Writing is the most difficult part for me in this whole exercise. Writing factually in a snazzy style is indeed a difficult task for me. How to write without distorting the picture and yet allowing the reader come to a correct conclusion minus the emotional which skew one thinking. For some creative writers, they can churn out report beautiful glowing reports with a lot of hollowness, e.g. like those IPO prospectus. I had read some of those reports which in “Hokkien” dialect, “Siah tua tua, cho boh min kia”. For this reason, my report is late because I had to rewrite many times, fortunately I have ms word to the rescue which allows me to make many amendments.

In hindsight, I thought that I am the one of the few faced with difficulty in writing. My sister, who followed us on the 2009 volunteer trip to the Delta told me that it took her a week to write the article. Moreover, it took her some effort to do it.  

24 November Tuesday

0750 – Left for Bogale, on the way I collected some of the items purchased through Eden at their warehouse in Hlaing Tharya. Just as we set on a leisurely drive, our joy evaporated when water leaked from the radiator. Fortunately, we were able to top up the radiator all along the way until we reached the warehouse with the bottled water in the van. Probably, this was the most expensive water topping up exercise for the radiator because I had to buy some more water along the way. I spent about $3 for 13 litres of water whilst we are paying under $1.52 for 1000 litres of water in Singapore. I could have used the water from the stream but it would clog up the radiator. 

I was told that in some villages in Maw Gyun Township have to pay about 1,000 kyats (S$1.40) for 1 drum (44 gallon) of drinking water. In Singapore, we are paying 34 cents for one drum and water just flows from the tap at our convenience. Moreover, delivery is to the house and we do not have to struggle and haul the water into the house.

Htiyali village monk was very happy when we provided water well system for his village. His villagers take water from the tank for consumption.  Many villagers who had drank the water from well FFM had donated, I believe many would express their gratitude in their own way. Our dana reverberate throughout this region.

26 November Thursday - Maw Gyun

0500 –  Left for Bogale, on the way, I stopped at Pyapon monastery briefly to check on the status of our dinner booking on the 5 December and also passed our personal information and itinerary for the delta group to Ven. Tejaniya. 

Upon arrival at Bogale, we headed for Nyein Oo village to discharge the items that I had brought from Yangon.  At Nyein Oo, I saw the abutments for both the banks of the bridge were completed.  The builder was fast, however, he had problem trying to pump out the water from the dam part of the river where the pier is going to be placed. He was trying to find a cost effective solution to block the seepage of water into the pier area where piles would be placed but it was a fruitless effort. We had to buy pipes from Maw Gyun town to resolve the problem.

Later in the evening, we went to The Pye Chaung village to take a second look at the site for the second propose bridge. This place is further away than the current bamboo bridge where Ven. Sopaka had proposed it to be built. He was surprised that the river had widened over the years. It was even wider than the bridge over Nyein Oo village and we settle for another place further than the bamboo bridge.

2nd link at “The Pye Chaung” village. The site selected is on the spot from which the picture was taken.  The bridge would be built at the camera position.

27 November Friday - Maw Gyun

Left for Nyein Oo village to take a look at the progress of the bridge construction. Since it was early for lunch when we arrived, the venerables and I decided to walk to Kyar Hoe village about 1.8 km away to view the projects done by Red Cross and a Japanese NGO.

The Red Cross built a cyclone shelter project in this village. It is a 3 storey building with concrete roof and they term it as multi-purpose building. There is no wall at the ground floor to allow the water from the storm surge to pass through unimpeded.

A stone throw away from the Red Cross project, is another school building donated by the Japanese. This is the most solid school building I have seen so far. It has full concrete roof on the building including the corridor. In the event of flooding, evacuation is through the interior.  This is luxurious by any standard. Area wise it is much smaller than Nyein Oo but the cost would probably be more by our estimate.

28 November Saturday – 4 December Friday

During this period, I arranged for the electrician and aircon technicians to travel to the delta for all the M & E to be done for Nyein Oo clinic. All the items needed to fix up the clinic were carried by me to the Delta.  

I made one more trip to Maw Gyun to ensure all matters had been settled before the 2009 volunteers arrived.

