We're in Chiang Mai :)

Sunday, February 11th –
Well, things are still going along smoothly at the conference center. Many of us have found a place to help with the smaller children when we find free time. Worship is still going very well. I (Matt typing here) am just amazed at how things are coming together so quickly and smoothly. The workers here don’t often have the opportunity to worship as we do in this setting, and one can just see the refreshment on their faces! It’s a blessing all around just to see hearts longing so much for the Lord. The children’s ministry is going great. They’re playing around and laughing, and there seemed to be a lot of “wacky” activities for them to learn more about God. Roy and Carol are having an awesome time being “grandparents” to the wee (really young) ones. Let me tell you (Matt typing again), the food can get so incredibly spicy here. I ordered coconut milk curry chicken, thinking it would be a paste (but it was a soup), and I ordered it “Mai pet loi” which basically means “Absolutely no spice.” Well, that was the absolute spiciest food I’ve ever had in my life. One sip had my throat burning, and I couldn’t feel my lips for about half an hour. Seriously, I wish they had that four-star system here, but the language barrier’s a bit much for that. The Holy Spirit really seems to be refreshing people and ministering to their hearts here, and we are all so thankful that the Lord (through you) has enabled us to serve. Well, we’ve struggled through the limited internet to post this, and it’s about dinner time. Haha, pray for our stomachs :). God bless, thank you for your prayers, and please continue to pray that we would be a blessing and that we would gain eyes for God’s work in the world. On that last note, we are all certainly having our perspectives and minds broadened as we interact with and listen to those who have served long-term.

Saturday, February 10th –
We left our hotel early to catch our flight to Chiang Mai and arrived at the conference center on time for our first meal of the day about 1:30 pm. Then everyone scattered to their prospective areas to either set up or practice. Shannon was recruited to the worship team completing the sound with djembe, and that really helped mold the sound together. Ron got to preview worship practice; they sound awesome. It’s just like God to bring people together from around the world that complement one another. Larry has been busy helping out in multiple places. Dave and Jackie were busy setting up children’s ministry with a group of women from Phoenix and California. The internet connection is only dial-up at the conference center so will not have the ability to upload pictures till we go into town. We’ve obtained a phone. If anyone needs to contact someone from the team you can call Ron at 011-country code-086 090 4734

Friday, February 9th
Sawade Ka (from the women) / Krap (from the men), Greetings from Thailand! We took advantage of our overnight stay in Bangkok for Ron and Ann Marie to reconnect with the Good News Center (GNS) staff and give the team exposure to a Thai Church. We want to share a few insights from our day in Bangkok. If you’ve not had the opportunity to check out the Good News Center link from our blog, take a moment to acquaint yourself with The Good News Center.

Kelly Hildebrand and his wife moved to Bangkok nine years ago, learning Thai for the first two years then began the ESL (English as a Second Language) program, as an outreach. Today the Good News Center is entirely Thai lead with a young thriving church, language school, and university club. From its inception the Hilderbrands’ have worked toward the Good News Center being financially self-sufficient. In the past the English School was the primary source of income for the Church. A recent decline in the number of teachers has impacted the number of English students they can enroll. Pray for God to rise up more English Teachers to come serve at GNC. The GNS will train and equip teachers, previous experience is not required just a willing heart and English as your native language. Financial support needed for a single teacher / worker is $600/month to live in Bangkok.

In order to continue with financial self-sufficiency, The Good New Center is helping to start small Christian businesses. Their first business venture is Yo So Travel agency. We had the pleasure and honor to be Yo So’s first customer. Yo, the travel agent director recently took a big leap of faith; quit his job in advertising. Fifty percent of Yo So Travel’s profit goes to the Good New Center. I don’t know about you but a 50% tithe challenges me. Pray its success.

So Yo and Goi (pronounced Guy) took us on a short tour of Bangkok. before we joined The Good News Friday evening worship services. We want to tell you a little more about Goi. She has been a Christian for 5 years. She is one of the older Christians at the Good New Center. Last year when Ron, Ann Marie and Toni were at the Good News Center for Encounter (Foursquare mission course and outreach), Goi was busy studying for the law exam. In Thailand one writes their law exam after graduating with a BA in law. After completing the law exam, one is a lawyer and can enter the court as a defense, plaintive lawyer. Goi is now studying to take the Bar Exam, requiring an advanced degree (not quite a MA). While studying she is doing contract work with International Justice Ministry (see www.IJM.com). IJM is a Christian Ministry, helping to being people to justice through the world. In Thailand a big portion of International Justice Ministry work is in the area of Sex Trafficking. Goi writes her bar exam April 1st and the 8th. The first is civil law and the eighth is criminal. With the Bar completed, Goi can become a judge or prosecutor. Her desire is to become a prosecutor, probably the first Christian prosecutor in Thailand. Also pray for a full time job for Goi, she has been looked over for some jobs in Bangkok because the applications have asked if she is willing to lie and she says no.