In Bangkok!

We're here!  We arrived at about 10:30 local time after a stop over in KL last night.  A couple of the local missionaries, Eden and Bessie picked us up from the airport and took us back to our accommodation.  The day wasn't without dramas with Amy feeling a bit sick throughout the day and Annette's luggage has gone missing at the airport!  Besides that, the feel amongst the team is good and we're looking forward to seeing what God does in and through us over the next 10 days.

This morning we had a team 'adjustment' with Eden who answered our questions about the mission and gave us some insight into her and the other staff's ministry in Bangkok.  It was great to spend time with her and to get used to our locations - we met on the roof of the apartment we are staying in which has a pool and views over the city!  After that we spent some time relaxing and exploring the local neighbourhood.  Today is a public holiday in Bangkok so we've been able to use it to recuperate and get over some jet-lag as well as doing some prep.  Tomorrow we meet with the local pastor - Chatchai, who will take us witnessing amongst a local slum area.

Side street on our way to a food house in KL.  Smelt even worse!

Hoeing into some awesome but spicy food in KL.

Kel and Eden - one of our International Teams contacts here talking on the roof of our apartment block.

Checking out some of the local scenery around the corner from our accommodation.

Matt's first trip overseas - been soaking it all in!

Annette hooking into a soup containing noodles, chicken, congealed blood and some kind of knuckly thing.

Bangkok 2011 Schedule

Here's the basic program for this year's mission trip for you to partner with us in prayer!

Three more sleeps!

OK, so we leave town the day after tomorrow... how is it that I still have a dozen things on my Bangkok To-Do list?? Eek! Thankfully, many of them are computer-based tasks that can be done from the comfort of my lounge room.

Prayer points for now:-

• That we'll get through the next couple of weeks without getting overly stressed or fatigued, and manage to be patient, gracious and other-centred with everybody around us.
• That God will be preparing the hearts of the people we will be meeting in Bangkok, to hear the truth of the gospel.
• That God will work through us to encourage the members of the church we will be working with.
• For safety and health in travelling.

Thanks for visiting our blog! :o)

The Team

This is the team photo we've sent to Pastor Chatchai in Bangkok - good looking bunch, hey!

International Teams Training Weekend

Last weekend we headed off to Cascade for a training weekend to prep us up further for the end of the month!  It was a great weekend where we were able to grow in our understanding of each other and the most effective ways to do mission in a cross-cultural context.

Fundraising Weekends

Yesterday we finished our mission fundraising with a bring and buy sale.  This finished two weekends of fundraising including the photo shoot, Thai Dinner, and Sale.  Thanks so much to everyone for the support - you are such a generous Church!

Photos for Bangkok Fundraiser

Donna Edwards & I had some very cool fun taking pics of families for our mission fundraiser - here's a few from the day:

Upcoming Fundraising Events for Inaugural Bangkok Mission

Thai Family Dinner

Date/Time: 6pm, Saturday 13^th November

Place: Church hall

Cost: $10/person; $40/family

Contact people: Annabel Brooker (Ph: 6653 2721 or 0427 146 179)

Details: A home-cooked Thai dinner, skills auction, and a presentation about Sampat Chiwit Church and the benefits of short-term mission. Please let Annabel know if you're planning to come, so we have rough numbers for catering - but that doesn't mean you can't come if you haven't RSVP'd!

How you can help: Help with cooking, set-up or clean-up. Volunteer services for the skills auction. Bid for things in the auction. Come!

Portrait Photography Session

Date/Time: 10am – 3pm, Saturday 13^th November

Place: Church Hall

Contact People: Steve & Debbie White (Ph: 6653 1924)

Greg & Donna Edwards (Ph: 0428 277 096)

Cost: Half-hour session - $100 (incl. five 6x4 + one 8x10 prints); Quick portrait - $15 (digital copies only).

Details: Many of you enjoy Steve and Donna's fabulous photography on Facebook. Now's your chance to take advantage of their skill to get some gorgeous photos of yourself and/or your family, as well as support your mission! Greg (a trained photographer), will also be helping out. Call or email Debbie (debbie_white@rocketmail.com) to book a time.

Morning Tea / Bring & Buy Sale

Date/Time: 10:30am, Saturday 20^th November

Place: Jim & Janette Curran's home – 41 Bayliss Ave, Middle Boambee

Cost: NIL – bring your cash for morning tea, a sausage sizzle, to buy plants or other goods, and/or to give a donation.

Contact people: Jim & Janette (Ph: 6658 1037)

Details: A relaxed morning tea / sausage sizzle lunch for all the family in the Curran's stunning gardens in beautiful Middle Boambee. A presentation about Sampat Chiwit Church and the benefits of short-term mission will be given at about 11:30am.

How you can help: Bring a contribution for morning tea. Donate sausages/bread, or help cook the sausage sizzle. Pot plants for sale. Bring second-hand household items/books/clothes/furniture for sale. Help run the bring & buy sale.

Bangkok 2011 - Mission Details

THE BASICS
Dates: 30 Dec 2010 – 10 Jan 2011
Sending Organisation: International Teams
Receiving Organisation: Sampat Chiwit Church
“Going Team”: Steve & Debbie White, Ollie & Annette Arjonilla, Matt Kent, Kelly Denison, Amy Jackson
“Sending/Supporting Team”: The rest of the church – including YOU!

THE BACKGROUND
International Teams put Steve & Debbie in touch with Cecille, a long-term missionary based in Bangkok, and they then met with her and Pastor Chatchai in December while on their honeymoon. Sampat Chiwit Church was planted about 3 years ago, and the leadership was handed over to Chatchai this year. The church is very small, and they are very much looking forward having us visit.

TEAM UPDATE
We have set up a display in the church foyer, and you may have noticed that the “Going” team has shrunk. Alby Koster and Mike & Sandy Cole have reluctantly pulled out of the team, for various reasons. We're disappointed that we won't have the benefit of their age & wisdom, and on future trips we hope to have a few older team members going. But with this being more of a “scouting” trip to explore how our partnership with Sampat Chiwit Church will work, we still think that we'll have a very fruitful trip with the seven team members still on board.

THE PLANS
Pastor Chatchai has asked us to be involved in the following ministries:-
English teaching (as an outreach activity)
Teaching their music team some new songs
Steve & Ollie preaching at their Sunday services
Running mid-week teens & womens' groups (which many non-Christians attend)