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
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 distributionAfter 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
3 comments:
Hey Thailand!!
It's the gorgeous Athens girls (at least, that's the conclusion we've come to since every man on the street here stops to look at us!) Great to hear what you've been up to. Sounds like you are having an amazing time, and that God is using you heaps. Praying for you, and hoping your last week is fruitful and that you finish well. Love to you all,
Athens Girls
Hi there Thailand Team (especially Heidi),
Great to hear all remains well with the team. You all remain in our prayers and we are delighted for you all that your hard work is bearing fruit and that you are all having such a great time.
Heid, be assured that Naomi and the Uganda 'sickies' have been declared malaria free and that they are all in Kampala and feeling well.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Love Mum, Dad and Tim
why hello wonderful thai people!!!
well theres only a couple of days left of your amazing journey in Thailand.... so soak it all up guys!!!!!!
i hope you are all well, and i cant wait to see you all back home, and hear your amazing stories....
lots of love
xxxx
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