The PRAD Report

As we reported in this post, mission team leader Margaret Purvis presented Eric John, the United States Ambassador to Thailand, with a copy of a report prepared by Partners Relief & Development, offering up-to-date evidence of human rights violations in Burma; and information about the plight of Karen Internally Displaced People (IDPs).

"Burma’s ruling military regime, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), is continuing to perpetrate gross violations of human rights in all parts of the country," the report states from the very begining. "In addition to the suppression of democracy, the continued detention of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the imprisonment of more than 1,100 prisoners of conscience, and the forcible conscription of child soldiers, the Burma Army is continuing to terrorise the ethnic nationality groups. In Karen State, in the past year more than 25,000 civilians have been displaced in the worst offensive by the regime in almost a decade."

You can read the complete report from Partners, as a Word document or in a PDF format. By the way, we are sharing this report with the permission and encouragement of Partners Relief & Development. Thanks to Eric at Fire Ant Gazette for his assistance in making these reports available.

Home

MIDLAND, TEXAS – It was a day filled with sad farewells and joyful welcomes. And for the first time in over two weeks. we find ourselves at home, in actual touch with families, friends and loved-ones.

In contrast to that first day of our mission, today's flights and connections worked perfectly - and more. Cynthia continued to stay on top of our plans, and develoments, and kept us moving forward - with the result that we connected with an earlier flight, boarded on 'standby' and arrived home at least two hours earlier than we had planned.

One of our e-mail questions asked us for examples of God at work, that we have encountered in the course of our mission ..... more than a few of us have commented that Cynthia's tireless efforts on our behalf was one example.

Our morning in Los Angeles began with farewells, as some team members split-off to take different flights to their respective homes ..... Susie to Austin, Katie and Franklin to Kerville, and Pastor Jerry to Seattle. What remained of our team traveled to Dallas/Fort Worth, then to Midland, where we found a good crowd of familiar faces to welcome us home. Another example of God at work can be found in those who remained home while we were on mission, caring for families and households, and praying for our mission success and our safe return.

And here we are. Now we are readjusting to West Texas, its climate and culture, and its time zone.

And, now begins the time to organize and process what we have brought home with us from Thailand, and to share it with others. While we have sent out the last of our daily e-mail updates, we will continue to post stories, photos, news headlines and prayer requests here on our mission team's weblog, West Texas Missioner. Please feel free to visit it as often as you'd like, to use the 'Comment' feature that appears at the end of each story, and to go back through older stories (which we began posting on January 1st).

Also, please feel free to continue sending e-mail questions to us, which we will share with one another for answering. You can send your question to missioner@fpcmid.org . You can also e-mail us your comments and suggestions on our updates and our weblog, and how we might change them, or apply them differently in support of future mission efforts.

All of us on the Thailand Mission Team want to thank you, again, for your interest, and your support, and your prayers ..... still another example of God at work!

Homeward Bound

THE PACIFIC OCEAN – Once again, a day of mission has come to an end in flight, over the ocean. Work done, and immediate goals met, we are now winging our way home to America.

It has been a full day, and only a part of it was devoted to the usual travel preparations. We began with a meeting at the United States Embassy in Bangkok, an interview with Ambassador Eric John and a briefing from the heads of some of the departments that office there. Due to problems with flights and connections on the first day of mission, most of our team was unable to meet with embassy staff at the original, appointed day and time (though some members of our team did ….. see Jerry’s account of that meeting, below). But Ambassador John and his staff graciously agreed to make time in their schedules for another briefing, for our entire team.

Joining Ambassador John at the meeting were Cathy Bowes, Director of Public Health for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Asia, responsible for programs and operations in Vietnam, Burma, Laos, China and Thailand, and designing and managing regional and cross border programs in south, east and southeast Asia; and Gary Phillips, Assistant Attaché for the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) an investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that combines innovative investigative techniques, new technological resources and a high level of professionalism to provide a wide range of investigative and security services to the public and law enforcement partners.

We found the Ambassador to be very open and engaging, answering all questions put to him, and listening to what our team had to say about our experiences of the past two weeks. Though he has only recently taken over as U.S. Ambassador, he is no stranger to southeast Asia, with experience in North Korea, Vietnam and Myanmar (Burma), among other places, in addition to past service in Thailand. You can find his complete bio HERE .

His current posting is a significant one, heading one of our nation’s largest embassies, serving as a local or regional office for a wide variety of federal government agencies. This reflects, in part, the geographical importance of Thailand.

“Thailand is the hub of southeast Asia,” said John. “The air traffic goes everywhere, the business goes through here, all the traffic goes through here.”

Mission team leader Margaret Purvis presented the Ambassador with a copy of a report prepared by Partners Relief & Development, offering up-to-date evidence of human rights violations in Burma; and information about the plight of Karen Internally Displaced People (IDPs).

The meeting with the Ambassador closed with prayer, led by Reverend Jim Longstreet.

We were then conducted to the ICE office for a briefing from Gary Phillips on the agency’s activities in supporting the investigation, apprehension and prosecution of suspected criminals in a variety of areas, including the child sex trade in Thailand, Cambodia and other countries. It’s not an easy task ….. Phillips has four people on his staff, responsible for efforts in five nations across southeast Asia.

He discussed how his office works, how they cooperate with local law enforcement agencies, and how a variety of organizations can contribute to ICE’s mission, including non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) which are #2 on his list of investigation initiators/assets.

Following the meeting, the team gathered for a shared meal, and a ‘debriefing,’ looking back upon and discussing the past two weeks. It was also time to make final preparations for our early evening departure from Thailand and, ultimately, our return home.

More Q&A

Bridget Hyde told our team that a speaker discussing social justice at the Renovare conference, in Midland, said that the most important lesson he learned was that so much of his work was tied in forming relationships. Would our team agree with that? Have we been able to form relationships with the children?If so, how have those relationships changed us? Are we seeing the hand of God at work in our travels? And, are we learning how to keep in step with God's will by being imbedded in God's service?

"Sure. relationships - of every shape size and kind - are very important, at every level."

"Oh, yes, we have established so many relationships with children. Begining with eye contact, then working and playing with them, you get so involved, and their personalities come out."

"How have these relationships changed us? They have humbled us. They have made us realize all that we take for granted, and how blessed we have been."

"Children are the same around the world, and are such a joy to be with. And they inspire us. They hang onto you, they cling to you. They want the love."

