Country Thai Church

This is a small country church of about 12 adults and half a dozen children about 30 minutes drive from where we live which we visited on Sunday. They were so friendly to us even though we couldn't speak much Thai. They have no pastor at the moment and most of the people are new converts. We visited with our supervisor who was preaching. They asked us to come back to their church again and start going there. We are praying about at the moment as without a car it would be at least a 40 minute train journey each way not including the time to get to the train station and to the church.

Pouring water over the hands of the elderly in the church as a kind of blessing ceremony.

Thai dancing after the service. Rich joined in at a later stage when prompted (sorry no good photos of that).

• Please pray about whether this is the church which we should commit to and serve over the next year while we are at Lopburi studying Thai.
  

Songkran Fun

Getting wet is what Songkran is about. Even the local fire brigade are happy to help out in getting people soaked.

Had to go out and get dinner for the family and even though I avoided the main Songkran Street I ran into a gang ready to plaster me with yogurt and drench me with water.

If you are on a motorbike or bicycle you stand no chance of escaping. There are numerous road blocks to stop you and splatter yogurt or water over you.

We were stuck on this road for 15minutes just to get 100m. The streets are lined with these utes full of people with buckets of iced water and yogurt to throw.

Our son getting into the fun

For 3 whole days there was partying on the streets particular on a road near our house. Thai people definitely know how to let their hair down and have fun.

First Day at Language School

Where are the pots to smash!

We had our first day at our Language Learning Centre (not a school!). We had two one hour lessons with our language helper which consisted of pronunciation drills. We have another two days of pronunciation drills next week. We don’t have any classes until Wednesday as we have entered the most well known Thai holiday of Songkran. This is a water festival and you have to be careful when you go out on the streets as you might have a bucket of water thrown over you. We learnt about Songkran and it’s Buddhist significance as a cleansing ceremony in a special group session at language school as you can see from the photos.

• Please pray for our language study. We were exhausted after our first two lessons of 50 minutes. We are concentrating on pronunciation of Thai vowels, consonants and tones for the first 3 days.

Cultural Experience #1

Having problems with clogged toilet's because of excessive toilet paper use. Here's your answer! The blue hose on the left wall is used for cleaning yourself up instead of using toilet paper. In orientation, one of the topics was the use of this hose and the benefits of it. Toilets are easily clogged in Lopburi as every house is on a septic system. After initial hesitation and lots of questions, we are happy converts to this new way of cleaning.

Thai Feast

Day 4 in Thailand. We went to the open market to buy dinner. Food is so cheap in here. Needless to say I’m going to gain weight here. Even the lady at the bank who was opening my bank account said of my passport photo that I looked fat.

Already there are so many things I would love to post, but I don’t have the time (and I’m only on dial up internet at the moment!)

Our Turn

Yesterday was our turn to share our testimony. We didn't have much time to prepare it as Lisa and the children have been sick. We are looking forward to the time when we are all at full strength.
OC (Orientation Course) is drawing to a close. It has been fantastic getting to meet the OMF directors and to be further trained for ministry in Thailand. However, because we have been sick most weeks we are ready to get going to Thailand and having a house to ourselves.

• Please pray for a full recovery for Lisa and the boys, especially as we travel to Thailand next week and begin language study
• Please continue to pray for the processing of our religious visa.
  

First Love

Luca with his first love? (Or more like the older woman taking control). Pity there isn't much chance of a long term relationship. She's the daughter of Indonesian missionaries going to Cambodia and Luca will be living in Thailand.

Missionary Kids & Visa Update

Two baths a day for our children as it is hot and humid in Singapore.

We've received word that we will not receive our religious visa by the end of our training in Singapore so we will apply for a tourist visa next week. After 60 days we will leave for Malaysia to get our religious visa properly. The positive outcome of this is that we will get a break from intensive language study to get our visa.

What we get up to in Training

Not all missionary training is serious. We have a lot of fun as well. We were given garbage bags, newspapers and sticky tape to come up with a cultural costume.

Testament to God's work each day

OMF International Head Quarters - Where we are staying for the next 3 weeks

We are here at OMF International Head Quarters for 3 and a half weeks where we have orientation and training as well as meeting the leadership of OMF. Each morning we sing together, hear a testimony of one our fellow missionary candidates, then pray for a country and OMF ministry. Then we move to the training room where one of the directors share their testimony before beginning their lecture. It has been so encouraging and uplifting to hear each day how God has worked in people's lives. I look forward to hearing the next testimony tomorrow (and the next day, and the next day ...)