A Discouraging Start

DAY 1 / LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - The first day of our team’s mission to Thailand has gotten off to a discouraging start. By midnight, we had expected to be somewhere over the Pacific Ocean, on the final leg of our journey from Midland to Bangkok ….. instead, we found ourselves at Los Angeles International Airport (or LAX), with the realization that the final leg would be delayed 24 hours.

It began with a cancelled flight, and a two-hour delay in our departure from Midland International ….. and one could almost see the ripple-effect extending outward from there. Once in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), we had to find space on another flight to LAX, one that departed four hours after the one we had missed. We arrived in Los Angeles more than an hour after our connecting flight had departed for Bangkok.

So, what do we do? Remain flexible ….. and keep an upbeat attitude. We will get where we’re going, and there will be plenty for us to do once we’re there. As for now? “No matter where you’re going,” the song reminds us, “there you are!” Among other things, the delays have allowed time to test procedures for preparing and sending e-mail updates from our Thai Mission Team to our family and friends back-home, and for updating our West Texas Missioner weblog ….. procedures we were pretty sure would work ….. but, now we know. We have put the extra hours to use in another, more significant way.

We have spent a chunk of that time - in airport waiting lounges and across the table of a shared meal – in getting to know one another ….. who we are, where we are from, why we are here. It is a silver lining to a cloud of misfortune – great or small – that brings us closer together on so many levels, and will help us accomplish more in the days ahead. We would also like to express our appreciation for Cynthia Howard, the team member responsible for travel arrangements. She has spent much of the last 24 hours with her phone permanently fixed in her ear, while at the same time talking to airline agents across the counter, making new arrangements and keeping us moving – slowly, but surely – forward. She has also worked to keep us informed, and reassure team members anxious over the past day’s developments. Some of us say, they hate to think how much worse the day might have turned out if it hadn’t been for Cynthia’s expertise, and her tenacity in overcoming the obstacles thrown in our way by the airline.

By the way, some of our team members should already be in Thailand. Pastor Jerry Hilton, and Katie and Franklin Williamson, were following their own itineraries, from their own communities – and we had hoped to link-up with them at LAX for the final leg of our outward journey. We have heard that they DID make the connection with that flight, and they will be our representatives in Bangkok for the first day’s schedule of activities. Please keep our team members – on both sides of the Pacific Ocean! – in your prayers. Keep us mindful that there is work to be done ….. and while we may be uncertain exactly when and where that work will be done, HE is not, and with His help we will come together and fulfill our mission.

Is there something you'd like to ask the members of our Thai Mission Team? CLICK HERE to send us your question, which we will answer by return e-mail, and here in the pages of West Texas Missioner.

Today's the Day

Today's the day a mission team from First Presbyterian Church of Midland, and Faces of Children, departs for Thailand. The purpose of this inaugural mission effort is to learn more about faith-based ministries among victims of human trafficking, displaced persons, and those fleeing persecution in Myanmar (Burma); to aid and support existing ministries among those people; and to share the Gospel and encourage leaders who are ministering there.

Wish us luck ..... and please add the Thai Mission Team to your prayer list!

Would you like to receive daily Mission Team Updates from Thailand? CLICK HERE and tell us to add your e-mail address to our Update List.

Is there something you'd like to ask the members of our Thai Mission Team? CLICK HERE to send us your question, which we will answer by return e-mail, and here in the pages of West Texas Missioner.

Counting-Down the Hours

The Mission Team is one day - just twenty-four hours - away from their departure for Thailand. There is increased excitement - and also increased anxiety - as team members work to ensure that everything - ourselves, our luggage, our mission projects, our equipment, our donations - is in place in time for that departure. Wish us luck ..... and please add the Thai Mission Team to your prayer list!

Americans Abroad

An early stop in our mission Thailand will be the United States Embassy in Bangkok. While there, we will meet Eric G. John, who was sworn-in as the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand in 2007. We will also meet with members of the embassy staff, as part of our introduction to the country where we will live and work for the following two weeks.

The staff will also conduct the team on a trip to the Baan Kredtakarn shelter, which has been arranged for January 31st. There we will be met by senior Thai government officials who will explain their shelter and rehabilitation policy for trafficking victims.

Baan Kredtakarn is the Thai government's main shelter for trafficking victims in Bangkok. It is located on an island in the middle of the Chao Phraya River to maintain the security and privacy of the victims, and features a full-fledged school and vocational training facility. Links to stories that reference the shelter can be found HERE and HERE.

The U.S. Mission in Thailand is one of the largest in the world, and is comprised of various agencies of the United States government. In addition to the embassy in Bangkok, there is also a Consulate General in another of our mission team's destinations, Chiang Mai.

Another Time, Another Place

Right now, in Bangkok, Thailand, it is .....



Residents of the Permian Basin are no strangers to living and working in different time zones. There are many who travel on a weekly - or even daily - basis back-and-forth between West Texas and Southeast New Mexico ..... and their respective time zones.

