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I have returned safely from my recent trip to Thailand where I was blessed mightily by The Lord our God - Jesus, who was with me and enabled me to be a help in many ways.
My original plan was to visit Cambodia, but in His wisdom God shut that door. Andrea and Jay offered me a place to stay in Chang Mai at very short notice and this turned out to be the place that God wanted me to be all along.
I was meet at the airport by Andrea, who was part of the Dengke 99 team ( Dengke is in China but with a Tibetan culture) project, and her husband Jay. Andrea and Jay are missionaries in Thailand working with YWAM. Andrea and I discussed what work was possible for me to do, and one of my first activities included some work at an orphanage. Jay and I played with the kids while we made up a jobs to do list.
Jay and I went to a hardware supermarket and purchased the door bolts, door knobs, brackets etc. that we would be needing to fix this and that. That was the job for the next day. That evening we had a meal at an hotel with a Thai bhudist dancing as a floor show. The dancers and performers were very graceful and had great skill with drums, knives and animal costumed dancing. In the car park after the show people were releasing hot air balloons that shot up into the sky. The hot air balloons were a symbol of a release from sin as the sins were taken up by the hot air ballon.
That was the first day, on the second day Jay and I repaired broken beds replaced door bols, drawer knobs and drawer handles. We played with the kids and we also plumbed in a washing machine. The other jobs needed more time and expertise that we could offer in the time left to me.
On the saturday we were invited to a love feast at the YWAM h/q. The directo of the orphanage and some of the kids were there along with many of the missionaries. This gave me a great opportunity to meet more people.
Jay had been trying to place me with a group that were going to help refugees in a northern village. Again God shut the door on my plans and giuded me in another direction. My talk with the administrator of the YWAM h.q. was a prelude to being asked to teach some English in the place of a teacher who had to leave for a few days. This was a great enjoyment to me teaching a Thai member of the staff on one day and teaching at a church on another evening to a class of 40 Thai people.
In the following days Andrea fixed me up with a venture where a school is being built for the diplaced Lahu tribes. This was followed by a visit to the Lahu village, each house was made of bamboo and the only solid structure was the one year old church in the middle of the village. On our return the Chang Mai we went to a lower economic school where I read a bible story to the Thai children.
During my stay I also took in some of the tourist attractions, this included a ride on an elephant, and watched a show where the elephents performed many tricks and showed us how to score goals in football. A Thai temple covered in gold was another attraction and on the way back we indulged in some fried river beetles. Great.
A tour guide named Emmy helped me fill in my last few days. We visited a home for the elderly and destitute people. During Emmy's warm up and singalong she asked me to sing a song. I actually sang two as I was asked back to sing as other members of the community took turns with their own favourites. My choice..The wonder of You and Rhinestone Cowboy, songs that I have sung to our own elderly people.
friday was the last meeting with my new YWAM friends and as a special treat they played a film for me. Robin Hood Prince of Thieves , was there choice. That made me feel right at home.
A note from Andrea and Jay's newsletter.
What about Bob/
Bob is from the land of Robin Hood. He had a 2 week outreach planned for Cambodia, which fell through at the last minute. It was a God- thing that Bob landed at our house, and hopefully we were able to provide for him an unforgettable two weeks of reaching the people of Thailand.
He joined us in some of our ministries and we set him up with others. He taught English to our YWAM Thai staff...taught bible to at a lower economic Thai school...told university students about the unconditional love of God...taught English to our community through our church! repaired wooden beds, doors, etc, at the YWAM orphanage & played with the orphans! joined the men's group that jay facilitates! encouraged a new Lahu tribal church! sang songs at an old folks home! and more! THANKS BOB FOR BLESSING THAILAND.
Take a look at the gallery for pictures of my visit.
Bob. |
