New Info on the 100 Acres with Buildings for the Orphanage

Looking from the East to what would become VOC and cafeteria +

Today was so exciting! We met with Phimpa and Je Ung about the property we are in the middle of fundraising to purchase. What a blessing to have such a dedicated Christian Thai woman, with business sense to help us in not only the translating so both parties can understand each other, but she has such a sweet spirit, trusts in God implicitly and understands this Buddist Thai lady who currently owns the property and does not understand Christian ways of thinking or believing.

The S edge of the property is almost to these buildings 

We came to an agreement that we would, as God provides, pay the next 4,000,000 Thai Bhat (about $135,000 at the current exchange rate) to her, split up with the first payment being paid to her the first week of March and the second half of that part of the property price, (which is only half of the total amount needed to pay off the property), the last week of March. That is not very far apart, but once we can get this amount paid to her then we can begin to actually move onto and use the property. In order to really transition into the Thai Government’s requirment of a Vocational Training Center, we need to move as soon as able.

Inside the biggest building which would be the VOC training building

This Thai owner, has debt she needs to pay by these March dates so is feeling anxious to receive this money. Phimpa tried to explain to her that we work by faith, waiting on the Lord to lead and guide in directing people according to His will and the calling on people’s hearts in giving to this ministry and in particular to the property fund. Can a Buddist understand Christ’s ways? Probably not, but she is very grateful that this money is coming when she needs it.

The hallway between the 30 bathroom stalls

It has been on my mind a lot, getting the need for this property before God’s people that they might know the urgency and need for immediate action, and be directed by God as to what He would have them do with the information. The total (approx.) $250,000 seems like it is so BIG, and it is. But our God is bigger!  I am always encouraged when I think how God has led so many times in so many peoples lives to bless and honor in His work, according to His will. Like David Gates, for example. What encouraging stories he tells how, he stepped out in faith, doing God’s will in spreading the gospel with some very large purchases and how God makes it all happen, in His time. This isn’t a radio station or TV station which are both wonderful insturments in spreading the good news, but it is a ministry caring for and educating hundreds of wonderful, sweet children, many of which have lived a rough life already in their short lives. In addition, these children will share what they are learning with family (if they have any living), extended family, and others throughout their whole lives, and there are new children enrolling in the school each year. New people with whom to spread the Good News.

From behind the big VOC building looking across the river into Burma

One end of the large kitchen area - much nicer than using open fires!

Please pray for this need. Those that can, please fast and pray about this so we can see God work in a powerful mighty way for the children’s sake. God tells us to take care of the widows, orphans and fatherless. You can be a part of this work with your prayers and fasting and listening to see if God has any other involvment in mind for you or us. This is His work, for his created beings that He loves and that He died for, but He wants us to have the joy of having a part in it. This has been a stepping out in Faith venture all along the way and this current need is no different, just another stepping out in faith act.

Water lilies on one of the ponds

Is there anything you are willing to give up in order to help with this much needed work and investment? Maybe a time or two (per week or month) of eating out, foregoing an extra gadget or unessential item, dessert for a designated time, an extra dress, outfit, or shirt, maybe something much larger like getting along another year with your same car, or not buying that motorcycle, or canoe yet.  Many of you may welcome this opportunity to find out about this project so you can make a large donation of $10,000 or more for a tax write-off or other purpose. You will know what God wants you to do as you pray and ernestly seek how he wants you to sacrificially give. I’m afraid to say we do not know what real sacrifice is until we suffer deprivation, persecution or loss of a body part or a sense from a land mine or see our children tortured. I do not want to be graphic, but I want to be real. As Westerners, we do not know what real suffering is.  We are 

Part of the small village that has found a home on the property

counselled to give of ourselves and our means to further the work for all to have opportunity to know the truth. This is not the quote I was looking for but it is a very powerful one as follows:  