"We have seen God's hand at work in SOOO many ways. One example was luggage headed for Mae Sot, loaded with relief supplies and gifts for the children, that were too heavy ..... yet, somehow, they were passed. And the fact that those bags are now empty, but we are loaded with so much in our hearts and minds, with what the people here have given us. Then there was a chance meeting with Ben Rogers, author of A Land Without Evil ..... and a meeting between Revernd Jerry Hilton and a boyhood friend (a longtime missionary in southeast Asia), their first face-to-face contact since their high school days in Missouri. These are just a few examples."

"As for your last question. O, yes! Wherever we set our feet, we are claiming that for the Kingdom of God."

The Goodbyes Begin

MAE SOT-BANGKOK, THAILAND – Our thirteenth day of mission in Thailand has come to end, and we have begun a new and final stage of that mission, as we set our course for Chiang Mai, then Bangkok and, ultimately, home.

Sadly, it is also time to begin saying ‘goodbye’ to those who have become – and will remain – an important part of our mission, and our lives.

Today’s journey would fill the entire day, beginning with the first leg, departing Mae Sot – after saying our goodbyes to the Karen people there, and the staff of Partners Relief & Development – and Thailand’s mountainous Tak Province, for the city of Chiang Mai.

In Chiang Mai, we stopped for lunch, where we met once again with Mark and Christa Crawford of Garden of Hope, with whom we had worked so closely last week. Also joining us for lunch was Faa Sumitra Choemue, a Hill Tribe woman of Thailand and a member of the GOH staff. Many in the Tall City will remember Faa, her enthusiasm and her spirit, from a visit she made to Midland late last year. She is one of our favorite people but, sadly, we had to say goodbye to her, and to Mark and Christa as we departed Chiang Mai for Bangkok.

We also had to bid farewell to Hong Pirojh Chew, who had been our guide ever since our arrival in Chiang Mai, in the early days of our mission. Hong was a hard-working and caring individual, and showed incredible patience with the many, many questions and requests that were asked of him over the past week.

The farewells continued once we had arrived in Bangkok, where said goodbye to Nee Doh Chit, a 24-year-old Karen from Burma who is now a citizen of Thailand, and lives in Bangkok where he is a Karen Project Coordinator for Knowing Children. Andy has been a good companion and an invaluable source of information about the Karen people and their lives both in Burma and Thailand ….. and a good friend.

What little remained of the evening was devoted to preparations the final leg of our journey home. That will begin tomorrow evening, after a day devoted in part to a meeting at the U.S. Embassy with Ambassador Eric John and his staff. Due to problems with flights and connections on the first day of mission, most of our team was unable to meet with embassy staff at the original, appointed day and time (though some members of our team did). But Ambassador John and his staff have graciously agreed to make time in their schedules for another briefing, for our entire team.

Prayer Requests

The Thailand Mission Team asks that you add the following to your prayers …..

1. Pray for the children of Huay Nam Khon village ..... for the little girl with an ond woman's eyes ..... for the little boy who was so thirsty ..... for all of them

2. Offer a prayer of thanks for the evidence of God that we have found here.

3. Pray for the children, pray for the Karen people, pray for the persecuted chuurch.

4. Pray for those who have committed their lives to ministry and service in this land ..... Pastor Newton and his wife in the Baptist Church of Huay Nam Khon, to Partners, and to the Free Burma Rangers.

More Q&A

Jean and Bob Kiker asked our team, since most of the Thai religious belief is Buddhist, has our team of missionaries encountered resistance or persecution in any way? Is the food just wonderful? Are our team members staying healthy? And, how are you feeling blessed by this experience?

"We have encountered absolutely no persecution or resistance from Thailand's Buddhists ..... just the opposite, actually. We have found them to be gracious and accommodating, and also very patient in helping us familiarize ourselves better with this land and its culture."

"For most of us, the food has been absolutely wonderful. A few have expressed some reservation over a particular ingredient or spice used in some dishes. By the way, most establishments - even in the smaller towns - we have visited offer an international menu ..... we can enjoy Thai and Burmese dishes, or Italian pizza and pasta, or American hamburgers."

"All of our team feels blessed by this experience ..... and humbled, very much so. And we are excited about the chance of bringing home what we have learned and experienced, and sharing it with others."

Inside Mae La Camp

MAE SOT, THAILAND – Our twelfth day of mission was devoted, once again, to outreach and ministry among the Karen people living in Thailand, this time in the refugee camp of Mae La.

The camp is located in a fenced area alongside a highway that passes through northwest Thailand’s border country, from Mae Sot to Mae Hong Son. It is located on the steep slopes of the foothills, in a narrow mountain valley several miles north of Mae Sot, and just a short distance east of the international border these people crossed when they fled Burma into Thailand. Our guides on this visit were Nee Doh Chit (‘Andy’) and a member of the staff at Partners Research & Development’s Mae Sot office.

As has been the case for all our visits, we were greeted this morning with generous hospitality, and a table set with water, coffee and cookies. This was not the first to Mae La for two members of our team, Margaret Purvis and Katie Williamson, and today was a chance to renew acquaintances and relationship established during that first visit.

Following refreshments and greetings, we were conducted to the Karen Baptist Church of Mae La for Sunday morning worship. The church was filled to capacity, and beyond. As it turned out, they were celebrating the church’s anniversary, and Pastor Aurthur was joined by pastors and leaders from other churches. Our mission team was invited to join the celebration, with sermons from Jerry Hilton and Franklin Williamson, and greetings from Margaret, who related the story of how a young man’s request to her, during her first visit to the camp, led to the publication of “The Rights of the Child” in the Karen language.

Another surprise for us was the arrival of Benedict Rogers, whose book “Land Without Evil: Stopping the Genocide of Burma's Karen People” was on the reading list for a number of our team members as they prepared for this mission. Rogers took the pulpit to offer his own congratulations and prayers of thanksgiving for the church’s anniversary.

In addition to sermons and prayers, the service included plenty of music from various groups in the congregation. Perhaps the most moving of these groups was a vocal ensemble made up entirely of blind men. Our guide explained that they had been blinded when they set-off landmines, placed by the army in Burma. Some members of the ensemble had lost limbs, as well. But their voices were uplifting, and their singing raised the spirits of all who were present.

Following the service, our team was served lunch by our Karen hosts ….. but we were not joined by Pastor Aurthur. He had paused just long enough to change into his robes, and then headed right back into the church for the next service, and another full house. By the way, Pastor Aurthur is known to a number of you in the United States, from his visit to Washington, D.C. and participation in the Faces of Children Conference there.

