HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

The Walker gives free feet examinations for children at Mercy Center

Lions Club of Pratumnak Pattaya celebrates 20th anniversary

PSC makes donation to Khopai Kindergarten School

Pattaya Congregation spreads the good news

PCEC members given an in depth look at Buddhist art & sculpture

The Walker gives free feet examinations for children at Mercy Center

Staff reporters

Pattaya is a unique place, where when someone new moves here to live or work, notwithstanding the modernity and sophistication of the city, he or she immediately sees beyond the facade and discovers that there are a lot of people both adults and children who are underprivileged and in need of care.

Rudi van der Lubben, right, and his international standard trained team give the children the best of attention.

One such person is R.H.van der Lubben, a podiatrist who has just opened a branch in Pattaya-Jomtien called The Walker.

Rudi who has a love for children heard about the Mercy Center and the children living under the care of Pastor Fred Doell. He decided to do something nice for them.

On July 24, together with his team of specialists and special equipment, Rudi visited the Mercy Center to give the children a free checkup.

Rudi informed us, “Flat feet is a common problem especially in children between the ages of four and eight however, if treated, can be fixed within a few months with the simple insertion of an inlay in their shoes.”

On that day, Rudi examined eighteen children at the Mercy Center and was delighted to find that only two of them needed some extra treatment.

Pastor Fred Doell who runs the Mercy Center was delighted that Rudi came to examine the kids. Rudi was also kind enough to examine the feet of the teachers at Mercy and found that one of them needed a little bit of treatment.

The Walker, established in Thailand ten years ago, is an institute, which specializes entirely on foot disorders and related symptoms. The Jomtien clinic is located in View Point Village on Soi Chaiyapruek. For appointment call: 08 7133 1280.

Children at the Mercy Center excitedly wait
for their turn to have their feet examined.

Lions Club of Pratumnak Pattaya celebrates 20th anniversary

Members cheer as Sonthaya Khunplome lights up
the laser sphere setting off the 20th anniversary festivities.

Phasakorn Channgam

The Lions Club of Pratamnuk Pattaya celebrated 20 years of community service with a roaring celebration at the A-One Royal Cruise Hotel July 24.

Chartered March 29, 1990 with 36 members, the club today has 30 members.

“On our 20th anniversary, we would like to recognize and thank our members, especially all our past presidents, who have lived and worked together in fellowship for so many years following the philosophy and noble principles of “We Serve,” said Past President Naowarat Khakhay, organizer of the party. “We are dedicated to working together to bring relief to our fellowman especially those underprivileged men, women and children who desperately need a helping hand.”

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization, with 1.35 million members in more than 45,000 clubs in 206 countries and geographic areas. Founded in 1917, Lions are best known for programs to fight blindness. The “Sight First” program conducts vision screenings, equips hospitals and clinics, distributes medicine and raises awareness of eye disease,

Lions also actively participate in many other kinds of community projects, including caring for the environment, feeding the hungry and aiding seniors and the disabled.

Lions clubs were first introduced to Thailand in 1959. Today there are more than 8000 members in 320 clubs nationwide.

PSC makes donation to Khopai Kindergarten School

Pim Seaton is the Project Director of the Seaton Foundation, and she runs the kindergarten school located just off Pattaya Tai in the centre of one of the largest housing areas for families with some of the lowest incomes in Pattaya.

PSC Charity Chairman, William Macey, right, presents the computer to Pim Seaton at the Khopai Kindergarten School.

The families have very poor housing and the parents are often working long hours leaving the children with a friend or another member of the family.

Many members of the families do not have paper documentation to access basic government service like health care and education. But Pim and her staff spend many hours caring for the children whose ages range from 3 to 6 years.

The Pattaya Sports Club was asked to help and they were able provide a donation of a computer and a monthly amount towards the cost of food.

Some of the young children from the kindergarten
who will benefit from the PSC donation.

Pattaya Congregation spreads the good news

Brother Dino Bellen expounds on the importance of worship in the true church

As members of the church worldwide celebrate the 96th year anniversary of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ), brethren from Pattaya Congregation conducted a Grand Evangelical Mission held on July 26at the Grand Sole Hotel.