5 December Saturday -  12 December Saturday
Firefly Mission Myanmar 2009 – Team 2

It was a rather busy day because I had to clear all things in the morning before the volunteers arrived in the afternoon. Other than a late arrival and missing baggage that were too much for the aircraft weight, all the clearances were smooth.

Team 2 (Delta team) headed straight for Pyapon soon after we cleared the CIQ. I took Yee Kong with me to thank our local partner before I took the road to Pyapon. I was surprised that we caught up with the bus which carried the bulk of the volunteers before Kungyangon township (still under Yangon Division).

Upon arrival at Pyapon, we headed straight to Brother 3 restaurant for dinner. Ven. Tejaniya waited for us at the monastery. Most of the volunteers did not sleep early probably due to the excitement of being their first time in the delta.

The next morning, we left for Byaingazi village where a government clinic was funded by FFM in the boats. Incidentally, this is the home village of the Gen. Maung Maung Aye who tasked Cyclone Nargis relief effort. During the way, one of the boats developed engine problem, which resulted us having to be transferred to the 2 boats.

From Byaingazi, we travel to Khayanthi village school (Bogale Township) to take our late lunch. We could not stay for long because we had to leave for Taman village (clinic) and Htiyali village (water system). We arrived in Mawlamyine Gyun town in the evening. FFM volunteers were the 1^st large group of “tourist” to be in the Maw Gyun town. From the jetty, we went to the monastery for dinner. The ladies put up at a residence offered by a Shan lady and the guys were housed at the monastery.

Monday morning, we left for Nyein Oo village, it was a wonderful sight to see a flotilla flying FFM flags heading for the village. Short of going to war, we were heading for the celebration and rejoice. When the volunteers comprises of many donors reached Nyein Oo village, met the recipients of FFM dana, there were rejoice on both sides. It was like a fusion of atomic particles combining together releasing the energy of joy and happiness in the process.

Nyein Oo Village Middle School, transference of merits. The electrical technician who witnessed this ceremony commented that he likes the idea of touching whilst water was being poured. As much as we tried not to disturb the local culture, we do influence their thoughts.

When I witnessed the exchange, short of tearing, I too felt a great release of emotion. Just like the combined particle, my body has become lighter in the process.

At Nyein Oo, the ceremony emcee by Ven. Sopaka, began with the address by Kyar Chaung village abbot and Ven. Kumara presided over the transference of merits. Soon after the ceremony, with the approval of the sangha, we gave a rendition of “Boundless Love” accompanied by ultra mini speakers. This was probably the first time, the many venerables who were presence, heard the lyric of “Sabbe Satta Sukhi Hontu” being sung.

“Boundless Love” sung by the Team 2 volunteers. Nyein Oo village.

The ribbon cutting ceremony followed by planting of trees before we had our lunch. After lunch, we walked pass the bridge under construction (funded by FFM) to the clinic. Many volunteers were surprised seeing the aircon in the operating theatre. I was told by the technician when he was fixing up the electrical in the clinic, many curious villagers walked in and out the clinic hampering his work, because they had never seen an aircon and so much lights in their lives. So much so, he had to lock the door internally. It may seem luxurious but when I witnessed the doctors sweating whilst performing eye surgery last year

The school was officially declared open on 7 December 2009, Nyein Oo village. Prior to that, the students was using the temporary lean to shelter. Nyein Oo was a well known monastic school in this part of Maw Gyun, it produces scholars like Ven. Sopaka, the present abbot, U Pandita and others. Children from other villages row their boat across to attend this middle school. Incidentally, the Karens who live in Nyein Oo were fighting the government forces more than 30 years ago in this village.

FFM had set new record for a village clinic in Myanmar by putting electrical fittings according to the modern standard.

Posing for picture together with the Myanmar ladies who cooked our lunch. The gas stoves had to be carried from Maw Gyun town. Those in the background were standing on the slab roof purposely designed for storm surge.

Our departure from Nyein Oo village was late from our plan schedule for tour of the FFM school projects in the Mawlamyine Gyun Township. The first brief stop at “The Pye Chaung Village School” to give a feel of the FFM funded second school that was built soon after Cyclone Nargis and to allow the volunteers to see the difference. This is a government school that was built on the existing floor. The original building of brick wall was washed away by the storm surge.

