The Moken Keep Christmas Themselves

Philip's long hope has always been that the Moken would grow more and more independent, until he is only a participant rather than the one forever leading the way. This Christmas, they did it. Because his return flight from South Africa fell on 22 December, the Moken planned and held their own Christmas celebration on the 21st and 22nd — Philip managing a few arrangements by phone and sending money for food, then receiving their photographs of the festivities. "I am so excited about this and can't wait for them to start doing more things themselves."

He had gone to South Africa partly to rest after intense months, and partly to tell his parents of a big decision: to shift from his volunteer visa toward a business, or "tentmaker," visa. A Thai man he works with had proposed they start an ice factory on the island — where there is no mains electricity and ice is shipped in daily from Ranong — the first step of a years-long path toward permanent residency, and eventually citizenship. His father, he was glad to report, was recovering well.

Wud, his eldest foster son, now in military service, came home on his first ten-day pass — grown tall, pouring out his heart. The hardship of training had taught him to pray in a new way and deepened his desire to serve the Lord; he hopes to finish his Bible studies and one day serve alongside Philip. And an American group from Mark's church in Kauai, Hawaii — two families with their sons — came and finally repaired the long-leaking bathrooms, the boys working flat out from the second day on.