Theres a lot to tell you..

Hey guys how are you all going??
We have been so busy and can’t wait to tell you all the amazing things God has allowed us to be a part of and experience!!

Saturday we all went our separate ways. Lisa, Janice and I (Sarah) went to the English friendship church to help teach their Saturday English classes. It took over an hour to get there in an un-airconditioned bus and then a ute but it was worth it! This church offers English classes to children on Saturdays followed by songs and a short message. I worked with some young children, teaching them to say “nice to meet you” and “nice to meet you too”! They were very cute! Then Lisa and I taught them a song and we all played/sang “In Christ Alone” for all the kids! Janice shared the story of the lost sheep with the help of a “lost” sheep puppet (thanks for the puppet Anthony!) One of the members of the church who studied English at uni interpreted and the kids seemed to really enjoy it and respond to the story! They asked them who wanted to be like the sheep and be friends with Jesus and they all put their hands up which was encouraging!

Heidi and Chez went to Khlontoey working with the children in very low socio-economic communities, which really impacted them in the way some people live.
Bek and Anthony went to the Praporn church, where Antony played footy, Bek had band practice for church and we both taught English to their kiddies and members of the church, with a follow up class the next day after church.

Sunday:
JESUS DAY!!! We went to four different churches again in the morning. In the arvo we taught more English!!! At night we went to the Light-house international church with our local filipino missos. It is always amazing to see how much joy and love they have for each other and the local community. They even called Lisa up the front to sing Happy Birthday and gave her a cake for her birthday, which is on Saturday (yes she is accepting belated gifts when she arrives home in Aus!!!)

Lisas birthday cake served at tea after church -
they even had her name written on it after the service!

Later we went to Patpong the Bangkok red light district (its ok mums there was heaps of tourists with there 10 year old children... and it was bubble wrap safe!!!!) It was really strange to see busy night markets in the middle of the street which was lined with the nightclubs, bars and brothels. And Gerry (our misso guide) was very protective of us! We were all very impacted by this scene and were just praying constantly as we walked through this area for all those lost in these sad ways.

MONDAY!!! Our day off!!! This was another very impacting day!!! We left bright and early at 6am… well we wer supposed to but we got a lil mixed up and thought we wer leaving at 7am… OOPS!! Hehe
We went for a 2 hour van road trip along with Jane (our filipino misso) and Tukata our Thai friend (bless her awesome soul) Most of us slept and missed the beautiful countryside (another oops!) We went on a ferry ride to a remote island off Pattaya. We went to the one and only church, which began only one year ago but now has over 60 people. We brought 150 pressies for their 46 children as well as a proportion of the 500 kids of the also one and only school. It’s amazing how you may only just have met someone but when you are united for the one cause in Christ, love and compassion overwhelms you for these new brothers and sisters of ours.

Church members to whom we gave the gifts for distribution

After that we took the ferry back to Pattaya and headed to the most touristy place we have been yet. It cost us 5 baht (which is really only 15 cents) just to use the loo.. and that didn’t even include toilet paper. The beach was so crowed with “forang” (foreigners). It cost us 20 baht each to use a deck chair but it was an adventure to continually think of creative ways to fend off “hundreds” of eager entrepreneurs selling us everything from ice creams to wallets to tattoos. We were all excited to be able to see the beach.. although it has nothing on Aus beaches, it was nice to have a splash around.

Tuesday we had our team meeting where Lisa and Antony (Formally known as Anthony) shared their testimonies and we had a great prayer time with current issues of both teams. (Please continue to pray that God will be close to the filipino team as they continue to apply for their visas).

Anthony, Janice and I (Sarah) had the chance to visit another Filipino missionary, Didi, about an hour away. What she is doing is so amazing! She is working mostly with business people in an area that looks exactly like Hong Kong and is filled with companies and factories, teaching them English. She is very passionate and really making an impact in this community! We got to meet about seven of her students and have dinner with them so they could practice their English! The English centre there is having its first anniversary next month and they were also planning the celebration!

Wednesday!!
Me (beck) and Anthony went to Jem Jam school to teach the deaf and mentally disabled as well as teaching grades four, five and six English. It was so amazing because 2 days before we were just discussing how tight the child protection laws had become and when we were teaching the children I was given a stick.. it was for whacking the kiddies when they were naughty, I just used it as a pointer… yeah it’s a bit different ai.



