One last post for Mission 2011/12

Hello all, I've been conscious of the lack of blog posts the last couple of days - but debrief and downtime in Krabi Town doesn't really present much of great interest to report back to supporters at home!! Sorry if you've been logging on and been disappointed at the lack of posts.

It's been an interesting experience coming here to do debrief. International Teams emphasises strongly the importance of good debriefing after a short-term mission, so we decided to come here to remove the team from the distractions of the neighbourhood where we had been doing ministry - but although we've enjoyed our time here, we've found that we have had a whole different set of distractions!! Reminders in our daily devotional readings about setting our minds on the things above and not being distracted by worldly things have been extremely timely.

Please continue to pray for safe travel over the next few days - we are heading off in different directions, some will be back in Coffs tomorrow and others are visiting people on the way home. Please also pray for God to remind us in coming weeks of what we've learned and the ways we've felt challenged in Bangkok, and help us know how to apply those things in our day-to-day lives on our return. Some of us have felt quite challenged about how we spend our time and money, in particular, but it's very easy to forget all that once the demands of our normal lives are back in front of us.

Looking forward to catching up with you all soon! :o)

Krabi Town

So we left Bangkok this morning, after somewhat emotional farewells with Chatchai and Hope (a Thai woman who also works for Sampat Chiwit Church). We had become aware in the past couple of days that Chatchai and his family really needed some new bedding, which we were very pleased to be able to provide by all chipping in to buy it as a housewarming present from the team. Amazingly, we were able to find what we wanted (3 mattresses, plus pillows & sheets) nearby and have them delivered to the church while we were there catching up with Chatchai and Hope one last time before leaving. He was very pleased when we presented them to him! We also heard that the shiny new pushbike Hope had been riding last year when we were in town was stolen just after we left - and she hasn't yet been able to save up enough money to buy a new one. So we chipped in for that too. I worry sometimes that we can seem like arrogant, rich Westerners throwing our money around... but we are so blessed in Australia, and things are so much cheaper in Thailand that it wasn't a great sacrifice for us, and they are things that will make life so much easier for these people who are working hard to make Christ known in this dark city... so I think it was a good thing to do. May our gifts help in the spread of the gospel!!

We're now in Krabi, where we will spend a day debriefing as a team tomorrow. We didn't do on-feld debriefing last year so it will be interesting to see how it goes. I think it will be a valuable experience - everyone seems to have been greatly impacted by their time here but that can turn into a negative experience if we don't process properly all the things we've experienced. And also, it's so easy to get distracted by worldly things and lose all the momentum and zeal that's been generated by a trip like this, it's good to start to think before we get home about what changes we might make in response to what God's been doing in our hearts here.

Appropriately, tonight's devotional reading was Colossians 3:1-11, which includes the verse:-

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."

This is what we must remember to do every day, even when life is crowding in on us from every direction.

Day 9: A sad farewell begins...

Today was our last full day with our brothers and sisters in Bangkok. We started off the day in high spirits after reading Psalm 95: "Come let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud the rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song..."

We were so excited to be a part of the church dedication which began the day's events. The church was packed with visitors attending this great occasion. Some were friends from other churches, others were those we had met during the week, including the (Muslim) community leader of the area we met Thursday. Mark shared his testimony which went really well and was a great witness for the work done in his life through Jesus.

Praise God for so many answered prayers - one of my prayers has been for the children I met during the week at English classes. We invited them to the service and YAY, the Sunday School class lead by Anna, Ellen and myself was about 20 children! Some of which we had been meeting with throughout the English classes. This was a huge encouragement for me to witness. Anna told them of Jesus' death and resurrection and they each took home something to remember the story by. We also taught them the song 'Jesus is the way, the truth and the life' which they thoroughly enjoyed. Pray for these children that they may hear and understand "for the kingdom belongs to such as these" (Matt 19:14).

Following the service we shared in a meal and then attended a baptism of three women from the church (one girl I remember from English classes last year!).

The evening finished off with a farewell dinner which was very enjoyable, chicken and cashew....'pet mai' (no chilli), much to the disgrace if the owner of the store who keeps trying to change my mind! It was nice to sit and talk with Bessy and Eden in particular (two beautiful Filippino missionaries who I have gotten to know these last two visits).

It is sad to say goodbye and I'm sure we will all be feeling a bit flat tomorrow but the time spent here has been so wonderful and we have some great memories to take back with us. I feel so blessed to have had this opportunity to serve, to witness some of the great things God is doing here in Bangkok and to be a part of this great mission.

Liz cutting the muslim community leader's hair at the church after the dedication service.

Annabel, Amy and Ellen with some of the girls from the Sunday school program.

Chatchai with the three women who were baptised on the rooftop of P.P. House.

