Thailand: Care Villa at the Mae La Refugee Camp

Of all the projects we visit and the people we see, my personal highlight of our
yearly trip to Southeast Asia is the Care Villa at the Mae La refugee camp in
Thailand.

Here at this sprawling "city" of huts pushed up against the steep hills that
separate Thailand from Myanmar live more than 50,000 Burmese refugees who have
escaped the fighting in their ethnic home states. The refugees include 15 landmine
accident survivors who are severely disabled, missing not only arms and/or legs but
also their sight.

For the second year, we are supporting the Care Villa where our dependent friends
live and are cared for by three staff members of the Karen Handicap Welfare
Association. Our visit was my second one, following last year's gift to us of some
of the most deeply moving songs I had heard in my life (see Lobke Dijkstra's blog).

I was ready with a small recording panel as part of my project to make a CD with
songs and instrumentals by musically talented landmine survivors. They were ready
with some wonderful songs in the Karen language and with a letter that I had not
expected. Here is what it said:

Dear Friends,

Thanks for your coming and above all for your compassionate hearts toward people
like us. You've become a great blessing for our people especially we at the Care
Villa. You meet our needs and come personally to see us with your eyes.

Actually, all the songs we've sung are mainly about our country and our struggle
for liberation and our desire to return to our homeland. We really love our land
and hope one day to go back even though we don't know when.

Lastly, excuse our limitations and once again thank you all very much.

Care Villa Members

The last line of our friends' letter is particularly poignant: Their apology for
their "limitations!" What our friends may miss in the physical realm they more than
make up in their ability to touch us with their music. They humbly remind us that
all our bodies are merely temporary and imperfect while our spirits, connected
through music and thoughts, across time and terrain, will last forever.