ZOOOOO!!
Meanwhile, Janice, Chez, Lisa, Heidi and me (Sarah) took seven little kids from the day care centre for an outing to the zoo!

Their centre is situated right in the middle of a slum area and missos from the centre and my home church here, Glory Church help to run this centre for kids whose parents have to work etc.. This area is right on top of a canal with a concrete path running through it, which the missos helped to build with another summer team a few years ago. The water is filthy with dogs and cats lose everywhere. Eden (my Filipino Mum) the pastor of Glory Church and Ann (a member of the church) as well as the director of the childcare centre and her son came along with us! Getting there we rode on the tray of a ute, which was an experience in itself! The kids were all so cute and really loved seeing all the animals!



They ran wildly all over the zoo, dragging us behind them! I think we were more tired then they were by the end, although they all fell asleep on the way home! After spending time with these kids and seeing just how beautiful and happy they all were it was really hard to walk back through the slums coz it really hit that this was actually people’s homes and these kids lived here. It was very sad.


In conclusion, thank you for all of your prayers and support through this amazing time of growth and discovery of God, other cultures and ourselves.

We miss you all muchly and
LOVE YOU MORE THAN A THAI LOVES THEIR SPICE ‘n’ RICE!!!!

Love bek and sarah on behalf of the Bkk Team

xoxo

English camps

Thursdays Full-day English camp

Thursdays Blog
Our team in Bangkok is leading a busy but very fulfilling existence. We are now in full swing with teaching English. At the Touch Thailand Centre we all serve alongside the existing missionaries as they teach. They are very professional and we assist by being the valuable native- English speakers who will have conversation with their students.

The resident missionary team

We have also now done two out of three English Camps in local schools. Yesterday and tomorrow the “Camps” are for three hours Today was all day – and it was just great fun and fulfilling for us all. Working with kids has to be in our hearts as we teach them.

Chez and Bec with creative art:

Anthony with Games

An English camp consists of 7 activity stations which the students move through and we instruct them in English. There were games and singing and work sheets and word puzzles – all great opportunities to help with their English Our prayer is that in each of these schools we shall be the aroma of Christ, the light of Jesus to them.

Sarah with "Colour Me Beautiful"

A most memorable happening was the theft of Janice’s camera today. We had finalised our sessions and were having a final presentation – each group doing their "cheers” and presentations when Janice could not find her camera in her bag. She searched back upstairs on the fourth floor and couldn’t find it – checked her bag, searched again and then notified Gerry, the resident team leader here that the camera was missing. He notified school leaders and they each searched the floor and the toilets and couldn’t find the camera. Then it was announced to children the camera was missing and they were asked to look for it – meanwhile the school gates were shut and all bags searched. THEN the camera was located in a toilet – and guess what – there had been one photo taken!

The UNAUTHORISED photo!!

The children triumphed in finding the camera. The school directors had been concerned that if the camera was not located we would not return. This is a NEW school today for teaching English. They have asked for teams to return again. Truly there is a wide open door for teams to come and add to the ministry of the resident missionaries here by teaching English in the local schools. We were treated like royalty – given lunch and snacks and presented with gifts from the directors and notes of appreciation from the kids. We all feel so privileged to be here.

Please pray
Friday night we lead a Thai Cell group at the Touch Thailand Centre – these are students who come to hear about Christianity and not all are yet believers.
Continued language teaching at Centre
Thanks for good health and great fun together as a team.

Fun Fun Fun Fun

Team at the Grand place on Tourist day Monday


Text from Heidi on our behalf


Sawasdee Kaa!

Greetings from Bangkok! All is well on the misso front! The weather here is very warm, so we are thanking God everyday for the provision of an air conditioner!

Sundays in Bangkok at church is much the same as it is back home- we went to church! Each of us had a different experience of church, but we all were encouraged to unite in tribe nation and tongue with the Thais and Filipinos in praise and worship. Many of the songs are familiar as Hillsong music is very popular!

We visited the Suan Night Bazaar on Sunday night, and we all were exhausted from so much bargaining when we finally rolled into bed!

Yesterday, tourist day, Bessy and Miguel took us to see the reclining Buddha and the emerald Buddha in Grand Palace. It was exciting to be able to sit in the silence of the temples and pray that God’s light would fill the hearts of those worshipping there.

