Checking on Hope

Saturday, Chut, X, Mic, and I went to Ratchaburi to check on our buddy, Hope.  Hope is dealing with a serious family illness and we wanted to make sure he knows we are standing with him through this.  The photo above is from near Chut's home, showing the extent of the flooding on the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok.  Usually everything you see in the foreground is dry land.

After going to the hospital, we went to a shop nearby that is famous for its hand made noodles.  The brownish square you see on top is a block of congealed blood, typical in noodle dishes.  Yummmmy!

X and Mic.

Hope and Chut.

Afterward, we went to Wat Kohnkhat and the Nang Yai Museum.

The museum shows scenes from famous Thai mythology that are cut from animal skins and displayed with a lighted background.  There are dozens of these and they are beautiful.

Another scene.

A monk wrapping up some hand made jars I bought for my mom and sis.  They are really pretty and well worth the thirty bahts (one dollar) each I paid for them.

Me, Hope, Mic, and X.

Chut, Hope, Mic, and X.  Friends for life.

After that, we just monkeyed around.

Getting some Thai snacks.  Thickened coconut milk, heated til they gel firmly.  Sooo good!.

Almost done!

Ready to eat!

A Full House in the Slums !

Went back to the slum community of Jarurat this afternoon after church.  A big crowd of kids waiting for us.  We barely had room to hold them all!

This is Lang (sounds more like long).  He has not come for a long time, but today, while I was carrying chairs into our meeting place, he came over and helped me.  I asked him to help me when I told the Bible story.  He could help give away the Hot Wheels car.  He thought that was a good idea, so he came and joined with us for the first time in almost a year.  He brought his new pet.  That monstrous bug he is holding is very definitely real!  (If you click on any of these pictures, it will enlarge it... check out the size of this bug!)

Everyone gathering and getting ready for Ting to lead us singing.

I told the story of Elijah being taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire and then Lang helped me asking questions and giving away Hot Wheels.

Almost totally out of room!

First time I have even seen this little girl.  She was usually smiling broadly.

Lang with his pet clinging to his shirt.  I told him that, for helping us, I was going to bring a special Hot Wheel for him next week.  (Kind of insures he will come next week, too!)