Day 3
Met Justin and Wei Yi who're bible college students and are really friendly people. Even though they're there on holiday, they've planned to do really random things like visit the orphanage with us the next day and to even visit the flood-affected areas to help do clean up. Talk about a vacation with a purpose! I'm hoping my grad trip would be something like that in 2013!
Found out from Mint that her family does a perfume business. She's planning to visit Singapore with Anisha who's also staying next door to us, except that she's not a student- she's a Christian Volunteer who works there and teaches English. I would consider teaching there too if the Lord leads me there. Really admire Anisha's courage to go and teach alone in a country that doesn't speak her language.
So Jasmine and I bought a couple of bottles of perfume, and who knows? Jasmine might be her future business partner someday too since she's starting a blog shop:)
Day 4
Visited an orphanage today. The children aren't very shy. I asked a little girl to sit on my lap and she did just that. Reminded me of the younger beth. They're all very sincere too and polite. Makes me wish that the Singaporean children can experience the simple life, playing with sand and enjoying nature without all of life's complexities and technology. (irony of using technology now to type this)
Justin led in games which the children really enjoyed, and we sang 有一件礼物 after jasmine explained the meaning of the song.
Day 5
Finally visited Lighthouse. It's a very beautiful building. We had prayer meeting with P'Gade and family, Bro Nat, P'Apple, P'Parn, and another family which i can't remember the names of... Though the group was small, the thanksgiving was encouraging to hear.
Day 6
Had a Christmas dinner party at P'Apple's rooftop garden. We went to invite her relatives who were staying nearby to join us for dinner. It was a good turn up, despite being unsure at first whether they would even come in the first place! Some of them commented that it was a little too early for Christmas. Felt rather useless that I couldn't speak much proper thai or understand what they were trying to say to me. But P'Apple reassured me (through a recent reply of a letter i wrote to her) that the family enjoyed the dinner and it was our presence that encouraged her that she wasn't the only christian around.
Separated from Jasmine at night at Bro Nat's home and we were off to Parn's village. Had to alternate sitting in front with P'Parn to wake up the also alternating drivers Bro Nat and P'Gade. It was a long 8 hours journey. But had the opportunity to listen and share stories with Bro Nat when it was my turn to be in front.
Bro Nat shared with me the verse that spoke to him before he decided to do mission work. Few people would do what he did- to take God's word as it is and obey.
Day 7
Reached Parn's village and was welcomed by the chilly but refreshing weather. I loved the first sight of Parn's home when i first saw it. First day without being able to update my friends and family back home because no 3G (i used it up in the first week. :P)
Chased chickens with John while waiting for the team to arrive. Met the children from the neighbourhood. They were all drawn by the guitar i was playing randomly and electric piano that Bro Nat brought along. Taught them how to play "christmas pen weelaa" and i didn't feel like there was much of language barrier problems anymore with them :) What's awesome is... they also understood my lousy Thai!
When the team arrived, there was a sense of relief in me! We went out tracting after that in the evening and sang carols just outside the temple. Yes, just outside the temple.
Day 8 (Sunday)
Arina and I woke up earliest to help P'Parn with making breakfast. I enjoy watching Parn's mom (who's a believer) when she makes khaw niaw (sticky rice) with such skill and ease when the rice is actually super hot. I fried the veggies to the best of my ability and it turned out fine! We said grace anyway haha.
Today's the first sunday service held just at the porch of Parn's place. It was really awesome watching Bro Nat telling the children a bible story. Felt rather sad that it was not going to be a consistent thing the children will be privileged to have till God knows when. But nonetheless, i could see the hunger for bible knowledge in the children and the joy they all had in learning the story of the blind man.
Went out carolling again in the village and gave out DVDs and gifts to different people of different ages. It was encouraging that the children we befriended decided to join us as well. We had a Christmas party that night at the front porch for all the children, and we did the hands skit and a puppet show to entertain and teach them the gospel. I pray that they won't forget the Jesus we talked about. I pray that Parn will continue in this wonderful ministry in the village. He's really all they've got in terms of someone christian to look up to. I met 18 year old Khuan who's a teen who had listened to the gospel 5 times but had not made a decision yet. I pray that he will decide soon, because I could really envision him working together with Parn in reaching the village together. May God continue in the wonderful work in Parn's village.
Day 9 (19 Dec 2011)
Made breakfast again! Said our goodbyes to the children who, thank God, understood me when i asked for a group photo! Missed Nong Kaet, Lily, Poi, Toad, and more which i can't recall their names right now. Bad memory urgh...
Made it to Khon Kaen and stayed in Pastor Berm's church for the night.
(to be continued...)
