Homestay in Heaven

Congregation of First Church of Fang in Worship

The highlight of orientation for our volunteers is a three-day homestay in Fang in the far north of Thailand. This comes after two weeks of orientation to Thailand, Thai food, Thai customs and culture, and at least 20 hours of basic Thai language. The Fang homestay experience always begins with worship on Sunday morning. Our CVT volunteers join the congregation (see thumbnail below) in a traditional Christian worship service during which they are introduced to the congregation. This congregation has offered this homestay experience to our volunteers on four different occasions.  The church sees it as a ministry to new missionaries and our volunteers see it as a valuable learning experience of Thai family life and culture.

CVT Volunteer Ben and an Admirer

After worship and a wonderful noon meal with the congregation, our volunteers met their homestay families (see thumbnail below) and were taken to their homes.  The afternoon was spent getting to know the families.  Then, we gathered in the evening for a great feast of smoked and roasted meats, fish, mixed vegetables and rice. All of it was cooked (see thumbnails below) as we sat on the family porch overlooking the fish pond, talking about life in Thailand and its unique quirks. Ben, one of our volunteers, found a guitar to play and a ready audience in the three little dogs that were running around looking for those who would stop to pet them. When the food was ready, we dug in and ate. The young people of the church ate and then went inside to sing songs, talk about life in Christ and play games together.

Ed, Ben and New Friends in Fang After Bible Study

The next day was a holiday for most Thai people. Ed and Ben spent the day with their host families: Ben helping to paint the remodeled home of the teachers he was living with and Ed working in the nursery and flower shop of his host family.  Acharn Chonchineepan and I had a rare day off, so we went to the beauty salon of one of the church members. There we indulged in a manicure, pedicure and facial massage. Acharn Chonchineepan also had her hair done while I spent time reading a new book on the Kindle Fire that my son gave me for Christmas. That evening after dinner, Ed and Ben joined members of the church at a Bible study in the home of one of the members.

Acharn Chonchineepan at the Petroleum Museum

The next day was packed with interesting stuff! We began by going to the Fang Petroleum Museum. I did not even know that Thailand had petroleum, but the very first oil field was discovered in Fang back in the 1950′s. At this time, there are 59 productive wells in the Northern (Fang) District and there is a little museum that tells the story of how it was discovered and how petroleum is refined and used in Thailand. There are, of course, many more oil fields in Thailand and the most productive fields are in the center of the country.

CVT Volunteer Ed Wandering Through the Hinoka House

From the petroleum museum, we went to the Hinoka House, a grand home built by the owner of Thailand’s most successful cedar oil business. We learned that cedar oil is extracted from cedar imported from Laos. It sells for 80,000 THB per liter (about $2,500 a quart) and is used in the production of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. The entire Hinoka House is built of cedar and teak and is fit for royalty. I counted three bedrooms and three bathrooms, a living room, dining room (with cedar bar), and other multipurpose rooms. While Laos has halted the export of cedar, the owner of the Hinoka House has been given an exemption and he continues to import cedar and extract the oil. In addition, the House itself has spawned a new business. People want to purchase furniture made of cedar and mattresses and pillows with cedar shavings inside. I bought the smallest pillow I could find and the smell of the cedar shavings is still so strong that I doubt I could sleep on it all night.

All of Us in Front of the Geyser

After a wonderful lunch at a restaurant on the main street in Fang, we drove out of town and into the rural areas. We entered a National Park where there are hot springs that bubble up through the rocks. Some of the pools of water are too hot to touch, but we went to a place where we could boil eggs in the water.  Once we put our eggs in the water, we sat down nearby to watch a geyser.  Every 25 minutes, this geyser makes an appearance and sends a stream of boiling water straight up into the air.  It was a spectacular show. After about 20 minutes, we rescued our eggs from the nearby hot spring and had a great snack of hard boiled eggs and soy sauce.

Pastor Sawan, Sharon, Ben and Ed at Fang Church

We returned to Fang and were hosted for dinner at another member’s house.  It was, again, a fabulous spread with chicken curry, fried vegetables, and local favorites with rice. When we crawled into bed that night, we were exhausted. But the next morning, we were up with the sun and met together at the church at 9 AM to say farewell to our host families and travel back to Chiang Mai. On the trip home, we discussed the experience and how it might be improved.  Once again, despite their initial reservations, our CVT volunteers agreed that it was a great experience and that they would recommend it for future CVTs.

