This morning we started our day with the children from Joy’s House. This non-profit was formed over 10 years ago by a German and Thai partnership. The shelter and foundation provides home and education to 45 underprivileged children and youngsters from the hill tribe villages of North Thailand and Burma. They are trying to break the circle of poverty, and vulnerability by working hand in hand with children to shape their lives and secure their future.

We met some of the children, and they range in age from 7-18. They were like most children, shy at first but then warmed up to us. We saw where they live and go to school. They learn Thai, English, and trades like gardening, cooking, and hospitality. There is actually a restaurant next to the school/shelter. Matt and Erika saw that their shirts say “I love Italy”and we didn’t know why until we saw that the restaurant is Italian.

Our next stop was a silk and silver factory. We saw the silk worms and all of the stages they go through for the precious thread. About 8 women were using the loom to weave silk fabric. Then of course we exit through the store and many of us couldn’t pass up buying something – it was gorgeous.

Then 10 of us went to Kanta, an elephant sanctuary. It took us 1.5 hours to drive there, and the air wasn’t working well, so we were miserable, but having fun anyway. When we arrived, we changed into these ugly outfits (blue pants and a nurse like shirt with elephants on it). Then we each filled a bag with as much sugar cane as we could fit, elephants think this is like candy. We walked down to the field where 5 of the 10 elephants were in a field grazing (2 boys and 3 girls, I think). We received instructions on how to hold the food so they could grab it with their trunk. The first time each of us did it, it was a little weird, but we got the hang of it. Some of the elephants,wanted a bunch of the cane before putting it in their mouth. We could touch them anywhere except their eyes and mouth. Their skin was so rough, the hair on the side of their was like a bristle. Many of us got a kiss from the trunk of one of them. Next we walked to a creek to bathe the elephants. Bowman stayed dry for fear of hurting her ankles. We had a bucket and a brush like the one I use to clean my bathroom. We walked into the knee deep water and used the bucket to throw water on the elephant. We all got soaking wet, not just because of the elephants, nut their trainers were also throwing water on us. We scrubbed the elephants with the brushes, and just had plain fun with them. It was a unique experience with these gentle and stately animals, a day that none of us will forget.