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.