Border Run

Over the weekend we made a trip to the Golden Triangle so we could cross the border and get a 2-week extension on our visas. An added bonus was getting to go to Timothy’s house on the Burma side for lunch. We had a big crew of Dr. Dave, Cyril, Bjorn, me, and Lydia one of the English teachers for the FLC Mission. Of course Timothy was guiding us around and BeePal our driver provided his van for the long drive up to the border. Moses, one of the Barefoot Dr students also came to see his 3 yr old son in the hospital. His son is fine now and back home but would appreciate your prayers. As for the rest of us we had a great adventure. We got in late and stayed the night in Mae Sai, the border town on the Thailand side.

The next morning we had to cross the border and then go to breakfast in Burma with Timothy. It was actually pretty good but the atmosphere is quite different than on the Thailand side of the border. There was a lot of yelling and running in the busy street side restaurant. This has a tendency to make one a bit on edge but we never felt threatened. Then it was off to visit a pharmacy to see what was available and the prices of meds we will be recommending for the Barefoot Dr. Students. Very interesting for all you medical types. They have a mix of Chinese, Indian, and western medicine with strange rules of what you can buy over the counter and what you have to get from a hospital. For example, you can buy antibiotics over the counter but one of the best malaria drugs available you can only get through the hospital. HIV meds are only available through the hospital but adrenalin injections you can get at the pharmacy. Of course you have to be on the look out for counterfeit medications in Burma as well, but usually the pharmacist can tell what is ok and what is not so good. The poor pharmacist got very nervous with all the questions we were asking. I thought he was going to kick us out of the store when Cyril whipped out his video camera. After we explained who we were and what we were doing the pharmacist was extremely helpful. It was a good example of the underlying tension and fear that exists in that country, and yet there are many good people living there.

Timothy’s house for lunch was a real treat. Fabulous food prepared by his wife and a good time looking at old cross bows hand made from wood and bone Timothy used for hunting in his younger days.

The Doctors got a chance to examine a few patients as well. Timothy had treated the neighbor’s boy for TB last year and he is now totally recovered, but his mother was concerned and wanted Dr. Nilson to take a look at her boy. She also was worried maybe her other boy had TB as well. Both boys are totally healthy and the family’s worries were put to rest after having a pediatric expert like Dr. Nilson examine them. One other fascinating patient at Timothy’s home presented herself with

“Moth – eaten” alopecia! The verdict is still out on that one but a very rare condition to be sure and one that needs more medical work up by a hospital.

On our way home we stopped and saw a few sites in the Golden Triangle including a small opium museum. It was very educational to us and has important implications to our work, not only medically but socially as well.

It was back to work this week. It is just Dr. Nilson and myself from here on out with a one-day exception of help from a local Dr. So pray for us to have endurance.

Thank you all and May God bless you.

Rick