Xtreme Karen Culture Training

Michael Katz

6/28/08

This morning we were packed and ready to leave by 9:15. Our Xfile indicated training and the great commission with XKCT at the top. That stood for Xtreme Karen Culture Training. After seven hours on the road and a stop for lunch we drove down a one lane road with collapsing sides. Sinkholes from the river had taken some of the road away, while the wilderness was taking back other ground. We drove past farms on mountain sides and breathtaking views of mountains, valleys, wildlife, cows, and moving water of all kinds. We drove over one bridge that looked like it wouldn't hold, but of course it did. When we were so far off the main road and nothing in sight we rounded a corner into a Karen town. The town has a backwoods feel and is called Tee Wah Tah which means white water creek.
We all were given a chance to rest in the pastor's house and were told that this is where we would be staying. While resting we were given a bunch of the sweetest bananas ever. It is a shame that we cannot get them like that at home. Then we were invited to the boarding house and school that was started by the pastor. We saw a few of the buildings and then were allowed to play with the children. The guys played soccer, while the girls mingled with the younger ones. I kept back for a while trying to take in all the beautiful surroundings. The mountain jungle backdrop was the perfect setting to end this day.
At dinner we were given four dishes with our rice, but the children only had spinach and water. One of the xtremers ask why we had all the other food that the children didn't? When I explained that the food was prepared especially for us, he understood but wanted to share. He got permission from Duane and the pastor to have two of the children eat with us. Just the look on their faces said they had not had eggs and meat in a while.
After dinner we were asked to stay around for a youth service. So we sat on the steps of the church and listened to music and interacted with the kids. We started to wonder if we were in the right place until a mob of children came. The boarding house has 150 children and it looked like all of them were coming.
We worshiped by candle light, because the power was out. While writing this one of the adults came over and sat a candle on the back of a chair to give me more light. We had no idea what to expect from the service or if we were supposed to run the whole thing, but we were open to what ever the Lord had to offer.
The joyful voices of over a hundred children pierced the darkness better than any flood light ever could. There is no language barrier in music when the Lord is being praised. We were introduced and the service was handed over to us just as the power came on. The service went well, we shared a few songs and Matt shared a testimony.
When we got back to the pastors house Duane gave us all Sarongs for showering and changing. So we all had our first sarong "shower". Of corse this wouldn't be the Xtreme Team if we had running water. There was a basin of water and a dipper. Not to mention that the water was cold and we were still hot. We went to bed in mosquito nets on the floor just shy of 11:30 so that we could lead the service the next morning.