Hot day in the slums...

Almost a hundred degrees today, but the kids were all there for us when we arrived. Ting did a great job of leading the kids in singing and games...

Boss showing off.

Greg Brown's last weekend in Thailand for a while and he spoke at the main service. He did a great sermon on worship.

The slums teams gathered to share a last meal with Greg and to say goodbye.

Songkran in Ayutthaya

Songkran is a celebration of the Thai New Year and the national water festival. This year, I went with friends to Ayutthaya, the old capitol, where thousands and thousands of people ride in the back of trucks, splashing water on each other and on people gathered alongside the road. Great fun!

Micah Silkwood, who is also a member of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, has come to Bangkok and will work at DST for the next eighteen months. This was his first week here, and he went along with us.

If somene had told me three years ago that I would have a water fight with a group of nine year old Buddhist monks (in training)...

Trucks lined up to head back down the street for more water splashing.

Thaweep, our guide for the day... looking like a wet cat.

Summer in the Slums

April is the heart of summer in Thailand, and it IS hot. I am adjusting slowly, though, because it is not nearly as miserable as last year...

Yesterday, we reviewed numbers 1-10 in English.

Cutie

Tracing the numbers.

Each week, I teach a simple Bible lesson. I also bring along Hotwheels cars as prizes for kids who can answer questions afterward. Thanks to J and to my folks for sending a new supply of Hotwheels!

Oh! I know!

Songkran at DST

Each year in the BOC, we have a tradtion for Songkran, the Thai New Year/Water Festival. The associates pour water over the hands of the managers and their project leaders, while giving them a blessing, such as "I wish you good health," of just "Sawatdi bi mai," (Happy New Year.) They also daub our faces with a mixture of water and powder. It is really a nice gesture and shows great respect.

My protegee, Natt enoys his great chance to get me good.

Left to right: Lisa De Petro, Jon De Petro, yours truly, Jim Barker, and Ben Burdt.

Lined up for their turn.

Aum is getting too much happiness from this!

Tuk wishes my boss, Vera a Happy Songkran.

Easter in Bangkok

Really good day. Teaching the kids the story of Easter and then decorating eggs together. A good time had by all ! ! !

A little red shirt protester. A true Protestant, I guess.

Stacking cookies

Today's game for the kids at Jarurat and Wisiwa was seeing how many cookies we could stack on our friends' foreheads. Actually, a lot of fun...

From the Pulpit to the Slums

Sunday was another great day. I was asked to speak at the main service. My good friend Note led worship, which made it that much more special for me. After church, we had a planning meeting and did not do our usual slum ministry, but we drove out to JaRurat community for a few moments, anyway. It was my girl Fern's fifteenth birthday and we went to take her a cake and sing happy birthday to her. THAT is a good Sunday!

My friend and hero, Note. He knows the songs I love, and kicked things off with Blessed Be Your Name, which was just a great way to start the day!

I spoke from Mark 5 and Luke 8 about Jesus delivering the demon possessed man.

You can't see him, but Ahjan Winit is to my side, translating. We tried going hi-tech with the microphone headset, but it was making some noise that Ahjan found very distracting. I ended up switching back to a regular mic. I wonder if we'll ever see the headsets used again?

Ting and Ahjan Vee led the kids in praying for God to bless Fern on her birthday.

The birthday girl!

Late February misc. Photos

I spoke Wednesday evening at church on Jesus and the man possessed by demons. Ahjan Winit is translating. Today, he called and asked me to share the message again at the main service a week from Sunday.

Setting the scene.

This evening was Yong Leaders Group evening. My favorite day of the week! As we often do, we started with dinner and a local diner type place.

Ohm starts us out in worship.

Worship with the Young Leaders is a very special time. I always feel so refreshed when we have spent time together in a time of praise.

Today, I was encouraging the guys to pray that we'd have more opportunities to lead. As I talked with them, it is surprising how much God is already doing that. Tonight, Thank taught us about God's might and he did a great job. Ting is taking responsibility for leading music in the slum ministry. Rerk is taking charge of games. Boyd is already on staff at Immanuel and leads in several areas. Bat has assumed the role of worship leader on Friday nights and the early service on Sundays. Pretty impressive, huh?

Rerk and Ting Step Up and Help Lead

At Jarurat, Supparerk explains the rules to today's game. Rerk is now in charge of games.

Ting helps out. He is now going to lead the songs at Jarurat and Wisawa communities. The kids will love him!

Lining up matchsticks...


At Wisawa, the game was a sort of relay/chase game the kids enjoyed a lot.

Since Ting helped Supparerk with his games, only fair that Rerk would join in and help lead songs. Teamwork!

Making an Impact

Over the past two weeks, Jason has preached at a special 'revival service' in Khao Lak, spoken at Immanuel's Friday Night service and at its main Sunday service. He has shared his story in people's homes and with children in the slums. He has spent a day on a cruise to PP Island and had monkeys jump on him in Lop Buri. Yet, when he was asked what his favorite experience was from this trip, he answered without hesitation, "Young Leaders Group." To have the chance to worship with these young men and to listen to them interact with one another and encourage each other was very impactful. He is returning to America determined to try to build something similar in his church. It is so encouraging to know that these young men ARE making a difference... all around the world already!

Breaking bread (or maybe rice).

Praising God.

More praise.

Thank shares his story with the group.

J shares the moment with us.

Hinckley's Invade the Grand Temple

No trip to Thailand is complete without a trip to the Grand Palace. Unfortunately, it was hot, hot, hot that day.