some of the things we did...

we also went shopping and attend the marriage of vicky and jasper



















we also celebrated the 100 years of the Anglican church in Singapore. And...we visited the zoo, ate lots of fish ball noodle and hung out with family

our adventure back to sing

we were busy on the plane...seth with his 'bionicles' and shanae with physics calculations...sarah doing some beading. God was painting a beautiful sky, yet again!

agroasie august update

27^th August

                     

Agroasie comments, prayers, praise & questions

 

Gee's family

 

Gee's family is well and nobody has colds or runny noses! I had a fun time teaching English. I can't believe I said that! It was only for 1 hour, but even with a few interruptions, we managed to get some good work done. Noy loves to study. She got smart and took her kids over to 'Ferang's' house while we studied. Ferang's wife just got back from the hospital with the kids. So the kids were over there for about 20 mins. With the kids around it's very difficult for Noy to get any space. Noy really needs some stimulation beyond the house. It'd be great for her to do some small 'cottage' work to help her feel she's got a wider life. I'm all for full-time mum's, but some time with others and something else in a small way is very health. Currently, Noy is a very isolated.

 

Gee has his new safe in the ground. It looks secure. Let's pray it stay's that way. While we act carefully, we trust in God's presence always. 

 

The water in their house is 'dirty' again. The rain has also got into their neighbor's tank, which they are now drawing from. It is very dirty water. I think we could make provision for Gee's family to bathe with 'Bottled' water?  

 

Selling Agroasie Products

 

We've managed to harvest some of our first fruits from the veggie patch and the big question is, 'where do we sell?' Perhaps get some Agroasie 'Organic carts' going and hire some people from our 'at risk centers; to sell from wooden carts? This is a serious idea. We sell and we promote our products. And it could be meaningfully work and could be profitable.

 

Beyond this idea, I've been looking at a few markets and they're not very interested in a better price for organic products. Also, they want big quantities.

 

Selling Bananas:

 

The best price the Mei Ka would give us for bananas was 700 Kip a wee (that's a hand of ban, about 8 cents)! I managed to find a market in town who would buy bananas for 1500 a wee (18 cents) if the bananas are 'large and good condition'. But how do I bring we transport them ?

 

     1. Do I bring it down once a week?

1. Should Gee bring it down, once a week?
2. If we bring it to the markets in Vte, the normal time to sell is 1-3am

 

I will go to the organic Markets this Sunday to look around a bit more.

 

Selling egg plant

 

The best price I could find around town was 2 thousand a Kilo. Gee went to some markets to sell egg plants and that's the best price he could get. But, they didn't want the 'big' ones!!! The sellers didn't want to buy the big eggplant!! Can you believe that!! So we have to pick them smaller, which means we get less per plant. The assumption seems to be smaller is sweeter, or better. We had quiet a few big ones.

In all, it took Gee about 5 hours to come down to VTE drive to 4 markets to sell egg plant and banana flower. The total return was 73,000 kip.

 

17.5 kilo of eggplant at 2000 kip per kilo= 35,000 kip

41 banana flower at 1000 kip each= 41,000 kip

 

Total 71,000 kip

 

What's coming up to sell this year:

 

1. on-going sale of bananas
2. 6 hectares of soybean in or going in the ground
3. probably 100 kilos of egg plant in the ground at the moment

 

Gee's neighbor- Mr Ferang

 

It's nice to see Gee's children playing with Ferang's children. The wives are on very friendly terms.

 

Ferang now has his artificial leg. He's practicing very hard but he's quite afraid of putting weight on his new leg. He will need many adjustments to get the weight correctly balanced on the new leg and for no sores to happen as a result of the skin rubbing on the prosthesis. Depending on his confidence, he will probably take another week or two.

 

Tri-cycle

 

He has requested a tri-cycle to help him get around his village. A tri-cycle would be of value to his mobility down the street to the market, or to the hardware shop. I think a tri-cycle would bring Ferang some more mobility.

 

A Japanese project funds and trains local welders to make tri-cycles in the COPE center. I spoke to Mr Nori, and he said tri-cycles can be helpful for people with an amputation like Ferang's. To make and send the tri-cycle to the village, the average cost is 150 USDs. We could pay all of this, part of this, or nothing!

 

The center is trying to be sustainable and asks for a 'contribution' from the user. Some users give 10,000 or 20,000 Kip.

 

Keep praying for that Mr Ferang won't loose hope about his double disability and his ability to live a meaningful life. He's put on some weight, which is a good sign! He seemed better on my last visit.  

 

Pray that we'll get an opportunity to share the love we have in our hearts for Mr Ferang, his wife, mother and two children.

