2013 THAILAND MISSION

The Hmong can PRAY and SING! They are enthusiastic at both

This is Peng, one of our Hmong interpreters

This is Bashua, a Hmong elder and evangelist - she turned 96 this year

This is our 3rd year with the Hmong and we're getting to know some of them better and also meeting new people. Bashua, the Hmong "elder" woman turned 96 this year and she still travels around making disciples and evangelizing. She was just as eager this year, taking notes and following along. 

We got more information about the Hmong who were arrested at the border as they traveled home. It was 20 of them, not just 10 and that included women and children. Bashua was one of them. They spent about six hours in jail and had all their Christian materials confiscated. I can't imagine all the notes that must have been in Bashua's Bible. Also, it was not just 7,000 baht that got them released; it was 25,000 baht - a little over 800 dollars. The Hmong leaders felt they needed to take responsibility and came up with 18,000 THB themselves. We realized later that must have been the money we'd given them as gifts and reimbursement for their work organizing the conference. They had to ask us for the 7,000 that they were short. 

And then our brother Som Sat called and had to talk to each of us in turn at the airport today to apologize over and over for the Hmong having to ask us for the additional money. (Please! We only gave them about $200 extra for that - we were frankly ashamed and awed by their selfless care for each other.) 

LAST DAY

The Hmong women were excited to pick out their gifts

There were enough for 2 each! One woman gave one of hers to Kendra, who was  there with us  while  visiting Ron

Our official Hmong coats

Getting ready to leave Chiang Khong

Our last day with the Hmong was sweet and sad. The ladies presented the Hmong women with gifts; scarves and blankets donated by the women of Calvary and Grace. They were very happy and grateful for such a token of love. The Hmong leaders gave us all traditional tribal coats and said "now you're all  Hmong". It was difficult to get away as they all wanted to give us hugs.

Later we learned that ten of the Hmong from Laos were arrested going back over the border. We knew someone with influence (plus $7,000 baht) and got them released after about 6 hours but all their notes, new songbooks and Bibles were confiscated. The others from that region waited an extra day to cross. It's good that we had just taught them about suffering and rewards for following Jesus!

HELPING LEADERS LEAD

Pastor Mark gets help from a volunteer

Linda had a great response from the Hmong women

In their culture, there is almost nothing offered to women; they were eager to  learn

What a week! We had to rent extra rooms because so many Hmong came to the conference. Even then, they were sleeping at least ten in rooms designed for four. These are all Hmong Christian pastors, elders and leaders, and they are hungry for the Word and for help in pastoring the churches. We estimate that the 200 leaders represent over 55,000 believers in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

This year was very different because our wives are teaching the Hmong women. They are so sweet and responsive; they are quick to pray for each other and worship with great zeal. While the women were in their sessions, the men (mostly pastors themselves) were very intent on the teaching and direction we brought. 

This is already the morning of our last day with them (Thursday). We will have done 12 sessions total, and they do hours of worship together besides that. Last night, we asked anyone who wanted special prayer (although in a language they didn't know) to stand. Everyone in the room stood. We prayed for all of them. Then they had us stand in front and they prayed for all of us. Then they all walked past and gave us big hugs. Paul Hayes cried. 

It will be hard to leave them this afternoon. We have a couple sessions left and then we'll present gifts to them, and especially to those who have worked hard to organize the conference. It's been a rough week with the heat/humidity and all the sitting. Most of us have swollen legs and feet. The mattresses in the hotel are what we'd call box-springs, so that doesn't help, but we're so exhausted each night we sleep anyway. What a wonderful opportunity this has been to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ!

GOD INTERVENES

Former Goodyear man Pastor Paul takes charge as Pastor Mark supervises

Had to use a combination of tools from the two vehicles, but we got the job done

On our way to Chiang Khong, we were following Ron Miller, who had a load of Hmong song books in his truck. It was pouring rain off and on when we saw Ron pulling off the road. We said "oh look, he's got a flat tire!" But Ron didn't know he had a flat; he just happened to be pulling off to see if the books were getting wet. As we pulled over, the tire went completely flat. It had apparently just burst on one of the many pot holes we'd been hitting. 

Neither Ron nor we would have realized anything was wrong until the tire completely failed. Thank The Lord for intervening to keep us safe!

