Boontam

The youngest in a family of 5, Boontam is growing up in the border village of Huay Yuak, some 80 km from the monastery. His parents own no land and so make a living as field workers for a wage of little more than 2 dollars a day. Because of poor nutrition, Boontam is suffering from rickets, a condition that if left untreated could leave him crippled for life.

His legs had become so weak that when Khru Bah first found him he could barely walk. Through a vision that Khru Bah had while meditating, he is convinced that Boontam is a special boy destined to become a spiritual leader and help the hill tribe people develop.

Although too young to become a novice, Boontam was taken in for care at the monastery and through proper nutrition and medication has begun to regain strength in his legs. He now goes back and forth between the monastery and his village, growing in strength by the months. Once he's 7 years old his mother expects him to take the formal steps of becoming a novice.