More photos (double-click to enlarge):

Sunday Worship in Fang

Homestay Hosts and CVTs

Dinner in Fang with a Host Family

Cooking Meat for Dinner

Ben at Bible Study

Ed Shooting Photos

Lots of Help in the Kitchen

At the Petroleum Museum

Old and New Sanctuaries

The Main Geyser at the National Park

Mr. Makoo and Ed

Tang and Pink Tree

The Big Geyser Show Begins

Tree of Bees at the National Park

Hinoka House Bedroom

Hinoka House Reception

A Dinner in Fang

Shade Created from Nature

Creating the Handle for an Umbrella

One of the places that I like to take our new volunteers to see is the Umbrella Village in Bo Sang, outside of Chiang Mai. It is a place where craftsmen have continued the fine tradition of making umbrellas from natural organic materials. Everything used in the creation of these beautiful umbrellas comes from nature, beginning with the handles that are carved from the branches of trees.  It is a rather primitive lathe, but if the craftsman is skilled, he can produce a beautiful product to be used in the new umbrellas.  While he is creating the handle, the women sitting beside him are creating the framework for the umbrella itself (see thumbnail below) and threading the frame together (see thumbnail below).  Again, everything is made from natural wood and wood products and there is very little waste, for what is not used in an umbrella can be used for fuel in the wood-burning stoves of the village.

Making Paper for Umbrellas

One fascinating part of the process is watching one of the women make the paper that is later glued to the frame of the umbrella.  This paper comes in all colors, with dyes made from natural products. On this particular day, the color was a deep wine color.  The woman was drawing paper fibers from the water with a screen.  Many layers are drawn from the water and then allowed to dry in the sun to make a sturdy paper that is then glued to the frame of the umbrella. It did disturb me that she did not seem happy in her work, though she gave me permission to take her picture.  Of course, she does this every day, all day long, for tourists to see and I can imagine that it is boring work.  The woman who was gluing the paper to the umbrella frame (See thumbnail below) and the ones who were cutting the paper to fit the frame (See thumbnails below), were much happier and more talkative.  Some actually looked up and smiled when I took their pictures.

Umbrella-ed Motorcycle Vendor

After the umbrellas look complete, there are still two more steps: covering the post that is at the top of the umbrella with black paper (see thumbnail below) and painting the umbrellas in designs that are attractive to tourists or others who might use them (see thumbnail below).  Paper umbrellas are widely used year-round in Thailand for they are attractive, light-weight, and give shelter from both sun and rain. As you might imagine, tiny little paper umbrellas are used in fancy cocktails in major hotels around the world.  Small umbrellas are used by school children going to and from school. Regular umbrellas are used by men and women (more women than men, as is true around the world, I think) for shelter from the elements. Large paper umbrellas are used on patios and in businesses by hotels, street vendors, and this man, selling drinks from his motorcycle. Having seen the umbrellas being made, it has made me much more aware of how many uses they have in this culture.  (By the way, if you look in the thumbnails below, you will also see that hats can be painted by these talented umbrella artists, who will also paint purses and cellphones, if asked.  Ben had a dragon painted on his hat as we toured this facility!)

More photos (double-click to enlarge):

Making the Frame

Threading Frame

Gluing the Paper to the Umbrella Frame

 

 

 

 

 

Cutting the Paper to Fit the Frame

Covering the Post

Painting a Patio Umbrella

Hats Can Also Be Painted

Selling the Final Product

Ministry to Diverse Peoples

Senior Pastor and Preacher Share the Pulpit Equally

One of the very first things that our new Christian volunteers experience during orientation is worship at Sapan Luang Church in Bangkok.  From my first visit to this church several years ago, I have been amazed at the church’s ability to reach out to diverse peoples to share the good news of the gospel.  That magic was re-created for our new volunteers when they went to worship at Sapan Luang Church during this orientation.  At Sapan Luang Church, which is an historically Chinese church in Bangkok, everything is communicated in three languages: Chinese, Thai and English. Chinese and Thai are spoken from the pulpit and lectern, while headsets provide English translation for visitors. Both lectern and pulpit have two microphones and two people are given equal time and equal status to communicate the word of God to the congregation.  On some Sundays (like this one), the primary speaker used the Thai language, while the Senior Pastor translated into Chinese.  I have also seen the reverse done on other Sundays.