Meanwhile the team enjoyed fellowship and outreach with the people of Mae La, especially the children. This included a large group of young people from the local Christian school, wearing their Knowing Children tee-shirts, who sang Christian songs for us, and joined with our team in prayer.

This brought the day’s activities to an end. A number of the school children paired-off with some of our team members, to guide them safely down the steep slopes, through the confusing maze of paths and crowded huts, to the camp entrance. There were many stops along the way as team members paused to document the camp conditions, and to greet parents and admire their children. At the entrance we parted ….. we are able to leave, they are not. It was explained to us that, during the daytime, camp residents may go beyond the fence, and several of them were seen strolling – alone, or in pairs and small groups – back and forth along the highway. But by nightfall, they must all be within the fence. It was noted that, when these residents do leave camp, it will be for resettlement, probably in a country other than Thailand.

The day held special significance for Andy, a 24-year-old Karen from Burma who had experienced life in the refugee camp himself. Andy is now a citizen of Thailand, and lives in Bangkok where he is a Karen Project Coordinator for Knowing Children. On our return home for the evening, Andy admitted that the day spent in the refugee camp brought back sad memories for him.

We had a surprise in store for Andy. Following dinner, we presented him with a Bible translated into Karen (which is one of four languages he speaks) and inscribed by each of our tem members. Andy is a good companion and an invaluable source of information about the Karen people and their lives both in Burma and Thailand. We are glad he will accompany us on our return journey to Chiang Mai, then Bangkok, tomorrow.

On the Road to Huay Nam Kong

MAE SOT, THAILAND – Our eleventh day of mission was devoted to outreach, meeting with the Karen people in Thailand, learning more about them and their lives, and how they were brought to Christ through the ongoing efforts of an international community of faith-based, non-government organizations.

Final planning for our visit to the village of Huay Nam Kong took place the evening before, as team members volunteered for the different activities that were planned for the different groups with whom we would work. Some of us had been preparing for these activities for months, and we were ready to go to work.

The village – a community of migrant workers - is set amidst the rolling hills and farmlands on the outskirts of town. Our guides for today’s activities were Nee Doh Chit (‘Andy’) and a staff member from Partners Research & Development’s Mae Sot office.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by Pastor Newton and his wife of the Karen Baptist Church there. Also welcoming us was a church filled wall-to-wall with the children of the village. The children greeted us with music, and we took a turn at singing, ourselves. There was also the much-anticipated return of the Tall City Limberjacks Sextette, and their performance of “Old Man Boonmah,” a Thai variation of “Old MacDonald. Reverend Jerry Hilton greeted the people of the village on our behalf, and offered them words of encouragement.

From here, the children were broken up into different age groups. For the younger children, it was games and storytelling, followed by coloring pictures and English language play.

Meanwhile, older children moved about the village with digital cameras borrowed from the team, and taking photos of their homes, their friends and other aspects of their lives. These photos were printed on-site, and then used by the young photographers to produce documents of their life stories. The team also kept busy taking portraits of all the children, printing them, and leaving them as mementos of the day we spent with the children. In return, many team members were presented with the pictures the children had colored earlier that day.

Partway through the day, the team broke for lunch, provided by the people of the church. Time and again, we have been overwhelmed by the graciousness, the hospitality shown to us by the people we have met in the course of our mission.

Our day at the village concluded with music, prayer and fellowship. There were special prayers and words of encouragement for a teenage girl of the village that is coming to Christ and will soon be baptized. Pastor Newton expressed his hope that she might someday attend seminary. But it has not always been easy for her, we were told. Her parents are not Christians, and there were tears in her eyes as she asked for our prayers.

So much of our activity in recent days has been devoted to people seeking refuge in Thailand, from Burma. After leaving Huay Nam Khon, we headed into downtown Mae Sot and the port-of-entry between the two nations. We stood at a vantage point on the banks of the river, next to the International Friendship Bridge that connects Mae Sot to its opposite number in Burma, and facilitates trade and travel between the two nations. The marketplaces of Mae Sot are filled with wood, gemstones, and other natural resources and products from Burma.

Our work will continue in another Karen community, the refugee camp of Me La in the more rugged and remote mountain country several miles north of Mae Sot. It being Sunday, we will also have a chance to attend church with Karen people there.

Prayer Requests

The Thailand Mission Team asks that you add the following to your prayers …..

1. Soften the hearts of our team, help us grow and find our path.

2. Pray for the Perry family.

3. Pray for the McGilvary Seminary. pray that they will follow-through, nurture the seeds that they have planted, that they - and the Christian community of southeast Asia - will grow, and thrive.

4. Pray for the safety of the Free Burma Rangers.

5. Pray to encourage networks among all of Thailand's Christian community.

The View From Inside

MAE SOT, THAILAND – Our tenth day in of mission in Thailand taught us that no amount of advance research in refugee issues – news reports, books and magazines, the internet – can fully prepare you for going there, seeing things for yourself, and learning from those (the refugees, the relief workers) that deal with these issues on a daily basis, month after month, year after year.

Our day begin with a morning devotional, led by Jim Alsup. Jim has been working from the book, “humility: The Journey Toward Holiness” by Andrew Murray. Our devotionals have opened and closed with music, thanks to Rebecca Nicholson and her iPod. She places it in a portable player with surround speakers, and its own battery power. It’s small and light enough to fit in the palm of your hand, yet delivers wonderful sound reproduction that reaches everyone in the room.

Friday was devoted to asking questions, listening to answers, and praying over what we had learned. Our hosts were the staff of Partners Relief & Development’s Mae Sot office. Partners works to demonstrate God’s love among the displaced and marginalized people of Burma ….. and there are thousands of them (mostly Karen, but other Burmese groups as well, including ethnic Burmans) in and around Mae Sot, 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.'

The late afternoon was devoted to prayer for Partners, its staff, the community around them, and the people touched by their mission. This included prayers of thanksgiving for the work that has been done, and prayers of encouragement for the work that lies ahead. Our team broke up into different groups – one in the Partners office, another in the neighborhood where that office is located, and a third in the community of Mae Sot. It is something of special importance to Partners …..
“Our day begins with prayer,” they explain. “Our actions are inspired, organized and launched with prayer. Our ultimate hope for Burma is expressed in prayer.” Partners asks you to join with them “and those who seek justice for the families of Burma, asking God for a visitation of His power, love and mercy.”

