TRAVELING IN THAILAND

Everything is amazingly green - it rains just about every day

Linda in a Lahu village

Laos is just across the Mekhong River from Chiang Khong

A giant green Buddha faces the highway

Today we took the beautiful drive from Chiang Khong back to Chiang Rai. Because it's been raining almost everyday, the countryside is lush and green. The rain has kept it cooler, only about 85 degrees, but with 50-80% humidity it feels like 110. Most of the Hmong came across from Laos, a gorgeous country, but one of the worst persecutors of Christians.

It was fun to drive a stick shift again; however, since you drive on the left, the truck is right hand drive which means you shift with your left hand. The turn signal stalk is also reversed, so we keep turning on the wipers when we're trying to signal. :/

MINISTRY

Dan teaches with help from our interpreter Apisit

Praying for a sick Hmong woman

Paul takes a selfie

Two of our sessions were Q & A

Paul tries unsuccessfully to refuse Bashua's gift of 100 baht

The worship and teaching has been great this week. We were teaching them about ministry and service this year and they all were responding enthusiastically. Bashua, the 90 year old woman who smuggles Bibles into Laos (guards don't pay attention to an old woman), insisted on giving each of us $100 baht (just over $3.00). Yes, if you're wondering, she did make us cry.

THE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE

Debbie, Linda and their interpreter, Pang

There were about 45 women at the conference

This is Bashua; she's another story in herself

The Hmong women received jewelry gifts

There is another conference going on along with the Pastor's training; a women's conference. Debbie Hayes and Linda Holgate led four sessions with the Hmong women. We started this for the women last year, and this time, we could see a lot of growth and interest in them. The Hmong ladies were very happy with the gifts of jewelry that the women of Calvary had made for them.

HMONG CONFERENCE

The Conference Center in Chiang Khong

We think there were about 100 on the first day

As always, the Hmong were very attentive

We accomplished the two hour drive to Chiang Khong on Monday, and Pastor Paul did a good job of staying on the correct (left) side of the road in the 2nd truck. It's a bit more complicated than that actually; you don't really wait for a break in oncoming traffic to pass in Thailand, just a wide spot in the road where everyone can squeeze by (it's quite exciting sometimes).

The Hmong were very happy to see us again and so far they are again loud and vigorous in worship and seriously focused during the teaching. So far, we've finished 3 of 10 sessions and everything is going very well. We appreciate the prayer support! There have been a few instances where we know that we're facing tremendous opposition, and the Hmong are also.

FIRST DAY

Our friends Pi Jalay and Pi Leah live in this Lahu village

This is their church in the village

They happened to be meeting when we visited

Pi Ron and Pi Jalay

At Baan Immanuel

We arrived safely after about 27 hours in airports and planes. After dinner we slept for about 12 hours and were good to go! It's been raining here in the morning and afternoon; a welcome break from the heat. Today we visited Pi Jalay and Pi Leah, our friends who used to be at Baan Immanuel but have moved to a Lahu village to minister to them. We happened to come when they had a teacher from the Baptist foundation doing a discipleship service. That was fun even though we only had a few parts translated for us.

PREPARATIONS

We are taking gifts for the Hmong women and the kids

The Married Couples Class ladies made the jewelry

Fun and Fellowship

Everyone was happy to help

Last year we took scarves for all the Hmong wives and they were thrilled to be honored that way. This year many of the women in our Married Couples Class got together to make jewelry for them. Dwight, a brother in the class, made 'survival' bracelets for all the boys and girls at Baan Immanuel. This whole outreach is a family project - the team, the gifts, the prayer support and everyone who supports Calvary!

GOING BACK TO THAILAND!

While our time will be mainly in cities, most of the Hmong come from rural villages 

We've spent weeks preparing our lessons, gathering supplies and shopping for a hot and humid trip. Now it's just four days before we head for the airport on Wednesday.