“Those in the home field are under a solemn obligation to support foreign missions, providing means for the establishment of the interests that are positively essential to give character to the work. Those who do not know the truth cannot be expected to support the missionaries who labor among them. Surely those who have become established in the truth are not so dull of comprehension as to suppose that those who for the first time hear what to them are strange and mysterious doctrines, will take hold readily of unpopular truth, and will support the work, building houses of worship and establishing sanitariums and schools.  {10MR 1.5} 

     “How does God regard those who send His servants into a barren field without means and understanding of the work to be done? Shall the messengers of God, sent with strange and peculiar doctrines to a foreign land, be left to make their own way to support themselves and the work? God forbid! If God spares my life to bear my message to our people, the experience of the Lord's workers in Australia will never be repeated in any missionary field. It is a sad thing how hard the work was made with very little means to carry this important work in fields.  {10MR 1.6} 

     “I am instructed to set this matter before all our people (not merely a few) in its true light. We are to know from henceforth how to use the talent of means more wisely than we have done in the past. God's money is not to be expended to indifferent ends. Let there be less display and more praying, more sanctified planning, and less show--fewer expensive buildings. This will testify that we believe that we are living near the close of this earth's history.”

Another view into Burma where the land mines begin

Thank you so much for keeping this ever in prayer to the Lord. Nothing is impossible with God, but each must do his part and hear and respond to His call to finish the work set before us. This is an opportunity to reach thousands of souls that may otherwise never hear that Jesus died for their sins, and how to accept Him as their personal Savior!  In America churches spend $15,000 to $25,000 on an evangelistic campaign that may result in one to five baptisms.  For six times that amount we all can pay half the cost of this property (the other half being due in November, 2011) and begin using it immediately (in March this year) to expand the school/orphanage into an institution that will baptize scores of people EACH YEAR. 

 May the Lord bless you as you seek Him in how you will respond to this exciting opportunity to improve the work in a far corner of the Lord’s vineyard.  In a future posting we will let you know how and where to make a donation.

Our Last Day In Chiang Mai

Laren and I had one whole day to do something special together without anyone sick or any scheduled appointments. The first time since being here in Chiang Mai!  First things first, we did want to go to the bus station to buy our tickets, although Maria told us we didn’t have to if we didn’t want to, in fact you could just buy the tickets on the bus if needed. But being Americans and who I am, I wanted to make sure we knew what we were doing since we had the time to do it. 

We scheduled with Maria to go whenever she had a space of time in between her moving back to Chiang Mai and Jabez’s Dr.’s appointment to check his surgery site. While we waited Laren went to find an ATM to get the money we needed to buy our tickets and pay for our last few nights stay at Sripoom Guesthouse.  After the kids left the cost was just under $17.00 dollars/night for just the 2 of us. It seems so inexpensive, but believe me it adds up quickly when you are there longer than you expected. There are much more expensive places and cheaper places, of course, but this place was a huge blessing, with 2 rolls of toilet paper a day and 5 waterbottles of safe drinking water, besides any utensils, kettles or machetes we needed, plus safe hot water for tea which we used often with the “Chiang Mai bug” we experienced, all this as we needed to use while we were there.  

So Laren took off hunting for an ATM, I began packing up and getting ready for the bus trip. Maria called during this time and soon Laren was back and off we went to meet her at her guest house. We headed off to find a reasonable Song Tau and headed to the bus station. We found very long lines for the Green Busline, which is one option going where we were headed.  The good thing about it is that it goes straight through to Mae Sot where Adams would meet us for the last 2 hour part of the trip. It took a good 45 minutes to get up to the window to find out what the bus times where for departure.  We found out the first bus did not leave until 11:45 am, which was a good time to allow us to eat breakfast, gather our things and get to the station without rush, but the sooner we got going the sooner we could meet the Adams at the other end and get to Sunshine Children’s Home.  When we found out how late the bus left, Maria lead us over to another busline in a different part of the station with no line, found out their first bus left at 7:00 am. Quite a bit earlier.  We bought our tickets and found out we needed to be back there by 6:45 am the next morning.  Yeah, that was done. We were very thankful for Maria's help and knowledge in how the system works and how to do it. Thank you, Maria!

