Thailand (MNN) – Rescuers are still working hard getting the remaining boys out of the flooded cave in Thailand.

On Sunday, four boys were confirmed to have been evacuated from the cave. On Monday, rescuers were able to get a head start on operations when the rain subsided a bit. They headed back into the cave around 11 am local time.

(Photo and header photo courtesy of Compassion International)

Piyamary, or Oo, of Compassion International spoke to us Monday evening from Thailand. She says people waiting near the cave watched as two helicopters took off to the hospital yesterday evening. Later it was confirmed that four more boys had been taken out of the cave on Monday.

That means four boys and their coach remain as of the early hours this morning.

During a press conference, Oo says the mayor told them they would be bringing out whichever boys were ready. Originally, it seemed that they would bring out the weakest first, but that has not been confirmed since operations began.

According to the New York Post, yesterday’s rescued boys were healthier than the first group had been upon exiting the cave.

“He only said that whoever was ready, they will bring out first. Also, they haven’t [reported] about the names of the boys brought out,” Oo said on Monday.

The mayor has been keeping a tight lid on which children have been rescued so far, out of respect for the families and those left in the cave.

(Photo courtesy of Compassion International)

Meanwhile, rescue workers have been working non-stop. When diving operations are put on hold, they are preparing for the next excursion into the cave.

After the first rescue operation, Oo says, “They had to rest and refill all the oxygen tank and re-rope it, like re-set up for the whole thing. And that will takes 20 hours, for them, for the team to set up and be ready to go in.”

This is the process they are going through now while they prepare to re-enter the cave today.

“From what I heard from the announcement at the press conference, it [sounds] like they expecting to bring the [boys] out every day that they can. But how many boys can they bring out each day? They can’t tell.”

One of the team members is a Compassion International sponsored child. His family has been waiting outside the cave since they learned that he was trapped. Despite the high-risk situation, Oo says they are doing well.

(Photo courtesy of Compassion International)

“They said that they are very happy and they’re doing fine. They are at the cave site, [staying] there to wait for the signal or a sign that they can go to the hospital.”

Compassion team members have been supporting the families in any way they can.

“We pray with them and we help them to bring them back to the church where they’re staying in town to get [changed] or to get lunch or to get rest because for the last couple weeks, they really—it’s kind of [exhausting] to be at the cave the whole time. So, we always there with them, make sure they’re doing ok, and make sure they get what they need.”

Once it’s confirmed that this boy is at the hospital, Compassion will ensure that he gets good medical help.

There’s not much else for anyone to do than pray.

Oo says, “My prayer right now, personally, I’m praying for the weather can hold up until they get everyone out from the cave. That would be my prayer. And, water would not increase.

(Photo courtesy of Compassion International)

“And the rescue team, also their strength. Because it can be really [exhausting]. Without them, I don’t think the boys can get out. So, praying for all the divers that are working really hard—90 of them volunteer. So, they have been working really hard for the last two weeks and every day now.”

Because the rescue operations are well underway and there’s not much else to do, Oo is heading back to the office today. She hopes and believes that the rescue operations will finish up today or tomorrow.

On June 23, after practice, the coach and the team entered the six-mile-long cave only to be trapped by rising floodwaters caused by monsoon rains. The first reports of the boys missing came later that night. The team’s gear was found stashed outside the cave. But by time rescuers were able to respond to the situation, the water had begun rising even more.

But finally, over the weekend, waters began to recede slightly, just enough for divers to reach the stranded team on Monday.

Now, rescuers have to try to find a way to get the boys out. But the water is rising again.

(Photo and header photo courtesy of Compassion International)

Noi is Compassion International’s Senior Manager of the program in Thailand. They learned early last week that one of the trapped boys in the cave is a beneficiary of Compassion’s sponsorship program.

The youth soccer team is made up of boys between the ages of 11 and 16 years old.

Noi says of the Compassion beneficiary, “He is 14 years old and he is at eighth grade right now. He is actually a very good boy, very active to participate in the program in the project at the church. He loves sports, of course… he loves football [soccer], he loves running, he.. also love to play guitar. He also [plays] a guitar at the church [and] got to play piano, what.. maybe you call [an] electric keyboard.

“And also he just [accepted] Jesus Christ last March, this year.”

This boy is the oldest of five siblings. While his family doesn’t live in Thailand, they are staying at the church and waiting outside the cave entrance.

Before the boys were discovered, Noi asked for prayer saying, “Please, please pray for every searching team that they can do their operation plan and go through to reach the boys, and all thirteen boys are alive and be rescued safely as soon as possible. And also pray for the strength and hope … about their families of all thirteen boys.”

(Photo courtesy of Compassion International)

This prayer request still stands as rescue teams working around the clock fight exhaustion.

Piyamary, who goes by “Oo,” is a photojournalist for Compassion and she has been on site over the last week covering the rescue operations.

Yesterday evening, local time, she said, “They just announced for further rescue plans or operation, just the last hour. So, the plan is right now, they have to wait for water inside the cave to reduce. Apparently today the water raised up little bit higher than they expected. And they’re facing the weather and flooding water at the moment.

“But what they announced, as soon as they’re ready to deliver the boys out of the cave, they will do that right away, but also it may not be all at once 13 boys. But… whoever has enough strength, if they want to come out, they will do that right away, even if they have to do one-by-one.”

Rescuers are considering teaching the boys to dive. Otherwise, the only option is to wait out the monsoon season and consequent flooding, which could take up to four months. Either way, they now have access to provisions and medical care.

Either way, as they look at different options for bringing the boys out, rescuers have not given an estimate on how long they think this will take.

The family of the Compassion sponsorship beneficiary is thankful to hear that their boy is alive, and they are thankful for all who have been praying.

“They are very happy and can’t wait to see their son,” Oo says.

(Photo courtesy of Compassion International)

And just as there has been a witness for Christ in the cave over the last several days, there has also been a Christian witness outside the cave entrance.

This boy’s family, along with other Christians, has been in constant prayer. Meanwhile, Oo says while rescuers were still searching, some of the families waiting outside were exhausting every spiritual ritual they knew to try and bring about the boy’s rescue. And the Compassion boy’s family was encouraged to join them.

“They’re the only Christian family, definitely, among other’s beliefs. So, a lot of pressure by other parents to involve with what they believe, like meditation or the offerings… but the parents were standing strong in that faith and believe that God would deliver the boys safely. And that’s what I’ve seen. I’ve never seen anyone like that.”

Meanwhile, Oo says she’s been encouraged to see the larger Body of Christ come together in prayer at the cave, throughout Thailand, and even in other nations like South Korea.

Will you join them?

Oo echoes Noi, asking for prayers for the weather to calm down, and for the rescue teams to be reinvigorated as they work out a way to get the boys out of the cave.

“I just constantly keep praying that the boys can come out as soon as possible because like I said, everybody is facing the weather and the water inside the cave. It’s just unpredictable and all I do is just like, nothing else I can besides praying  and even can ask other people, so please keep praying for the boys.”

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