Lockdown of Thailand

PAD Protestors inside the International Airport in Bangkok

The People Alliance for Democracy (PAD), a party opposed to the current government in Thailand have taken over the two airports in Bangkok, forcing the cancellation of all flights into and out of Thailand. Over 100,000 traveler's are stranded. Some airlines are using the military airport at Utapao, 100km South of Bangkok to fly the stranded tourist out, but it is a slow process as the airport can only accommodate 400 people at a time and has only 100 car parking spots.

We thought that this would be over after a couple of days but it has now dragged on for more than 4 days. A state of emergency has been declared. The prime minister has fired the top police officer for not clearing the protestors as ordered.

Normally the political situation does not affect us here in Lampang. But we have a short-term team from Australia due to arrive in less than 3 days. Unless something happens today, it looks like their trip will be delayed. Hopefully, not to the point where the trip will be canceled as we have planned for many months for this trip. We pray that this situation is settled soon.

Welcome & Goodbyes

As many of you know already, we welcomed into the world our 3rd child, a long awaited girl. In the end she came so quickly that the obstetrician didn't make it to the birth on time (same with our first child). It was all over in about 45mins from the first painful contraction till she was born (though there had been painless contractions throughout the week). The boys are enjoying their little sister.
Today we farewelled, Jenny who helped us during the last 3 months through the later stages of Lisa's pregnancy and a few days after the birth. She made a significant contribution by enabling us to do more ministry, decreasing our stress and helping get through a busy and difficult time. It wasn't all easy though. She was so sick on Monday that she had to send a night in hospital needing IV fluids! Thanks for all your help Jenny!

Two Romantic Festivals

Man praying over his 'Kratong' before floating it down the river

Woman preparing to launch her floating lantern

Two of the biggest festivals in Thailand, Loy Kratong and Yi Peng are currently being performed in Chiang Mai. In the Loy Kratong festival people place the 'kratongs' (lotus shaped vessels usually made of banana leaves and flowers) in the river to float away ill fortune as well as to express apologies to the river Goddess.

In Yi Peng, people launch Lanna-style floating lanterns into the sky. Belief has it that when these huge lanterns are set adrift and float away, so do the troubles in the community.

Lisa and I had a chance to go by the river last night and experience first hand these two festivals. There were fireworks going off all around us (some dangerously close) and anyone and everyone.

These were very beautiful ceremonies yet our hearts long for the Thai to put their faith Jesus rather than in these ceremonies to deal with the problems in their lives.

dashed hopes

The boys saying goodbye to mummy off to the hospital to have the baby - so we thought.

After visiting the Ob last night, we were pleasantly surprised when she examined Lisa and she was alreay 3-4 cm dialated. She said possibly tonight or tomorrow. As we started home we were excited at the prospect that the time had come and as the contractions (though not painful) were becoming more frequent. They were coming within a few minute of each other as we got close to home so we decided not to take any chances, skipped dinner and went straight to get the bags and go to the hospital.

Unfortunately, at the hospital the contractions didn't become painful and stronger as we had expected. We arrived at the hospital around 8pm and at 11pm we were asking the nursing whether we could go home as the contractions had not progressed. The nurse said that we better stay - she didn't want us to have the baby in the car (since our second child came very quickly). She examined Lisa and she was 5 cm dilated. By 3am we had enough and we asked to go home.

Today, still no painful contractions. Our hopes have been dashed and the wait continues. Hopefully tonight? Please by tomorrow...

Waiting in Chiang Mai

We have been in Chiang Mai now for nearly a week. We are waiting for our third baby to arrive. It was o.k for the first couple of days but now we are praying that the baby comes soon. Being couped up in a 2 bedroom apartment doesn't compare much with being at home. Lisa is nearly 38wks, but both our other two children came before 38wks. We hope this child is not going to full term or beyond! Lisa will try to get to the walking market here in Chiang Mai. I'll be at the apartment with the kids. I hope that she doesn't go into labour there!

Puppy Love

Our youngest son has taken a real liking to the 7 puppies. Sometimes he is a bit rough with them (with the loud yelping bearing witness to this.)

The puppies have now opened their eyes and are quite cute.

Pastors Sports Day

The North region of Thailand had their Pastors Sports day in Lampang. Pastors from Phayao, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and other regions came to participate. For the last few months I'd been training with the 'Pastors of Lampang' soccer team getting ready for the big day. When the day game it was a tense affair and it was a knock out competition. If you lost you were out of the tournament. We were against Chiang Mai pastors first. We were down initially but came to level 2-2 by the end of the first half. In the second half we cruised pastedChiang Mai eventually winning 5-2. We fortunately had a bye in the second round and went straight into the final. The opposition scored within about 10 seconds which left us shell shocked. I scored to level at 1 all. We were down 1-2 going into the last minutes of the game when we leveled 2 all. This led to a penalty shoot out. I was up first for the Pastors of Lampang. I meant for the ball to go right of the goal keeper but it went straight at him. Fortunately, the shot squeezed through his legs and into the goal. We ended up winning 2-0 in the penalty shoot out.

Here are some of the more unusual sports

Beginning of Student Ministry

After a month of no students turning up on Friday nights for our student evening, we had 8 Chinese students on exchange at the local university. They come to practice their conversational English.

And then there was 7, No 8, 9? Back to 7

This morning we were very annoyed with our neighbour's dogs as they were barking loudly and it was before 6am. After I got up I normally check on Phayu and I couldn't find her in the usual places. Then I discovered her with 6 puppies, having given birth in the garden! I had been training her for the past 2 weeks to give birth in the box I had setup in the outside room. Within the next hour she gave birth to 2 more puppies. The last one (9th) didn't make it as it had stopped growing sometime in the pregnancy.
Unfortunately, blacky #1 didn't make it. Phayu lay on top of him while I was taking the children to school and our househelp answered the yelps of blacky too late. Phayu then started to eat Blacky before I took him away. I waited until the children came home and we buried him in our garden.

Blacky #2 with the rest of the gang.

Cleaner enviroment of the box I'd prepared (and my old mambo shirt). I don't really know how I'm meant to be taking care of these puppies. Phayu seems to be eating the poos of the puppies so the box is being kept clean? Do I put newspaper in the box and change it each day?

It seems that giving away the puppies will not be a problem. Already had plenty of people wanting a puppy. Hopefully I can help Phayu keep most of them alive until abour 6-8 weeks when they can be weaned and given away.

South African Team

We have a South African Short-term team here in Lampang for 1 week from our team leader's church. They have been running a program at a local Christian school where only a small minority of students are Christians. I helped translate for the team which was stretching at times to say the least.