But before I leave this, I want to share why I think we were in that line.  While we were standing there just 10 minutes or so before it was our turn a young woman from Europe with her back pack on her back came over to ask us if we knew if this busline went to, and she named some village. Of course Laren and I didn’t know, but even Maria was unsure. She told us she had 10 minutes to buy her ticket and get on her bus (that is what I did not want to do, be in a rush). Maria suggested she go up to the window and ask someone behind the counter her question.  She tried to do that, but got no response from anyone, so she headed to the back of our line, which as you remember, was a long wait. She would never make it in 10 minutes. Soon here she was in front of us again, asking if we would please buy her 2 tickets to, whatever the name of her desired destination was. Laren agreed to do it for her and then there we were at the window.  Laren bought the tickets gave them to her and her change and she was off, I’m sure she just made her bus.  We got our question asnwered and we were off to go to another bus where we could have bought the tickets on the bus if we had wanted to do it that way (if I understand it correctly, you cannot buy tickets on all bus lines). So apparently we were in that line for her and her friend, not us. I love it how that works that way.  How God uses us in various situations, to answer other peoples prayers even if they aren’t praying people.  God works that way so well!

It was nearing the time Maria needed to go but on the way back to the mote area we stopped at a large Thai market, where few Farangs or Galawa’s shop at. It was very big, very crowded (more with things being sold than people, at least this time of the day) and quite interesting. You could buy a fancy 10 oz or so container of dried larvae if you were hungry, besides, pigs feet, pork balls, and mirades of other things from clothing to snacks, blankets o purses, etc.  We had gotten a phone call during this time from Steve Rawlings and we were planning on eating supper together and then going to the walking market later that evening, which starts at 4:00 pm.  In the mean time Bucky Knecht called to ask if we wanted to come out to their place for a snack, he would pick us up as he had to go into town anyway.  We had to pass as we already had plans, but we hope to get to do that again if we are back to do it. But while we were at this large market we received another phone call from Steve, letting us know that they weren’t going to make it after all. So it turned out to be a date with just the 2 of us, which was nice too. 

While we were wondering around, (I was looking for a blanket), we found little tiny picnic style tables where we could sit and drink the coconut’s we had gotten for our lunch. The bad thing about where we found to sit was that it was right across a single, narrow, walkway where 2 ladies were selling sea food and toads.  She had 2 larger tubs full, of 2 sizes of eels, a tub of baby turtles, several tubs of different fish, some kind of snail or something, and on the table were some live fish amazingly still alive after having laid their for who knows how long. Soon a man came bringing a net with quite a few large toads (Ponape sized toads) which he sold to her and she placed in one of her large net covered tubs to sell.  It was amazing how many people came to buy from her. While we were there one of the more lively fish who really wanted to live, managed to fling himself off of the table and landed in the isle, splashing my arm as he went by. Just before we left that area a man came and ordered a lot of these items.  A big bag of eels, all the toads, live fish, and 3 of the big fish on the table, including the want- to- be escapee. It all took my appetite away. I felt sorry for all the living things that were going to be eaten by mankind. Just wasn’t appealing to me at all.

Later after walking to the mote area  where the Walking Market is located we enjoyed walking along the blocked off street to see what people were selling.  It was very interesting. Besides things to sell (no fresh produce), there were several different groups of people singing or playing instruments to make money.  Some were quite nice, others weren’t our style. 

We returned to our room, finished getting ready as much as we could. Laren went and paid for our stay so we wouldn’t have to find them so early in the morning to pay.  I had bought a couple of cards and wrote thank you's to Leah and Anong and gave each of them a set of 2 CD's that have the Great Controversy read in both English and Thai. Please pray they will listen to either one of them. It was a very nice relaxed day for our last day. 

Note: Currently I am unable to add pictures. I will add as able.

