The Dining Sala’s Dedication
21.01.2011
The dining sala has been blessed by all who it has been charged with serving. On January 18th, Pam, Ashley and I along with the kids, staff and friends of the CDPC village assembled to cut the ribbon to the building’s front door and welcome all who enter. Pam, Ashley and I have worked in our own ways over the last year to build something that is a mission of not only 3L Foundation, but an extension of ourselves. When we can not be there, the dining sala will be guarding over each and ever soul, nourished in body and soul by the love, grace and peace we wish upon all who enter this wonderful space.
The day before we dedicated the sala, our new friend, Meena (who I mentioned in the previous blog entry) designed a beautiful abstraction of our 3L Foundation logo in a deep, red-ish brown wood crest that now adorns the front facade of the building. In English, our foundation name lets everyone know what we are all about and what we want everyone to encounter when they enter beneath the words, “Learn, Laugh, Love.” We are grateful to Meena and her craftsman for the wonderful blessing they have contributed to the new building. Neither Pam, Ashley or I could imagine the sala without it now.
After an emotionally exhaustive day visiting some of the slums of Pattaya (a blog entry about that coming soon), we went to the CPDC village to get ready for the ribbon cutting. Balloons, flowers and other decorations painted the building for its big moment. So many people worked to make this happen and make it a wonderful milestone for us and for the dining sala. Smiles and love from the hearts of those involved became a physical presence to the decorations of the new building.
In the early evening, we all assembled to cut the ribbon. The kids gathered around in cheer and celebration while three of the kids handed us scissors to cut the ribbon. As our friend, Khun Toy delivered the final countdown, Pam, Ashley and I walked forward and cut the pink line of ribbon and bows and watched the pieces fall to the ground in unison. As they traveled through the air to the ground, cheers and celebration erupted and flowers we handed out to each of us with Pam and Ashley receiving wonderful bouquets of indigenous Thailand flowers and I received some beautiful red roses. My thanks to my sister Heather for taking pictures during the ceremony.
The kids then ran into the dining sala for essentially the first time as a group to get a look at it. The new tables had just been delivered and the kitchen was close to being fully installed. Chairs, refrigerators and a few other things are all we are waiting for to make it fully operational and usable. But the kids began to fill the space with their presence of energy, enthusiasm and love. We could not ask for a better blessing to be bestowed on the new sala.
In the coming days, the first meal will be prepared and enjoyed in the new dining sala. I wish I could be there for it. Pam and Ashley will lead the kids of the CPDC village through a new threshold in their lives to enjoy food, fellowship and wonderful experiences in this sacred space of our hearts’ unfolding and realization. I have posted several pictures in the gallery of the dining sala’s grand day.
Thank you all for your kindness and contributions to this project. We could not have done it without you and your continued support makes such a difference with the projects we do for these great kids. I am back in the U.S. but Pam and Ashley remain in Pattaya working with the kids for several more weeks. We have so much more to tell you about this trip and upcoming adventures. We hope you enjoy our blogs, pictures and films about the work 3L Foundation is committed to for these wonderful children in Thailand.
God bless all of you who gave so much of yourselves to this project for these dear children.
Wow, wow, wow. You three are AMAZING!!! Congrats on everything that you have accomplished, you should all be so proud of yourselves. I can just picture the kids running into the dining sala with big smiles on their faces. What a very special time for the CPDC. I can’t wait to come and see the beautiful structure. And I love that you added the logo….what a creative touch. xoxoxo to you guys, I miss everyone!!! -P’Carmen
This is absolutely wonderful!