Pak is a strapping 23-year old third year college student studying tourism at Buriram Rajabhat University. Pak was the first child we took in when we opened Treehouse in January 1998. He does the heavy duty chores around the house and yard in addition to running many of the errands, including driving and picking up supplies. He will continue to stay with us and help out until he finishes university next year.

Eileen arrived at Tree of Life when she was only 4 weeks old, weighing a mere 5 pounds. Eileen’s mother was involved with a man (not Eileen’s father) when she was born. He was not willing to care for her, so the mother called the hospital and said that if they did not take her she would throw her in a trashcan. Her mother contracted HIV after Eileen’s birth and is now dying of AIDS. We received a phone call from the hospital and arrived shortly thereafter to discover that she was wrapped in a towel and had never even been bathed. She arrived two days after Roger’s mother’s death so she was named Eileen (his mother’s name). She is the most certainly the center of attention! It truly was love at first sight! Eileen is sponsored by Michael Burns who is currently stationed in KOSOVO as a supervisor. She attends kindergarten at Marie Anusorn School. Eillen carries "Uncle" Michael's photo in her purse and photos of Michael and his wife are prominently displayed throughout the house. Don't forget to pray for his safety as he labors there in that dangerous place.

Fa is the second daughter of Muay. Muay is unemployed and cannot find work. She is unable to supoprt her two daughters so we have them here on weekends and during vacation periods. Hopefully at the end of the second term of school both girls will move into the center permanently. Fa is a darling little girl with an incredible smile and big bright eyes. She is a second grader.

Meet Miss Photogenic World: Fern has a twin named Fil and has been with us since age 3. Both of their parents died of AIDS. We worried initially that the children may have contracted HIV but we were so thankful to find that they both tested negative. They have been with us for the past 6 years now. Fern is a student at Anubol Buriram School grade 3. She loves to play, sing, and dance, dress up, have her picture taken (naturally!), put on make-up and hang a lot of junk jewelry around her neck. Her fingernails are often painted in every color of the rainbow by the volunteers. She is a cartoon fanatic and a virtual delight! Now she is speaking English and loves me to read stsores to her. She already knows them so she blurts out the plot before I can read it.

Fil has a twin named Fern and has been with us since age 3. Both of their parents died of AIDS. Along with his sister Fil has been with us nearly 6 years at this time. He is a 3rd grader at the local elementary school (Anubol Buriram). Fil loves to play, sing and dance. Fil is a cartoon aficionado’s so thank heavens for Veggie Tales Christian cartoons. Photogenic, dancer, entertainer and junior philosopher in the making.