Soap Making, Worms & Mushrooms

Dorothy instructing about soap

Sadness, having not posted for several days, I spent time writing up another long blog to let you know what has been happening the last few days.  I completed it all but the pictures and had to figure out how to transfer some that were not available to pick from.  By the time it was all done, it was time to go to bed. When I got up this morning, "Oh, no", I could not locate the blog that was ready to go anywhere! So here is version #2.  I tend to be to detailed anyway!

Wednesday was the first day of the seminars put on by ECHO Asia, that we have been waiting here in Chiang Mai to attend. Laren went for this first day which was on Moringa, and all the benefits of growing it and Grafting & Propagation.  Thursday morning was about soap making and I went with Laren so as to learn all I could as I research and learn what areas or courses would be good for the vocational training center.

Stirring until it "traces"

I was hoping that this would be a natural soap making class, but it did use sodium hydroxide which was disappointing. Several people asked about that very thought I had and the answer given was that there is no other way to make what is classified as "soap". Glycerine "soaps" are technically not a soap and I also learned, that it is not

Moringa Soap 

very good for you.  Not sure about the correctness of this info, but I believe they believe it, will have to look some things up on the internet.  If any of you have info regarding this I would be very happy if you would pass it on to me.  Thank you!

After instruction on how to make it, warnings, etc, we watched a demonstration on how to do it.  Then they separated us up into groups with one person from each group as the leader who would lead out in making another batch of soap just like we had been shown.  It was a really effective way to teach.  We were in the English speaking group, of course. In our group was a missionary from Indonesia, a lady who is originally from Billings, MT who is now leading out in an International College Program here in Chiang Mai.  She had a biology major student with her.  Also a lady from Chiang Mai who works in another orphanage with different tribe children of Thailand.

Participants came from all over the local countries to attend these 3 days of workshops, to learn and strengthen the various programs they are involved in.  People from: Cambodia, Philippines, Laos, Indonesia, Burma and the USA. Some of the people originated from countries like, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland and of course many were from the very country they are helping as mentioned previously. We were able to network and learn valuable info from the participants themselves which is a priceless tool.

Feeding the worms

Mushroom growing

Laren went on Friday alone, although I was planning on going all along, but I could tell I was fighting the same "bug" that my whole family had had and I didn't want to succumb, so I laid low both Friday and Sabbath and PTL! I was over all the symptoms I had been fighting.

On Friday the seminars were on Vermiculture and Growing Mushrooms.  Laren took my camera and took pictures.  It looks and sounds very interesting.  This conference was well worth the money it cost to attend.  I am so thankful that the Lord lead us to learn of it and it was at a time that we were going to be here in Thailand to attend.  God works in miraculous was for his children.

Myself, Leah, Thersa and Onong

Thursday was my last day to work with Leah and Onong doing Thai Massage.  I was sad to say good bye, but we had some warm friendship times beside just the time of learning.  Leah told me that if ever I should come and visit France that we would have a place to stay.  Very sweet!  We have each others email addresses so now to be faithful in staying in touch.

The Adams came up to Chiang Mai on Wednesday evening to pick up some things needed at the school.  So on Thursday they took

Eating supper together and planning

our children with them as they ran their errands. That evening when I was finished with massage, I ran over to Blue Diamond, a Vegan/Vegetarian Thai restaurant very near us and saw the Habercams, Gayle, Bradley, and Micah.  What joy to visit with old friends once again.  We caught up on the many, many things they have been through in the last few months. Bradley is healing, but still casted and wrapped up as he ambulates on crutches. Please keep them in your prayers and listen if the Lord impresses you to support them in any way as they have been so much but God is still very present to them. Gayle's faith is strong, but, oh, what a blessing when others surround you with love and support when the trials have been many.  Please remember to pray for the workers in the field.

Adams left that evening for the 7 hour trip back to the school with our children and Micah who is going back to teach as he loves to do.  He teaches English for grades 1 - 7.  We called the Adams Friday and they made it back home safely!  We also heard that our children, plus Anna, Josiah, Will and Jason all went camping at some caves a ways away from the school.  What fun memories they will make, what experiences they will have that will draw their hearts more and more to these people and helping them learn of God's love for them. It is a double blessing, you cannot give without being blessed yourself.