Vid update from Steve

Day 7, the day of rest

We have had another fantastic day today. It was free time in the morning/till 3 o'clock. Some had a sleep in before our daily morning meeting. Kelly, Anna, Steve and myself hit the pool while Amy, Deb and Mark took a load off by having a thai massage. It was a testimony to the teams strong bond as in our free time we found ourselves eating and drinking all together. In the evening, the team spilt up. Chatchai Anna, Steve, Kell and Liz went to visit a christian orphanage that took children in from abusive relationships, or whos parents were ill fit to look after them. They enjoyed getting to know the children and providing dinner for them. Liz took the opportunity to cut some children's hair and was able to leave the centre a pair of hair clippers donated by a salon in Australia.

Meanwhile; Deb, Chris, Mark, Amy and myself held the last English class for this mission at the church. There was not as many people as the previous nights but the classes that were run ended in opportunities to tell people about God. Some of us were able to help with preperation for children's day tomorrow, which apparantely is a big thing!!

It was priceless seeing the jaws drop on the children when Sophia told them they would not see us until next year. Well, maybe not true anymore as many have said they will be coming to church on Sunday. Praise God of the many reminders we have had today of his faithful presents in the city of Thailand. Amy finished the night meeting not feeling too well. Please pray for her health and our big day tomorrow heading up English Day Camp.

cheers, Ellen

Day 6.......Hi this is Elizabeth and I wanted to tell you about what we did today,I still have a smell of raw sewer in my nose but seeing the smile on these kids face made it all worthwhile in the slum areas.

Today we taught English at a school for selected children....exceptionally bright kids and their English was much more advanced than the other school we went to the day before.

Annabel,Chris and I taught how to say the practical things in life ..like water,glasses,phone,bandaid...etc.

After the classes we were ask to go in the slum areas with Chatchia and be amongst the people ..it was a really rough area and to be honest I felt a little uneasy,We met the Muslim leader for the area and she asked us for Dinner sat night back in the area....it will be very interesting.

The hairdressing part of what i am doing is going great I have done 13 style cuts so far to these missionary wives,children and a 1 husband. If I can use my skill to bless other people then its all worthwhile ,the missionaries have been blessed by this ,not only cause its expensive to go to a salon but the love,laughter,support we are giving then to make them feel good too.

We found a eating place that make a nice chicken and cashew nut stir fry...but to be honest i loved the piece of chicken we snuck into KFC for (don't tell Deb and Steve)...

Mark and I are missing our Kids alot if you see then in the streets can someone take them home

My Dads recovery is going good, missing not being able to talk to him and tell him I love him.

God is using us in many ways,we just want to be able to give of ourselves so we can bless other people.

Mark is snoring now so i should sign off and get sleep for another action packed day.

Elizabeth,Liz,Lizzy,Lizzard what a lot of thai people have called me .

English students for the afternoon english camp.

Muslim kids from the slum community.

Ellen meeting a local pastor.

This woman is the local community leader.  We had a chance to pray for her while she visited us in a child care centre in the slum.

Bangkok Day 5

Today was our busiest day so far for our team.  We started with a team meeting at 6:45 and then headed off by mopeds to one of the local schools to run their English Camp.  It was a great day, but extremely tiring.  The thing that constantly amazes me is the appreciation the local teachers have for our efforts.  They even had a special presentation at the end of the day where they gave us some very cool gifts and photos from the day.  English learning is a very important part of Thai life and we were reminded by one of the teachers that this was a way for the locals to get better opportunities in life  

From the school we headed back to our accommodation for a 15 minute freshen up before heading to a couple of the Church member's homes in the community.  It was incredible seeing the way in which they live and we were all very humbled.  2 of the ladies live right next to a muslim graveyard and mosque in the middle of an islamic community.  Seeing the way they lived their lives there gave me a fresh appreciation for the difficulties they face not just in living, but in practicing as believers.  

Finally we headed back to the Church building for the continuation of our teaching program.  We didn't have quite as many turn up tonight but there was still a great crowd - far more than last year, and the night ran really well.  A great debriefing session in Amy and Kel's room topped off the day and we finished up at around 10.  I'm really loving our team meetings - the connections in the group is brilliant and there is a great range of personalities and backgrounds that through God's work is gelling fantastically into not only a harmonious but also a very effective team.  

Thanks again for all of your prayers - Steve.

Amy, Annabel and Eden posing for a shot with some of the students at the school.

Chatchai with some of the children from the local church community.  It's great to see the connection he has, even though these people aren't church goers.

The girls having a time of praise in Hope's house.

The view into the Muslim Mosque and graveyard from Hope's veranda.

Hello from Mark

WOW what an amazing day......it started with a time of praise and worship at the church with Chatchai on the  guitar singing great songs i haven't sang for years and an awesome time of prayer. A few of the team had asked if we could hear Chatchai's testimony as we had heard individual snipits but not the whole story. I was so amazed by his testimony and his faithfulness to the Lord and his perseverance  and commitment throughout his life and how God used him in such difficult circumstances.