Questions, prayers and Praise  

 

Praises:

 

1. The neighborhood road into Khok Peng 2 is repaired

 

2. We built our first 'bridge' and it works well. So the tractor is now driving

    through our land.

 

2. Still no flooding of Mekong, yeah!!

 

3. We have our first load 'free' Lao tobacco- about 100 kilos of it. We mixed it

    with water and sprayed it on the plants and it seemed to be working well. No

    ant problem anymore and so we got the lettuce in the ground now!!!

    Yeah…yeah, for 'Lao Tobacco' company!!!????

 

Oh, by the way, an article in the Bangkok Times was reporting on Tobacco companies in Malawi. The article said that some tobacco companies in Malawi were using children to harvest tobacco plants without protective clothing. The children were tested and found to have high concentrations of nicotine in their blood. It was equivalent to smoking 50 cigarettes a day!

 

Would this be happening in Lao? Seriously, anybody have any ideas? Lao Tobacco is an ISO company, that's why they are 'responsibility' giving away their waste to be used for organic material. It is part of the ISO waste management requirement.

 

An ethical question to think about: do we 'deal' or do business with companies who are known to be unethical? Something we may want to discuss. Or do we wanto work with unethical companies in the hope they will change? What are our fair trading and/or fair ethic policies?

 

 

update week 6-7

follow up week 5

29^th July              

Agroasie comments, prayers, praise & questions

 

Gee's family

 

The kids, Cc and I had a nice time bowling last week with Gee and his family. We introduced Gee to our favorite Chinese noodle shop. Gee is a sportsman and competitive. I enjoyed the bowling time. We also got to know Noy a bit more.

 

Gee has begun to clean his yard up and clean around their home. I think this is good for his relationships and for the reputation of Agroasie workers. We want to send a positive and healthy message to our neighborhood.

 

Gee has two more chairs in his home now. He now enjoys sitting at the table to chat and study. It seems to be a 'step up' for him to have a nice table and 4 chairs. Funny, we think it's nice to sit with the local people on the floor. I don't want to deter Gee from sitting at the table, if that's what he wants. But I'm quite happy on the floor, but Gee doesn't seem happy any more with his new table and chairs. Is this called 'development'…mmm?

 

Gee's neighbor- Mr Ferang

 

A little bit more about the story and background of Mr Ferang and how he lost his leg.   Mr Ferang was a day laborer for a logging company in the 'special' zone. He was standing on top of a truck when the truck almost rolled over. To save himself he jumped off and as he landed a rock crushed his ankle. A bone protruded from his ankle. Ferang was taken to the district hospital but the treatment didn't get all the dirt out of his injury. A few days later Ferang's leg was 'septic'. He was sent to a large city hospital. After 6 further operations and now his entire lower leg amputated, the infection was cleaned. However, during one the 6 operations, Mr Ferang was administered high doses of 'Kanamycine'. In high doses this drug can be toxic to the audio section of the brain. Mr Ferang said 'I was lying on the bed and they were putting drugs into my arm and then I couldn't hear anything at all, and that's the way it has been until now'.

 

The company Ferang worked for paid for some of his medical costs. He was just a 'day' laborer (not covered by the company) and he can't read or write the Lao language. In order to cover the extra cost, Mr Ferang sold their only piece of land. His family is now landless.

 

Ferang has been living in the 'COPE' center now for 3 weeks. COPE stands for Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise. They provide prosthetics and mobility devices for those people who require them, free of charge if they cannot afford to pay for them. It will take up to a month before Ferang is fitted with a new leg and has the confidence to walk.

 

We also managed to get his hearing tested to see just how deaf the overdose left Mr Ferang. He was tested to be 'profoundly deaf'. We prayed and hoped that he'd have enough hearing to amplify with a hearing aid. But his is not the case, his deafness is almost complete. His hearing cannot be amplified. So now there is just a 'miracle'. Which we know God can do.

Pray that Mr Ferang won't loose hope about his double disability and his ability to live a meaningful life. He cried with me the day the doctor broke the news about his acute hearing impairment.

 

Pray that we'll get an opportunity to share the love we have in our hearts for Mr Ferang, his wife, mother and two children.

 

 

Questions, prayers and Praise  

 

1. China to 'flood' the Mekong Aug 1^st no… flooding yet! (PTL)

 

2. Mulberries. Ian still looking into this with Mulberries with Carma Mr 'Nulium'.

 

3. Muddy Road into Khok Peng 2. Gee will put the drain pipe in to make a bridge and order the stone to repair the damage down to the community road into the village.

 

4. Kabuta Tractor gets back to work the land…we need understand the local customs and traditions, but the land needs to be worked.

