Check it out, our visitors in October 2011
Steve and ChatChai
Steve Roanhaus from Wisconsin USA, arrived for the beginning of his travelling and teaching stay in Thailand. He harvested rice, taught English, swam and enjoyed his time with the kids.
John with Alex and the House of Hope kids (and Annie in the background)
and the results of a fun morning
John and Annie Busch with their 3 year old twins Alex and Isabella stayed in Nongkhai as Charlene House was full. They drove everyday to Sarnelli and organized art lessons for the House of Hope kids in the mornings and played with the kids from the different houses in the afternoons. They left to face the rising waters in Bangkok where they live.
Raven and Praew
Raven Woods from California volunteered at the beginning of her epic work/travel journey. She also stayed in Nongkhai and came daily for the activities at the different houses. The kids loved her and we wish her well on her travels.
Sian and Hippo
Sian Brace from the UK came for her second visit this year and spent longer this time. She had more time with the kids and so she threw herself into all the activities and got to know Tesco and the sweets/ candy aisle very well.
Bonnie and Kiat and Sawn
Bonnie Jastroch from USA visited Thailand for the first time and was introduced to the life of the Sarnelli Kids. She hopes to be back again.
Brian and Beh
Brian O’Riordan from Ireland came for his second visit this year and easily slipped back into the kids’ lives. Trips to Tesco, teaching English and swimming kept him occupied and the kids very happy.
Phil and Sawn
Mickie and Chompoo
Phil, Mickie and Laura Andersen from the USA visited for the first time and met their child from the Outreach Program they have been sponsoring. We hope to see them again.
Debbie and Oil
Debbie Willis from the UK resumed her second life back in Don Wai with her second visit to Sarnelli House this year. As a seasoned hand Debbie’s cookies and cakes are legendary and the kids wait in line to help cook and decorate them. Trips to Tesco are also patiently waited for until Debbie comes to organize the troops.
Stephanie and Dottie
Stephanie Hartigan from The Netherlands visited Sarnelli for the first time after doing some serious fundraising back home. She quickly adapted to life with the kids and is planning on returning and helping with the annual holiday to Koh Samui in 2012 for 12 lucky kids.
Magdalena and Auhn
Bernard with Gip, Dottie and Auhn
Magdalena and Bernard from Germany came for a visit before they commence their 1 year volunteer placement at the Fr Ray Foundation from the Redemptorist Fathers in Germany. They broke a few hearts and we wish them well in the year ahead.
Cameron and Yuu
Cameron from the UK and a volunteer for 6 months already at the Fr Ray Foundation in Pattaya came for a visit. He impressed the kids with his Thai language skills and he also broke a few hearts among the 10 year old girls at Sarnelli House.
Christoph and Puerk
Christoph Leonard came for a flying visit and put on the usual hilarious games afternoon that he is famous for. He was bombarded with requests from the kids to go on the next Koh Samui holiday in 2012, but so far the jury is out as to who are the lucky 12 who will go.
Leon, Henriette and Fr Mike
Henriette and Leon Castermans from the Netherlands visited again and bought lots of love and energy for the kids.
Lena and Marcia with the Viengkhuk girls
Lena Nutzel and Marcia Meier arrived for their 6 months volunteer placement on the recommendation of Sarnelli House’s good friends at the Apostelkirche in Oberhausen. They experienced cultural immersion for a month living and working with the girls at Our Lady of Refuge Home for Girls in Viengkhuk.
Martin and the swimming champs and Rory and Flora
Emma and her craft class
Flora and Maggie
Martin and Emma with their children Flora and Rory from the UK via Malawi came for 2 weeks and stayed in Nongkhai and travelled in every day for the swimming camp that Martin organized. A group of children from Sarnelli House and another from Viengkhuk and St Patrick’s completed the week long course. It was a great success and the kids loved building on their skills from the swimming camp earlier in the year. Emma also helped with crafts for the kids and they made some great cards together. Flora fell in love with Maggie at House of Hope and Rory participated in all the activities with other kids.
Katie Bedford from Australia came for a visit on her way through to Laos. She helped with the swimming and the other activities but missed out on teaching the kids her hula hoop skills.
Onno and the Kiat, ManU, Kate and Off
Onno Bauer a physiotherapist from The Netherlands implemented the plan that Ben Ummels and Dr Rob Smeets started for ManU, Dottie, Kiat and Soi. He developed games that incorporated the strengthening exercises for the kids and they looked forward to his sessions every day. Onno also helped with the rice harvest, fishing, swimming and all the activities of the kids. He will be missed but we wish him well on his travels.
