Yesterday I had a long 16 hour day. I drove up to the mountains and back close to 500 kilometers. I met with my staff to prepare for a team and some project we are working on. Then we went up to the village where they originally came from. It is a medium sized Lahu village in the Mae Ai district. I have visited this village numerous times in the past six years and seen some of the children grow up and leave the place as well as people getting older.
I was invited into the house of Napi and lapue. In the past we had outreach teams staying at their house and last year I helped finance their Daughterty’s nurse training. I always saw them as very kind, hard working, beautiful people. This couple seemed to have a love for each other I seldom saw in the hilltribe community. As I drove into the village with my truck I wondered how they were doing. A friend told me that they miss me and would like to have me for a dinner. It is hard to make an appointment in a village so I just made the trip to surprise them. Of course they were not there.I was informed that they are planting the rice in the mountains, but will come home this evening.
We invited ourselves into their house, Enoch bought some food and Mida started cooking.
I was sitting on the steps to the house when Napi and lapue came walking to the house shouldering their tools. Their bare feet were dirty from the soil and they looked very tired from the hard work. After they had a shower we ate together and they told me about the work they had done. They seemed happy with their lives. Things were going well for them. The rice was planted, They have three new cows, many chickens and ducks. Their daughter works in Chiang Mai and their son is helping with the animals.
I took glances at them and envied their simple live style. At the same time I wondered if I could live the way they do. Napi and Lapue aged a lot since I met them the first time. People don’t get as old here. I got sad and felt so out of place for a moment. Napi smiled and said that she missed me. I returned the smile and said that I missed them too. I know one day I will meat them without the restrictions of language and culture. When people from every tongue and every tribe will gather in the presence of Jesus our King. Napi and Lapue will be among them from the Lahu tribe. I am from the Swiss tribe. This will be the day of laughter, joy and feasting.