trip to Phang Nga. It's hot and humid but not real unpleasant. We checked into our rooms at the Phunga Hotel and then went to see where we will be distributing Monday and Tuesday. It's the regional health center, and a nice roomy facility. We had dinner about 7:00, followed by a short meeting, and released to our rooms. Annie and I fell asleep at 9:30pm but awoke about 4:00am.....to just chat until we went down for breakfast at 6:30. We can see the tops of the sea stacks over the hotel and green canopy. Annie and I recently saw Avatar and the sea stacks look like the floating mountains. Today, Saturday was orientation. We consolidated tools and materials, sorted and organized wheelchair gifts (toothbrushes, toothpaste, candy, crayons, etc.), and commissioned the seating teams with prayer. A wonderful day getting to know each other and preparing ourselves for our work here, for our mission ministering to the people in Thailand in His name. Church tomorrow and sightseeing.

Now it's time for another Wheels for the World trip. We leave in 2 days. Annie and I are packed and ready to go back to see friends and minister to the wonderful people of Thailand. Stay tuned.

And God be with Egypt

We leave Egypt along with new friends.

We left Heny with many tools to use after we left.

Heny’s staff helped out. Couldn’t have done the 30 wheelchair fittings without them.