Early in our marriage, Ken and I bought the plots that would receive our remains once we were finished with them. It was a practical move, fairly easily paid off, and something that we both have been glad is taken care of with such little fuss. Just "one little thing less" to worry about when the day comes that would be made more difficult by such details. Just one little thing, like where to be buried when we die.
Haven't given it much thought really, until now.
The tragic loss of Suradet and Yupa's son Bee last September has opened my eyes to yet another level of harshness that is living and dying in a country far less resourced than my own. This basic need of a place to lay loved ones to rest isn't so basic or even expected here. Due largely to the vast majority of those who choose cremation in a Buddhist country, burial plots are hard to come by and extremely expensive. The few cemeteries available for Christians who desire to to be buried are crowded, awkward and barely available to folks without their own or donated funds. No one who attends Hot Springs Church could afford such a thing.
Suradet and Yupa are servants to the core of their beings. One thing they realized from their own wretched experience is that that those they love and lead in their church do not have access to the same connections or resources that they do. As pastors, they wanted to turn their own grief into something redemptive. And out of that came the idea that Hot Springs Church should purchase land to become their own cemetery.
A secure box was made and put at the back of the church. This would receive donations over time, coming from the church members themselves. I have noted before, when explaining this to Highview, that not once did Suradet and Yupa ask or expect that any significant portion of this project would come from us. It truly was something they wanted to provide for one another from their own resources.
That was ten months ago.
With an influx of population coming from the south to the north over the past five years or so (for reasons both political and economic), land in this area has increased in price quite drastically. That is why a suitable property about 10 minutes from the church was far out of reach when they inquired last month. However, after the first conversation, the owner of the land reconsidered his price given the purpose, and out of his own desire to be generous for a good cause, he came back with a counter offer of half the original amount. What was 3 million baht was now 1 million, 500 thousand! [NOTE: 3 million baht = $113,000.00 CAD, 1.5 million baht = $57,000.00]
A group of us went out to view the property. Honestly, it was lovely. Easy access. Much clearer and open and beautiful than the one other cemetery I have visited here. The sun was happy there. There were trees. Suradet tells me he would move Bee here if they can buy the land. I like that thought. I like the idea of Bee being here instead of there, at least the thought of having this place to come to instead.
With excitement, it was decided to go back to Hot Springs and open the box to see how much had been collected thus far. We did this in the same group so that the counting could be verified.
First problem was the key. It had been so long since the box was locked, no one could remember exactly where it was. Suradet tried a few random keys with no success. Then he broke out the tool box. One particular screwdriver did the trick, and the lid was pulled off and the contents spilled out onto the tiles of the porch where we were. It was not an impressive pile to be honest. However, who knew what was in those envelopes? We began with a fair degree of optimism. The 1000 baht bills brought little noises of hope. But most were basically pocket change notes of 20 and 50 and 100 baht. We set to work.
However, the final count proved rather demoralizing. A grand total of 16,000 baht had been collected. Over ten months. Not even a spit enough for a down payment. [NOTE: 16,000 baht = $600.00 CAD]
Everyone was quiet for a moment. My own disappointment was huge. I wondered if they were thinking the same thing I was. If this was the result of 10 months of collection, and land prices were only increasing, and this particular offer had been an amazing, and maybe one time deal, was the vision for a cemetery of their own even remotely realistic?
Suradet broke the silence. "Prajao roo took yung", he stated simply but with absolute confidence. God knows everything. From what I could tell no further discussion ensued. No re-evaluating of the process or the project. I'm not even sure if the box will be there again on Sunday and if they simply will wait it out, trusting God to provide. But I bet that's just what they'll do. Because I've seen them do it over and again, just like this.
In fact that's our story. Ten years ago it was exactly the same thing. Suradet and Yupa took in 11 at risk children not knowing how they would feed or clothe them. But they prayed. And they fasted. And half way around the world God was preparing a small but mighty community of faith to come be their partners in this bold and gentle redemptive work. They didn't know us then. We didn't even know each other existed. But God did. Because God knows everything. Yes. He does.
I struggle with the implications of my writing this here. Yes, I would gladly accept any amount that would bring these beautiful people closer to the sad and delicate purpose this project represents. That common dignity. That 'little one thing less' I haven't ever worried about myself.
But my intentions are less pragmatic today, I think. Instead, I just find myself wanting to feel it with them. Understand this more deeply in my psyche first before trying to fix anything. If there's anything to fix anyways.
No comments:
Post a Comment