The Choir – with Lyrics Provided in Two Languages for the Congregation

To provide even more of a sense of the true Pentecost experience, all hymns are sung in Chinese, Thai and English simultaneously. Hymnals in all three languages are provided to worshipers when they arrive for worship and, when the time comes to sing, everyone sings the great hymns of the church in their own language. Sapan Luang also has a great choir that sings every Sunday (and provides a marvelous performance of Handel’s “Messiah” each year at Christmastime, if you are in town). The lyrics of the choral piece are provided in multiple languages on a hidden screen that magically appears in time for the anthem.  It allows everyone who is worshiping to understand the glory of the words, as well as the music, provided by the choir.

Young Missionaries from Sapan Luang Church

We were privileged to be a part of the congregation on the Sunday that they welcomed some of their missionaries home for an annual conference – a time of learning, retreat and renewal. Some of these missionaries are serving and planting new churches in Thailand.  Others are in neighboring countries and some as far away as Taiwan and the USA.  Sapan Luang has many daughter churches.  What a treat it was for us to see that the church’s mission work continues and carries on the fine tradition begun by the original missionaries!  After worship, we were invited to share the noon meal and break bread with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We returned to our guest house refreshed and renewed by an uplifting service of worship and a new circle of Christian friends who have promised to pray for our volunteers as they begin their work here in Thailand.

Only Beach Photos

A Beach Photo

Fishermen at Work

Waves at Dawn

Sunrise on the Beach

A Morning Cloud

Sunset on the Beach

Nong Khae Beach

Nong Khae Beach Again

Dolphin Bay

Kanom Beach in the Rain

Southern Beach

 

 

Sandbars

Beach Farewell

 

 

Through Someone Else’s Eyes

The CCT Headquarters as Seen from an Elevated Train Stop

It is always a delight to begin a new round of orientation for Christian Volunteers in Thailand.  Each new volunteer is different and sees things differently.  So, even if the orientation program is the same for all, the fruit that comes from it is different.  Each person gives me a new perspective of Thailand – its treasures and its people.  Thus, it is always a joy to greet new volunteers. This week, I took our two new volunteers to the headquarters of our partner church, the Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT).  This church is not affiliated with the Church of Christ in the USA in any way. I have explained the origin of the Church of Christ in Thailand in this way: Protestant missionaries arrived in Thailand in the early 1800′s. Each brought their own version of Christianity, depending upon the denomination they represented. By 1934, the Thai Protestant Christian population was so confused by the various denominations represented that they formed their own Thai Ecumenical Protestant Church which was an amalgam of all the Protestant groups working in Thailand at that time. Because the Presbyterian presence was so strong then, the polity (government) of the church is mostly Presbyterian.  But the Christian practice of the CCT is a living, breathing thing that moves left, right, high or low depending upon who is elected to the offices of the church.  I love it that the national headquarters in Bangkok are clearly visible from a distance due to the huge cross on the top of the building.

The Officers of the CCT with Ed (left) and Ben (right)

Our new volunteers, Ed Benner (77) and Ben Ewert (36) went with me to the CCT headquarters to be formally introduced to the officers of the church.  Because so many groups were there and so many meetings were scheduled, we had barely 15 minutes with the officers, but it was an honor and a privilege to have that time with them.  I introduced Ed and Ben to the four officers. I then explained that Ed would be working at Charoenrasdr School in Prae in Northern Thailand and Ben would be working at Sajja Pittaya School, one of our small schools in Bangkok.  Many questions were asked about their families, their travel to Thailand, and so on.  Dr. Boonrat emphasized to our volunteers that the officers would like to have the volunteers stay for a long, long time.  We concluded this time with the officers in the traditional way: having an official photograph taken that will appear in the next issue of Kao Krischak, the official magazine of the national church.

