Local man going to Thailand
Begay to help tsunami victims

Jeremy Begay folds a shirt in his room as he packs his bags for Phuket, Thailand, to help tsunami victims. Begay leaves Saturday. [Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

By Pamela G. Dempsey
Diné Bureau

GALLUP — Jeremy Begay is still $500 short from the money he needs to make it to Thailand, but that isn't stopping him from packing.

"God supplies it one way or the other," Begay said.

The 25-year old started tying up loose ends on Thursday to prepare for his 9-day trip to Phuket, a small fishing village in Thailand. He leaves Saturday.

As a tub of laundry started the wash cycle, Begay placed folded shorts and jeans in a plastic bag and squeezed out the air. The method makes for lighter packing, he said.

Begay will lead a team of 132 people traveling to Thailand with Teen Mania Ministries' Global Expeditions as part of the inter-denomination's Tsunami Relief Effort.

Begay has been with the organization for the past 10 years, traveling to more than 30 countries, including France, Italy, and Poland.

Relics of past trips line his bedroom walls a blanket from India, a paper lantern from China, a walking stick from Panama. His mother, Stella, pointed out wooden boats he brought back.

"I worry about him when he goes," she said.

In Phuket, Begay's team will build boats and homes, renovate property, provide counseling and first aid, as well as hold a Bible school for area children.

Begay said he resigned from Bank of America in December to do this full-time.

"Emotionally, it's all about the people," Begay said, "because people last forever. You actually see tangible lives changing."

Begay said that throughout his travels, he's noticed several similarities, and some differences, between the Navajo Nation and other countries.

While other countries that are poor "live poor", Begay said, the Navajo Nation, rich with resources, "live poor" as well by not taking advantage of all the opportunities it has.

"You get what you settle for," he said.

But Begay's travels have provided him with something else.

"I'm humbled to even have a second pair of clothes, toilet paper, hot water," he said. "We are blessed as a nation and as a Navajo people."

In August, Begay said he will decide if he wants to return to work at a bank, move to Phoenix, or work full time with Global Expeditions.

He won't make the decision for a while, but he does have the experience he's gained to guide him.

"I've been to 33 countries during the past 10 years," Begay said. "You can do anything you want to do. Take Action, aim higher, strive for more."

For more information, contact Jeremy Begay at (505) 879-7785.

— To contact reporter Pam Dempsey, call (505) 879-1707 or email pamelagdempsey@msn.com