But this will be something different. The time zone where the Thai Mission Team will live and work for two weeks, is thirteen hours ahead of what we - and our bodies - are accustomed to here, in West Texas. So, how do you adjust? One of our team members offers the following suggestions:
● Start shifting your sleep-wake cycle to match that of your destination several days before departure, changing at the rate of one hour per day.
● Begin adjusting to the time zone of your destination by resetting your watch at the beginning of your flight.
● Sleep on the plane when it is nighttime at your destination. Earplugs, headphones and eye masks can help diminish noise and light.
● Stay awake on the plane when it is daytime at your destination. Read a book with the light on and the window shade open, or cruise the aisles.
● Drink plenty of water. The air on planes is extremely dry, and dehydration can worsen the effects of jet lag.
● Avoid alcohol and caffeine while flying. They increase dehydration.
● Exercise as much as you can on the flight during waking hours: stretch, walk down the aisles and do leg lifts
● Drink plenty of fluids. Eat high-protein meals if you want energy to stay awake, and eat meals high in carbohydrates if you want to relax and sleep.

Time to Get Packing

We are in the process of putting the finishing touches on our preparations, and that includes packing our cases. Many of our team members are devoting one of their two pieces of luggage to packing donated items which we will be distributing to the ministries we meet in Thailand (more on that HERE).

As for our own, personal gear ..... in addition to clothes and toiletries (and - for some of us - cameras, laptops, etc.), we received the following recommendations from a team member who is making a return trip to Thailand:
● Snacks for 2 or 3 days when lunch may be slim to none
● Support socks/knee-hi (recommended for long flights to help prevent blood clots)
● Hand Sanitizer
● Tissues
● Travel size toilet paper (in sporting goods @ Wal Mart)
● Insect repellent
● Sunscreen
● Embassy Wear (coat & tie for men)
● Band aids
● Antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin
● Converter & Adapter
● Flashlight

Commissioning the Mission Team

The Thailand Mission Team will be commissioned this Sunday, January 27, during the 11:00 a.m. worship service at First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. If you would like to attend, and offer your prayers and your encouragements, we would love to have you!

Utterz Test for West Texas Missioner

Here is a new feature from Utterz that allows you to "instantly blog your experiences, thoughts and ideas, anywhere, using all the capabilities of your mobile phone. Utterz mashes together the voice, video, pictures, and text you call or send in and creates an 'Utter' that can immediately update your existing web pages on sites such as this. One of our team members saw it used on another West Texas weblog, Fire Ant Gazette, and suggested we give it a try here, at West Texas Missioner.

Mobile post sent by West Texas Missioner using Utterz. Replies. mp3

Counting-Down the Days

The Mission Team is one week - just seven days - away from their date of departure for Thailand. There is increased excitement - and also increased anxiety - as team members work to ensure that everything - ourselves, our luggage, our mission projects, our equipment, our donations - is in place in time for that departure. Wish us luck ..... and please add the Thai Mission Team to your prayer list!

Practicing What We Preach

Our Mission team's goal in Thailand includes a commitment to the Gospel, to proclaim the good news of Christ's resurrection and share the forgiveness and new life found in Him, to be instruments of His love and peace. In everything we do, we must practice what we preach.

In world news headlines today there is this story from the Associated Press ..... "NA PRADU, THAILAND - Muslim militants fatally shot a Buddhist teacher as he pulled out of his driveway to head to work Thursday in restive southern Thailand, police said."

We will be working in central and northern Thailand, hundreds of miles away from the far-southern region where more than 80 Buddhist teachers are among the more than 2,800 people killed since a Muslim insurgency in January, 2004. The AP report goes on to state, "public school teachers, viewed by insurgents as government collaborators, are targeted along with civil servants and local officials in almost daily attacks in Thailand's southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat. The three provinces are the only Muslim-dominated areas in the Buddhist country."

But the insurgents' ways, means and ends - as described in this and other reports - does provide a contrast for our work, for our message, and for our commitment to practice what we preach.

Our Mission Friends: Faces of Children

Over the course of two weeks, the Thai Mission Team will be learning more about faith-based ministries among victims of human trafficking, displaced persons, and those fleeing persecution in Myanmar (Burma); aiding and supporting existing ministries among those people; and sharing the Gospel and encouraging leaders who are ministering there.

But not all of our Mission Partners are based in Thailand ..... for example, right here in the Tall City, working with the Thai Mission Team in the months leading up to our departure, is Faces of Children, an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. FOC's mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, they seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).

"But Jesus called for them and said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.'" - Luke 18:16-17

Faces of Children seeks to: 1) Educate by raising awareness about suffering children and children at risk; 2) Pray and mobilize groups to pray for children in churches, neighborhoods, communities across our nation, and throughout the world; 3) Build relationships with global ministries that reach out to children, praying with and for those ministries and the children they serve; and, 4) Provide an opportunity for people of God to join in celebrating Christ's love, especially as it relates to children.

For more information, you can call Faces of Children at (432) 684-7821, or e-mail them at info@facesofchildren.net You can also request Intercessory Prayers for Children which will be shared through various means, including the Faces of Children weblog.

Traveling Heavy

If packing for the upcoming mission to Thailand were simply a matter of a change of clothes, toiletries, a camera and a little spending money for ourselves, things would be much simpler ..... unfortunately, that is NOT the case. Each team member will be traveling heavy, and keeping an eye on the scale to make sure our bags are not TOO heavy.