One of the Koi Ponds at the Jim Thompson House

The next day, we went to visit the Jim Thompson House.  Tucked away on a little soi (lane) near the National Stadium elevated train stop, it is a wonderful oasis in the busy, bustling city of Bangkok.  Jim Thompson is credited with taking the cottage industry of Thai silk and turning it into a world renown export business.  The name Jim Thompson is synonymous with quality, originality and fashion.  But, beyond the silk industry, the man himself was a preserver of Thai antiquity. His home is constructed entirely of teak, following ancient practices of design and materials.  Inside his home, rooms are filled with his vast art and artifact collection. The mystery surrounding his disappearance in 1967 has never been resolved.  While I did not enter the actual house this time, I did capture some photos of the tranquility of the grounds – a koi pond by the restaurant surrounded by tall green plants and shaded from the harsh equatorial sun.  It was a blessing just to stop and rest and reflect for a time on the life of this man who was such a champion of the Thai people and their handiwork.  Comments made by our new volunteers when they emerged from the house made similar observations of respect, awe, and admiration for this man.

Life Is…. Challenging… Sometimes

Ben Ewert Arrives Sans Luggage

Excitement has been building for weeks as we prepare for two new volunteers to join us here in Thailand.  Emails have been flying back and forth between the USA and Thailand as we have explained the process for getting a 90-day Non-Immigrant Visa and sharing suggestions on what to pack.  Finally, all was prepared and I flew to Bangkok to receive our new volunteers.  They, in turn, were packed, said their farewells to folks at home, and went  to the airport with all their luggage to board their flights.  Ben was the first to arrive on Saturday night.  His flight was 90 minutes late arriving in Bangkok, but he walked out of Immigration and Customs in the “normal” one-hour time period after that – around 9 PM.  After we found each other in the crowd outside the arrival area, he shared the news that all was not well. Sometime in the five different plane changes and flights he took to get to Bangkok, his two pieces of luggage – one of which is his treasured acoustic guitar – went missing. We spent the next two hours wandering around Suvarnabhumi Airport searching for Air China staff or someone who might be willing to help us track down his luggage.  The wonderful staff at Thai Airways helped us submit a report and promised us that the luggage would be delivered to the Guest House as soon as it was received. Ben and I then took a taxi to the Guest House where Ben check in and went to his room to crash.

It was midnight when I returned to Suvarnabhumi Airport to wait for Ed Benner to come out of Immigration and Customs.  When I got there, I learned that his flight had arrived 30 minutes early and he should be emerging from Customs at any minute.  ”Any minute” turned into 30 minutes… one hour… two hours…  By this time, I had called the Bangkok Christian Guest House to find out whether we had missed each other and he had gone on ahead of me.  But, no.  They had not seen him.  Would they please call me if he showed up? Of course.  I wandered around the airport to see whether he had gone to find somewhere comfortable to sit down.  No. I asked for help from the Tourist Police, but all they could tell me was that not all of the luggage for that flight had arrived.  I waited one more hour and then, at 3 AM, headed back to the Guest House without him.  My total for the day was not good: one volunteer late with no luggage and one volunteer unaccounted for.

Ed Benner in Orientation for New CVT Volunteers

But God is not dead – nor doth He sleep!  Early the next morning, I received an email from Ed Benner.  His flight from San Francisco had been delayed and he missed his connection in Beijing.  He would be on the same flight the following evening.  So, Sunday evening, I returned to my “favorite place” to spend some more time waiting.  A quick check with Thai Airways resulted in my finding the very person who had received Ben’s guitar and packed bag.  He hooked me up with someone who could take me back into Customs and Immigration to get the two bags, sign for them, and walk them through Customs (choosing the Green (No Declarations) Lane and hoping that I was right or that no one would stop me).  No one stopped me.  Ed’s flight was one hour late, but he was on it and came through Customs almost exactly one hour after his flight landed.  So, the story ends happily with two new volunteers sharing orientation with me.

Almost Heaven… An Airport?

One Intersection in the Transit Area of Incheon

I cannot remember a time in my life when I thought a layover in an airport was a good thing!  And I cannot say that I can remember a time when anyone could or would wax poetic about any airport and the time they spent there. But I am changing my tune. Perhaps, it is because airports are changing… in a good way. Anyone who spends much time flying to destinations in the USA or abroad ends up spending more time than they wish to spend within the confines of an airport. When I was traveling routinely, my personal conviction was that “The only good layover was a short layover.”  But now, I have experienced Incheon International Airport and I am singing a new song.