 

5. Ian to meet the Lao tobacco guy to discuss about tobacco dust as an 'organic' insecticide.

 

6. Ian to meet people from SNV to discuss growing 'bamboo' crops

 

7. Gee is looking into how to bring the Teak Saplings cut down during the clean up into town. I'd like to use the saplings to make some swings. The issue is, do we need documents for none valuable wood?

 

8. We will begin to understand the 'banana market' and how to get good prices for our organic products.

 

9. We will be able to train trustworthy staff. Pray for Mr Silek. Currently he doesn't seem to be trustworthy.

followup week 5

Fwd: follow up week 4...some first veggie fruit

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Family Dierdens <dierdens@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Aug 5, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Subject: follow up week 4...some first veggie fruit
To: Bruno Feuillerat <agroasie@gmail.com>, Mark Berry <mcbears7@securenym.net>, Verdun Augustine <verdun@moondata.com>, Sinphone Lovanh <lovanhs@gmail.com>


hello friends,

just got back from a few days in Udon with family and Mother-in-law from Singapore. We had a good time and the kids have grown a bit closer to Cc's mum. This is a summary of last week's work. I wont be going out to the farm this week but will meet Gee tomorrow to discuss the work

with GREAT HOPE

ian

the girls playing a bit of soccer...and a dad and daugther outing

The girls played their first game of soccer in Lao. The other team didn't turn so they shared players...Cc hasn't run for years. She managed to play two halves...although it was a slower 2nd half. The gals had lots of fun we we cheered their legs forward. Rosanna was a star forward and scored 2 goals...she couldn't move normally for 3 or 4 days after...






























Gabi and her dad Laurie, together with Sarah and myself went out for a dad's a daughter night. We had a nice meal at a French restaurant and watched a Hannah Montana movie in an ice-cream shop. It was fun. So much fun we stopped the car on the way home in a car park and had our own drive in move. We parked the car and watched another movie before we got home...It was good to spend time with our growing girls .I love being a dad!

Coop Kids saying good-bye to each other

Kruse family heading off to USA for 5 months...they'll return to begin a new term.












Winthrop family heading off to Vietnam to start JOMA cafe...the Winthrops have been living in China for 9 years in China. It's always sad for the kids to say bye to friends made over a short time, but on the positive side, their international family is growing constantly with the many goodbyes. But the reality is a bit sad...for all.

July posting

23^th July Agroasie comments, prayers, praise & questions

Gee's family

I helped Gee run his water pipes from his neighbor's house to his house. It was a pleasure to help him work and get his water connected. Seth came with me and we both helped him.

We ate lunch and Seth said, 'Dad, the lunch was really nice (sticky rice, gerkins, tuna, bbq pork, red tomatoes and bamboo shoots), do you have lunches likes this every week?' The truth is that we have small picnics every time we come.

Gee and Noy were both very happy to have the water connected and it appears clean now, although there is still dirty water in his bath tank from his own well. I expect that will finish soon and they 'll be able to 'bathe' again!

Ning, Gee's daughter has a fever and wasn't well all week. They will take her to the doctors again tomorrow when the go into VTE.

Gee's neighbor- Mr Ferang

Mr Ferang is currently doing 'physio' each day to strengthen his leg before he can be fitted with an authotic. He's been strengthening his muscles each day and by the end of the week they will measure up his leg in order to make a caste and fit the new artifical leg. Hopefully it will be fitted by next Wednesday. It could take Ferang as little as 3 days for him to be comfortable using his new leg or it could take him as long as a week.

Unfortunately, Fergang was given a high doseage of drugs that could damage his hearing function. The toxins in these drugs can kill parts of his brain that control hearing. According to Dr Rienhard, this appears to be the case. Ferang doesn't have any hearing. He can remember when he was lying in hospital he could hear everything, then after then gave him a long injection, his hearing stopped and he's not heard anything since.

It is possible that Ferang has some hearing but this needs to be determined with further testing. Should Ferang have no hearing at all he should learn some Lao sign language.

Reinhard does't have the equipment to test hearing extensively but Reinhard's office manager kindly offered to help me go to Mhort Hospital next week to see if we can get a sufficient hearing test done for Ferang. If the test can't be done, perhaps Ferang can make a boarder pass and I'll take him to Nhong Khai or Udon to get checked there.

Questions, prayers and Praise  

 1. China to 'flood' the Mekong Aug 1^st  This is the "BIG" news of the week….Suta, Silek and Gee all said that they heard from in town that the Chinese Gov has sent a letter to the Lao Gov and the Lao gov told Sang Thong to expect flooding on the 1^st of Aug. China said that they will be opening 4 gates to ease the pressure on the water ways in Yunnan China. See the article attatched.

It's a bit depressing to say the least. As best this is a rumor and it won't come to anything. At worse, we'll loose land and our vegie crops and a few banana plants. Gee hasn't planted Soya down the base of the land because of the threat.

