By Gee-Gee Torres

Sr. Juana Argota, DC is from Tanauan, Leyte and the youngest of 6 children. She has been a missionary in Thailand for the past 27 years. At present she runs the Community-Based Rehabilitation Programme for the Disabled and the Handicapped in Loei. Our editorial assistant visited her and tells her story.

Sea of Mountains

Sr. Juana and I met in Udon. She invited me to visit the rehabilitation center where she is presently assigned. I was delighted to go with her. This time the trip only took two hours, unlike my previous trips to the Augustinian Sisters in Thare and Franciscan Sister in Ubon Ratchathani. Again I enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the way. The province of Loei is surrounded with mountain ranges covered with trees. No wonder it is called the Sea of Mountains.  I thought of the barren mountains in the Philippines and I was saddened. I wish that these mountain ranges in Loei will still be the same in the years to come.

It was almost dark when we arrived in Loei. The Sisters’ house is a kilometer away from the highway. It is in the middle farm, cornfields all around. As soon as we got off the pick-up, Sr. Juana told me that she would first feed her chickens, then we’d have our dinner. Hurriedly she got her paraphernalia – flashlight, apron, pail, chicken feed-and off we went to the chicken house in the backyard.

She was delighted to see her chickens. It was fun watching her feed them while talking to them in Tagalog, asking them how they were doing and checking out that each had gotten home safe. They seemed to understand each other. Sr. Juana must have taught them Tagalog well. I was also amazed when Sister told me that this and that chick were the offspring of this and that hen. Wow, talk about photographic memory, Sister!

Occupational Therapy

The next day Sr. Juana brought me to the Rehabilitation Center. The Center gives occupational therapy for persons with disabilities. The staff visits them in their homes to encourage and help them become self-reliant. They are given opportunities to study and take up vocational courses like electronics and sewing.

Lonsan

I met Lonsan in Udon. He’s one of the people whom the Rehabilitation Center in Loei had helped. I watched him do his paintings using his foot skillfully. Besides his gift for painting, Lonsan has a compassionate heart. He shares his talent with others. Occasionally he conducts art classes. Lonsan must have learned such good virtue from the wonderful people around him.

He is presently staying in the Diocese of Bishop George Phimphisan in Udon. Bishop George provides Lonsan painting materials and takes care of selling his paintings.

Lonsan can also do some carpentry with his foot.  He made his own drawing table.  And he also designed a device to assist him in brushing his teeth.

Meaw

Lonsan has changed the life of Meaw by teaching him how to paint. When I first saw Meaw in her home I thought she just a toddler lying on the floor. But she’s 28 years old. Her hands and legs are deformed since birth

Now however wither new skill she does simple paintings such as flowers, butterflies and trees which are bought my Niramit Craft. Her paintings are made into greeting cards by Niramit Craft. Indeed a new dignity. Indeed a new life.

Niramit Craft

Niramit Craft is an offshoot of the occupational therapy of the Center. This projects aims to develop these special people to become self-reliant so that they can accept themselves as they are and be accepted by society as well. They make handicraft products such as frames and baskets made from newspapers and old telephone directories, folders, calling card boxes and tissue holders made from cardboard wrapped in Isan cloth-hand woven cloth specially made in Northeast Thailand. Niramit Craft is a member of the Thai Craft Association. Their products are sold in Bangkok. During Christmas they are particularly busy because of orders for Christmas giveaways.

Sr. Juana said working in the Rehabilitation Center demands a lot of patience. She has to continually train all the members and staff. However despite everything, she loves her work and finds fulfillment when she sees them develop and gradually being able to manage their own lives.

There are times when the she wishes she could bring these people back to the time of Jesus Christ and ask Him for a miracle to heal them. But I think God has already performed that miracle. For these special people, Sr. Juana is the miracle.

P.S. Sr. Juana, thank you for all the trouble you went to in bringing me to the border near Laos, in Kaeng Khut Khu, to see the Mekong River and to Thabum where I met on of our Filipino teachers