Internet Access and Movie Room at Incheon

For those of us who travel from Thailand to the West Coast of the United States, there is a mandatory layover in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, or some Asian hub.  So, I have seen the inside of airports in Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, and Bangkok. During my last trip to the USA, I spent two such layovers in Incheon International Airport in Seoul.  I am now looking at how I can make my layover in Incheon long enough to take advantage of all the wonderful possibilities that airport has to offer. For example, there is a “Movie Room” in the Transit Area that is upstairs, away from the main flow of traffic that has 14 super-sized plush leather recliners.  When you sit down into them, you sink down into unbelievable comfort that is yours until your flight time. Just around the corner are six computers with Internet access free of charge (Internet access is free of charge throughout the airport for those with Wifi.) with ultramodern executive chairs to sit in. There is a 30 minute limit, but only if there is a line of people who wish to use them. Across from the computer stations, there are six massaging recliners that have leg/foot massage attachments as well.  All of this is free of charge to anyone who is in transit between flights. It is not limited just to the elite who have flown 1,000,000 miles.  But that’s not all!!

The Kids Zone at Incheon

For the tired mom with little ones in tow, there is a play area for little ones that could only come from a child’s fantasy.  In this brightly colored space, there are a variety of toys to play with, things to climb on, things to climb into, and fantasies to enact using child-sized items that a child’s imagination can bring to life.  There are also videos to engage those who are less active and quiet spaces for children to sleep.  In addition, there is a nursing room for moms who want privacy as they breastfeed their tiny ones. Now, if Mom can convince someone else to stay and watch the kids, there is a small shop right next door that will give Mom a manicure, pedicure, or body massage during the time she has available.  OK.  So, these last items are not free, but they are available and not prohibitively expensive.  But that is not all!!

Free Shower at Incheon

There are endless places for people to just sit and relax on padded chairs – suitable for both sitting AND lying down.  There are alcoves filled with furniture designed for even the largest body to relax into.  The furniture faces the glass wall of the second story atrium, but is shielded from the intense glare of the fluorescent lighting by rows of REAL plants – tall, slender potted bushes that create a sense of intimacy and a touch of the outdoors.  But for me, the piece de resistance was learning that I could have a hot shower at no charge!  Tucked away in this second-floor transit area, there is a room with several modern full-sized full baths – each containing a large granite-tiled shower large enough for five people to shower at once with hot and cold running water. In the same room, there is also a toilet, a sink, and well-lit mirrors to help correct any damage that long hours of travel may have imposed on my unwilling body.  A towel, soap and shampoo are provided free-of-charge and, together with the toothbrush and toothpaste I received free on board my flight (Korean Air), I had everything I needed to make repairs and feel like a new woman!  After a twelve-hour flight from the USA and facing another seven-hour flight to Thailand, it was just what I needed!  And that’s not all!!

Free Exhibit on Longevity in the Transit Area

Once I had showered and refreshed my makeup, I was ready to explore.  Once again, the choices are unbelievable!  In the main aisles of the Transit Area, there are dozens of shops offering clothing, cosmetics, household items, electronic gadgets, books, magazines, and so on, that are the stuff of a shopaholic’s dreams. There are restaurants that range from the sophisticated (with linen napkins, wine, and real silverware) to fast-food junkie havens. Every ordinary restroom complex comes complete with a deluxe room set aside for those with disabilities with easy-to-operate doors (electronic), faucets, and other necessities. But what captured my attention was a museum-quality exhibit of Korean art set up in the upper level of the Transit Area (away from the flow of traffic).  Here I could spend a good 30 minutes or more learning about symbols of longevity in Korean art – and it was a different exhibit that the one I walked through in the same Transit Area just six weeks earlier! There is more, but I am jet-lagged and too tired to go on.  However, I cannot wait to experience another layover at Incheon.   There is still so much that I have NOT done that is available free-of-charge to transit passengers. No wonder incidents of “passenger rage” are so low here!

More photos (Click on photo to enlarge):

Incheon Airport at Night

One Section of the Longevity Art Exhibit

Another Cultural Exhibit with Personable Staff

A Snoozing Alcove at Incheon

Unimaginable Beauty Lies in Remote Places

Trinh Hagedorn, School Children and New Books

I was privileged to travel into a remote part of Thailand in February with two co-workers to look at the possibility of new volunteer placement sites.  As always in my travels in Thailand, I was blown away by the sheer beauty of the land and the beautiful souls of the people.  On this trip, we traveled by car west from Bangkok to Nakhon Pathom, where we met Trinh Hagedorn, one of our CVT volunteers. Over lunch in the courtyard of the Grand Chedi, the largest stupa in the world (see thumbnail below), Trinh shared with us some of what he is doing in his work at one of our smallest schools, Sawang Wittaya. He also shared how he is adapting to life in Thailand. While he faces the challenges of life in a different culture every day, he enjoys spending time with the students and helping them with their English. He is partnering with his home church, St Paul Lutheran Church in Narrowsburg, Pennsylvania, along with the Narrowsburg Library and Thrivent for Lutherans (Hudson Valley Chapter), to build an “English Corner” in the library at Sawang Wittaya School.  The first books arrived at the school at the end of March 2013. (See library donors in thumbnail below.)