Our first full day in Mae Sot ended with a shared meal and a birthday celebration. Once everyone was seated, Ramon was presented with a birthday cake. The cake had been prepared earlier in the day, at the direction of our guide, Hong Pirojh Chew, complete with a birthday greeting written in the frosting, and candles – one of which took some serious convincing before it agreed to go out and stay out. Ramon did the honors of cutting and serving the cake to everyone at the table.

LOOKING BACK ON CHIANG MAI

“Reflections on Our Bar Visit to the Red Light District in Chiang Mai”
By Susie Foy

The day prior to our “party” at Juicy’s, Ramon and I went on a prayer walk with Brittany, one of the staff at Garden of Hope. Our team had broken into several groups of three or four and walked down the street where the staff at Garden of Hope meet and get to know the women who work in the bars. The street actually was lovely, with shops and several nice restaurants. Some of the bars looked very normal, with western tourists sitting out and having a beer.

Brittany is from Oregon, and is Vietnamese and was adopted by Americans. She is beautiful, with long, black, shining hair, and looks very Asian. But when she talks, I feel like I’m talking to one of my daughters.

She described to Ramon and me what these women were like. They are simple, uneducated and mostly come from the tribal hills, and have to send money to support their parents. A prostitute may make 20,000 baht a month, sending 15,500 to her parents, and the brothel owner gets a share. So she doesn’t make much for herself. In dollars, that is approximately $650 a month, $500 to the parents. Many of the parents, we’ve learned, enjoy a higher status because their daughter makes so much.

Because these women are Buddhist, they feel that it is their karma (fate), they have done something bad in a previous life, and there really is nothing they can do about it except make offerings to the temple, be good to their parents, and try to live the best way they know how, so that, maybe, in the next life they won’t have to be a prostitute.

Brittany and her staff go to the bars, visit with the women, and try to build relationships. It’s not an easy task. And until Garden of Hope can offer an alternative to their job prospects, train them, etc., it will take a while to rescue these women from a horrible and degrading existence.

Okay, back to the party ….. our group arrived to decorate the bar. We had balloons, Thai flags, American-style banners, and Brittany has procured the best barbeque I’ve tasted since the Salt Lick in Austin.. There were about ten women who came. We played Uno, drank cokes, showed pictures of our children, laughed, played pool, and ate and ate. It was really fun, and you forgot you were in a bar with prostitutes, until a lanky Aussie came in, looked at all the gray hairs, and wondered what was going on!

We were able to express our love to them by opening our hearts and listening to them. One woman in particular, who had come to Chiang Mai from Cambodia a month earlier, seemed very sad. She showed me pictures of her two daughters, who were living with her mother in Cambodia. I told her the story of the woman with the lost coin, and told her the God we worship is searching for her, and loves her. We had come a long way to tell her that. I don’t know if she understood but, there in Juicy’s bar, under a spirit house with offerings of Fanta and nail polish to Buddha, Annie from Cambodia heard the gospel and felt the love of Christ’s body.

More Q&A

Bridget Hyde asks if our team feels the prayers from the recent Renovare Conference in Midland. What are you learning about prayer and how it works in this situation? Will you pray differently vecause of the experience?

I think we DO feel those prayers. Over and over again, at the end of anlother long day, someone on the team will say something to the effect of, "I can't believe we lasted as long as we did. today!" So, something is at work, and we feel prayer is a very big part of it.

As for prayer, it is essential, it is critical, it is formost, and it is what they [those with whom we meet and work on this mission] ask for.

As for praying differently, some of us say "no" and some of us say "yes." Those say yes, go on to say they will pray more specfically, in response to specific requests and needs.

Regarding prayer in general ..... pray with humility.

On the Road Again

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND – Our ninth day of mission in Thailand saw the team once again on the move. After one last visit in Chiang Mai, and a glimpse of an important part of the Christian Church’s future in southeast Asia, we departed for Thailand’s border with Myanmar (Burma), and the next stage of our mission.

Bags packed and ready to go, the team first stopped at the McGilvary College of Divinity, part of Payup University in Chiang Mai. There, we were met by the Reverend William J. Yoder, Dean Emeritus of McGilvary, who took us on a tour of the seminary, and briefed us on the history of the school, and the history of the Christian church in northern Thailand, which goes back to the 16th-century and the mission of Francis Xavier. As for the school, it’s roots go back to 1867, when Daniel McGilvary, a Presbyterian missionary, started a class in evangelism and church administration, and contributed to a renaissance for the Christian community in Thailand, in the late 19th-century.

The team met with seminary staff, visited the library and computer center, and were introduced to the works of Sawai Chinnawong, an artists who has brought together the artistic traditions of his country, and others to give new expression to Christian themes and scenes from the Bible. This picture shows a detail from his "Annunciation."

Our visit to the seminary ended with a worship service with the students and faculty. The Reverend Jerry Hilton offered closing remarks, greetings and words of encouragement to the students, reciting the list of Asian countries from which they have come to live and learn at McGilvary. Team leader Margaret Purvis thanked the Dean, and presented him a donation for the seminary.

The rest of the day would be spent in travel south and west, to Mae Sot, a town of about 30,000 people, on the banks of the Ping River, which serves as a boundary between the nations of Thailand and Burma. The journey of several hours took the team through the higher, more rugged mountain country of western Thailand, passing by many villages and cultivated fields, herds of cattle, parks and campgrounds, and Buddhist temples, some with very large golden statues that stand in the open air, gazing out over the countryside.

Upon arriving in Mae Sot, our team will renew its contact with Partners Relief & Development, which maintains its second Thailand office here, close to those whom they serve. And it is here that our team will meet with more members of the Partners staff, and visit the schools and other services they support in the local refugee camps.

That will begin tomorrow morning, but we are already gaining some valuable, first-hand insight into the plight of the Karen people. Joining us in Chiang Mai was Nee Doh Chit, a 24-year-old Karen, originally from Burma. "Andy" now lives in Thailand and works as a Karen Project Coordinator for Knowing Children. He helped pass the hours of our journey by answering team members’ questions, and helping them better see the ‘big picture’ through his own life story.

The day ended with a shared meal in Mae Sot, and a discussion of the day ahead, as we begin the final stage of our mission to Thailand.

And remember, if you have any questions you would like to ask our team members, you can e-mail your question to us at missioner@fpcmid.org

Prayer Requests

The Mission Team asks that you keep the following in your prayers ...

1. Pray for Garden of Hope as they look to their future.

2. Pray for Asia Athletic Institute and encourage them to continue their plans to grow and reach out to more people.

3. Pray for all Christian congregations in Thailand, embolden and encourage them

4. Pray to raise the number of responsive pastors that might change the hearts of others to share the Love of Jesus Christ and celebrate the return of the lost sheep.

