Ajarn (monk) Chaiwat's Fund Raising for His Funeral and Sending His Body Back to Thailand

June 28, 2012

To whom it may concern:

Four years ago in August of 2008, a home invasion in New Orleansduring a gathering of Thais and Laotians resulted in one man widowed, another handicapped for life and four deaths.  Phramaha Chaiwat Moleechate heard of this tragedy and drove to New Orleansduring a gathering of Thais and Laotians resulted in one man widowed, another handicapped for life and four deaths.  Phramaha Chaiwat Moleechate heard of this tragedy and drove to New Orleansto support the family and act as a spiritual guide.  That was how Phramaha Chaiwat was introduced to the Thai and Lao community of New Orleans.  He worked closely with the Asian Pacific American Society of New Orleans (APAS), the Lao and Thai community to raise funds for funeral and medical expenses incurred by the victims. Ajarn Chaiwat drove back and forth between Mobile, Alabamaand New Orleansat least 2-3 times a week for more than five months to act as an interpreter during medical visits for the survivors, coordinated funerals for the victims and consoled the family members of the victims in Thailand . He even went above and beyond his call of duty and brought the ashes of the victims to their families in Thailand and accompanied a survivor, who is paralyzed for life, to his home in Thailand .  Through his actions, Phramaha Chaiwat Moleechate showed everyone the love and compassion that of the middle path.