date: 03 08 2005

Dear Friends and Volunteers,

So many exciting things have been happening, we've hardly had time to write a newsletter lately! Here's the latest:

BENEFITS
John Bottum & Jon Karakowski's "Soup-Raiser" - raised over $2000- that's about twice as much as they expected... Thanks go out to everybody who participated. That's a lot of soup, people! And just think about how far that will go in Thailand, where a bowl of delicious noodle soup starts at 25 cents!

Musical Relief at The Continental - Raised $1233 -- not bad for a Sunday night! Thanks to all the amazing performers! You totally rocked out!

FIRST TRIP
We finally got word...that everything's going great! We talked to Mach on the phone, but the sound of CEMENT MIXERS was making it hard to hear. It seems that, despite the hot, hard work (weather report says, "95 degrees but FEELS LIKE 106") about half the people from the first project team are having such a good time that they're staying for the second project!
There are interesting projects going on -- mural painting, house and school building, and the possibility for building boats for fishermen in the future. On the down side, we heard that the devastation has been rather dramatic--but at least we've confirmed that we are already making a tangible and positive difference.

SECOND TRIP
By now you have received your first assignment...meet in Bangkok at the Ambassador Hotel on March 13th-- this meeting is MANDATORY (sorry we didn't make that clear before) Top secret details will be coming in a separate email, for your eyes only...

THIRD TRIP & BEYOND
We are hearing a lot of interest from people interested in a third trip. It seems quite likely that this trip will happen. Sorry for the short notice, but we will have to wait until Mach returns from Thailand mid-March to find out when it will happen and how!

And now, a few words from Mach, which I am reprinting without his permission:

"Over all, its been a pretty incredible experience. We have been working on homes on the northern tip of Phuket island called Baan Maai Khow - its basically a neighborhood of homes being constructed for families who lost their homes in the tsunami. its about a mile away from the water and a collection of 28 lots that are being turned into duplexes for local thai families.
 
The site was relatively empty, but the group arrived and has joined with the Thais from the local community, a few guys from Australia and the United Kingdom to work on the homes. When we arrived, there were few tools, no workplans and little organization.Luckily, we have been working alongside foremen from the Coca Cola Company and they have been really helpful with pulling together the various parts of the construction. The Thai people also LOVE the fact that we are there, and are a real joy to work with. And honestly, the way the volunteers have bonded with the locals has really warmed my cold heart ;o).
 
Our second project is also at a local elementary school. We have been painting a wall mural with on the grounds of the school, which was hit by the tsunami. The school is literally on the beach, and the lunchroom as well as several classrooms were destroyed by the waves. The concept for the wall is 'water gives life' and has been really quite appropriate since many children now have a different relationship with the water than what they may have had prior to the tsunami.
 
im really proud to say the first group has been an amazing bunch - and that a few of the first group folks will be continuing on for the second trip. the youngest is 18, from seattle and traveling with his dad. there is a nurse from dubai who used to work with Doctors Without Borders, another woman who is traveling through Asia and to Australia, and others from Detroit, New York, San Francisco, London, Hope Arkansas, and Los Angeles. It really has been amazing to see such a committed group working so well together.
...
lastly, keep spreading the word and sharing the gospel (albeit not literally). i continue to want to send a team of volunteers each month for the rest of the year, so hopefully fundraising can/will continue and people will continue to want to come to thailand despite the time since the morning of the tsunami. by being here in person it is clear there is still much to do and much to accomplish. and returning back to our hotel each night covered in dirt and splatters of cement, what i remember are the smiles on the faces of the thai people who are very thankful for our help, support, and generosity."

Thanks everybody,

(Maya, on behalf of) The Team at PhuketProject.org