The ECHO Asia Group

Visiting Chiang Mai Academy

We were up early, ate quickly and off we were on our way to met with Steve and Elyssa Rawlings over at the Song Tau station.  Originally planning on walking as it isn't even a 1/2 mile, but since Davis is still coughing a lot and weak, we waved down a Tuk Tuk and loaded up.  Tuk Tuk traveling is my favorite way to go, but it was cozy with all 5 of us, but warmer (are we acclimating already?), all squished together.  All along the way we saw the monks in their burnt orange outfits, bowls and purses heading down the streets collecting their morning breakfast from the people they passed by.  I still have not gotten a picture of that yet.  The city is just beginning to wake up, set up and begin again like so many other days before.  I have thought a lot about it, how monotonous to go about your life the same each day.  No hope for the future, no change from the past, just hoping to get enough merit to pass into the next life in a better existence.  So many people need to hear about Jesus and the hope of eternal life He has to offer to each one.  Not everyone can go throughout the world as missionaries, but there are so many people to reach, please pray for those out in the fields around the world, sharing the truth with a lost and dying people.  Become a part of the work in whatever capacity you can that God leads you to do.  You will be greatly blessed despite the trials and deprivations!            

Steve and Elyssa were there in the cut flower market waiting for us as our Tuk Tuk drove up.   After

Getting settled in the Song Tau on our way to the academy

morning greetings, we headed off following Steve to where we thought we were to go to get a Song Tau, but alas we needed to back track and go in a different direction.  There they were all the white Song Tau's the color we needed to head out toward the Academy.  We loaded up and off we went heading North out of the city.  The Song Tau's have set spots on their various routes that they sit and wait until the next Song Tau comes to load up the next group of people.  They want to be as full as possible making more money that way.  We came to a stopping point and waited the allotted time before we headed off at a rather slow speed in case someone along the way will want a ride.   Going slower allows the driver to stop closer to the person wanting to get on.

Steve & Laren talking with the Song Tau driver

We had the Song Tau to ourselves until a young college age girl hopped on with her Chihuahua

"Cute Cabbage" and her mistress

puppy she told us was 2 months old.  I don't remember her name, but the puppies name meant "cute  cabbage". The girl told us it only meant cute or cabbage to those that are children you could not use that same word for an adult as it doesn't apply for that age group.  She was friendly and happy to tell us that she had been to university in America, Maryland, last year.  She has since finished school and is returning to American next month, but this time to New York, Manhattan, to study in the English program there.  She is excited, she said she likes America very much.

More people were picked up all along the way and some dropped off, a teacher at a school, we saw nurses by a hospital, a young father with his 12 month or so little girl got on.  He positioned her hands to "Y" us in greeting.  We saw large pasture area filled with the Thailand armies horses.  So interesting to see how these gentle people live in this busy world.

Walking from the academy towards the church

We arrived in the little village Mai Teng, about 10 kilometers from the academy.  We needed to walk a short distance to get on the right road and find another Song Tau to complete our journey.  Steve gave us a tour of the academy, radio station, ICC (International Children's Care which is an orphanage), the church, Paul Food industry, where we got to met Paul himself, Pastor Phamor's gardens,  the television station where we met Bill Osborn the manager of it, Maria's

Eggplant in Pastor Phamor's garden 

house and finally Larry Daughtry took us by pick-up to the Bells house to meet Annabelle the wife of the school administrator for tea and a few minutes of visiting, before we needed to start back to meet our appointment with Onong along with her husband, who are the owners of the guesthouse where we are staying and where Onong who is the Thai massage teacher, for lunch.  Everything was interesting on our tour.  I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked to, but got some.  My favorite part was probably the radio station New Life 103.25 FM.  The lady
who helps the manager is a very sweet Christian Thai lady, named Oh (pronounced Ahhh).  She gave us some CD's of the Great Controversy in English and Thai to pass out to people we meet.  Before we left she asked if we could have prayer together, so kneeling down, Steve lead us in prayer.  It was very special.

