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.
Angelique and Ben
Petra and Barbara donating pram for Baby Awn
