April 23, 1998  Late on the 84th Day

Dear Family,

Tommy was so excited he could hardly talk fast enough when he called from the hotel at 6 P.M.  The morning meeting with the American Ambassador was perfect.  Wendy Chamberlin restated that she and her staff fully supported freeing the Laos Ten and would not stop until that was accomplished.  She assigned another staff member to insure that the Lao attorney representing the Laos Ten was exploring every avenue for parole or pardon. 

The team toured the Naxaythong District clean water and latrine project and then met with Dr. Bounlay, the deputy director of the city health department. Dr. Bounlay committed to having the PIP vehicles released by Monday.  An extension of the project deadline was no problem with his department.  English classes could resume as soon as Mary Alice was ready. The only snag was the Laos Ten.  That was beyond his power and area of responsibility. PIP could either hire new employees or wait for the release of the jailed employees, which was what Tommy insisted on.  Another meeting was held with Dr. Nao Boutta, the deputy director of the cabinet for the Ministry of Public Health to discuss the Laos Ten, plus a meeting with the embassy staff. The bottom line is that only family members can visit the Laos Ten in jail.  Friday, Tommy will continue meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Bill & Marie Claire will come across the border Friday at 8:30 A.M. and we will spend the day planning the Burma project before they take the evening flight to Bangkok and then return to the United States.

I hope Mary Alice will forgive me since I didn't ask her permission, but here is the condensed copy of her first email from Vientiane, Lao PDR (the ink is still wet):

______________________________________
Date: Thursday, 23 Apr 1998 18:01:15 -0700
To:
From: Tommy Allison
Subject: Busy in Laos
Dear Family,
Thought we had better sit down and write a few lines.  We had planned to go to Jerry's house to do this, but we still have two more meetings tonight, so doubt that we will be able to go.  We have had good meetings with several people.  Everyone is very cordial and have promised to do all they can to get us back in business.  We have another meeting with Dr. Nao Boutta tonight and with Greg from the American Embassy after that.  We had  a good meeting with Wendy Chamberlin, the American Ambassador, this morning and she is working hard on our behalf.

Misty, we are so excited with the news of our new great grandbaby!!  PaPa told me to sit down after he talked to Ken. I wanted to know what was wrong as he had tears in his eyes.  He said, "Sit down."  He told me we were going to be great grandparents and then we both cried.  I just did something on the computer and lost a whole paragraph.  Anyway, Misty, take good care of yourself.  We have already added our new baby to our prayer list. 

We haven't checked our email yet, but will do that when I send this.  We will be moving to Jerry's house tomorrow, Friday.  Last night, Pornsawan and Dalavy came to see us.  Dalavy said she would help me clean the house three days a week.  We visited about two hours.  Both are very sweet girls.

We are still at the hotel so are using their phone line as we won't get to go to the house until tomorrow. 

Meg, Dalavy said that they were bringing back the fax machine and microwave today and she is cleaning the house.  It seems like everything else is there.  No food of course, except some very smelly cheese that was in the refrigerator that was not hooked up. I just did it again, lost another paragraph.  We bought towels and washcloths, etc. as there were none at your house.  The TV, VCR, and convection oven were there.  I don't know what I have written and what I haven't since I have done away with a paragraph twice.  Know how much we love you kids and grandkids.  We are enjoying being back in Asia.  Have had delicious food here at the hotel and it is CHEAP. Will write more when we get settled.

Love to all,

Mother and Daddy, Mary Alice and Tommy 
_____________________________________

Last thought for tonight.  A web site called Laos Infosite has a list of materials and articles about Laos. The title of one article is, "Laos Sentences Laotian Christians." The comment below the title is, "The Only Place to Pray in Laos is in Jail."  What a commentary for a country that claims religious freedom for their people.

Praise God for grandmothers that hosted Bible studies and willingly suffered two months in jail!  Praise God for a great grandfather and great grandmother that are ready to comfort the Laos Christians with the comfort that only God can provide.  We know what that word "great" really means in front of grandparents Tommy & Mary Alice Allison.

God bless,

Ken & Jean Fox
Udorn, Thailand