5. Pray for all the women who work in the bars of Chiang Mai, and for their children who are at-risk of following their path, down these same streets.

More Q&A

The students of Mrs. Foreman's 3rd grade class at Trinity Episcopal School in Victoria, Texas asked Judia Foreman if there was something they can do to help the children in Thailand see the face of Jesus.

"Think of things that would help the children learn the English language. Maybe a game that involves pictures, with the picture's word - in English - underneath; or you could make your own picture of something special to you, and write a short note - again - in English - about the picture, and about yourself, underneath; you could also write a short, simple story in English. I hope this helps. I will have so much more for you when I get back from Thailand. Love, Granny."

A Sobering Experience

Meeting with Steve Gumaer, Partners Relief & Development

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND – On the eighth day of mission to Thailand, the team turned its attention to refugee issues, particularly the hardships endured by those fleeing the genocide waged by the army against the Karen, the Shan and other ethnic groups in the mountains of eastern Myanmar (Burma)

Today’s activities were punctuated often by many small explosions as strings of firecrackers were set-off outside to drive off evil spirits and celebrate Chinese New Year. That provided a sobering contrast to the sound of very real. very deadly gunfire captured by videos documenting the atrocities that occur on a daily basis in Burma. Those videos were shown by Alex, as he shared with us the story of the Free Burma Rangers, a group dedicated to demonstrating God’s love to the victims of the ongoing war in Myanmar.

FBR trains relief teams that commit to missions ranging from 6 to 24 months. That mission is to provide aid – both material and spiritual – to those targeted by the actions of Burma’s army. An FBR relief team usually has 5-7 people who, between them will include a medic, a videographer, a pastor/counsellor, a team leader, a security agent, a land navigator, and someone in charge of batteries and solar power for the team’s communications equipment. Some team members will wear more than one hat to ensure all these areas are covered. By the way, a founder of the Free Burma Rangers is Dave Eubank, a veteran of the U.S. Army Special Forces, who was born in Thailand, but educated in America – at Texas A&M University, no less.

Following Alex’ presentation, we met with Steve of Partners Relief & Development, a group that provides short- and long-term assistance to those (especially children) who face insurmountable odds. This is done through the establishment of orphanages, hostels, education and nutrition programs, trauma counselling and rehabilitation. Partners started in 1994 with a $30-per-year commitment to fund a child whose parents had been killed by Burmese army soldiers. "We are constantly examining our action in the light of faith, " Partners explains. "All of our work is measured by this yardstick: we must walk by faith, not by sight ..… by faith, God’s spirit makes seemingly impossible ventures possible as our staff factor God into all circumstances and challenges." We broke for lunch, which was provided by Partners. 

It was also a time for informal – and informative! – fellowship with Partners and FBR staff, and to learn more about these people and their mission. This was followed by a prayer service led by Franklin Williamson. All of the staffers were brought inside a circle of prayer formed by our mission team, who blessed them and prayed for their comfort, their strength, their spirit and so much more. The evening was devoted to a shared meal and a ‘debriefing’ where we revisited the past days’ developments, and looked to the days ahead.

Tomorrow, following a tour of McGilvary Seminary and a worship service in Chiang Mai, the mission team will depart for Mae Sot, a small town on Thailand’s border with Burma, and a center of relief activities for refugees. And remember, if you have any questions you would like to ask our team members, you can e-mail your question to us at missioner@fpcmid.org

So, What Happened On That First Day?

As noted in an earlier post, our mission to Thailand got off to a discouraging start when pronlems with flights and connections stranded us in the United States for another day. However some of our team members (Pastor Jerry Hilton, and Katie and Franklin Williamson) were following their own itineraries, from their own communities, and DID make the connections. They arrived on schedule, and were our representatives in Bangkok for the first day’s schedule of activities. Here is a report on that first day, from Jerry Hilton.

The [January 31] visit to the United States Embassy in Bangkok had been arranged at the request of Margaret Purvis, to a friend from Washington, D.C., whom we we came to know throught the Faces of Children Conference. Despite the fact that there were three of us instead of the full group of fifteen, we wanted to honor our appointment at the embassy.

When we got there, we were warmly greeted by the embassy staff, and were soon welcomed into the office of Eric G. John, the ambassador, who had been in the job for one month. Ambassador John heads-up the 400-person staff who serve here in this rapidly-developing, longtime U.S. ally.

As a U.S. citizen and American, I am so very pround to be represented by such a dedicated, caring and informed person as Eric John. We talked about the plight of children in Thailand and southeast Asia, and human trafficking issues ... and we came away thanking God that persons of such intelligence, compassion, spirit and faith are put by God in such positions. Before we left to meet with various members of the ambassador's staff, I asked if we could pray for him, and he said he hoped we would.

The staff who met with us included Michael Heath, First Secretary; James Entwistle, Deputy Chief of Mission; Gary Phillips, Assistant Attaché, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Cathy Bowes, Director of Public Health, USAID Asia. From each of these outstanding and highly qualified people, we learned about aspects of our embassy at work here. Before we left the staff, we prayed for them, their families, and thae challenges each one faces.

As we started to leave, the Ambassador called us back to see pictures taken of his wife working among children's groups there in Thailand.

Michael Heath took us to the river where we boarded a boat for the Kredtrakarn Protection and Occupational Development Centre, commonly known as Baan Kredtrakarn (Kredtrakarn Home). This is a government-operated facility for prostitutes and victims of human enslavement. We toured the compound, met leaders and teachers, and were impressed by the high quality of educational- and skill-development opportunities offered these young women.

On Friday [February 1], we visited NightLight, where we joined in praise worship with some 70 young girls (they are between 13 and 20 years-old) from the streets. NightLight is a ministry that offers the Gospel as well as health and vocational training, and is supervised by Jeff Deiselberg, an American Baptist missionary. I was asked to preach at the morning session, which I did, from Ephesians 1:18-22.

After the service, we met the rest of our group, and toured the mission, which is doing great work here in the streets of Bangkok.

Around Town

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND – Our fifth day of mission had the team connecting with a variety of faith-based groups at work in Thailand, and gaining a greater appreciation for – and contributing to – the programs through which these groups reach out to the Thai people, and share the Love of Jesus Christ.
The day began with music, scripture and a devotional led by Jim Alsup, who addressed the virture of of a humble heart, while cautioning against a heart that is prideful. "There is nothing so difficult, or dangerous, as pride," he reminded the team.