We left for Upper Gyu Phyu village to see a first RC school to be built in the Delta. The donors, who were among the volunteers, were elated and joyful when they saw their mother’s name was on the plaque. Our next stop was Phoe Chit village, we took pictures to show our donor who was in Yangon helping out in Team 1 visit.   

Kyaung Tawya Aung Hlaing village school. Bro JunHan climbed to slab roof to pose for picture together with some of the school children.

Kyaung Tawya Aung Hlaing village. Pumping out water from the well. The water tank is to the left of the villager demonstrating. Well depth 540 feet.

Drinking direct from the water freshly pumped out. The yellow hose crossing his head is the compressor hose, air is injected into the well to force the water out.

After Phoe Chit village, we bypassed 2 schools (Kanazochaung Lay and Tasay, funded by FFM) and make a loop around the island to go to Hma Thaing. Before we reach Hma Thaing, to our right, there was another school funded by FFM under construction which we simply do not have the time to pop in. After arriving Hma Thaing village, we witnessed the school and well building (funded by HSBC). Due to time constraints, we had to change our itinerary, our boat headed for Kyaung Tawya Aung Hlaing before others arrived at Hma Thaing village. Lower Gyo Phyu village was our final stop before we headed for Maw Gyun.

Hma Thaing village school under construction. Normally the water level for the footing should have been lower at this time of the year. 7 December 2009.

Hma Thaing village. Drilling of water well.  Any joiners?

Hma Thaing village. We were posing stepping on the pipes. Each pipe measure slightly under 20 feet and some pipes were already sunk in and from these pipes, we can gather the depth of the well which is 500 feet or more to access to good drinking water.

At every stop, the reception was warm, the villagers and students waited for us patiently,  our stomachs were overwhelmed  with snacks and coconut water. Even as we left, the villagers also distributed more coconuts for us to drink in the boat.

Our return to Maw Gyun town for rest was greeted by the setting sun bathing the sky radiant red.  It was dark when we were near to the town, the fireflies lighted the mangrove trees just before we made a sharp turn for the town.

The following morning, we took the boat to Bogale town to board the bus for Golden Rock for a night before proceeding to Shwegyin. Shwegyin is a brown area, hence special permit have to be approved by the authority before foreigners can enter. From Madauk, we were escorted by the local police into the school. The welcome party consists of Ven. Aggasara, the children and other greeted us. The children showed us our sleeping area and some of us were pretty embarrassed when the children hauled our luggage to our sleeping area which were the hostels built for them.

We were served dinner cooked with joy and that same evening, cultural performance were held in our honour. After we sang “Boundless love” and “If we hold together”, the night sky was filled lights from the bright, hot air balloons  were released to the delight and cheers of the town folks.  The volunteers called it a night whilst local continued the celebration into the night.

The following morning, opening ceremony for the hostels and kitchen was held and trees were also planted to mark the occasion. We adjourned to town for the charity run by Ven. Aggasara before heading for Yangon for our return to Singapore next day.

Project Summary in 2009

 The following projects were completed in 2009:

1.       Upper Gyo Phyu Village School (Maw Gyun Tsp)

2.       Kanazo Chaung Lay Village School (Maw Gyun Tsp)

3.       Tasay Chaung Village School (Maw Gyun Tsp)

4.       Phoe Chit Village School (Maw Gyun Tsp)

5.       Kyaung Tawya Aung Hlaing Village School (Maw Gyun Tsp)

6.       Lower Gyo Phyu Village School (Maw Gyun Tsp)

7.       Nyein Oo Village Middle School (Maw Gyun Tsp)

8.       Kyonthin Village School (Pyapon Tsp)

9.       Gwe Kone Village School (Dedaye Tsp)

10.   Khayanthi Village School (Bogale Tsp)

11.   Taman Clinic (Bogale Tsp)

12.   Byaingazi Village Clinic ( Pyapon Tsp )

13.   Nyein Oo Village Clinic ( Maw Gyun Tsp )

14.   Girls hostel (Shwegyin, Bago Division)

15.   Boys hostel Boys hostel (Shwegyin, Bago Division)

16.   Kitchen (Shwegyin, Bago Division)

Water Well System

The drinking water consists of water tank, compressor, engine and about 600 feet of pipes in 20 villages (Mawlamyine Gyun Tsp).