So what are we packing? A wide variety of donated goods and equipment to aid our mission effort and the various activities in which we will be engaged as we meet with existing ministries in central and northern Thailand. This includes .....

Tools for Crafting Jewelry, which will go to those served by NightLight, a mission dedicated to rescuing, healing and restoring victims of prostitution and human trafficking. Located in an urban Bangkok neighborhood with a growing sex trade, Nightlight’s vision is to share the Light of the world in both word and deed to those who live in darkness. One way this is accomplished is through Economic/Educational Opportunities, providing alternatives through job training and education, including the design and creation of NightLight Design Jewelry . Sale of these these products help women and children who are being exploited in the bars of Bangkok, through the NightLight Center's emergency aid, and educational and alternative employment opportunities.

Hygiene Packs, which will go to those served by Partners Relief & Development as they pursue their mission to demonstrate God's love to orphans, children in war zones, victims of brutality, and others who are displaced/marginalized due to war, and victims of natural disaster.

Educational Materials, books, music, school supplies and art supplies for ministries that serve underpriveleged children.

Soccer Equipment, for a ministry that reaches out to youngsters through athletic programs.

..... and that's just a sampling!

Christians In a Buddhist Land

According to the 2008 World Fact Book prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency, Buddhists comprise 94.6% of Thailand's religious population, while Muslims account for 4.6%, and Christians account for 0.7% (2000 census). CLICK HERE for the CIA's complete entry on Thailand. CLICK HERE for the CIA's complete 'People' entry on demographics in Thailand.

Buddhism is a set of teachings or philosophies often described as a religion - but not everyone agrees on that. Some definitions of religion would exclude it ..... or at least one form of Buddhism, if not the whole. However you define it, Buddhism has at its core the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Gautama Buddha. Some scholars, it is reported, regard Buddhism as a plurality rather than a single entity.

"Trying to describe Buddhism is a little like trying to describe a snowflake - or Christianity," Robert Buckley Farlee writes in "Honoring Our Neighbor's Faith," which has been used as a Sunday School text in Midland over the years. "Buddhism has taken many forms in its 2,500-year history. Some forms of Buddhism are non-theistic, while the adherents of other forms pray to various 'gods.' Some emphasize meditation while others argue that only faith matters. This proliferation of forms - schools, branches, sects - has been the result of Buddhism's inclusiveness and openness. which led to a tendency to absorb local cultures and religious forms ..... among this proliferation of branches, however, all forms of Buddhism have the same root: the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha."

In Thailand, our Mission Team will encounter adherents of Southern (Theravāda) Buddhism, the oldest surviving Buddhist school, that for many centuries has been the predominant religion of most of continental Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand).

At the core of all forms of Buddhism, Farlee notes, are Four Noble Truths - 1. life is suffering; 2. there is a reason for this suffering; 3. there is a way to end the suffering; and, 4. the way to end the suffering is the Eight-Fold Path. That Path, Farlee goes on to write, can be arranged under three headings - 1. Wisdom (Right Views, Right Aspirations); 2. Morality (Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood); and, 3. Concentration (Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Meditation).

Americans are no strangers to Buddhism, though our exposure to it may be a little haphazard ..... at the beginning of the 20th-century, American readers were introduced to some of the concepts of Buddhism through Okakura Kakuzo's "The Book of Tea," which has been republished many times since then ..... in the 1950s, American readers were exposed to some facets of Zen Buddhism when Jack Kerouac followed-up his milestone "On the Road" with the novel "The Daharma Bums ..... during the 1970s, American television audiences were exposed to some facets of Mahayana Buddhism as they followed the adventures of a Shaolin monk as he traveled across the 19th-century American West in "Kung Fu" ..... today, a quick 'Google search' of the Internet brings up many references to articles, books and television documentaries that suggest links between Buddhism and Christianity. And just a couple of months back, there were the images of Buddhist monks who took to the streets to speak out against the military junta that rules Myanmar (Burma) ..... until the protests were quashed and the monks were arrested.

Where We Are, Where We're From

The focus of our Mission team, first and foremost, is to learn more about faith-based ministries among victims of human trafficking, displaced persons, and those fleeing persecution in Myanmar (Burma); to aid and support existing ministries among those people; and to share the Gospel and encourage leaders who are ministering there.

But news headlines, at both the national and international level, urge us to be mindful at all times of where we are, and where we're from. While they have little or nothing to do with our mission, they help shape the perception people overseas might have of Americans, and contribute to the atmosphere in which the mission team must move and work.

NATIONAL POLITICS - "Thailand's parliament will convene after a nearly two-year absence, restoring democracy after a military coup ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and returning many of his allies to politics." HERE is the complete report from AP's Sutin Wannabovorn.

HEALTH - "Last year, more than 500,000 U.S. citizens traveled abroad for health care. As our population grows older and health care costs keep rising, more people want cheaper ways to get hip replacements and liposuction. Web sites facilitate medical tourism and allow potential patients to comb through vacation-like packages for procedures and destinations as if they were going on a honeymoon." HERE is the complete report from Forbes' Alex Davidson.