This was followed by a meeting between Mark Crawford (Garden of Hope) and one part of the team, that included a discussion of his organization’s plans for capital improvements and development, what facilities might be acquired, and to what use they might be put.

For another, larger part of the team, the remainder of the day was devoted to preparations for a late-afternoon outreach party at one of Chiang Mai’s bars. The party was a follow-up to the lessons learned the previos day at Garden of Hope, and a chance to put those lessons to work. It allowed team members to meet some of the ladies with whom Garden of Hope has established a relationship through their Women’s Outreach Program.

The afternoon party setting allowed the team members to interact with these ladies – prostitutes who work in Chiang Mai’s bars – in a relaxed atmosphere, without the distraction of the customers and loud music they would experience later at night. Looking ahead to that experience, some of the women drank beer, explaining that the alcohol would help numb them, and make the night easier.

Team members and their guests enjoyed food and drink, playing Uno and shooting pool, and talking to one another with help from Garden of Hope’s staff and volunteers. Through these talks, we gained greater insight into the lives of Chiang Mai’s prostitutes, and the circumstances that brought their lives to this point.

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, another part of the team was meeting with Astrid of the Asia Athletic Institute. A Christian ministry that reaches out to the youth of northern Thailand through sports, English language education and health care. Contact with Astrid had just been made in January through Mark, who had accompanied our team last week to the New Vision for Life Foundation orphanage.

The meeting with Astrid included the transfer of a large bundle of soccer (here, we say football) gear – both new and used – that had been donated by the Dallas Texans Soccer Club of Midland. The donated gear included shirts, socks, shin guards, cleats, goalkeepers’ gloves, and equipment for coaches. Still more gear is en route to Chiang Mai in the mail.

For her part, Astrid not only expressed AAI’s thanks for the contribution, but announced that the gear would be put to use immediately, equipping a new soccer team being formed at a school in Mae Hong Son, a small town in northern Thailand, near the border with Myanmar (Burma). She has also discussed plans for expanding existing programs and introducing new programs as part of AAI’s continuin mission to bring more people to Christ. She also provided Scripture and lessons used by AAI, which will be used as devotionals for the Upward Basketball program, once the ream returns to Midland.

The team gathered together for an evening trip outside Chiang Mai, for a dinner party at the home the Reverend William J. Yoder, Dean Emeritus of the McGilvray College of Divinity, part of Payap University.

We were greeted by a distinguished gathering of men and women who have devoted years of their lives to education and Christian mission in Thailand. Over dinner, they shared their stories, which gave us a greater appreciation for those who blazed the paths we now follow, and encourage us to begin new paths of our own. And the good work continues. Some of those we met have recently retired ….. yet they remain active and busy in Chiang Mai’s Christian community. And we met a young family recently arrived from America, dispatched by Presbyterian Church USA to help develop HIV/AIDS programs in Thailand.

Super Tuesday

The first votes cast in today's rush of primary elections in the United States will be cast here, in Thailand, and in other western Pacific and Asian nations ..... actually, some have already been cast.

According to this report in the Bangkok Post, "Americans eager to select candidates for their next president trooped to the polls on Tuesday morning - in Thailand. About 1,500 US expats were likely to vote at early primary polls in Thailand today. Because of the time difference, they will be voting 12 hours or more ahead of their compatriots in the United States."

The report goes on to note the special interest in the Democratic race for the neighboring Pacific nation of Indonesia, where Democrats are, "enthused by the idea that one of the leading candidates, Barack Obama, lived in Jakarta from the age of 6 to 10. 'There is a bit of rooting for the hometown boy,' said Tristram Perry, the public diplomacy officer at the US Embassy in Jakarta, as more than 100 voters began gathering at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in the bustling capital. 'It is the first time someone who grew up in Indonesia is running for president.' An early tally at the hotel gave Obama a resounding 75% of the votes to 25% for Hillary Clinton."

Prayer Requests

The Mission Team asks that you keep the following in your prayers ...

1. Please, pray for the good health of all our team members. And, may God grant them strenght, endurance and patience as they enter the second week of mission in Thailand

2. Pray for Angee, whose story we learned through our work with Garden of Hope. She is a young woman addressing some serious issues. She is at a vulnerable stage in a dangerous environment where girls her age are pulled towards prostitution, and she is very much at-risk.

3. Pray for our team, that they may enjoy 'reflective listening' for the Word of God, that our team members might better see, and hear and understand God's plan for us and our mission.

4. Pray for the streets that we have walked and prayed-over, and for the people - young and old - who live and work there, that they might find comfort in their distress, and strength in their resolve to find a better path.

5. Please offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the doors that have been opened to us, the people that have met us and guided us, the resources that have been provided us, and the opportunities - some of them unexpected - that have appeared for us in the course of our ongoing mission.

Q&A

Emily Holeva e-mailed us, asking for Karen Winkler’s first thoughts of Bangkok …..

“My first impression of Bangkok, it surprised me that it looked as Western as it did, the architecture, the buildings – but still Asian,” said Karen. “The motorcycles are everywhere. And it is busy, it is such a busy city. The people are so gracious, and I was surprised at how much English there is, which makes it easier to get around. And another impression – how humbled I am by Annie and Jeff, and the work they do at NightLight.”

Bob Cowan also e-mailed us, asking about whether the real jet lag will set in on the return trip, as our team flies eastward toward home. This observation is based in part on Cowan’s own experience with travel to Asia.

Team members say they will put that to the test in just six days, when we depart Bangkok for our return to America. We’ll be sure to follow up on the results.

If you have any questions you would like to ask the members of our mission team, please e-mail your question to (missioner@fpcmid.org)

On the Learning Curve

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND – Our team’s sixth day in Thailand was relatively quiet, relatively settled as we fulfilled (in part) one of the initial goals of our mission - learn more about faith-based ministries among victims of human trafficking, displaced persons, and those fleeing persecution in Myanmar (Burma).

This was done with the help of those who have spent years in Thailand working as advocates for these victims, and establishing Christ-centered relationships with them. The host for the daylong session of instruction, prayer and visits to outreach areas, was Mark Crawford of Garden of Hope, who introduced speakers that brought special emphasis on different facets of faith-based ministries in Thailand.

The first of these was Stewart, a member of Partners Relief & Development, which is dedicated to demonstrating God's love to victims of conflict and oppression. Stewart’s particular emphasis is contact with Buddhist monks as a means of putting Christian beliefs and practices to work in a country that is almost 95% Buddhist.

