Amazing Experience...that will never end!

We have arrived safe and sound back to our home in Kelowna.  We want to thank everyone so much for the their support and prayers over the last 6 weeks.  We truly have been so blessed to have gone and been able to do and see how Missions truly should be done!

We got to hear and witness to many amazing stories about the Karen people from Burma (Myanmar), fleeing their country and coming to Thailand.  They have witnessed so much persecution and death and have had to leave everything they know just to survive.  The most amazing part about it, is they are so humble about there lives, they feel like its no big deal, and that its nothing really and that we dont have to worry about it.  I find that so incredibly moving and powerful.

We met some amazing people along our journey, and the Harrision family is really doing some amazing work in Thailand.  They have seen the Karen dream, and have let them live it out, and not forced our dream on them, but have understand their dream, and are giving them the measure which to live that out!

Thanks again for all your support.  We would love it if anyone wants to give they should, so please do.

www.connect3e.org

Jayson and Erin Zilkie

Karen Village trip! Hauy Pak

On Monday we had the amazing opportunity to go by car with Collin & Casey (Harrison daughter, 13) our translator up to ratcheburi and than an hour out to this incredible Karen village! Collin and Casey only stayed for an hour making sure we were all settled in, Casey translated why we were there as only one person knew a little English (I do mean a little), and off went Collin and Casey!

Hah so we were on our own in this village called huay pak, to help and serve along side with only God in common! The main reason of us going to this village is because this passionate woman named Ma too started this preschool for her people! She saw how the children under school age were not being taken care of as their parents were at work so she sold some of her own land and bought land and built a preschool centre for the children!

Connect3e has now come along side of Ma too to help with funds but this was all Ma too's dream and vision to educate and provide for her people. We arrived when preschool was in session so got introduced to all the children right away! So as a preschool teacher in Canada I feel like my job isn't always the easiest and can be stressful well I seriously have no idea! They have only 4 ladies on staff and 40 children ages 3-5!!!!! All the ladies working have incredible patient loving hearts!!!

The centre has a main room, storage room for supplies, kitchen ( where they prepare a healthy lunch and snack for the children everyday!) and bathroom! They also have space outside to run and play, and a little playground structure. So we got to be apart of the last couple hours of preschool and than at 3:00 all the children go home. When Collin came he distributed some connect3e funds that We had fundraised so we went with Ma too and Too lee to the nearest town and got 30 boxes of tile, 30 bags of cement all in the back of Ma too's older truck, wasn't sure we were going to make it home but we did! We didn't have to load the truck up but had to unload and it wasn't light!

That night we played with some children that lived around the preschool. We played soccer and badminton! For supper that night Ma too and Too lee took us to I'm pretty sure the only restaurant in town which was amazing food and as we were together tried to use broken english/Thai/sign language to get to know them! After supper we were off to bed, our sleeping arrangements were the preschool floor! We borrowed some mats that the kids use for nap time and put up our mosquito net and we were good to go!

The next morning we were awaken by children knocking on the door at 7:00, the preschool did not start until 8:30 but some children have to come early as their parents are off to work! So we quickly got organized and ready for the day! We quickly realized how hard the ladies job is everyday trying to entertain and contain 40 children everyday! We did all we could think of to help out; we did an art time, sang some songs like " the hookie pookie" " if your happy and you know it" " head and shoulders" they loved the action songs! We also did an English " lesson" of ABC's, numbers, colors, and some animals.

All the children are so precious, always wanting to hug you and have your full attention. Their big brown eyes staring at you and watching all you do, it was so easy to love them! Around 10:30 we had lunch which we thought was a bit early but than we assumed these children have been up since 5-6:00 so they were hungry! The women were all so incredible to us, so as you can imagine 40 children eating and it's crazy but they make special food for us ( like when do they have the time or energy?!) and make us eat outside in this private nice area away from the kids for our lunch like wow we were so undeserving of the love they poured out to us!

After lunch it was nap time, as the floor is concrete they bring out these little mats for the children to have their nap on. We all worked together and got each child asleep which I think is such a blessing for those ladies to get a break from the crazy day! The children also need those naps because they play hard! The children started to wake up around 1:30-2:00,we had bought some exercise books in Hua Hin some in Thai and English so we handed those out as they woke up and worked with them. It was great to help them to hold the pencil properly and see the growth, they were proud of their work which is beautiful!