After a short break we set out in teams of three with a member of the church into the neighbourhood speaking to the local Thai's about the English Lessons we were holding at night and giving out tracts. I was fortunate enough to be out with Annabel and Amy who were just incredible at conversing in Thai. We spent some time with a group of young kids about seven or eight years old and ended up singing and doing the actions with them to 'Heads and Shoulders, Knees and Toes'.

We were also invited in to one family home and shared a great time with them with Hope, our Thai leader talking to them about the church

In the afternoon we found an awesome little Cafe that served great coffee.......it was heaven.....and i thought Annabel and Ellen would never leave !!

There was great anticipation for our first English Evening classes just not knowing what to expect and how many would turn up....if any.........and what a blessing it was to see not only about 25+ turn up but to see the kids with some of their parents there which were the kids we had met earlier in the day.......I helped Deb with the adults class and six of the parents there had never been to the church before and Deb had an opportunity to share the gospel at the end of the lesson...and you could have heard a pin drop....!!!

For Liz it was a tough day as she was unable to speak to her dad back in Coffs before he went into hospital for surgery of his cancer and she took this really hard so spent most of the day in the hotel but at night was busy cutting the hair of the missionary ladies who were just thankful and looked like the hottest looking missos I've even seen when she was finished.

Well tomorrow is a huge day so ill sign off now.....love to all especially our kids that i miss greatly

A very happy Ellen after finding a great little cafe!

Yeah - we hope it's not real as well.

The "What's my name?" Song at the Church english class

Pet Working on a family tree.

Chris helping a student with his english.

Mark

Hello from Kel and Amy!

Cultural exposure tour

Our focus today was getting out and seeing some parts of Bangkok that would give us a better understanding of the people we're ministering to.

Chatchai and his family (wife Sofia, son Pure and daughter Praise) accompanied us to the Grand Palace. The Thai people LOVE their king. Idolise him, in fact. I commented about this to Sofia on Saturday, and she said that they treat him like a god. This attitude is reflected in the opulence of the royal palace. Annabel said that she was struck by the contrast between the huge, ornate buildings they saw there and the extremely humble dwellings we had seen around our neighbourhood, which the average Thai people live in.

Afterwards, we went to Mahathat temple - a prominent centre of Buddhist learning in Bangkok. I had read that everyday Thai Buddhism is on display here like nowhere else. I have been to several Buddhist temples in different parts of Thailand, and had previously felt my heart ache at the sight of people bowing down to statues, offering them incense, money, and prayers, and giving gifts to the monks, all in an effort to "make merit" in order to gain a reward of which they are never, ever certain. But that feeling still struck me as strongly this time, even though the sight was not new. One part of the temple was particularly intense - a room full of golden idols, displayed on every side, with a monk praying into a microphone (which was amplified very loudly!), incense and candles burning, and people kneeling and bowing until their heads touched the floor. Kelly and I both sat for a time in this room, and in another one nearby which was a bit less confronting, and prayed that God would have mercy on the people there. I wondered if anyone had ever before sat there and prayed that the name of Jesus would be known in this place.

Walking the streets nearby, we also saw dozens of street stalls selling amulets which are supposed to protect people from all manner of bad things.

The Thai people are clearly very aware of a spiritual realm, and seem to be aware of their own need - but most of them have no idea how to fulfill that need. Sofia said that most of the people we saw at the temple would never have even heard the name of Jesus Christ. This is hard for Australians to grasp, having grown up with churches everywhere and the name of Jesus known to virtually everybody (even if only as a swear word!). It's a pretty daunting thought, being here for such a short time! But we will do what little we can while we're here, and we will continue to pray.

At the King's Palace

People praying at the palace.  So sad seeing people enslaved like this.

Ellen and Kelly at the Buddhist temple.

Huge gold Buddha at the temple.  Considering the poverty of the surrounding people it's so bizarre to see the wealth poured into the temples.

Pool time on the roof at the end of the day.

Video update from Mark and Liz

Bangkok Day Two

Greetings from Bangkok. 

Thank you for the letters of encouragement and for your prayer support.

We started the day praying together seeking Gods will and blessing for the day. 

The church service started with worship and this was enthusiastically embraced by all and some songs were sung in Thai and English..simultaneously. Annabel gave her testimony and this was followed by the Lords Supper and a sermon by Steve which was translated to the congregation by their Thai pastor, Chatchai.

We enjoyed lunch and fellowship before hitting the streets with tracts. The environment was challenging with poverty and strange smells confronting the team. We enjoyed dinner at a local eatery and are now exhausted but blessed with what was all in all a fantastic day. Praise God and please keep us in your prayers. 

Annabel's Testimony

Chatchai

Fellowship Time 

Tract Recipient

Street Scene

Blog update by Chris Engelbrecht