In front of the radio station with Oh

Coming back into Chiang Mai was slower than going out.  There were a lot more people wanting into the city than were wanting to leave.  Ummm, that has spiritual lessons to ponder.  Laren called the Sripoom house to let them know we were going to be late and we were, but we finally did make it.  Ohang, had prepared a tasty mushroom soup with herbs and gouge berries in it that we dipped over rice noodles with mug sprouts.  On top of that we placed torn chinese

Onong and Leah in Thai Massage lesson

cabbage and cilantro.  It was very good.  We stood in the kitchen and watched her cook the noodles then we added the soup and toppings as we liked.  Later in the afternoon during a break in the Thai massage lesson, Onong, Leah and I got to talking about me being a vegetarian, what we ate and didn't, etc.  Onong told me her husband likes to eat vegetarian and after his birthday on Dec. 9 he wants to eat vegetarian all the time.  Onong, brought out large chunks of TVP, soybean product that she told me her husband likes better than pork or fish.  Leah, wasn't sure what to think of us, I'm sure.  She couldn't believe we didn't at least eat cheese. Back in France she makes and sells goat cheese from her 33 goats.  I could see why it would be a hard thing for her to understand.

All this lead into talking about gardening, GMO's, chemicals etc.  Everyone is very aware of the dangers of these things.  In fact, Ohang's husband, not sure of his name, has a Bachelors in Agronomy and a masters in some kind of management.  He joined us in the conversation.  We ended up visiting so long we never did go back in to finish the lesson for the day.  Tomorrow, Leah said, she would study longer.

Laren and Miles left right after lunch as Laren had a followup visit with the Dentist.  Apparently they were 45 minutes late not being able to find a Song Tau that went in that direction and the Tuk Tuk driver refusing saying it was to far.  But they both showered up around 4:30pm with fruit and sticky rice for our supper.  The tropical fruit has been delicious.  We eat it for breakfast and supper every day.

ADRA

I headed to be the receiver once again this morning.  The teacher, Ohng, was reviewing with Leah the supine position for hand, head, face and stomach.  I always try to remember everything so I can do it later on my family if we ever have an opportunity to do so before I forget.  Towards the end of this mornings lesson Ohng, invited Leah and my family to eat lunch with her.  She would cook for us.  That was so sweet, but today would not work because Laren had scheduled an appointment to go out to  ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency).  She said no problem she would fix us lunch tomorrow, vegetarian, after we had told her we were vegetarians.

Chiang Mai SDA Church

As soon as I could get ready after massage, Laren and I left to walk to the Adventist church where one of the ADRA workers was to met us and drive us out to the ADRA office. The church is about a 15-20 minute walk along a busy one-way street.  Many of the people here wear face masks due to the high pollution with all the car/motorcycle exhaust fumes in the air.

We made it with 10 minutes to spare before or appointed meeting time, in fact the appointed time came and went. Finally we connected and away we went on highway 108.  It seemed complicated so we were glad to not have to try to figure out how to tell a song tau or Tuk Tuk driver how to get there since we didn't know ourselves.

ADRA Office in Chiang Mai

We meet with Thomas Benton who is the program director for Thailand ADRA. We are seriously trying to gather all the information we can to help us in the work that needs to be done at Sunshine Orchard Children's Home and Learning Center.  We talked about budget, courses, hiring teachers, connecting with ADRA when they did training sessions at the various refugee camps, etc, etc.  He kindly said he would email more info to us and will connect us to another person who is more directly involved in some areas that we need more info in.  What a blessing this meeting was and how it will help us with the vocational training program we are needing to implement.  It wasn't as helpful for Laren, as ADRA does very little agriculture programs at this time here in Thailand.  I am very grateful for their unselfishness in sharing info and resources with us.  It is another answer to prayer.

