So, after the team was showered, and refreshed and filled with a nice breakfast of eggs, toast and coffee, we were off on another adventure. This morning we were headed to the village of Pakham Mai to finish the final task of the building project: Painting. When we got to the village they had already started putting the white base coat on the outside and inside. It was a bustle of activity as several kids were running around playing, 
people were unloading supplies, others were cutting down bamboo poles for painting high areas, and even a bunch of piglets were busy munching on jack fruit. Once Ning explained what was going on the team got straight to work. Ning was the director of the show and knew just what was going on. If anyone needed paint, a paint brush, paint thinner, a bucket, a tray, a bamboo pole: Ning was the one to ask. Near the church they had placed some water containers which were used for washing hands and paint brushes if someone needed to switch colors. Pastor Schultz and Frank almost had the second coat up and on the front wall within the first 20 or so minutes. 
The paint dried so quickly it wasn't a problem and let another group of people begin the trim on the bottom. The other team members had begun the same system on the other 3 walls, and the rest worked on the inside. By the way things were moving, we were pretty sure we would be finished that day. This team was a machine! By lunch time the outside was nearly completed. The upper part of the outside was a light Robin's egg blue and the bottom a deep burgundy or wine color. Much precision was done in this project including making sure that the paint specs were wiped off of the sign. I of course, being the clumsy one manages to spill a huge puddle of the burgundy on the sidewalk by the side door. Hopefully when people go in there they don't think of the clumsy American that did that! My fun was working on making sure the trim looked as straight and even as possible. 
When we took a break for lunch we were well-satisfied and made our way to Ning's house. Everyone agreed that the food was delicious. Really the Hmong way of cooking is very simple. They use greens and herbs that they find growing wild or around their yard, add a little salt, saute it and it always turns out to be a great meal. They have a wonderful chili salsaish dish that them make too and it is fabulous.
people were unloading supplies, others were cutting down bamboo poles for painting high areas, and even a bunch of piglets were busy munching on jack fruit. Once Ning explained what was going on the team got straight to work. Ning was the director of the show and knew just what was going on. If anyone needed paint, a paint brush, paint thinner, a bucket, a tray, a bamboo pole: Ning was the one to ask. Near the church they had placed some water containers which were used for washing hands and paint brushes if someone needed to switch colors. Pastor Schultz and Frank almost had the second coat up and on the front wall within the first 20 or so minutes. 
The paint dried so quickly it wasn't a problem and let another group of people begin the trim on the bottom. The other team members had begun the same system on the other 3 walls, and the rest worked on the inside. By the way things were moving, we were pretty sure we would be finished that day. This team was a machine! By lunch time the outside was nearly completed. The upper part of the outside was a light Robin's egg blue and the bottom a deep burgundy or wine color. Much precision was done in this project including making sure that the paint specs were wiped off of the sign. I of course, being the clumsy one manages to spill a huge puddle of the burgundy on the sidewalk by the side door. Hopefully when people go in there they don't think of the clumsy American that did that! My fun was working on making sure the trim looked as straight and even as possible. When we took a break for lunch we were well-satisfied and made our way to Ning's house. Everyone agreed that the food was delicious. Really the Hmong way of cooking is very simple. They use greens and herbs that they find growing wild or around their yard, add a little salt, saute it and it always turns out to be a great meal. They have a wonderful chili salsaish dish that them make too and it is fabulous.Back at the church: they had decided earlier that a white cross on a white background didn't show up very well, so we took it down and I painted it with the burgundy and later on hung it from a tree so the whole thing could dry. Stain work began on the doors with Carrie, Melissa, Jetta, and Billye, while several other people began trim and wall work on the inside or finished up the final touches on the outside. Paint on the bathroom started also. By 4 or 5 it was time to start cleaning up. In the mean time Sierra, and Frank had long established a friendship with several of the kids that were there or joined them after school. The kids braided Franks hair, 
played with Sierra on a rope swing and were fascinated that pulling on Franks beard made him sound like Donald Duck! It was so fun to watch. Melissa and the other ladies eventually got a group to teach them school yard songs and games like London bridge is falling down. 
Everyone was having a good time. While Billye, Suphan and I were cleaning trays we sang songs, and even sang our national anthem for Suphan to hear.
played with Sierra on a rope swing and were fascinated that pulling on Franks beard made him sound like Donald Duck! It was so fun to watch. Melissa and the other ladies eventually got a group to teach them school yard songs and games like London bridge is falling down. 
Everyone was having a good time. While Billye, Suphan and I were cleaning trays we sang songs, and even sang our national anthem for Suphan to hear. That afternoon was just so nice and relaxing. Everyone was busy doing something, chatting, playing singing, cleaning, trying to get stubborn paint off of our bodies, etc. We finally packed everything up in Ning's truck and called it a day. The kids whisked our team away to go down by the lake and play in the water, while Frank continued to entertain them as well. Dinner was well under way and was a combination of many cooks, including our driver Amnot, Suphan, and Ning's wife. 
Dinner was no different than lunch meaning that it was also delicious. Afterwards, the guys removed a bunch of chairs and sat out in the yard together shooting the breeze while the women and kids came into eat. 
At that time, bubbles were presented to the kids and the yard turned into a cloud of bubbles everywhere. Eventually, several more people had joined the crowd, when Pastor's Schultz and Suphan led a bible story using the new pictures that they had presented the church. We sang songs together and eventually it was time to go. 
I think our group had mixed feelings about leaving. Everyone was so happy being there that it was sad to go, and many teary eyes could be seen. That is the awesome wonder I get every time I go to that village. It's just incredible to know that they welcome you as their family and form a bond with you in just a few short hour's time.
Dinner was no different than lunch meaning that it was also delicious. Afterwards, the guys removed a bunch of chairs and sat out in the yard together shooting the breeze while the women and kids came into eat. At that time, bubbles were presented to the kids and the yard turned into a cloud of bubbles everywhere. Eventually, several more people had joined the crowd, when Pastor's Schultz and Suphan led a bible story using the new pictures that they had presented the church. We sang songs together and eventually it was time to go. I think our group had mixed feelings about leaving. Everyone was so happy being there that it was sad to go, and many teary eyes could be seen. That is the awesome wonder I get every time I go to that village. It's just incredible to know that they welcome you as their family and form a bond with you in just a few short hour's time.For more pictures of Pakham Mai click here!
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