Yesterday I joined Mongkun and his family for thanksgiving at his older sisters village in the Prao area. We met at the boarding home we support and from there went all the way off-road into the mountains. The road would have been very difficult in the rainy season. But now it is quite dry. There were also tow new bridges built over the river coming down the mountains.
We spent the whole day in the village talking to the various leaders and pastors gathering. After the two hour church service we met a Lahu Lady who has another boarding home with 48 children. It was quite interesting talking with her. I was able to get more information about the Prao area and the problems they are facing with the changing times. I met other pastors and also a catholic priest visiting. As the only outlander I felt out of place at times. In all the years I have not learned the Lahu language and many don’t speak Thai very well, or don’t seem to like speaking it. So communication is rather difficult without a translator. Talking about their problems I also realized that coming from Switzerland I come from such a different culture and life. The development Switzerland experienced in the last two hundred years seems to just beginning in the villages in the mountains. Even though they have solar power and mobile phones. Globalisation is a strange thing. I have been in and out of Lahu villages for the last seven years. I have seen, heard and experienced quite a lot. I’m not easily shocked. Still I have moments when I feel overwhelmed and tired. Change does not come quickly. Switzerland took a long time to be where it is. It will take time for development. I don’t mean the destructive sides of the western world. I mean the long term perspective on developing a village, family or one-self. Where do I stand? I feel like a mere observer and perhaps I can throw a small stone into the pond to stir something.
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