She’s the same girl in the pictures of yesterday and today.  Our Beloved Sea Gypsy Miss Ga Yeek.   She was three then, rough and tumble beautiful and today Moken beauty at fourteen,  And she wants to be a teacher, is already teaching little kids when she can after she has finished her own homework from school. Most times, little girls don’t forget when someone wants to destroy their dreams. 

Today, real fears she and her mom must run away again after ten years. Yes,  she and her mom ‘have made it/ escaped really/ this far.  Kept her dream to be a teacher alive, every day, but right now, , as mom says, (in Moken )  girl you will only become a teacher of other Moken kids if you run now.  Our only escape for you … is a   boat to the mainland four hours away from this Moken island.  In Ranong city, maybe you can follow your dream – learn to teach other Moken kids.  Make them free also. Reading and writing is the only escape.  

So that very morning, rough & tumble beautiful 14 year old Ga Yeek kissed her mom goodbye –jumped on the four hour taxi fast boat to Ranong city. 
To Ranong City, hoping against hope she would find her old teacher.  She had a total of twenty Baht, just like she did when her dad left her so many years before.  Standing there on the wharf, not exactly  knowing what to do, she over-heard a workman there speaking her native sea gypsy Moken.  He told her “The Moken Boat (Taxi) would arrive in a few minutes, back from daily teaching some the kindergarten children.    

Waiting for her old teacher – second mom really, who had saved her when she was a little girl.  Her dad had wanted a second wife.  Mom had given birth to only girls, no boys.  Always the woman’s fault. Use her mom as a servant.  And no chance for daughter 3 year old Ga Yeek to attend school. 
 Mom had run away to another Moken island, escaped with Ga Yeek. Dad found them. Made mom a slave really. Ignored daughter Ga Yeek. Didn’t care if she lived or died,   Mom protected her: learn to read and write. Dream. Teach  Moken children.      

Safe with her momma, those growing up years, now teen age Sea  Gypsy -Miss Ga Yeek, still rough and tumble pretty  as she was when she was three. Now, forlorn  on the Ranong Wharf, her teacher’s saw Miss Ga Yeek – first time in ten years.  Remembered her.  Hugged her. 
 But now – grown up teen ager as in the other picture.

Crying –Ga Yeek,  speaking in Moken,   Momma teacher. I’ve found you .  I’ve come home to you – that you rescue me once again,   My own momma can’t care me any more.   Now, she’s old for her years and sick my momma  has sent me on – ‘go my lovely daughter –told me good bye forever.  You are not safe here.  I can not protect you. Go to your teacher  Your dad wants to sell you/ marry you, you must run now – run on the first boat going to the mainland.   
It took a while to get things organized.  She needed documents to continue school in a Government School in Ranong City .  True, no proof of any  nationality, but we were lucky., A long time ago someone took a picture when she was almost four.  Over ten years ago now.  Her father had hired on a fishing boat.  Left her on the shore, with truly all his money which was 20 Baht.  Told her, Ga Yeek when he came back in about a month, he’s have some fish for her to eat  .  In the meantime, to care for herself and her mom who had become sick and later died. …. I am sending you that special beloved picture.

To finish.  Miss Ga Yeek has become fulfilled her life-dream.  A teacher. Teaches Moken children to read and write and to pray, and tells them to love their mamas. Easter Blessings to you all.  

Fr. Joe and all of us.