I thought I would send a short update and a Christmas Greeting to the friends and supporters of Global Neighbors. As I reflect on your accomplishments in 2009, I am overwhelmed with your generosity and accomplishment. We have bought a farm for growing rice, corn, beans and other products, helped a school of 360 to begin the process of becoming self sufficient, built a hog barn, worked at building structures for small Migrant Schools, built desks and donated 100’s of kgs for relief supplies. You have changed the outlook for many children and adults.

As I write this letter, I am still in Bangkok waiting for my flight home for Christmas. The last of the SIAST Students have departed, however some of the thoughts of the past 6 weeks are still settling in. I remember watching the students break down a weep as they watched the little children from the Muslim School walk to the opening ceremonies for the building they had built. The children walked up with their black kerchiefs, beautiful sparkly black eyes and their big smiles, carrying a hand made sign, “New Light School”.  They were singing the song, “It’s a small world after all”.  I remember walking through the dump visiting the families we had just delivered relief supplies to. I asked one of the ladies, wearing a dirty dress, her arms and legs were black from rooting through the garbage for any valuables she could find,  how long she had been living at the garbage dump, she replied,” ten years”.  The flies were annoying for us, can you imagine living there year around, in the stench and filth? A few people choose not to go for supper that night and those who went were very somber. The reality of extreme poverty had just become a real for them.

Even though we have accomplished a lot, there are many more needs we can fill. Requested are coming in on a daily basis for help for real needs. There are teachers with no salary overcrowded class rooms, students that don’t have food and so much more. 

Ideas for contributions:

Supporting a teacher for $65 per month… Automatic debit and online options are available

·         Contributing to the general fund to build new building for migrant school

·         Digging a water reservoir for the farm, so we can irrigate when the stream dries up

I thank you for your support to make what we do possible!

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year,Dave