HMONG CONFERENCE BEGINS

This is the conference center we've rented in Chiang Khong

The conference hall was packed the very first night

Here's the "men's side" of the room

We arrived in Chiang Khong on Monday afternoon. We had already been told that there were more people coming than we expected. Unfortunately, about 60 of them were stopped at the border in Laos and we could only afford to pay for about half of them to get through.

Even so, our little conference hall was packed with Hmong Christian leaders and their wives! Our best count is around 210 total. It's so encouraging to see how they have embraced this conference with more and more coming each year. Thank You for Praying!

ABOUT THE FOOD

That odd looking fruit is pretty good

Even breakfast at the hotel has a Thai flavor

This was a sit on the floor and share meal

When you eat with your fingers, you get them greasy before taking sticky rice ('cause it's really sticky)

Okay, maybe it's not always the healthy stuff

There are some things that are just too hot to eat; and you don't  usually get warned

At the conference center in Chiang Khong

Well, this speaks for itself

Even though most of the food here is healthier that our normal diet at home, we always end up gaining some pounds on these trips. It's not fancy, it's just so good.  This week, we've hired some cooks for the conference, so we'll be getting a lot of traditional Hmong and Thai dishes. At about $1.40 per meal, it will be better than what they usually get, but we really want to bless these Christian leaders.  Meals are also a great time to interact with our guests.

RECONNECTING

The soccer field at Baan Immanuel had flooded with all the rain and some of their fish had escaped the  overflowing ponds 

Som Sat and his new wife (expecting! see that smile?)

Annie with baby Irene at Baan Immanuel

Pi-Ba Thay at the Lahu orphanage

Ba Thay's wife Anna making lunch

Pi-Ba Thay, Anna and "Ford" who was born in one of their cars

This is the tractor that a family from Calvary purchased for Baan Immanuel

We spent the first weekend reconnecting with friends and visiting some of the tribal orphanages connected with Baan Immanuel. It was great to see everyone again! After over 20 years in ministry, several of the kids who have grown up with Pi-Ron have returned to their villages and oversee orphan outreaches there. 

BAAN IMMANUEL

This is us at Baan Immanuel with Pi-Ron (out of focus - take my word for it)

Our first meal was a traditional, everyone share affair

They had invited friends and neighbors to join us

As usual, everything was delicious

On our first day, Ron and Pi-Nu met us at the airport and that evening our friends at Baan Immanuel shared a traditional Thai feast. We all sat on the floor and cooked various items they had prepared (they'd slaughtered one of their pigs for the occasion). The odd looking fruit was (I think maybe) lychee, but they called it something different.

TRAVEL DAY

Getting organized at Sky Harbor

5 airports, 30 hours: I think this was Hong Kong

Our brief layover in Bangkok: think "humidity"

Yay! We've made it to Chiang Rai, Thailand with all our luggage after 30 hours from when we arrived at Sky Harbor. It wasn't as smooth as we'd been told; we weren't able to check our bags through to Thailand, so we ended up having to check our bags three times at the five airports we traversed. 

There were a lot of bags. There were two for equipment and Hmong CDs that we were taking and two more for gifts that had been given for the Hmong women that we will meet next week. We are so excited to be here!

ONE WEEK

This is not Thailand. These are my grand kids; aren't they adorable?

We are just over one week away, and everyone is preparing for the conference. It's a major effort for the Hmong pastors to travel and take a week away from work and their churches for the conference, and we really want to bless, equip and encourage them. 

PLANNNING IN FLAGSTAFF

Pastor Mark and Laurie Smith of Grace Community Church are missionary veterans

Along with Laurie, Debbie Hayes & Linda Holgate will teach the Hmong women

Who's tallest? I actually think Pastor Mark was standing uphill

It's just 2 weeks before we leave for Thailand! The team gathered in Flagstaff to pray and plan the teaching sessions for the 5-day conference. (What, you thought we'd meet in Phoenix in the summer? We're smarter than that!) We'll teach 12 sessions, and during some of them the wives of the Hmong leaders will gather with our wives for their own sessions.  PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR PREPARATION! Some of the Hmong Pastors will travel for 3 days to get to the conference and we want the Holy Spirit to richly bless them.