Right before 3:00 they all got a snack, sang a last few songs and the day was done! It was an unique inspiring day to go through a day as preschool teacher here compared to Canada! After we had cleaned up for the day we got the rest of the day/ night off to we decided to roam the village. The surroundings of this village is breath taking, we could not believe it! Seeing the houses they live in and how they do the basic things, made us appreciate all the things we have but also it sadden our hearts how selfish we are in all our material possessions. That night we were on our own for supper and oh man do I appreciate my kitchen! It was an interesting experience cooking with food your not sure of with limited kitchen appliances but we figured it out!

Jay also got to experience his first bucket shower, as there is no showers in the village and he got lots of experience with the squattie potties! So lots of firsts for Jay! Because we got all of the building supplies Ma too wanted to jump right into building so on Wednesday the school was shut down and we did a concrete finish on the walls of the preschool. The current finish is exposed brick, and croncrete floors. There goal is to finish the outside in smooth concrete and tile the entire fLoor.

A crew of Karen men were the builders, we kind of helped out with hauling the sand to mix with concrete bags in a big basin with water. But to us it was a clear example of how connect3e is working and how missions should be run! These Karen men were skilled in their trade so why would We take work away from them! First we would be taking a whole job away from them, taking away money needed to provide for their families, and finally this is their village; by building this they are providing a safe place for their children to come for preschool! That was an amazing experience and so happy God enabled us to see that! During the day we met a man who knew English quite well and got to ask alot of questions! He was helping a nearby friend to construction, this is normal for everyone to volunteer there time to others in the village, neat sense of community.

In the village you can see Burma (only a few hours away by car or 1 day through the jungle, so we were wondering if they are fearful for their lives as they are still so close to Burma and got to ask how they escaped. We found out most had run through the jungle and landed in refugee camps, or are living as illegal immigrants. some stayed in refugee camps for 3-5 years, they than either got sent to USA, Australia, Canada or they got temporary work visas and were sent to certain districts in Thailand and were not allowed to leave those certain districts (this is true for too lee, while her whole family fled to the USA. The only way they could leave was by writing a permission form to the Thai government and maybe they would accept! It was horrifying to hear all the hardship they have gone through yet they were so humble even downplaying their experience thinking it was normal but unfortunately it is a normal lifestyle for a Karen which is so heart breaking, they truly do not belong anywhere. Our eyes were opened to so many things this trip and our hearts are full of love for the Karen people.

Around 3:00 we said goodbye to the village and Ma too & Too lee & her husband the pastor of the village and her son took us by her truck to ratcheburi to catch a train to Hua Hin! They were all so amazing to us and feel to blessed and lucky to have met them! We got on our first train ride of the trip and it was alot like trains in India....... So not amazing hah but we made it home safe, with new eyes and a new heart!! Please pray for this village and for the Karen people.

Thank you for all who donated to this project. The money you gave truly will go so far to make there pre school center functional!

If anyone wishes to donate 100 percent of funds go to projects and no staff are paid.

Visit www.connect3e.org for more info.

Falling more in love with Connect3e, the Karen people and Thailand!

Well we have had a crazy week! After our village trip on Sunday we
actually got Monday off so we took the opportunity to get a beach day
in which was a beautiful blessings and got to enjoy Thailands amazing
beach! On Tuesday we got to go with Ruth and Jordan to the local food/
clothing/ everything market for the Thai people so that was a great
experience!

We are also scootering everywhere and are really getting to know Hua Hin so that is great to have that confidence and freedom! We than got to spend some special time with the Harrison children!

Just to give you an idea of Ruth's life: she was teaching full time, a mother of 5, a wife
and is the creator of Connect3e meaning constant meetings, phone calls,
paperwork! So being able to hang out with her kids and try to make her
life a tiny bit less crazy is our goal! We than started cleaning the office
we are living in and we rented a truck to take loads over to the other
storage.

It was a pretty big job sorting and organizing donated items
and the office items. After two days we cleaned out the whole office and
moved everything over and organized at new storage! So that was a huge
blessing to help in that way!

We than left yesterday at noonish for the Village of home for students 1 (the house set up by connect 3e for karen students age 5-20) again but this time for a wedding!! We arrived in the village and got traditional Karen outfits for the wedding and went off to
a night before celebration! There was a sermon, singing, honoring leaders
including Collin and Ruth! And a play of the relationship of Samson and Leva! (god arranged marriage.. Crazy story we will tell you in person!)

It was so incredible to be involved in that all being completely immersed in
their culture, tradition, and way of life. We are truly getting the true
experience of what it means to live as a Karen or Thai, which I truly value.
The celebration did not end until 11:00 so we stayed out in the village and
Saturday morning was the wedding! Because of where we were staying we were able
to see the bride and groom get ready!

