Greetings from Yangon.

Day I
Yesterday we went to visit several villages on the opposite side of river with a new guide because foreigners can’t go with us. We talked also with several locals along the way. Oh a very poor area with the houses submerged in water. Sending you some pictures I took. We will be going there on Sunday to buy some food and give it to some families, so I will be using some of the money from our own meal fund. There is a big school nearby but it seems impossible to give to everyone from our own meal fund because there’s a lot of students to feed, maybe when we go there next time I will try to learn more of some possibilities. Next trip we will give some money to a few mother’s to start little businesses of selling fruits in town. I don’t know really know whom to help since all the people are so poor and a lot of them, maybe a thousand families or more. We talked with the village chief and he said there is no problem with the government interfering.

Day II
We have gone twice to across the river; the first was just plain visits and the second time we brought some food stuff to give to some 80 families, candies and biscuits to some children. The needs in that place is so enormous with more than a thousand families living in very poor condition, the picture you received is only a small portion, of the 80 families we have given food. In addition, there are 4 widows and I am sure there are many HIV positive people too. I can not make any commitment about helping this one village because the needs are so great. But if you like to help people there which I know you are very willing I should recommend that a Burmese staff who knows something on community organizing should be the one to manage the project, I will certainly help in what ever way I can but I cannot do it on my own…too much needs to be done.

Day III
Sorry for responding so very late. I have been in bad shape the last days; I was down with flu after the visit and giving out of food across the river. I am better now. Thanks for the vegetables seeds but as of now they cannot yet be planted because this village like many others is still submerged in water. Not unless we buy pots and soil so people could plant vegetables in pot but also there is the problem of stealing in the neighborhood. I don’t know during summer if it possible to plant vegetables in their backyard, Also, their are alot of poor families so how can we choose whom to help. Some families that we were not able to give food last time complains because they are all neighbors to the families who received food but we told them they will be the one to be given next time. Next step is find sisters working with people in this area. Thanks,