From Bangkok to the Hill Tribes... A World of Class

There was one touch of "world class" luxury on our medical mission trip. With the help of our travel agent, our team of twenty was given a good deal on the Novotel right there at the airport in Bangkok. It is by far the best "hotel" I've ever stepped foot in. We arrived very late at night and left early the next morning, so other than the video footage at the beginning of this clip, I did not have time to soak it in, but it did provide a stark contrast to something I witnessed not far from our first medical clinic. This footage was shot in a Lahu village (most of our clinics were held in Akah villages). The Akah build their huts of wood up on stilts (with livestock and storage kept just below their floorboards). Lahu also use stilts when they cannot find a flat plot of land, but whether on stilts or the ground,this is the way the Lahu "weave" their huts.

This event was part of a post at
http://patternsofink.blogspot.com/2008/01/day-one-report-day-late.html

"We had to pass a military check point because this particular village is within 3 miles of the Burma (Myanmar) border, which is a major part of the world's opium supply. Opium is still, in fact, a lingering part of some tribal cultures, including this one we were in today. After about two hours of video shooting at the clinic, I went down some of the paths to capture local color and culture. I came upon about ten men and five women building a bamboo and thatch hut about the size of a two-car garage. They allowed me to film them—first from a distance
and then very up close. As I was shooting some "how to build a hut" footage, I noticed in the far corner of the unfinished hut were an older man and woman smoking opium from a large handmade pipe of bamboo (about the size of two Pringles cans end-to-end). They were a bit sheepish when they saw this white man with a video camera but could soon see that I meant only to learn about building a hut and not to expose what they do in there huts (an activity which would be no surprise to the local authorities who pretty much leave them alone as long as they are not transporting their opium to the city. I do not mean to sound libertarian on this subject. I'm just explaining the attitude I chose to portray with a camera in hand as I nodded at those around me with hatchets and machetes in theirs... enough said. =)

One younger man who had arrived on a moped knew what a video camera was and asked if he could see the footage in the viewfinder. I showed him and soon all work stopped and everyone wanted to see the portion they were in. They were amazed and laughed and teased each other. The two who smoking opium did not come to the camera, but the others enjoyed it. Though electricity and small televisions have recently come to these some villages, it's likely that they had never seen themselves on video. Enjoy!

In closing , I'd like to add the same thought that I have included in each of these explanations about our team's medical mission work in the Chiang Rai Province of Northern Thailand: This is an on-going ministry that focuses on the people and not on the team. We do not arrive at a village as "well-meaning Americans" who show up, take over, and disappear never to be seen again. Our approach in dealing with the hill tribes is more quiet and respectful as we recognize the beauty of their culture. We are not there to "westernize" them, we are their to meet practical needs and to show the love of Christ in the sense described in Matthew 25:40 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=47&chapter=25&verse=40&a... and to share the good news as He encouraged us to do. When we leave, there are local tribal leaders who continue the "follow up" work with each village, and we make return visits as needed (and as medical manpower and funding allows).

The focus of this video project, as you may have noticed, is not so much on "the team"--as rich as their experience is each year. Christ did not "brow beat" or expect some sort of immediate return on his ministry. (Remember the time He healed several blind people but only one stopped to say thank you?). Likewise, our team humbly serves each village with the assumption that the love we show that day (as well as the truth we share in word and example) will continue to play out over time. Through the years, this relational approach to serving these beautiful people has been very effective, and we hope it comes through as you watch the videos presented here at Patterns of Ink.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• weaving
• Lahu
• Tribe
• Chiang
• Rai
• Thailand
• Bangkok
• Lamborghini
• hut

[tpvalley]

why do all medical people think opium is a hazardous vice to all?

to us westerners it is but the hill tribes live with it like we do booze.

[patternsofink]

@tpvalley ,

I was the videographer. I am not a doctor, but I based my observation on the word of our translator whose parents were in the grip of opium. I would agree with you: Booze does as much damage to families in the west. I recommend abstaining from both. I do thank you for your comment. Come back often. Have a wonderful Easter 2010.

[patternsofink]

@tpvalley ,

I was the videographer. I am not a doctor, but I based my observation on the word of our translator whose parents were in the grip of opium. I would agree with you: Booze does as much damage to families in the west. I recommend abstaining from both. I do thank you for your comment. Come back often. Have a wonderful Easter 2010.

[patternsofink]

chunchi1000,

I do not speak from experience about addiction. I speak from my Akah friend whose parents were addicted to opium. They led unproductive lives because they smoked it rather than getting jobs, etc. I am not saying that all opium users are unproductive. I am just saying that it ruined my friends childhood watching his parents do little else. To me that is dependence.

[patternsofink]

taintedcandy21,

I agree. We can learn much from our friends in those hills. For instance, I doubt the current economic crisis has changed their way of life. They have become more modern so it does impact them somewhat, but as far as worrying about their "things," I doubt they're losing sleep. They live with a different set of fears, and that is the reason we minister to them.

[patternsofink]

joli2v,

It's been a while since I checked my channel. Thanks for the kind words. I'm not very familiar with the way Youtube works (other than posting these video clips a few months back.

ddavid993,

Thanks for leaving a comment. It means a lot when people take the time to do so.

Many thanks for the ratings whoever did that.

[betty122671]

now that's bamboo craftsmanship!

[MrWesley3000]

way too cool ... I have tried to live this way before I want to tey it again soon.

[chunchi1000]

how can opium be a dependence when it not even addicting... an addiction in definition basically means a dependence of...

[TaintedCandy21]

We are so use to having things so convient and use to having things handed to us. The hill tribes are more resourcfull than we will ever be.

[TaintedCandy21]

I think we can learn something from the hill tribes. When I say we, I mean us westerners. You can see they are not overly materialistic and greedy and they are not so quick to destroy the enviroment. We can learn a thing or two from them.