WAR ON TERROR - "John Rizzo, who was a deputy CIA counsel when the tapes were made and became the acting counsel in 2005, participated in the agency's three-year debate over what to do with the tapes. The videos contained the interrogations of two senior al-Qaeda leaders at a secret CIA prison in Thailand and included a technique known as waterboarding, which simulates drowning. HERE is the complete report from Washington Post's Walter Pincus and Joby Warrick.

ENTERTAINMENT - "In the fourth installment of the Rambo series, Stallone storms through the jungles of a cinematic Myanmar — he calls it by its former name, Burma — like a man half his age, killing the bad guys and rescuing a group of missionaries who are being held by the murderous regime that has waged war against its citizens for decades." HERE is the complete report from Today Show's Mike Celizic.

Our Mission Friends:Partners Relief & Development

Over the course of two weeks, the Thai Mission Team will be learning more about faith-based ministries among victims of human trafficking, displaced persons, and those fleeing persecution in Myanmar (Burma); aiding and supporting existing ministries among those people; and sharing the Gospel and encouraging leaders who are ministering there.

While in Chiang Mai the Mission Team will be meeting with Partners Relief & Development as they pursue their mission to demonstrate God's love to victims of conflict and oppression. Partners was started by Steve and Oddny Gumaer after a back-packing trip into Sho Klo refugee camp in 1994. According to Steve "you can't just pray for 1.5 million refugees, tell them that Jesus loves them, and then leave them hungry, without clothes, and sick; you have to do something for them to demonstrate the heart and truth behind the prayer."

Partners takes its inspiration from the words of John the disciple, who said, "let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18). This is done through four programs:
1) Orphaned and Displaced Children's Program - Care for orphans, children in war zones, victims of brutality, and others who are displaced/marginalized due to war. Both long and short term care are provided depending on the nature of the individual crisis;
2) Emergency Relief Program - Emergency relief in times of crisis when lives are at risk due to oppression and natural disaster;
3) Development Program - Providing long-term sustainable solutions to poverty for victims of oppression and natural disaster; and
4) Capacity Building Program - Developing the God given potential of individuals and communities through training.

Partners reminds you that, "the refugees and displaced people Partners works with depend on our prayers, generosity, and actions for their own welfare and development/" You can be involved in their struggle today by:
PRAYING - You are encouraged to pray for Burma, not only personally, but also in your Bible study groups, with your family and in your church. To help you do this, Partners offers this prayer guide encompassing a week of prayer points and topics for you to use.
GIVING - There are many ways to give towards Partners' work with refugees and displaced people. Partners is funded primarily by individuals and churches. CLICK HERE for more information on ways to give, and a list of current needs. AT THIS TIME, Partners - approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization - has announced a donor's offer to match all monthly gifts and all new gifts (for those who haven't given since 2006) up to a maximum of $200,000.
ACTING - To learn more about how you can volunteer your time to help the people of Burma, please visit Partners' Advocacy Page.

Counting-Down the Weeks

The Mission Team is two weeks away from their date of departure for Thailand. In some cases, it means increased anxiety, as team members worry that everything will be in place in time for that departure. That, in itself, has raised the level of activity as team members rush their preparations to meet the fast-approaching deadline. We are aided by the experience of some of the team members who have visited Thailand before, and others with overseas mission experience in Colombia, Uganda and other parts of the world. The team has also been blessed with members' expertise in a wide variety of specific fields, which has aided our general effort.

Where We're Going - Mae Sot

Days nine-through-eleven of our mission will be spent in Mae Sot (แม่สอด) a town in the Tak Province of northwestern Thailand. Mae Sot is a border town located on the eastern bank of the Moei River which serves as natural boundary between the nations of Thailand and Myanmar (Burma). In fact, some refer to Mae Sot as the 'Gateway to Burma.'

Wikipedia's entry on Mae Sot provides a good jump-off point in your online search for more information about the city. There is no municipal website, as is the case for larger cities in Thailand, but there are pages to devoted to Mae Sot on websites maintained by the Japan-ESCAP Cooperation Fund, Thai Airways and the Thai Tourism Authority that offer good online sources of information.

The economy of this town is closely tied to its border location, with marketplaces devoted to various commodities - including gems - flowing out of Burma to the rest of Asia, and to the world. That same border location also makes the presence of Burmese refugees a significant factor in the town, its economy and its interaction with the outside world.

Mae Sot is a smaller, less developed town compared to other cities that will be visited by the Thai Mission Team ..... but things could change. In this report, Sai Silp of The Irrawaddy News writes that, "Thai authorities have unveiled an ambitious plan to develop Mae Sot, o­n the Thai-Burmese border, into a metropolis, which they say could make the riverside town a regional commercial hub and a major trading post o­n the road through Burma to India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan." It is also reported in the Thai Manager Online that there are plans to create a new province - centered in Mae Sot - comprised of five border districts from the existing Tak Province.