Traffic in Bangkok was at its worst last night heading back to the guest house – much worse than Sydney, however we still made it to our welcome dinner in time! The Filipino missionaries put on a lovely dinner and we had a great time of fellowship together.

This morning we walked Sukhumvit 71 (one of the main road through Phr kanong) handing out flyers and singing songs, hoping to get some thai students to come to our English classes over the next few weeks.

Prayer points:
- That God may govern the management of the Wattana district where Gerry and the Filipino team are ministering. Please pray that the missionaries may find favour in the eyes of the Mayor so they can continue their ministry as community workers.
- Praise God that Bessy, Eden. Cecille and Rachel had their 1 year renewable visas have been granted today (this is exciting as we heard news of this while we were praying for this!!!)
- English camp program: May we connect with the teachers and students and show God’s love through our presence.
- Pray that our flyer distribution may be effective, that many will come so we may share Jesus with them!
- Pray for the Friday night cell group members, that God may ignite the passion for Jesus in their hearts.
- Pray for the group that we may make the most of our spare time and that we may make it a priority to form relationships with the Thai’s despite the language barrier.

Blessings and love.




Photos below:

some of the team at Grand Palace


Tuesday 7.30am:singing on the street and handing out flyers to advertise the English classes

WE're here and I'm learning how to blog

Greetings from the Bangkok team. SORRY it has taken three days to get this up with a Blog from us. Unfortunately I , Janice as team leader find technical stuff challenging and time has been a factor too. I am sure you will all last appreciate seeing a bit of what we are up to.

We arrived safely at PP House where we are staying on Thursday night at 12.30 local time which is 4.30am Sydney time. The new Bangkok airport was confusing to our taxi driver and we waited a while for him! It was good at last to get horizontal in bed.

Friday morning was orientation at the Touch Thailand Life care Centre which is the base of the team’s operations here in Bangkok. The missionary team is Jane and Gerry, married couple and Gerry is team leader then Miguel, Menchie, Bessie and Eden– all Filipinos. There have been four teams sent from IT Australia in the past six years so it is exciting to realise what the Aussies have contributed over the years and to see how God has blessed the faithful Filipinos with good relationships in the community. Photo is team on steps of TTLCC (Touch Thailand Life care Centre) with Missionary Bessie (Front L) and Aussie Jaimie (Front R)


Friday we walked around the district and took taxis and motorbikes to visit three schools, which were holding special events for Childrens Day. We ‘farangs” were given front row seats and lots of food as they honoured us – this will be the schools where we will teach during the next three weeks.

We walked thought the urban poor area of Klongtan where team leader Gerry has become a community advisor as the contribution and care of IT people has enriched the community. Poor housing, flimsy wooden structures perched above the filthy waters of the canal were a shock to our team.

Friday evening was a great joy as we met with Thai believers in a cell group at the centre. To be praying with Filipino and Thai believers has opened our eyes that God is global and indeed his love is for ALL people.

Saturday we were guests of honour at the community children’s day activities and the afternoon some went to the centre of Bangkok as the English pupils did not arrive at the centre. Evening we venture our for authentic Thai food at a street stall – just across the road from where I lead the team in ministry in 12/00. We all are adventurous with our food and cherish the diversity of flavours of authentic Thai food – FRESH seafood YUM!


Jamie Lo is an Aussie young woman who served on the summer team 12 months ago and has returned for six weeks here. To order our food last night she phoned a Thai friend from English classes and gave the phone to the food stall operator so her friend could tell him what our order was!! Don’t know what we will do when Jamie leaves on Thursday!

Our accommodation is WONDERFUL! The roof top pool and garden area is already a favourite place to retreat to for quiet times.


We have a full program ahead this week and all are excited about all the work ahead. First though, a day off tomorrow for some touristy things. Keep praying as we are excited about all the God appointments ahead of us.

Janice, Sunday afternoon on behalf of the team

Summer Teams Training

Here is Team Thailand getting cross-cultural at Summer Teams Training.

Welcome to the International Teams Thailand Summer Team blog. Here we will be sharing our experiences, updates and prayer points whenever we get a chance to jump on the internet. There might not be heaps of opportunity to update this whilst we are away, so if you don't hear anything we're fine... it's OK Mum - I'm fine!!!!
Photos to come...