What are we doing? Pray and look on…

2. Gee's water in their house- clean! Praise God that this is now done…there is a growing relationship with Gee's neighbor now. It's a start and we pray that the whole family will come to love our Maker and Shaper.

3. Metal Filing cabinet and Floor Safe.  I'm going with my family to Nhong Kai and Udon next week so I'll look to see if I can get a floor safe.

4. Mulberries. Ian still looking into this with Mulberries with Carma

5. Muddy Road into Khok Peng 2. Gee will put the drain pipe in to make a bridge and order the stone to repair the damage down to the community road into the village.

6. Kabuta Tractor Taining. This week in Vientiane Gee and Theng attended half day maintenance training on the Kabuta tractor. They now know how to change the oil and do a lube.

7. Gee is looking into how to bring the Teak Saplings cut down during the clean up into town. I'd like to use the saplings to make some swings. The issue is, do we need documents for none valueable wood?

My personal retreat in Slavan

With the encouragement of Cecilia I have been able to plan into my Sabbatical is a 4 day retreat to a remote part of Lao. I have decided to take a friend’s advice and tuck myself into a guesthouse for 4 days on the edge of a small river and water fall.

So that’s what I’ve done. I’m now in Dat Lor lodge. It is located two hours from Pakse or 1hour short of Salavan. That puts it close to the Vietnamese boarder.

I took the over night bus to Pakse and then I caught a second bus that was heading towards Salavan. After busing 12 hours- sleeping most of the way- at 10am I arrived at Tad Loh lodge. The bus dropped me on the road and a guy on a ‘half’ working motor bike asked if I was going to ‘Tad Loh’? I said yes and he told me 10,000 kip to get there in his Tuk Tuk. I told him 5,000 and so we took the half working bike and not his ‘tuk, tuk’.

He dropped me off at ‘Tim’s Guesthouse’ in Tad Loh. It looked a little ‘backpackerish’ and there were a few guys with ‘dreadlocks’ beef up the feel. A young Lao guy came up to me and asked me ‘want some Lao Lao?’ (It means Lao alcohol-90 % proof Lao whisky). I knew that I wasn’t at the right place. The way the Tad Loh was explained to me was a little different. In the end I got to the ‘Tad Loh lodge’. There is the ‘Tad Loh Guest’ the Tad Loh Cabin’.

The guy who drove to my rescue was the owner of the lodge himself. His name is Salavon. His dad is French and mum Lao. He said that they were the first to open a place in this area in 1991. His dad has passed away but now he and his brother run the lodge. Later Bruno told me that he dad was ‘shot’ on the way back from Luang Prabang by ‘Hmong’ rebels. He was travelling on a bus and was pulled out and shot! I don’t know if the story is true, it seems rather random. But I didn’t raise questions with his son. I was here to observe the world and the world around me.

I dropped my stuff off grabbed some breakie. I had a nicely cooked omelet, fruit and washed down with some good Lao coffee. I then checked into my room and dedicated my next 4 days to the Lord. I asked the Lord to lead me; speak to me and I want to enjoy Him during this time.

My plan over the next 4 days is to pray, meditate and read an autobiography of a cross-cultural worker who spent more than 50 years in Laos and Norther Thailand. I also hope to write my article for the development course that I’m doing. Oh yes…I also hope to take strolls and some pictures along the river’s edge. River water helps me to relax and brings me fond childhood memories childhood.

After I settled into the cabin- it’s really nice- I went down to the river for a look. I saw to local people ‘hunting and gathering’. What stuck me as they went about their daily activity was the intensity of what they were doing.

I could feel their need to catch and gather food. They weren’t in the water to cool their feet, pass the time or do their favorite hobbies. I’ve not seen captured people engaged in work like this before in Lao. It’s going on throughout the country, north to South.

The rice season is over and their rice is stored in their small ‘barns’. Many people don’t’ plant a second crop. They either don’t have the water to plant so they only plant rice in the wet season, or they don’t have the means to plant any other crop. So for 7 months of the year these people go into the streams and forests and ‘hunt and gather’ for their daily food needs. Their families live on what everybody brings home before the sun goes down.

As a boy I loved to go to down to the Swan River to see what I could ‘cacht’- fish, crabs, prawns or a big jelly fish. But after my big day out with my mates I always came home to a table full of food loving gathered by mum at the local supermarket. Through the day Monday to Friday my dad got up early and hunted his way through the suburbs fixing fridges, aircons and occasionally washing machines.

How my child hood stands in contrast to this mum and this dad. But I don’t know if I’m any better off than their children? As long as they can keep putting food on the plate. When they can’t, that’s when the intensity of life can be too much

My trip to Salavan in the South of Laos 09

Hunters and gathers at work...