Sanitation System

11 sanitation system were built. Other than Shwegyin, most of them have a septic tank, 2 toilets and 2 unrinal.

Under construction in 2010

1.       Hma Thaing Village School (Maw Gyun Tsp)

2.       Kyun Chaung Village School (Maw Gyun Tsp)

3.       Kanni Village School (Laputta Tsp)

4.       Nyein Oo Bridge (Maw Gyun Tsp)

5.       Water well – exact numbers not know, definitely more than 3.

Bridge @ Nyein Oo under construction

Planning

1.       Thorkay Village School (Kungyangon Tsp, Yangon Division)

2.       The Pye Chaung Village School (Pinsalu Tsp – Cyclone Nargis entry point to the delta)

3.       Laputtalokgyi Village School ( Maw Gyun Tsp )

4.       The Pye Chaung Village Bridge ( Maw Gyun Tsp )

5.       Hma Thaing Village Cyclone shelter cum multi-purposed building – NON Cyclone Nargis and PRIVATELY FUNDED BY DELTA TRIP VOLUNTEERS AND FRIENDS.

Briefly recap, FFM had completed 18 building projects, 20 water projects and 11 sanitation systems after Cyclone Nargis struck on 2 May 2008. Most of the 16 building projects were completed within a year from October 2008 except for the kitchen. All buildings were reinforced concrete buildings except the 2 schools completed in 2008 By Ven. Jotika. This beside the 11 tilling machines, paddy seeds for 4,250 acres and diesel fuel for plowing in 2008. Our project area covers several times the land size of Singapore.

For Hma Thaing village, I could not capture immense sufferings caused by Cyclone Nargis due to my lousy writing skills in my previous report. When Team 2 delta volunteers decided to build a monastery after seeing so many children made orphans by CN. I thought the funds would come from Nargis fund hence my opposition. But when they told me it would be privately funded by team 2 volunteers, I am in complete agreement. It would be a cyclone shelter cum multi-purpose hall for the village. Strategically, it makes sense because there is no strong building around the area to take another cyclone of less intensity than Nargis. Moreover, distance from Mawlamyine Gyun town is about 4 hours away in a village boat.

Temporary School @ Hma Thaing

Hma Thaing Village Cyclone shelter cum multi-purposed building

For the benefit of others, before FFM was formally registered, we were debating whether we should adopt the mottos of “Let’s do it” or “Together we light up the world”, before we finally settled for “Together we light up the world” . The spontaneity in generosity with “Let’s do it” response means more work for me of which I gladly accept.

With writing one can lie, conjure an image in the mind of the reader when those reports were sent back. In the digital era, pictures can be doctored.  The volunteers presence audit FFM works in the delta and nothing beats being there to see for oneself, in short “Ehipassiko”.

This picture above summarizes FFM donation in the delta from the time saw the piles of rubbles (June 2008, Team 2 visit) to final completion. The school was built on the site. Yee Kong, Chong Jin and I were in Team 2. I was “marooned” to execute the rehab phase. And the 3 of us were part of the volunteers on the 7 December 2009.

When like minded people without the sense of “atta” ( self ) decided to come together in compassion to help, much can be achieved. I term this as the “anatta” approach to humanitarian work.

Our compassion goes beyond words because we brought light to places where helps were most needed and in record time. Altruism is never about waiting for ideal condition, it is now. FFM do not talk their way into humanitarian work, we Do it.

To quote my secondary 2 classmate who wrote on my autograph “Between the possible and the impossible, it is only the measure of man’s will. If I may add ONLY “if we hold on together, I know our dream will never die”. And with the “let’s do it” attitude, the dream had turned into a reality. We can say “Together we light up the world”.

On this note, I would to express my gratitude and thanks to everyone whose names are too numerous to be mentioned a happy 2010. May our wisdom in applying the dhamma increases with each passing day. May we realize, however much wealth we own, we are just a custodian, it would never be able to obsess and possess us till the day we expire. And may the wholesomeness and joy we done with this wealth be in our mental stream when we expire.