After we were done with our appointment, Thomas took us to a nearby restaurant where the lady spoke some English and we could get some vegetarian food.  We had not had time to eat before we came so were rather hungry by 3:30pm.  This was a typical "rustic" eating place and sure enough we asked her what our options were and she started listing off different dishes she could make vegetarian.  It was a one woman show, she did everything, waitress, cook, dishes and taking the money.  Laren told her to make the food just a "little" spicy.  Oops, that was a mistake,  A "little" spicy is to spicy for me.  It was really good flavor, a kind of noodle soup, but my nose started running and eyes watering.  I ordered some rice to help decrease the hot a bit.  It did help so I was able to eat it all.  The total cost for lunch was only 70 baht, or $2.10. Lower costs for things is another real blessing especially to volunteer workers like us :)

Traffic on the roads

We had to walk a bit of a distance to get back to highway 108 where we could get another Song Tau to go back to our room and the kids, probably about 1/2 a mile in distance.  It took only a couple of minutes to catch our ride back to the mote area where we are staying.  Once there we had some more walking to do.  We walk a lot for 2 reasons: 1) It is good exercise and 2) It doesn't cost anything so it preserves the money we have.  Laren and I looked for a bookstore that the Rawlings had told us about to look for a bird book.  Studying birds is part of our homeschooling and we needed something to identify the birds we have and would see.  We found the bookstore (after quite a bit of a jaunt), and we found a bird book!  Now we are ready to identify all the beautiful birds that we have been seeing!

Finally, we were back.  It was a good day, but busy and tomorrow we were planning to leave early to meet the Rawlings to take a song tau out to Chiang Mai Academy and see Pastor Phamor's gardens and greenhouses.  We had to leave early so we could get back in time to eat lunch with the owners of the guesthouse or motel where we are staying.

Being a friend, not just saying you want to be a friend, is the key to establishing relationships. Thank you, Lord, for all these opportunities that you give us to grow and learn.

Sabbath in Chiang Mai

There are several places I really enjoy visiting whenever I get a chance to do so.  One is health food stores. I have always thought it would be so much fun to own and operate a health food store.  Don't know that it will ever happen but it sounds like a lot of fun.  The other place I enjoy visiting is new churches.  How do they do things, what is their focus, how many people attend, what is the age of the church, etc.  Well, being here in Thailand is no different.  I was looking forward to going, but it was not to be.  Davis was still under the weather so even though Laren thoughtfully was willing to stay home so I could go, I knew he was hoping to meet the ADRA workers so he could schedule a meeting for sometime this week regarding the school/orphanage.  So it ended up that he went and I stayed with Davis.  So everything I share will be second hand.

A family working with AFM in a closed country near here and who attended the same meetings Mike and Marilee attended offered to come and pick up our family and take us to church which was very thoughtful. We walked out to the end of Soy 9, the name of the street, where they were going to meet and pick us up.  So I got to meet the wife as her husband was also home sick!

The church had about 100 attending with translation provided, which is always a plus when you do not speak the language! They had one big SS class for all of the English speaking people and one for the Thai speaking people.  After church there was a fellowship meal which Laren and Lexi stayed for but Miles walked home and ate lunch here in our room. Some time later in the afternoon Laren and Lexi came back and brought the Rawlings with them!  We sat out in the open lobby area where there are wicker chairs to sit in.  We spent several hours visiting, learning what they are planning on dong here in Thailand, some of their past mission trip adventures, etc. It was pleasant.  At sundown we had sundown prayer and then everyone but Davis and I headed out to find some supper.  They brought me back some Kau Soi, a kind of noodle curry soup.  It was yummy, but towards the end it was to spicy for me to finish.  And they say that this is the mild kind!

What a blessing Sabbaths are!  A time to come away from a busy life schedule and come together with others worshiping our Lord and Creator God.  Spending time in reflection and thanksgiving for all that God has done for us, through us and inspite of us.  He is good and he loves each one of us so very much. I am so thankful He has so much love and patiences for me and that he can change my heart and character to be like His if I will only let Him.  How about you, will you let Him?