Stewart covered a wide array of topics that compared and contrasted Christianity and Buddhism. It can be difficult, he cautioned, to bring a Buddhist to understand Christianity. As an example, he demonstrated how a Buddhist might understand (or misunderstand) the message in John 3:16 from the New Testament of the Bible, a passage that says so much, so simply to Christians.

By the way, it should be noted that this is an international effort involving men and women from around the world. Mark, for example, is an American from Hawaii, while Stewart is from New Zealand (where his wife heads Partners’ program in that nation.

Another American, from Oregon, is Brittany Quinn, who outlined the principles and practices GOH’s outreach to to the women in Chiang Mai’s sex industry. These principles are …..
1) we go to the women, we do not expect them to come to you;
2) establishing genuine relationships requires time and patience;
3) we are motivated out of a spirit of Love and a desire to genuinely understand each of the women we meet;
4) we do not project our ideas and solutions onto the women, but allow them to communicate their needs to us; and,
5) we do not create a dependant relationship with the women, but seek to eqip them with the tools necessary to experience a life of restoration, dignity and love.

Next to speak after Brittany, was Liv Allermand, who is from Denmark. Liv outlined the principles of interaction with exploited women and at-risk children, potential Garden of Hope programs and how these programs might be empowered, the more important topics for staff and volunteer training, and the goals that Garden of Hope has set for its people and its facilities.

Time and again, the presentations came back to another member of GOH’s staff, Faa Sumitra Choemue, a Hill Tribe woman of Thailand who has put so much of their principles into practice with her work in the bars of Chiang Mai. Faa’s spirit and her incredible level of energy continues to amaze team members. Many in the Tall City will remember Faa, her enthusiasm and her spirit, from a visit she made to Midland late last year.

Crawford concluded the day of instruction with a discussion of his organization’s plans for capital improvements and development. What facilities might be acquired, and to what use they might be put. He reviewed the different proposals that are under consideration and asked the team for their input, not only through review of the data, but through examinations and prayer walks of the facilities.

Perhaps the most exciting point in this discussion is the drop-in center that Garden of Hope wishes to place in the very heart of the neighborhoods where the women and children live and work. Team members toured a building that could serve just such a purpose. They went through the building floor-by-floor, studying it, praying, and discussing it’s merits with Crawford. Floor by floor, this building was reclaimed for Christ and his disciples.

Team members described the building as an “excellent prospect” and were encouraged to hear that Crawford has entered into negotiations with the building’s owner for a long-term lease/purchase contract.

Early that evening, team members visited and prayer-walked the streets and the bars where many of the exploited women and at-risk children can be found. Among those they encountered in their walk were two young children who had attended the previous night’s party. They accompanied their mother who had secured a place on the sidewalk to beg from those who passed by. For some team members, this brief contact did as much to bring home the problem as could any day – any year – of study and discussion.

The day ended late at night with a devotional from team member Jim Alsup, prayer and music. Tomorrow will begin early with team members pursuing a variety of efforts in and around Chiang Mai.

Bear in mind, there are TWO sources of online information regarding our team's mission to Thailand. In addition to visiting West Texas Missioner, you can also arrange to receive daily e-mail updates by clicking on the preceding text, and providing your e-mail address. And remember, if you have any questions you would like to ask the members of our mission team, please e-mail your question to (missioner@fpcmid.org)

Prayer Requests

The Mission Team asks that you keep the following in your prayers ...

1. The children of the Home for Hill Tribe Children Education Project, a Christian orphanage in Mae Ka Chan, Thailand. Nurture them and comfort them, and encourage those who care for them and guide them. And a prayer of thanks for the hospitality and the blessings they shared with our team.

2. One of our guests at the Garden of Hope party for at-risk children and their parents was a mother whose health had deteriorated to the point she could no longer nurse her child, who has health problems in addition to starvation. Pray for her continuing recovery, and for the health of her baby.

3. Help Faa Sumitra Choemue maintain her incredible level of energy as she works the streets of Chiang Mai's red light district on behalf of Garden of Hope, establishing relationships with at-risk children, and women in prostitution, and sharing Christ's truth with them, that they may someday experience a life of restoration, dignity and hope.

4. Lift up and encourage Nee, a young woman of Chiang Mai who has stared a new job as part of ongoing efforts to restore her life. She's been having a hard time lately, and say that she is lonely. Strengthen her and guide her on her new path, that she doesn;t fall back into her old lifestyle.

5. Pray for the people of Thailand as they deal with - in addition to the travails of everyday life that we all experience - changes and prospects of change for their nation ..... mourning for Her Royal Highness Galyani Vadhana, Princess of Narathiwat, who passed away January 2. The prospect of significant changes in the country's political leadership. And concern for the health of Thailand's 80-year-old monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The Way of the Wai

For many of our team members, one of the first images we we had of Thai culture - even aboard the plane, long before we actually set foot on Thailand - was the traditional Thai greeting known as the 'wai.'

According to this post in Wikipedia, the wai (ไหว้) (why) consists of a slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion. The higher the hands are held in relation to the face and the lower the bow, the more respect/reverence the giver of the wai is showing. The wai is also common as a way to thank someone or apologise.

The word often spoken with the wai as a greeting or farewell is "Sawasdee" (sawatdee).

Relationships are an important part of Thai culture, and the wai is one measure of those relationships. Who is the first to wai, who bows lower, who raises their hands higher, how the wai is returned - if at all ..... all are indicators of the relationship between the two individuals that are greeting one another.

And one can't help but be impressed with the casual grace displayed by Thais when they perform the wai, the respect it conveys to one another, and the civility it brings to an exchange between people. It is pervasive, and encourages visitors to reciprocate.

And if there is any doubt concerning just how pervasive the wai is in Thai culture, one need only walk through the door of one of the more universally-recognized symbols of American cuisine and culture.

As we settle into our new surroundings, and begin to observe and appreciate the nation and the culture that is our temporary home, more and more members have begun to use the wai ..... why not?

Reaching Out

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND – Our team’s fifth day of mission in Thailand began with the community reaching out to us, and embracing us. By day’s end, we had a chance to reach out to the community in return.

Our day started at First Church of Chiang Mai, part of the Church of Christ in Thailand, where we were greeted warmly by Reverend Pakdee Wattanchantaragul, her staff and the congregation as a whole. Reverend Bill Yoder, a longtime minister, educator and writer, met us at the church and introduced us to the congregation during the service, noting that many in our team came from a city in Texas that had once been home to two men who later went on to become President of the United States.