The four older Harrison children ( Zach, Jordan, Casey,Mackenzie) were part of the wedding too! So for anyone who complains that North American weddings are long, well the ceremony lasted
2 1/2 hours! It was so beautiful and full of rich tradition and culture! You
could truly see the love for each other & for God and his plan for their lives.
We all than had a huge feast together and celebrated the couple!

We got to play some volleyball with the kids this afternoon, for some reason that is a
common sport here but such a great time and fun to get to know the children! All
in all each day that passes we love this place, the people and what God is doing
here!( And cannot get enough of the amazing Thai food!) ha

But our eyes have been truly opened to God honoring mission work
that is honestly and humbling listening to the Karen. Ruth and Collin
are amazing at putting their 'white' ideas and goals aside, and really
hearing the Karen dreams for their people. And instead of taking over
they are just embracing their dreams and providing the resources they
could not get on their own. We just feel overly blessed and graced to
be here and learn from everyone involved and how God is loving and
caring for all apart of Connect3e.

The adventure begins...

                                                  Our Scooter for the Month!

                                                      Monkeys we found on our way to the Housing Projects

                                          Meeting with the Karen Leaders!

                                          

                                              Jay with Tate and Jesse

                                           Housing for some of the boys!

                                            Some of the Boys that live in the Housing projects!

                                          Girls Dorm by their Fish pond!

                                        

                                              This is the Housing projects land where they grow all
                                            kinds of fruits and vegetables to eat! And they have 2 cows!

                                                And this is Tate, Harrisons youngest such a cutie!                     

Sa wa dee ka everyone!!!!
Sorry for the long awaited response but we are here in Hua Hin ,
Thailand and love it! We jumped right in when we got here, we
have our own scooter which is interesting to drive on the " roads"
we travel on everyday( also driving on the left side of the road!).
But jay is doing an amazing job!

We have almost figured out our
area and how to get around, Hua Hin is only 50,000 people so a nice
size city and there is just one main road throughout the town that
everything connects off of! Hua Hin is quite a tourist town for
europeans to escape their winters so we are not the only foreigners
in town!

We are living in the office space of connect3e, we are
quite set up with our own bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen so that
is such a blessing!!!! We have had some amazing time getting to
know the Harrison family who have created connect3e, understanding
and seeing their passion and love for the Karen is truly amazing!

We had the opportunity yesterday to go to the housing project one,
where Karen children are coming to stay so they have the opportunity
to have an education that will create a life for them! They are coming
from remote villages where they would never have a chance of being
educated, so these homes connect has created is such a blessing to them!
They are all Karen but in school they are learning in Thai and also learn
English!

We were also able to meet some of the Karen leaders, we were
able to understand and see how much work and passion they have to for
the connect3e projects! We got to witness first hand that connect3e's
vision is the Karen's, the Harrison family is merely empowering them
and helping the Karen attain their goals and desires for their people.
We feel incredible blessed and humbled to be apart of this journey with
the Harrison's and the Karen! We ask for prayer for the Karen and for all the leaders of Connect3e!

Blessings and talk to you all soon!!

Jayson and Erin

What is Connect 3E ?!?

Connect 3E was created 4 years ago.  When a family of 6 saw the injustice being done to the Karen people bordering Thailand and Burma their hearts broke. 

Their Mission: 
 
Connect3e carries out its vision by embracing, educating & empowering. This is what makes up the "3e" aspect of our name.

Connect3e has its foundation in the truth that God created all men and women equal. We are driven by the belief that God desires all people know their creator and experience the freedom that comes from such knowledge. Connect3e believes that God is deeply concerned with the injustices in our world. Jesus gave evidence of this when he walked the earth. As followers of Jesus we have made a commitment to imitate Jesus Christ and to respond to injustice as he did. Therefore we embrace.

Connect3e believes that education is paramount in enabling people to develop as God intended. Education assists people with their ability to think, to learn and to question. It empowers them for their future. It provides people with possibilities where previously there were none. It gives people a choice. It alters the trajectory of a life. Therefore we educate. 

Connect3e’s deepest hope is to hear ‘we have done this ourselves’ from the people we serve. We believe that people have greatness within them. We expect that through embracing and educating we can see that greatness released. We want to provide a platform where hopes and dreams can be formulated and heard. We then aim to be an organisation that assists in these individual and collective dreams, hopes and ideas coming to fruition. Connect3e wants to see current and future generations led by their own people, in their own language and within their own culture. Therefore we empower.



 http://www.connect3e.org/