The brethren joined hands in inviting guests and resulting in 202 guests, which included Italians, Japanese, Thais and Filipinos attending the missionary gatherings. 　

Brother Dino Bellen, the resident minister in Thailand, expounded on the importance of worship in the true church. In order to aid the congregation in understanding the lessons, a projector screen displaying biblical verses was used during the homily.

A short program followed wherein Goodies Angels (brethren from Locale of Bangkok) performed acrobatic acts, much to the delight of the audience.

After the service, light snacks and refreshments were served.

For those who want to learn about the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) and its biblical teachings, you may attend our regular study on biblical doctrines held at Soi 1, Khao Thalo, Sukhumvit Road, Pattaya City.

PCEC members given an in depth look at Buddhist art & sculpture

Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg welcomed everyone to the regular PCEC Sunday meeting on July 25. After the usual opening announcements, Richard called on Harry “Sig” Sigworth to introduce the guest speaker. “Sig” then introduced fellow member Madison Morrison to tell everyone about the exotic elements in popular Thai sculptures. Madison is from the USA and is a graduate of two prominent universities; Yale where he earned his Bachelor degree and Harvard where he earned his Master and PhD degrees. “Sig” also mentioned that Madison is at work completing a 26 volume cosmological or universal epic called Sentence of the Gods.

PCEC member Sig Sigworth introduces fellow member Madison Morrison to tell the audience about the exotic elements in popular Thai sculptures.

Madison said that he has undertaken a study of Buddhist art during the past two years. He pointed out that he is an amateur in this area as it would take several lifetimes to become a true expert. He became interested in Buddhist art through his living in Thailand and travels in Southeast Asia. He said his talk would be about twelve Indian-influenced copies of Thai and Khmer sculptures and reliefs, all purchased in local Jomtien sculpture yards and assembled in a deliberate order on the balcony of his condominium. He has studied these with Thais knowledgeable about native and exotic iconography. He said after presenting the twelve items, he would then discuss several books he has read and recommends for anyone wishing to learn more about Thai art or Buddhism.

Madison mentioned many books that members might like to read to further their knowledge in Buddhist art; such as “Angkor Wat” by Eleanor Mannika. Madison himself is at work completing a 26 volume cosmological or universal epic, called “Sentence of the Gods”.

Madison proceeded to display on the large screen photographs of the twelve sculptures providing interesting commentary on each; pointing out the Indian, Thai, and Khmer influences combined within the figures. He then proceeded to show pictures of various book covers commenting on the authors and the nature of the particular book, noting which would be of interest to the casual reader and which was directed to the more serious student of Thai art and Buddhism. He showed 7 publications about Thai art, another 11 books about Buddhist art, another 3 books that would be useful in the study of Buddhism as practiced in Thailand. He also recommended one particular book that could prove very useful in the study of Buddhism entitled Buddhist Dictionary: A Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines.

For those that were interested in knowing more about Buddhism, especially as it is practiced in Thailand, he recommended they read: (1) Buddhism in Practice, an abridged version of a larger anthology first published in 1995 containing 35 essays by various hands on the ways in which Buddhist doctrine has been put into practice over the centuries, in local contexts; (2) Being Benevolence: The Social Ethics of Engaged Buddhism, noting that engaged Buddhism is a movement that counts among its leaders the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, one of the principal strategists of the Buddhist anti-war movement, and Aung San Suu Ky, leader of Myanmar’s democracy movement; and (3) Buddhism and Science: Breaking New Ground, contains essays by professionals, most of whom have academic degrees both in science and in Buddhist studies. Madison noted that anyone examining the subject “Buddhism in Art” from a contemporary perspective should be aware of Buddhism in relation to science as well as in relation to modern social, economic and political thought.

He also recommended the book, Sutasoma: The ancient tale of a Buddhist-Prince from 14th century Java, as an example of a Buddhist epic. Madison concluded by showing pictures from several books about Buddhist murals. Madison answered many questions from the audience. For those that would like to see the photographs and commentary, Madison’s lecture notes and photos are now on the Club’s website at www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com – go to the General Interest category and select: Thai Sculpture and Buddhist Reference Books.

Richard updated everyone on upcoming events and called on “Sig” to conduct the Open Forum; always informative and often humorous where questions about living in Thailand and Pattaya in particular are asked and answered.

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