The service was conducted in Thai, though English translation was available through headsets. And while the words might have been different, there was a comforting and connecting familiarity in the music of the traditional hymns, in the Doxology, and in the sharing of the Lord’s Prayer.

After the service, there was tea and discussion with Reverend ‘An’ and her staff, followed by a shared meal and fellowship with Reverend Yoder.

The rest of the day and evening were devoted to preparations for a party at the Chiang Mai-based Garden of Hope, then the part itselfOur guests were children living under at-risk conditions in the city’s ‘red light district,’ and their parents. Under the guidance of Mark and Christa Crawford, and their staff at garden of Hope, the children enjoyed a celebration in the park-like, suburban site, very different from their inner-city neighborhoods just a short distance away.

Everyone on the team had something (or two, or three things) to do. Some team members assisted with greeting and registration, while others helped with games like musical chairs, and balloon stomp. There was music and singing, storytelling, and a large meal served to evereone in attendance.

And there was the debut of Tall City Limberjacks Sextette, and their performance of “Old Man Boonmah,” a Thai variation of “Old MacDonald. The sextette’s vocals were accompanied by the springboard dancing of wooden puppets representing Old Man Boonmah, his water buffalo, pig, chicken, silkworm and lamb. The project was conceived by Lucinda Windsor, and the performance sparked plenty of laughter and applause.

The party also provided the team an opportunity for field-testing equipment and procedures for adding a photography component to their outreach. Kelly Sherman and Karen Winkler moved among the guests, taking photos of the youngsters, then taking the memory cards from their digital cameras to a developing/printing station Jeff McDonald set up. In a little over two hours, more than 100 high-quality, full-color photographs had been printed, then presented to the children as an added memento of their day at the Garden of Hope.

By the way, the printer was purchased by First Presbyterian Church of Midland for this mission. It will remain with the church when the mission is concluded, for use by other mission teams ….. actually, for ALL church groups that might be able to make use of it.

All in all, a full and busy day ….. and there are more ahead. That night, as the last of the guests were leaving, Mark Crawford briefed the team on what they will be doing over the next two days, as they learn more about Garden of Hope’s outreach activities in Chiang Mai’s red light district. The team will also have opportunities participate in those activities. The team will also learn about Christians working, and spreading the Word in a culture and a nation that is predominately Buddhist.

By the way, if you have any questions you would like to ask the members of our mission team, please e-mail your question to (missioner@fpcmid.org)

Heading Up North

Photo by Jeff McDonald

DAY 4 / CHIANG MAI, THAILAND – The fourth day of our team’s mission to Thailand was long, tiring ... and totally uplifting. It was on this day that we departed Bangkok and headed about 400 miles north to where much of our mission efforts will be concentrated – in and around Chiang Mai, a major metropolitan center of Thailand’s mountainous northern region.

We stopped in Chiang Mai only long enough to drop off our luggage and pick up sack lunches, then continued to head northward, towards the city of Chiang Rai. Much of the countryside is rural and we saw many of the images that come to mind when one thinks of ‘southeast Asia’ – farmers working in paddies and fields, water buffalo and Brahma cattle grazing, small towns and villages with open-air marketplaces, and ornate temples with gilded rooftops and statues of Buddha.

But the highlight of the day’s journey was still ahead, when we turned off the road at the town of Mae Ka Chan and arrived at a Christian orphanage there, the Home for Hill Tribe Children Education Project, operated by the New Vision for Life Foundation, and supported by First Presbyterian Church on an emergency basis. At this time they are caring for 55 children, both orphans and children of impoverished or destitute families. At other times, they have cared for as many as 85 children.

Team members were conducted on a tour of the home, which includes the main dormitory structure as well as a kitchen and dining area, washrooms and laundry area, a garden and small orchard, and a hall for worship services and gatherings. It was here that we were greeted with a table of fresh fruit and crispy wafer snacks, and a worship service of prayer, music and testimony led by the youngsters themselves, at the pulpit and on the stage, where they performed on electric guitars and drums. This was followed by music, dancing and games that celebrated the children’s Hill Tribe culture, with drums, cymbals abd traditional costumes made by the children themselves. 

Team members were coaxed onto the floor to join the dancing and the games, with special note given to Cynthia Howard and Kelli Sherman, who tried their hand (foot?) at a traditional pole-jumping game, set to a quickening rhythm of the drums and cymbals.

Team members also took their turn on the stage. Margaret Purvis greeted the children on behalf of the team, and the Midland community, and thanked them for their hospitality. The children were then treated to storytelling by Lucinda Windsor, with Judia Foreman and Karen Winkler, who shared the parable and the message of ‘The Lost Sheep.” Rebecca Nicholson led the children in singing popular Christian songs that had been translated into Thai for this mission. And Susie Foy presented the children with the parable of ‘The Lost Coin,’ along with symbols of our shared faith, and a verse from the Bible written in Thai. At the same time, clergy members of our team were meeting with foundation staff and local clergy.

The day came to an end with a prayer by Reverend Jim Longstreet, and each team member departed with a handful of colorful pictures and Bible verses that the children had prepared for them. The team returned to Chiang Mai long after dark ….. but the day’s activities were not yet finished. Everyone gathered for a shared meal hosted by Mark and Christa Crawford of the Chiang Mai-based Garden of Hope ministry. Also joining us for dinner was Faa, a young woman who has worked with the team during the months of preparation leading up to the mission. The Crawfords welcomed the team to Midland, and briefed on the days of activities that lie ahead. 

QUESTIONS – Emily Holeva e-mailed us, asking for Kaqren Winkler’s first thoughts of Bangkok ….. “My first impression of Bangkok, it surprised me that it looked as Western as it did, the architecture, the buildings – but still Asian,” said Karen. “The motorcycles are everywhere. And it is busy, it is such a busy city. The people are so gracious, and I was surprised at how much English there is, which makes it easier to get around. And another impression – how humbled I am by Annie and Jeff, and the work they do at NightLight.” Bob Cowan also e-mailed us, asking about whether the real jet lag will set in on the return trip, as our team flies eastward toward home. This observation is based in part on Cowan’s own experience with travel to Asia. Team members say they will put that to the test in just ten days, when we depart Bangkok for our return to America. We’ll be sure to follow up on the results. 

By the way, if you have any questions you would like to ask the members of our mission team, please e-mail your question to (missioner@fpcmid.org)