Met Justin and Wei Yi who're bible college students and are really friendly people. Even though they're there on holiday, they've planned to do really random things like visit the orphanage with us the next day and to even visit the flood-affected areas to help do clean up. Talk about a vacation with a purpose! I'm hoping my grad trip would be something like that in 2013!
Found out from Mint that her family does a perfume business. She's planning to visit Singapore with Anisha who's also staying next door to us, except that she's not a student- she's a Christian Volunteer who works there and teaches English. I would consider teaching there too if the Lord leads me there. Really admire Anisha's courage to go and teach alone in a country that doesn't speak her language.
So Jasmine and I bought a couple of bottles of perfume, and who knows? Jasmine might be her future business partner someday too since she's starting a blog shop:)
Day 4
Visited an orphanage today. The children aren't very shy. I asked a little girl to sit on my lap and she did just that. Reminded me of the younger beth. They're all very sincere too and polite. Makes me wish that the Singaporean children can experience the simple life, playing with sand and enjoying nature without all of life's complexities and technology. (irony of using technology now to type this)
Justin led in games which the children really enjoyed, and we sang 有一件礼物 after jasmine explained the meaning of the song.
Day 5
Finally visited Lighthouse. It's a very beautiful building. We had prayer meeting with P'Gade and family, Bro Nat, P'Apple, P'Parn, and another family which i can't remember the names of... Though the group was small, the thanksgiving was encouraging to hear.
Day 6
Had a Christmas dinner party at P'Apple's rooftop garden. We went to invite her relatives who were staying nearby to join us for dinner. It was a good turn up, despite being unsure at first whether they would even come in the first place! Some of them commented that it was a little too early for Christmas. Felt rather useless that I couldn't speak much proper thai or understand what they were trying to say to me. But P'Apple reassured me (through a recent reply of a letter i wrote to her) that the family enjoyed the dinner and it was our presence that encouraged her that she wasn't the only christian around.
Separated from Jasmine at night at Bro Nat's home and we were off to Parn's village. Had to alternate sitting in front with P'Parn to wake up the also alternating drivers Bro Nat and P'Gade. It was a long 8 hours journey. But had the opportunity to listen and share stories with Bro Nat when it was my turn to be in front.
Bro Nat shared with me the verse that spoke to him before he decided to do mission work. Few people would do what he did- to take God's word as it is and obey.
Matthew 6:33- Seek ye first His kingdom and righteousness and all these things (life's necessities) shall be added unto you.
Day 7
Reached Parn's village and was welcomed by the chilly but refreshing weather. I loved the first sight of Parn's home when i first saw it. First day without being able to update my friends and family back home because no 3G (i used it up in the first week. :P)
Chased chickens with John while waiting for the team to arrive. Met the children from the neighbourhood. They were all drawn by the guitar i was playing randomly and electric piano that Bro Nat brought along. Taught them how to play "christmas pen weelaa" and i didn't feel like there was much of language barrier problems anymore with them :) What's awesome is... they also understood my lousy Thai!
When the team arrived, there was a sense of relief in me! We went out tracting after that in the evening and sang carols just outside the temple. Yes, just outside the temple.
Day 8 (Sunday)
Arina and I woke up earliest to help P'Parn with making breakfast. I enjoy watching Parn's mom (who's a believer) when she makes khaw niaw (sticky rice) with such skill and ease when the rice is actually super hot. I fried the veggies to the best of my ability and it turned out fine! We said grace anyway haha.
Today's the first sunday service held just at the porch of Parn's place. It was really awesome watching Bro Nat telling the children a bible story. Felt rather sad that it was not going to be a consistent thing the children will be privileged to have till God knows when. But nonetheless, i could see the hunger for bible knowledge in the children and the joy they all had in learning the story of the blind man.
Went out carolling again in the village and gave out DVDs and gifts to different people of different ages. It was encouraging that the children we befriended decided to join us as well. We had a Christmas party that night at the front porch for all the children, and we did the hands skit and a puppet show to entertain and teach them the gospel. I pray that they won't forget the Jesus we talked about. I pray that Parn will continue in this wonderful ministry in the village. He's really all they've got in terms of someone christian to look up to. I met 18 year old Khuan who's a teen who had listened to the gospel 5 times but had not made a decision yet. I pray that he will decide soon, because I could really envision him working together with Parn in reaching the village together. May God continue in the wonderful work in Parn's village.
Day 9 (19 Dec 2011)
Made breakfast again! Said our goodbyes to the children who, thank God, understood me when i asked for a group photo! Missed Nong Kaet, Lily, Poi, Toad, and more which i can't recall their names right now. Bad memory urgh...
Made it to Khon Kaen and stayed in Pastor Berm's church for the night.
(to be continued...)
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