A note from Kim (posted with her permission)

A Farewell to My Dear Friend & To the Loves of my life....

Heidi, Kendra, and Keen,
It breaks my heart to think about you all going so far away. It makes me sad to know you won't just be a phone call or short drive away. When this adventure was first brought to me for consideration my first thought was "NO WAY!! NOT A CHANCE!!!".....Then the anger and tears were quieted by conversations with our Heavenly Father, and family and friends that love you all as much as I do. I am comforted by this amazing peace that you will be so very Blessed by this journey. What an Awesome opportunity to experience a new culture! I know you will make the best of every part of this time. There will be so many new friendships formed.....So try not to forget about all of us back here in the good ol' U.S.A!!

I Love All of you so much it hurts!! I am already looking forward to your return and will be praying for and thinking about you everyday without fail!! But while you're away be Blessed, Be Safe, Have Fun, Laugh Tons, Love like there's no tomorrow, and at the end of the day KNOW that I Love you MORE than all the stars in the skies between us!!!

You'll be Missed & Loved Always,
Kim/Mommy

Society Without Me

Burma (from the trip last summer)

May the Lord send workers.

It's my first real attempt at making a video and about 4 minutes long (not 7+ like it may say).

If your viewing this from Facebook, you may have to go to http://menefeesmind.blogspot.com/

-Peace

I got my visa!

I got my visa today!! That was a big learning curve, and it feels good to have it past (for now).

I spoke with Ahtapa today, and here's a bit of the news:

• He has me scheduled to teach once a week at the public school.
• They planted 200 banana trees this week, and the Lord provided a good rain.
• They have the bamboo to build another staff hut, and he's looking forward to using my help and tools.
• He looks forward to our coming and relieving him to come back to the states for a visit.
• They have an interview next week to for more children to come.
• He can get me a 40% discount on my kids' school curriculum (originally $900).

On the road again

Our last week in KY was a bit crazy, but we survived and are now in KS. We're working on making my grandparents' house more handicap accessible. Sis. Lawson recently had surgery and is wheelchair bound for a few weeks. We've been needing to make the improvments on the house for years, and now I have a few weeks to work on it. I'm also helping out a little at KCCBS, but they can't afford to buy materials to keep a volunteer busy.

We "de-stuffed" a lot last week. We divided our things into 3 categories. The "things to keep" went into Mom and Dad's attic. The "things to get rid of" went into the yard sale, and the "things to take" needed to fit into suitcases.

We had a room for each category. This was the fullest room, the "let-it-go room."

Then, we had our yard sale, and we let go of so much stuff. It was wonderful. There were furniture, clothes, books and toys.

The Police even stopped by twice, once to see how the first yard sale of the year was going and another time to serve papers to one of the Menefee clan (not Keen). We red-necks like to do our civic duty by helping the small-town police earn a living.

Last weekend Kim came to town to say, "Good bye" to the kids before we leave for Thailand.

No doubt our broken family is a tragedy, and I wish I had the wisdom to mend it. But it's in the darkness that our little lights shine the brightest. I'm thankful that, even though there isn't unity, there is peace.

Kim wanted to get pics of us and to spend some time together, so we drove up near Cincinnati to see her sister, Keni, and her girls, Natalie and Nicole. Keni is a professional photographer, and she took us to the flower conservatory.


It was beautifully constructed with plants from all around the globe, but the greater beauty was not the flowers, but rather the expressions of love and forgiveness by the people enjoying them.

Invitation Letter for Visas

Here is a translation of the invitation letter Ahtapa wrote for the Thai embassy to apply for our visas. It tells a little about the Asian Gospel Outreach and what we will be doing.

To: Chief Officer of Thai Royal Consulate and who it may concern.

I, Jarern Sinlee, the director of Tribal Outreach, would like to ask for your kindness in granting visas to Mr. Brian Menefee and his three children. This man has the ability and a good record in community development and Church works. He is a valuable person to our work here in helping and developing children at our tribal children hostel at Matang district Chriahngmai province. I and the organization here have activities in helping and providing education to poor tribal children who live in far away mountain villages and assist them for better future according to the philosophy of our majestic the king’s sustainable and sufficiency life. We teach kids how to read, write, think and have good ethics and skill and pride in their culture and heritage. As we are aware of the social problem of the tribal people in the north of Thailand and the moving into major cities that create social problems. The children can be helped and we can provide helps to these children and one day the youth will grow up to be the strength of society for development and bring good society, safety, progress, and beautiful environments to the country.


As for now, our organization has been emphasizing life sufficiency and sustainable philosophy. We put high regards of the value of inner peace and happiness. We promote planting everything we eat and eat everything we plant, putting refrigerator in the back yard. That is putting garden and fish and frog ponds in the back yard. Building house with materials available. Making water purifiers and teaching English and other local language along with ethics. Our organization is happy that Mr. Brian is coming to help without expecting any thing in return. And ready to learn the Thai way of life and learning local wisdoms as well.

Kids mess'n around

Here's a video of Keen showing his skills on the rip stick.

He can even go up hill without touching the ground like on a traditional skate board.

The girls made $6 selling handmade jewelry and book marks in the parking lot of the town grocery store.














Note the sign on the side of the grocery store, "We serve a great God."