Mae Sot is home to Partners Relief & Development, a group working in refugee camps on the Thai/Burma border to aid victims of oppression, and displaced persons. Partners takes its inspiration from the words of John the disciple, who said, "let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18). This is done through four programs: an orphaned and displaced children's program; emergency relief; a development program; and, a capacity building program. (More information on each of those programs is available HERE)

A Royal Presence

Anyone who has recently researched Thailand online, making use of Thai websites, will have encountered, first-and-foremost and regardless of their research topic, an image of Her Royal Highness Galyani Vadhana, Princess of Narathiwat (สมเด็จพระเจ้าพี่นางเธอ เจ้าฟ้ากัลยาณิวัฒนา กรมหลวงนราธิวาสราชนครินทร์) and a brief message of condolence on her passing.

Earlier this month, the Royal Household Bureau announced that the Princess had passed away at 2:54 in the morning on Wednesday, January 2, 2008, at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok. She was 84.

Those visiting Thailand this month, as well as in February through April, should note that there is to be a mourning period of 100 days, starting from the day of her death. The Prime Minister announced that all government officials and agencies would wear black for 15 days while the cabinet would wear black for the full 100 days.

Those wishing to know more about Princess Galyani Vadhana, can visit some of the Thai websites listed in the left-hand column of this weblog. You can also check out this entry on Wikipedia.

Our Mission Partners: Manna Foundation

Over the course of two weeks, the Thai Mission Team will be learning more about faith-based ministries among victims of human trafficking, displaced persons, and those fleeing persecution in Myanmar (Burma); aiding and supporting existing ministries among those people; and sharing the Gospel and encouraging leaders who are ministering there.

While in Chiang Mai, the Mission Team will be meeting with Manna Foundation, which is dedicated to providing aid and hope to poor, homeless, abused and hungry children in Thailand, and to supporting and caring for orphaned children with AIDS through various fundraising and volunteer projects. Among the many programs and projects of the Manna Foundation is the Mae Ka Chan Orphanage, which began in 1998 as home for five 'hill tribe' children to stay and study the Bible. Word of Mae Ka Chan spread quickly in the villages, and many other families wanted to send their children (or grandchildren, nieces and nephews) to get an education and to learn about God. Some of the children were orphaned, or had parents that were incarcerated.

They now have about 90 children in their care, including some who have graduated and gone on to higher education. The ministry has also been blessed recently, and have built a new home on a beautiful piece of land. Children are educated in a Christian school, and are supported as they get higher education or vocational training, until they find a job or are ready to live on their own.

Any and all gifts to the Manna Foundation are cherished, and they stress that the foundation is committed to wise stewardship of your gifts. Manna Foundation is a publicly supported, non-profit corporation, registered in the USA, and recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (501c3). Your contributions to the foundation are tax-deductible, and 100% of those gifts will go to make a difference in the life of a child.

Getting Ready: News & Current Events

Preparations for an overseas mission effort can take a lot of of advance planning in many areas, and that can include research and study to have at least some sense of the country you are visiting, its people and its society.

There are a number of ways to do that, including keeping abreast of news and current events in the country and the surrounding region. For research such as that, the Internet has proven invaluable.

Most major news outlets on the web, will have a "World News" category, maybe as a sub-header of a more general "News" category. Take msnbc.com, for example. Under the "World News" category, you can select "Asia-Pacific" for news - text, photos and video - of Thailand and the surrounding region ..... and not just from NBC/msnbc.com , but from AP, Reuters and Newsweek, as well.

Another good online source for news of Thailand comes from the MCOT English News service provided by the Thai News Agency. The reports are multi-media, and are updated around-the-clock (though western readers should bear in mind that Thailand's 'overnight,' with its slower news developments, is almost exactly the opposite of ours).

Where We're Going - Chiang Mai

Days three-through-eight of our mission will be spent in the provincial capital of Chiang Mai (เชียงใหม่), the largest and most culturally significant city in the mountain region of northern Thailand. Chiang Mai is located in northern Thailand (425 miles north of Bangkok), on the banks of the Ping River.

Wikipedia's entry on Chiang Mai provides a good jump-off point in your search for more information about the city. Chiang Mai's municipal website is another good online source of information.

The estimated population for the Chiang Mai Metropolitan Area is approximately 700,000 people, With its northern, highland location, the climate in Chiang Mai is cooler than you would find in Bangkok ..... but only a little, with daily high temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80s. And it's every bit as humid, if not more so.

Chiang Mai has more than 700 years of history, sometimes as part of Thailand, sometimes as part of neighboring Burma. It sits astride an important trade route whose use goes back to ancient times, bringing an influx of travelers and trade goods from around Asia and around the world for hundreds of years. It is home to hundreds of Buddhist temples, as well as modern universities and a developing infrastructure for transportation and mass public transit. Through its location in the north, and close proximity to Thailand's more rugged country and its wildlife, Chiang Mai has contributed to the nations burgeoning tourism industry.

Chiang Mai, is also home to Garden of Hope, a mission that reaches out to women, children, and youth involved in, at risk of, or affected by prostitution, sexual exploitation and/or trafficking by developing Christ-centered relationships and offering alternative livelihoods and resources for personal development so they may experience a life of restoration, dignity, and hope that will lead to the transformation of Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand for God’s glory.

