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Published: January 14th 2010
Matt in centre
Notice the red bed, these had been trieled and later we were going to order all new beds like thisI always knew this next part of my journey was going to be maybe the toughest.
Matthew plays a big supporting role in looking after land mind victims at Mae La Care Villa a home and care centre, these 19 boys and men were going to take me on a journey of some of the most powerful beautiful, joyful, emotion I have ever felt.
Those Burmese chaps have made this part of the Burma one of the heaviest land mined places in the world with the result of loss of limb, sight and disfiguration as an everyday event, then surviving in this terrain is a miracle, living on in this shape is a nightmare.
Victims used to live with relatives if they had them but special care even in its most basic care is needed, for example how do you go to the loo with no arms, how does your brain think with no sight in this environment? hope? the future? the list is endless.
We drove up to the home and they were so pleased to see Matt.
Chile, who has lost sight like all of them, knew I
was coming and came up to me and in broken English said you are Matthews Papa and with a big smile on his face put a stump out, phew!
The pictures tell their own story but what I really want to tell you about is their CHOIR.
Matt and I were going to be their audience.
More and more arrived filling an open area slowly moving around into a half circle with just two chairs placed against a wall....... we had best circle.
Have a look at the pictures below and you can see how depressed/ low /sad/lost they looked, that is exactly how they all looked as they sat around us.
The head of the choir stood up, welcomed us and started to sing, in groups of baritones, tenors they built up the music..........it was so so beautiful but what was even more stunning was their broken bodies seemed to swell with pride and their faces, Oh their faces, they beamed like a shining light...they were free to express themselves. Tears were rolling down my eyes, yes we really did have the best seats in the house.
When they finished three songs I tell you they were the proudest boys and men in the land, I was in a right state.
Found out later they have 50 songs, so they really are going for it.
Matthew filmed the singing for a web site and we will get the music over to you at a later date.
Sadly we had to move onto Mae Sot as Matt was buying new beds for them all. So we gave them each hugs I had another wobbly moment and we left but those singers will never ever leave me.
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Olivier KAULEK
non-member comment
Thank's
Anthony, Thank's for tthese very emotional moments. Best. Olivier