Plants and flowers in Khao Lak

Rubber trees are one of the main forms of 'farming' in the area. 

Basil.

Scenes from Khao Lak

Scenes from a day of going out into the outlying area to visit church members.

Their water collection system.  As close as they get to running water.

Khao Lak Christmas 2010

Just returned from Khao Lak in southern Thailand.  We put on a number of Christmas parties for kids in the communities down there.  While we were there, we were also invited into three public schools, where we were allowed to share the true meaning of Christmas.  As a result, over three hundred kids indicated they understood our message and that they wanted to invite Jesus into their hearts, so they prayed with us to do just that!  You read the number right, well over three hundred...  Amazing grace.

Kids opening their hearts to the call of Jesus on their lives.

Preparing to share with one of the public school groups.  My translator, Wali, is standing in front of me.

Wali and I share about the greatest Christmas present ever.

Trying to pass myself off as a fourth grader.

Games to start our time off right.

The Bank Is Open!

One more answered prayer! 

As great as Young Leaders Group has been this year, we have been missing something.  For over a year now, I have been so much hoping to see a young man named Bank join us.  Bank is a regular at church and a member of the worship team, playing guitar.  He is in a serious dating relationship, though, and between that and a full time job, has been busy and we just could not get him to come join us.  I have been praying for him to just come one time, for over a year now.  Well, while I was in the US, John and Isra and I joined Young Leaders by Skype over the internet and I was shocked to see Bank sitting there with the other guys.

That is all it took.  Since then, Bank has been so excited about Young Leaders and just being with his church brothers and taking part in everything.  Last week, he helped with the slum Christmas party, where he was tremendous with the kids.  I am SO happy and blessed to see what is going on with him.  One of the best parts of the last two or three weeks are the emails and facebook messages I get from Bank, simply saying things like, "I am so happy!"  Well, so am I, buddy!

Bank is going with us to Young Leaders camp in two weeks and I have asked him to share his story with all of the guys.  He was happy to agree.  God is good!

Young Leaders and Knot's Birthday

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer... They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people." From Acts 2. They broke bread and ate together with GLAD HEARTS. They had fun. This was the church as it was intended. So many unchurched people think church is about rules and regulations and seriousness and boredom and... death. The early church had favor with all people and grew like wildfire because they liked what they saw and wanted if for themselves. Kind of like what is happening with Young Leaders Group...

Christmas in the slums 2010

Hard to believe, but it is time for the annual Christmas parties in the slum communities where the teams from Immanuel church serve every Sunday.  Today, we held the party for the Wissiwa and Jarurat communities and over three hundred children and adults showed up.  Songs and games, followed by a Christmas drama and quick presentation of the Christmas story.  Then, food and gift bags for all!  Good times !

My girl, Fern.  Just a special young lady.  Oh, how I pray she finds a future outside of this place!

The crowd just kept growing!

Young Leaders, Thank and Knot, lead the kids in a game.

The angel speaks to Joseph (Who is carrying a microphone.  Bet you didn't know about that part!)

Ahjan Wirote Tessalee (Johnny's dad) gave a brief, but good Christmas message.

Mix, a Young Leader, helps serve food.

 Mmmmm...  brownies, ice cream and a bowl of noodles.  Who could ask for more?

 Young leader Rainny and his lady friend serving brownies.

Mix and Knot, serving.

What better way to end the day than with my own bowl of noodles?

Memories From My US Trip

Early in my trip, James Rao, a friend from the KC office at DST, insisted on taking me to a place called Swagger, where we had a burger called the Dead Texan.  Two grilled cheese sandwiches on Texas Toast, with a third pound burger in between, topped with a fried egg and cheese, lettuce and tomato.  Holy cow...  This thing is huge.

James, Roc, Micheal Overstreet and me at Swagger.  (And I have not even stepped on a scale since getting back!)

John Tessalee and Isra Somanas are two of the Young Men in the Young Leaders Group at my church in Bangkok.  Currently, they are studying at the University of Nebraska.  Soon after I arrived in the US, I drove to Lincoln to bring them down to Kansas City to stay with my family over the Thanksgiving holiday.  These two guys mean so much to me... Here, Johnny is playing with my niece, Gabby.

The family had a special birthday dinner for me.  It truly WAS special, sharing it with my parents, my sister and her family, and with Johnny and Isra.

My mom worked very hard trying to find the right way to spell "Happy Birthday," in Thai.  Well done, mom!  I love you!

Gabby, treating Isra like playground equipment.

Johnny and Isra at the Iowa border...

... and at the Nebraska border.  Notice just below the sign is a dead deer.  There was one near the Iowa sign, too.  In fact, there seemed to be a lot of dead deer along the highways.

Now, there is one more.  Bringing the guys back to Kansas City, about thirty miles south of Lincoln, two deer ran out in front of us on the highway.  There was no time to slow down enough to miss them.  One made it, the other did not.  What you are looking at is something over $4,000 in damage.  I am grateful for insurance with no deductible!  (And don't you love Johnny's "Don't look at me, I wasn't driving," look?

Thanksgiving in Kansas City means the Christmas Lights at Country Club Plaza.  We braved the cold to join the crowd for the lighting ceremony.

Shawna Kingston, sitting next to Johnny hosted a reunion party for the youth from Pleasant Valley Baptist Church who went on the Thailand trip last summer.  John and Isra were here then and went everywhere with the team, translating and helping out.  It truly WAS a reunion.  And in such a wonderful display of love and generosity, the Kingstons have insisted on Johnny and Isra coming down to their home for the Christmas holidays.  Way, way cool!

Shawna was really touched by the kids at Imjai House Orphanage in Chiang Mai.  After returning to the US, she decided on her own to raise money to assist Imjai House.  By asking for donations at each youth group meeting, she was able to raise 10,000 Thai baht.  Here, she presents it to Isra and John. 

 Johnny, my dad, my mom, and Isra.  I'll keep this photo, I think.

 Johnny and Isra at Penguin Park, near my parents' home.

Me with my American Young Leaders.