Getting Ready: Finances

Preparations for an overseas mission effort can take a lot of of advance planning in many areas, and that can include deciding how to cover expenses you encounter, what form your funds will take, and what you must be prepared to pay in addition to the usual out-of-pocket expenses one encounters in the course of travel.

The baht (บาท, symbol ฿) is the currency of the Kingdom of Thailand. In some ways, that currency is subdivided or multiplied in a way similar to the American dollar. The baht into 100 satang (สตางค์) and there are coins for 5, 10, 25 and 50 satang. There are also coins for 1, 2, 5 and 10 baht.

Beyond that number, currency consists of banknotes. There are 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 baht notes. The issuance of currency is one of several responsibilities of the Bank of Thailand, formerly the Thai National Banking Bureau, which serves all central banking functions for the nation.

As is the case for currency in many nations around the world, that of Thailand bears the image of its leaders - in this case the royal family. The obverse of all coins and notes bear the likeness of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, while the reverse is devoted to various architectural symbols of Thailand (on the coins) and past kings (on the notes).

With this in mind, Wikipedia's entry on the baht (which provides a good jump-off point in your search for more information about Thailand and its currency), offers the following note ..... "It is considered rude to put baht banknotes in a wallet that sits in the back pocket, as this allows someone to sit on the image of the King, which is considered highly disrespectful. Similarly, stepping on a baht banknote (or coin) is considered disrespectful. Some shops in Thailand, especially in rural areas, display low-denomination banknotes in front of the shop, both as a charm for wealth and out of respect for the King."

As for out-of-pocket expenses that arise in the course of our mission, each team member must decide how much of their own money they wish to carry, and in what form. There are the old stand-bys, of course, cash and travelers checks. But, in recent years, 'plastic' alternatives have become more convenient around the world, and not just in the major metropolitan areas. These include credit and/or debit cards. One team member, with recent experience on mission to Colombia, noted that an added convenience of plastic was in the ease of securing local cash from the growing number of ATM machines ..... at what turned out to be a more attractive exchange rate than was available at the country's hotels, airports or banks.

By the way, as of today, the exchange rate is 29.5 Thai bahts for 1 U.S. dollar ..... which happens to be the lowest exchange rate for the past year. With some peaks, the U.S. dollar has been in steady decline in Thailand since early last year, when it was worth 36 Thai bahts.

An item of special note for the Thai Mission Team will be a government requirement that all visitors, who are not in the country on an extended visa, to have a minimum amount of cash (between $250 and $300, US) on hand at all times. That cash can take any form (US currency, Thai currency, travelers checks, etc.), but you must have it right up to the time you leave the country.

Our Mission Partners: Garden of Hope

Over the course of two weeks, the Thai Mission Team will be learning more about faith-based ministries among victims of human trafficking, displaced persons, and those fleeing persecution in Myanmar (Burma); aiding and supporting existing ministries among those people; and sharing the Gospel and encouraging leaders who are ministering there.

After two days, the Mission Team will go to Chiang Mai, where they will be meeting with Garden of Hope. Established in 2005, Garden of Hope reaches out to women, children, and youth involved in, at risk of, or affected by prostitution, sexual exploitation and/or trafficking by developing Christ-centered relationships and offering alternative livelihoods and resources for personal development so they may experience a life of restoration, dignity, and hope that will lead to the transformation of Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand for God’s glory.

On the international level, Garden of Hope equips national leaders with training, logistical, and financial support to address human-trafficking in their communities. The Garden of Hope International team conducts outreach in border areas and works to secure safe living situations for each individual.

At the local level, participants in Garden of Hope programs are taught marketable skills such as baking, cooking, sewing, customer service, English and computer training, as well as provided opportunities for income generation through small business opportunities.

How do these participants come to Garden of Hope? Volunteers builds relationships with women in the bars of Chiang Mai, who are involved in prostitution or are at-risk of entering prostitution. It is hoped that, through these contacts, the women might choose new options in life. Volunteers also conduct outreach to children who spend time in the bar areas selling flowers or trinkets to provide income for their families. These children are vulnerable to trafficking, prostitution, and child pedophilia.

For more information about Garden of hope, you can visit their website, or e-mail them at info@justfoodinc.org

Where We're Going - Bangkok

The first two days of our mission will be spent in Bangkok - or Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (กรุงเทพมหานคร). This is Thailand's capital and largest city. It is located in central Thailand,on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, near the Gulf of Thailand.

According to "World Urbanization Prospects: The 2005 Revision Population Database" prepared by the United Nations' Population Division, Bangkok is the 22nd most populous city in the world with a registered population of 7-million people. Due to discrepancies in residence certificates, though, the population could be as high as 15-million. In terms of area, it is also one of the largest cities in the world.

The climate in Bangkok is described as 'tropical monsoon,' which is affected by monsoon winds that change direction according to the seasons. By West Texas standards, those winds are light-to-nonexistent this time of year. Daily high temperatures will vary from high-80s to mid-90s in the weeks ahead, with 70% (or higher) humidity.

