jingjoe

Hi all.  "Thank you's"  are in order!!!
Firstly, kandahar - for the time and effort taken to organise the run and for keeping an open mind from the word go.
To all the other members who went on the ride to the orphanage, plus their wives/partners/gf's - thanks for the positive feedback and comments made on this Forum since your return.
The thread has morphed from one of concern, doubt and inuendo to one of positive vibes.  
You've all now found a "cause" worthy of some support.  If you can find it in your hearts and pockets to help them out you'll be doing your little bit to make the world a better place and the few others who are already there helping, will be appreciative of a "lightening of the load".  
Cheers
54Hudson262.

PS - You're right -  the pigs will be supplementing the kids' diet, but as for BBQ-ing Lizard, I wouldn't, ........... it will leave a really bad taste in your mouth!!!!!!

Hi all,
I just want to point out that the original web link given to an El Shaddai Orphanage in Chiang Rai on this thread was not the same as the one visited on the weekend.
It was a completely different building (photos of some where else) and story.
There may well have at one time been another orphanage that the French woman was closely involved with.
It may be that this woman was a trigger for starting this particular orphanage but it would have only been in the very beginning - maybe a funding injection to start the building of a dorm (as described above).
In the years we have been involved and followed the progress of El Shadai there has never been any mention of this woman at all.

As far as lizard2010 goes - he has read countless posts and stories on El Shadai on the Chiang Rai forum of Trip Advisor and has done nothing but try to hinder the help forum members have tried to give.
His influence has been nothing short of destructive and I can not believe he is now trying to take the credit for introducing TV members to El Shadai.
He has constantly tried to cause trouble - hence this thread and his motivation for starting it - to infer only one guide can take you there.
He has been told over and over that this is not the case.  Anyone is welcome to visit - just call first to let them know.

All the best to you all - it sounds like you help out where and when you can in and around Chiang Rai.  I'm sure Mon and Surasak will appreciate any help what so ever.

HI kandahar and others who visited El Shadai yesterday.
Thanks so much for going - for taking the time to see for yourself.
It's hard not to be moved by that family and the support they are giving to the children.
I have heard that there are very few visitors from Trip Advisor going throughout August and September - so any suppport at all I'm sure will be appreciated.

Just thought I would let you know that when we were there in April the father gave us an A4 print out (very basic) that they had put together.
It is titled El Shadai Orphanage and has a brief outline of what they are about.  It also has a small map which points out how to get there.
I thought this might help you in directing others.  There are few street names on the map - but it would help as it is tricky to find.
You might like to drop back in if you are going that way and ask for a copy of it.

All the best.....

kandahar, on 2010-07-28 09:27:25, said:

Keep me informed. I can usually go on short notice. I may want a bike ride and my RN may be useful also.

kandahar, on 2010-07-28 09:00:32, said:

yeah... But... No... But   ......     I can get all the family on the motorcy ..........   I was going to utter some blasphemous words Kd.            You've stitched me up like a Kipper  

I'm content with my own legs Guys,   I've had them 45 years.  Although   Some of the ladies like the way the sun bleaches my hairs golden  

Not one mention about my Chicken Legs Guys.  

But very wise words from both Kd & scea (and Biff)  nontheless

I was thinking along the same lines for the motorcy group if it ever takes off.
I'm up for that reccy trip Kd.  I dont have anything planned for the weekend.   maybe I can take my  Kids also.
I'm sure I can contribute even without my Christain or Bhuddhism doctrine.   Did I get the spelling right this time ?

jingjoe, on 2010-07-28 08:27:04, said:

Lets not flame anyone Guys,   This thread will disapear for sure.  The Mods are up early this morning  

Biff needs to spend 15 years in that Village and see where he stands on the Bhuddism thing.   Suspect he can't wait for the experience.  

Scea will probably be back shortly.  he's good at it.  

dindong, on 2010-08-01 20:58:25, said:

Oh I don't know about the deceit Dindong.    The place does have a Christian  Character to it,  but if they are instilling some christian Values I can't really see the harm in it.  

  El Shadai is apparently a big Christian  organisation,   Google is your friend.    

  I'm not a practicing Christian , although I've probably been instilled with Christain Values during my upbringing.   I can't see anything Sinister in that either.  

Oh,  and it wasn't meant to be a fine report,  I was just filling the space until someone better comes along as I am known to do  from time to time

skybluestu, on 2010-07-28 07:18:33, said:

whilst that is, undoubtedly, true I read this on the website;

"...We have all talked about the amazing amount we accomplished in the short time we were at the orphanage and what we will do to continue to assist in the survival of these caring, joyful and delightful children. We know that all this was possible as the result of the wonderful donations made by so many of you.  Be gratified to know that every cent you donated was used at the orphanage and not a penny was used for any sort of administrative expense."


