Today was a special day at Mercy. Hundreds of the elderly poor in Klong Toey joined us for a Thai New Year luncheon feast and Songkran party. Monks from our local temple, Wat Saphan, chanted and gave blessings. Grandmas and grandpas danced to the old songs. And to make the day perfect, they taught their grandchildren the words, plus a few of the old dances and all the most important traditions. It was a beautiful day, and a wonderful reminder how blessed we are at Mercy to have thousands of caring friends and kind neighbors. (More photos at our Songkran gallery here.)

Wishing our friends and family around the world a happy, safe New Year holiday and year full of joy!

The Mercy Teams

Yesterday was a glorious day at our Mercy Centre. On the occasion of her birthday, HRH Princess Srirasmi visited our Mercy Centre to celebrate with our Mercy children, our kindergarten students, and all our house moms, house dads, teachers, and social workers. Our children renewed their vows to the Princess, promising to study hard and to be kind and generous. After receiving a luncheon feast from the Princess, our children also performed a classical Thai dance to the accompaniment of our Mercy kid orchestra.  A spirit of joy filled the air.

Following her visit, HRH Princess Srirasmi gave honor to our poor neighbors in the 70 Rai neighborhood who had come to send their birthday wishes. The Princess spoke personally with our neighbors, asking about their circumstances, their families, and livelihoods; and wished everyone, young and old, great happiness.

Photos: Above, HRH Princess Srirasmi provides a birthday feast for our Mercy children and kindergarten students. Below, the Princess greets our poorest neighbors in the slums.

Last week our social workers took 45 street children to a place they could barely imagine, far away from their everyday cares.

In concert with the Railway Police and a gift from the Lego, the Denmark-based toy company, we transported 55 street kids to Dreamworld, a Bangkok theme park full of rollercoasters, exotic landscapes (Snowtown!), street performances, shows, and food and snacks galore.

Instead of slogging through the day by the railway station, begging for spare change,  trying to survive while steering clear of danger, the children received a full day’s worth of Dreamworld coupons, which they exchanged for food, drinks, theme park rides, and shows – whatever they wanted. Nobody told them that they had to do this or that – they made their own decisions. The children had total license to enjoy a world full of dreams!

We want these children to know that we are on their side, that we will protect, defend, and counsel them whenever they are in need, that we will accept them for who they are, and that if they ever want to get off the streets and go to school, they are always welcome to live with us as a part of our family in Mercy Centre.

Photos: above, at the Hua Lamphong Station, below, Dreamworld!

Our children rushed home from school last Friday afternoon to receive a group of special guests – The US Third Marine Expeditionary Force Band – a traditional 12-piece military marching band of the highest caliber and spirit.

Most of us have heard near countless versions of “When the Saints Go Marching In,” but for our kids the song was new, refreshing, and exciting. (Also it was beautifully played.)  A few of the many highlights:

• Our blind girls Nong Peh and Nong Fon not only heard their first Sousaphone; they also held onto it while it was being played and felt its sonorous vibrations!

• Our boy Galong danced up a storm. (He believes, perhaps quite rightly, that every upbeat tune is for dancing, and who are we to tell him otherwise?)

• The band invited our children to conduct a few songs, and they didn’t miss a beat.

• Our children returned the favor by performing music on their own traditional Thai instruments.

• The band played a gorgeous rendition of the classic R&B song “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" here in our Mercy Centre.

Finally, inevitably, chaos ruled. Galong persuaded the rest of our Mercy kids to join him on the dance floor. Photo gallery here.