Bangkok is the economic center of Thailand, and for several years been regarded as a mainstay of the Southeast Asian economy and a key center of Asian business. In addition to serving as a home for major multinational corporations and banking houses, it is also a gateway for Thailand's lucrative tourism industry, which accounts for more than 5% of the country's Gross Domestic Product. In addition to serving as the nation's principal international gateway, Bangkok is also a destination in its own right.

Bangkok's transportation infrastructure includes the historic network of rivers and canals, modern highways, bus routes, elevated trains and airports that provide one of the important air travel hub in this part of Asia.

As a national capital, it is also home to the palatial residences of Thailand's royal family, the seat of Thailand's parliament and its many government agencies, major universities and cultural centers, and some of southeast Asia's leading hospitals ..... which have lately contributed to Thailand's tourism industry with the growing international interest in 'medical tourism,' where hospitals provide services and luxurious accommodations, specifically catering to foreigners.

Bangkok is also home to NightLight, a mission dedicated to rescuing, healing and restoring victims of prostitution and human trafficking. NightLight draws both its name and its mission from Holy Scripture .....

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2

NightLight reaches out to women and children working in the bar areas of Nana/Sukhumvit. Located in an urban Bangkok neighborhood with a growing sex trade, Nightlight’s vision is to share the Light of the World in both word and deed to those who live in darkness.

A More Personal Touch

So far, posts on this weblog have been long informational pieces, offering some background on this mission effort, the preparations team members are making, and the partners with whom we'll be meeting on our arrival in Thailand. In the weeks ahead, we hope to begin adding a more personal touch to this site as more team members sign-on as authors, and add their own posts to West Texas Missioner. Help us out ..... do you have something you'd like to ask our team members? Click on the 'Got Questions?' link on the left-hand column, and e-mail us your question.

Getting Ready: Immunizations

Preparations for an overseas mission effort can take months of advance planning in some areas, and that can include taking preventive measures to safeguard your health. There are also precautions to keep in mind once you are overseas.

The first step should be a visit to a 'travel clinic,' one that specializes in preparing you for overseas travel - in fact, your regular physician may refer you to such a clinic. That was the case for some our Thai Mission Team. In the Midland-Odessa. There is a travel clinic located at 1701 N. Loop 250 - the northwest corner of Loop 250 and Andrews Highway (Hwy 191) - in west Midland. The clinic is part of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center's Department of Internal Medicine. Their phone number is (432) 683-3250.

The doctor goes over your medical history, and an examination gives him or her an indication of your current state of health. Questions about destination and time-of-year for your travel gives them additional parameters for prescribing vaccinations. In the case of our Thai Mission Team - that meant shots for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, Influenza (even those of us who don't normally get flu shots here, in the U.S.), and Typhoid, boosters for Polio and Tetanus (as needed), and a prescription for an anti-Malaria drug which we begin taking shortly before entering high-malaria-risk areas of northern Thailand. PLAN AHEAD - there are three doses for Hepatitis B, for example, and they are administered months apart.

Something else for which you should plan ahead, is payment. One Mission Team member reported that the TTUHSC Travel Clinic declined to bill insurance for vaccinations, even though the Texas Tech system is a 'preferred provider' on that team member's health insurance. You could pay out of your pocket, then send the receipt to your insurer - but they may pay you whatever rate the preferred provider would charge them, which might be less than than what the clinic charged you, a private individual. Call first, and plan ahead.

FOR MORE INFORMATION - You can visit www.travelvacs.us/ This site (produced by Sanofi Pasteur, Inc.) is designed to assist U.S. travelers in determining what precautions and vaccinations may be considered when traveling outside the United States. It also provides the location of your nearest travel clinic. For more information about infectious disease and prevention, you can also visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site at www.cdc.gov

Our Mission Partners: NightLight

Over the course of two weeks, the Thai Mission Team will be learning more about faith-based ministries among victims of human trafficking, displaced persons, and those fleeing persecution in Myanmar (Burma); aiding and supporting existing ministries among those people; and sharing the Gospel and encouraging leaders who are ministering there.

The mission will begin in Bangkok, where the team will meeting with NightLight, a mission dedicated to rescuing, healing and restoring victims of prostitution and human trafficking.

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2

NightLight reaches out to women and children working in the bar areas of Nana/Sukhumvit. Located in an urban Bangkok neighborhood with a growing sex trade, Nightlight’s vision is to share the Light of the world in both word and deed to those who live in darkness.

This is accomplished through Economic/Educational Opportunities - Providing alternatives through job training and education; Life Skills Training - To provide opportunities to train women and children on the risks of working in the sex trade and how to access the help they may need; Public Awareness and Involvement - To educate the public, Thai and foreign (religious and secular), of the physical, psychological, legal and economic consequences of prostitution and trafficking and to encourage their involvement in advocacy and follow-up care of the women and children; and Relational Evangelism - To introduce women and children to the love and mercy of Jesus Christ, to disciple them into a strong faith as people who will then impact their communities.

"God's provision comes through people," NightLight reminds us. "And you are an integral part of reaching this world."