I'm often worried by the term 'missionary' but, it seems these people are genuinely moved to help the children in this orphanage. I know anyone can write anything on a website, but, seeing as lots of you are actually in the area, you could check it out for yourselves

They seem, from what is written there, genuinely moved by what they have seen and even talked of exploring the possibility of adopting some of the children themselves. This proved to be impossible due to the 'stateless' nature of their hilltribe background, no birth certificate, etc. Some $225 was raised by an adopted Asian girl in their home town who made and sold chocolates in church after she heard about these kids.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm the last person to stand up for missionaries and I'm sure there are some evangelistic fire and brimstone type people crashing around the world blathering on about all kinds of nonsense, but these folks didn't mention religion at all in their blog, although it may well be that that inspires them to do these things.

They just seem to have found people who need help and helped them. Along the way they have become emotionally involved too, as anyone with any kind of empathy would when brought into contact with such a situation.

So, and I say this to myself first, let's not be too quick to judge them?

sceadugenga, on 2010-07-28 07:06:19, said:

from looking at the website, it appears that the people raising money for the orphanage come from Colorado, so that's probably why.

Hi.  I'm a TA forum member and now a Thai Visa forum contributor, having stumbled across this thread today.  There seems to be some misinformation in the earlier posts.  I can speak with some authority - my wife and I contribute money every month and purchased some of the appliances mentioned in an earlier post.  We have been to El Shadai Orphanage several times and are returning in April 2011.  We have made this commitment on the basis of research we undertook to verify the bona fides of the couple who run the orphanage - Mon and Surasak, and there's never been any suspicion whatsover with regard to their intentions.  On  the contrary.  They are amongst the very few people we have come across who actually live by what most people would call "Christian values".   The orphanage started basically by accident.  One child needed a home and Mon & Surasak opened theirs.  Then there was another child, and another, and another and eventually children were being brought in from outlying villages by concerned villagers who knew the children were in need of care.  The villagers knew Surasak & Mon were prepared to take on these poor, unfortunate children, regardless of how many children they already had in their care, so the children just kept on coming.  The orphanage is still "hand to mouth".  Always running short of basics like rice, tooth paste, soap etc.  There are very, very few regular contributors but a lot of "casual" ones who also help put food on the table and a roof over the heads of vulnerable children.  My wife and I have spent a great deal of time at the orphanage and have never seen nor heard anything of Patty Wolfe.   Perhaps the different spellng of the orphanage name, (El Shaddai with two "d's") is a clue to the confusion and possibly the connections of this particular person?  I don't know whether the Government pays money to schools or not but bear in mind these kids don't go to a Government school.  They go to a Christian school run by an American mission organisation.  So if there is money for school children, they are unlikely to qualify.  The suggestion  that Surasak and Mon are "brainwashing vulnerable kids" beggars belief.  If sending them to a  school funded by a religious organisation constitutes brainwashing then millions and millions of Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Hindus - the list goes, are also "brainwashing" their children.  If any one wants to help this orphanage, feel free to message me and I will be happy to tell you how to go about it.  If you are in Chiang Rai and you want to visit the kids....just ask any cab or tuk tuk driver to take you there.......it's no secret, nor is it the exclusive domain of any one guide.....any guide will take you there.    Cheers.

It was good of you to post this Fairgo, I can see now that there are two orphanages that have the name El Shaddai. Sorry if i confused anyone with my info about the other El Shaddai in Chiang Rai.

Hi Garry,
There isn't really a foundation as such.
It has really just been travelers giving when they visit.
One of the forum members has been generating funds from family and friends to send over - but this is all really small scale stuff.
Here is the link to the page on Trip Advisor about it with more info.  All the info is on there.  

http://www.tripadvis....Orphanage.html

Over and out.......

Well said  canuckamuck.    I've met many Christains here in Chiang Rai.   Chiang Rai seems awash with Christains.  They all seem to want to do good in their own way,  some expect nothing in return and some expect the receiver of the goodwill  to convert or something.  Brainwashing,  I'm not sure.     Better that than the alternative.

Sorry it has been 5 years since I have been there, and the one I went to was right on the edge of town, actually in town. At that time it had been running for more than five years already. The one in the trip advisor article was only started in 2005. So i am assuming there are two, especially since the one I know of was started by westerners, with a Thai couple running it, and the one in the article says it is was started by a Thai couple.