Volunteering

Volunteering is an interesting position.  This is the second time we have done volunteering as a family where we left our home to do it.  Although the first time, I was pregnant with Davis, so we were all there but not in person quite like we are this time.  That first time was when we were helping at the medical missionary training school for John and Wendy Skeet, in Lady Smith, Wisconsin, back in 2000.  It was there we met the Rawlings family: Steve, Lynette, Allyssa and Micah.  What a fun surprise it was to learn they are here in Thailand doing language study of Thai as they prepare themselves for whatever or wherever God wants them to work.  Now while we have been here in Chiang Mai we have gotten to do several things together which has been a lot of fun.  It is always so special to get to be reacquainted with friends from the past.  

What are some other volunteering I have done?  I sat in for my friend Cheryl Null, (before she was a Null), at her cosmetology class.  They were needng someone with naturally curly hair to demonstrate how to cut it and since I had (have) curly hair, her teacher wanted to demonstrate the technique using my head of hair.  I was a college student and it was a free hair cut.  It worked for me!  A different volunteering experience was when I was 13 -14 years old and again with Cheryl.  We were candy stripers volunteerering at St. Lukes Hospital in Cedar Rapids, IA. That was interesting. It was there I first started leaning toward therapy of some kind as a career, but I think it was Physical Therapy back then.  Remember those days Cheryl?

Another time was when Miles was just a little guy and I was in for my regular check up with a Pap smear.  My Dr. had a PA training and asked if she could observe during my procedure. Why not?  There were already my Dr. and the nurse present. What was one more?  Besides having been a student myself, you have to start sometime.  It is nice when someone is willing to be learned on.  

There have been lots of volunteering for various church positions, school positions throughout all my school years and work related volunteering.  When Miles and Lexi were little and my 2 nephews were living with us we saved our money to sponsor having a Belarus boy for a summer.  He was one of the many who had been affected by the melt down of Chernobyl.  He was 10 years old.  His father committed suicide, his mother was an alcoholic, his brother was a solider and his sister lived at home but worked out of the home to help support the family, but looked very, very sad in a picture that Denise brought with him.  Not a very happy sounding family.  But what a sweet boy, Denise, was.  There were several times when he was very homesick for his mom.  He would come sit down by me and we would attempt to communicate with one another, he trying English and I Russian.  He would cry a little and I would hug him and soon he was better and out he would go to either play or do his chores.  I have often wondered what has happened to him.  I wish we could find him again, he would be around 23 years old now.

It has been quite an experience volunteering for the Thai massage teacher here in Chiang Mai.  The young woman learning Thai message, Leah, is originally from Belgium, but now lives in France only 12 kilometers from Spain.  She said she lives in the mountains and anyone visiting her home gets there e by walking the last 30 minutes or by riding a horse to get there.  There is no road for a car or motorcycle. She is here alone in Thailand to specifically learn this massage that she can take it back and use it in her village.  She is 34 years old. The Thai teacher and I both agreed we would like to go together to visit her someday.  The Thai teacher spent 30 years teaching in the primary schools in various places here in northern Thailand.  Seven years ago she quite or retired, not sure which, but it was at that time that she leaned Thai massage and has been teaching it ever since.  She is a very fun, happy person 58 years old with 2 sons, ages 32 and 35. She has 2 grandchildren a boy aged 3 and a girl 5 months old.  What fun it is after the massage is over, to sit together on the floor, where the massage took place and visit, laughing and learning from one another.  Leah speaks little English, the Thai lady, I haven't yet learned her name, has fairly understandable English.  I am thankful they are speaking English as I know neither of their native tongues. I pray for both of them, I believe they are both Buddists. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all the people we interact with could meet together in heaven with us?   They have asked me to continue to help as a receiver of massage this coming week, not sure how my schedule will mesh with the class, but what fun it has been to be a part of something very interesting and unexpected. 

Please keep all the friendships we form in your prayers as we work here in Thailand.  Many are looking for something different, something more out of life, but do not know what that is.