Purchasing NightLight Design Jewelry is a great way of supporting the women’s efforts here and will help to maintain the company’s registered status as a legally operating company of Thailand. When you purchase these products you are helping women and children who are being exploited in the bars of Bangkok, Thailand. Monies received will help maintain the NightLight Center that offers emergency aid and educational and alternative employment opportunities.

It is also a great conversation starter when you wear the products ..... a chance to share with others the story of girls and women who are now off the streets, who are making the jewelry, and receiving competitive wages for their labor ..... who have seen the light promised by the prophet Isaiah, and are no longer walking in darkness.

If you do not wish to receive jewelry, donations of money - in any amount - to support these efforts, are welcome. You can pay by check, through the mail; or by credit card, online. Visit the Nighlight Support Page for more information.

Where We're Going

The Kingdom of Thailand - or Ratcha A-na-chak Thai (ราชอาณาจักรไทย) - is a country in southeast Asia whose history goes back more than a thousand years, when the Thai people first migrated to the area. Bordering Thailand on the east are the nations of Laos and Cambodia; to the south is the nation of Malaysia; to the west is the nation of Myanmar (or Burma). Bangkok - or Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (กรุงเทพมหานคร) - is Thailand's capital and largest city. It is located in central Thailand, near the Gulf of Thailand.

If you have a computer, and Internet access, there are several sources of information online about the country of Thailand. Some are general, some are very specific to a particular facet of the country, its people and its culture.

GENERAL - A good jump-off point for learning more about Thailand is this entry at Wikipedia. This particular entry features links to many other pages within Wikipedia, addressing many different topics related to Thailand. It also provides numerous external links for more information about the country.

OFFICIAL (U.S.) - Official United States government sources for information about Thailand can be found on web pages maintained by the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok and the CIA World Factbook.

OFFICIAL (THAI) - Official Thai government sources for information about Thailand can be found on websites - which can be translated into English - maintained by the Royal Thai Government, the Thai Parliament and the Thai Tourism Authority.

NEWS - The Thai News Agency offers updated, multi-media news coverage - in English - of developments in Thailand and southeast Asia.

WEATHER - Through this link, Weather Underground allows you to track current conditions and forecasts in Bangkok and several other cities around Thailand.

Getting Ready: Passports

Preparations for an overseas mission effort can take months of advance planning in some areas, and that can include getting a passport for overseas travel from the United States government.

According to the State Department's website, "A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies the identity and nationality of the bearer. A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave most foreign countries. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue or verify United States passports."

The easiest way to get your passport is to apply at one of over 9,000 public places that accept passport applications. CLICK HERE to find the location nearest you. There is one each in Midland and Odessa, two in Big spring, and one each in several neighboring West Texas counties. CALL AHEAD ..... not every passport office is open the same days and hours as the courthouse or post office that houses it.

While information about applying for a passport is available online, and you can download an application form, you will - in many cases - need to present your application in person. In addition to that application form, you will need to provide acceptable documentation of your citizenship, and two photos of yourself. The government offers photo guidelines for use in having your own photographs taken ..... which might be a less-expensive alternative to having them done at the application office.

Which brings us to fees ..... the passport website reports that, for "Age 16 and older: The passport application fee is $67. The execution fee is $30. The total is $97" ..... for "Under Age 16: The passport application fee is $52. The execution fee is $30. The total is $82." The cost for renewing an existing passport is less. The cost of application could be more, though, if you ask for expedited processing, which costs $60 for each application.

"At this time," the passport website reports, "we are processing routine applications within four to six weeks of receipt. We are processing requests for expedited service within three weeks." While one hears horror stories in the news about people whose travel plans were postponed or cancelled due to a backlog of passport applications, you can avoid that by PLANNING AHEAD ..... avoid the rush, apply for your passport at the end of peak travel times - the vacation season, or the holiday season - rather than at the beginning. One of our team members applied in September of 2007, after the rush of summer vacation travel was over ..... there was no waiting in line to apply for the passport, and the applications were processed quickly and correctly.

At the Start of It All

A mission team from First Presbyterian Church of Midland, and Faces of Children, will be headed to Thailand in 2008. The purpose of this inaugural mission effort is to:

1. learn more about faith-based ministries among victims of human trafficking, displaced persons, and those fleeing persecution in Myanmar (Burma);

2. to aid and support existing ministries among those people, and;

3. to share the Gospel and encourage leaders who are ministering there.

The mission trip will begin in Bangkok, where West Texans will be meeting with Nightlight, a mission dedicated to rescuing, healing and restoring victims of prostitution and human trafficking.

They will then proceed to Chiang Mai, where they will meet with Garden of Hope, which is working to transform the lives of the sexually-exploited

The group will then proceed to Mae Sot, where they will link-up with Partners Relief & Development, a group working in refugee camps on the Thai/Burma border to aid victims of oppression, and displaced persons. They will also be meeting with the Free Burma Rangers, a multi-ethnic humanitarian service movement that brings help, hope and love to people in the war zones of Burma.

In the months ahead, we hope to use this weblog to share our experiences as we prepare for, participate in, then look back upon this mission effort. We hope that it will serve as a resource for others who may wish to join a mission effort, themselves, someday.