This morning Fr. Sergio, Fr. Campagnioli, and I boarded a plane to go from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, the northern part of Thailand where our missionaries work with the hill tribes. Arriving at the airport I was quite happy to see an old friend that I haven’t seen in years: Fr. Claudio Corti (also a PIME Missionary).
After a coffee break, Mass with the other PIME priests present here in the north (including Fr. Rafaele Pavese whom I worked with while in Italy, here pictured), and a nice lunch in a western-style hotel in Chiang Mai, we began the two-and-a-half hour trek north to Fang.
Our first stop wasn’t very far – we went to visit another Buddhist temple. This one was kind of interesting because it was made of wood and pretty old (which in Thailand means about 200 or 300 years old – there isn’t much “ancient” here, really, from the old Siam). In this temple there is also a copy of the emerald Buddha, as in Bangkok.
Fr. Claudio really Is a great driver, especially in navigating all the twists and turns through the hills leading us to Fang. But we arrived safe and sound, and after a bite to eat he treated us to a really nice treat. Have you ever considered – or are you doing? – a PIME long-distance adoption? Well tonight we were able to visit the boarding house where the teenagers – many of whom are adopted through the PIME Foster Parents Mission Program in the USA – live and study. They are predominantly from the Lahu and Akha tribes. And both the boys and girls treated us to a song (which you can hear in the videos here below).
They were very welcoming and they even shared some conversational English with us (very simple of course). HOWEVER, I have to say that the girls really did a better job understanding the questions I asked them, as well as asking me questions in English with the correct pronunciation.
To end my visit with the girls, I asked Fr. Claudio if I could teach them a song that Fr. Steve had taught me: Chicka boom chicka boom. They absolutely LOVED it! Anyway, we returned back to the parish house and Fr. Sergio and I talked and asked a lot of questions with both Fr. Claudio and the other great PIME priest here in the mission: Fr. Massimo Bolgan. Today truly was a great day. God is good!!! 
After a coffee break, Mass with the other PIME priests present here in the north (including Fr. Rafaele Pavese whom I worked with while in Italy, here pictured), and a nice lunch in a western-style hotel in Chiang Mai, we began the two-and-a-half hour trek north to Fang.Our first stop wasn’t very far – we went to visit another Buddhist temple. This one was kind of interesting because it was made of wood and pretty old (which in Thailand means about 200 or 300 years old – there isn’t much “ancient” here, really, from the old Siam). In this temple there is also a copy of the emerald Buddha, as in Bangkok.Fr. Claudio really Is a great driver, especially in navigating all the twists and turns through the hills leading us to Fang. But we arrived safe and sound, and after a bite to eat he treated us to a really nice treat. Have you ever considered – or are you doing? – a PIME long-distance adoption? Well tonight we were able to visit the boarding house where the teenagers – many of whom are adopted through the PIME Foster Parents Mission Program in the USA – live and study. They are predominantly from the Lahu and Akha tribes. And both the boys and girls treated us to a song (which you can hear in the videos here below).They were very welcoming and they even shared some conversational English with us (very simple of course). HOWEVER, I have to say that the girls really did a better job understanding the questions I asked them, as well as asking me questions in English with the correct pronunciation.
To end my visit with the girls, I asked Fr. Claudio if I could teach them a song that Fr. Steve had taught me: Chicka boom chicka boom. They absolutely LOVED it! Anyway, we returned back to the parish house and Fr. Sergio and I talked and asked a lot of questions with both Fr. Claudio and the other great PIME priest here in the mission: Fr. Massimo Bolgan. Today truly was a great day. God is good!!! 
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