Hellfire Pass

From Nakhon Pathom, we went on to Kanchanaburi, where we visited the War Cemetery, a final resting place for those who died building the “Death Railway” (see thumbnails below).  And, on our way up into the mountains, we stopped at the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum and learned more about this tragic time in Thailand’s history when it was occupied by the Japanese and prisoners of war were forced to build the railway to Burma. It was during the rainy season in 1943 that thousands of men were forced to work 24-hours a day to dig this cutting for the “Death Railway.” More than 10,000 POWs and 100,000 conscripted Asian workers died in building this railway – a huge number of them died during the twelve short weeks it took to complete this cutting.  Today, the hammers and chisels are gone and the valley is quiet and peaceful now – a beautiful place with acres of wild bamboo growing on rugged hillsides (see thumbnail below). But its bloody past still raises its head and reminds us of how cruel human beings can be.

Early Morning in Sangklaburi

It was early evening when we finally arrived at Sangklaburi, a small town nestled on the banks of the reservoir of Vajiralongkorn Dam. It is here that you can see the Mon Bridge, the world’s second longest wooden bridge (see thumbnail below). It crosses the reservoir to the village where the Mon Temple stands. At dawn, the reservoir is breathtakingly beautiful, reflecting the distant mountains in its placid waters. It is only upon closer examination that you can see the poor living in houseboats and barges tethered to the banks (see thumbnail below). Most of them earn a living from fishing, but the water levels are low due to drought, so the fish are not as plentiful this year.  I wonder whether these people have heard of the love of God and whether anyone is working in this community to share the good news of the gospel.

This little village is called Baan Wangka. It was built almost thirty years ago to replace the original Baan Wangka village which was flooded when the Thai government completed the Vijiralongkorn Dam. The original Wat Saam Prasob Temple was also flooded and a new temple was built in this little village with the assistance of the royal family.  (You can still see the former temple under the waters of the reservoir. See thumbnail below.) It is a stunningly beautiful temple with doors carved from teak wood and glittering mosaics of colored glass cut into tiny shapes and formed into wondrous patterns. The shutters of the windows are carved teak figures of men and women (see thumbnail below). The columns of the temple are polished chrome and shine so brightly in the morning sun that it is impossible to look on them.  In a separate worship space is a Buddha carved entirely from white jade (see thumbnail below) and even the designs around the electric light on the ceiling are carved from teak.  It is all stunningly beautiful.

Buddha’s Life in a Carved Door

There are times when I believe that John Calvin had it right, for there is wonderful simplicity in the unadorned worship spaces of his imagination and total focus on the Word in the centrality of the pulpit. But there is something that transcends human understanding when mortal man pushes the edges of creativity and artistry to build a monument in honor of God. When I say this, I think of cathedrals in Europe that took generations to build, as well as such worship spaces as the Hagia Sophia, the Sistine Chapel and the heart-stopping beauty of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame.  But it also applies to art created in other religions: Wat Pra Kaew (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha) in Bangkok is an example. Here at the Mon Temple, the main door of this temple shows the life of Buddha carved in teak. On either side and above the door are colored glass mosaics and gilt that frame the door and are their own work of ark in such detail that the heart of the artisan shines through. These artists put their hearts into their work to the glory of their god. I would love to see them put the same effort into a work dedicated to Christ.

The Church at Huey Malai

So, the question of the hour is: Have Christian missionaries made it to this remote part of Thailand and are they sharing the good news of the gospel with the people in this place?  The answer is a resounding “Yes”!  Not fifteen minutes down the road from here is a village with two Christian churches, a Christian school, a Christian hospital and, yes, a Bible School to train lay leaders for ministry. When I was a child, it took missionaries three days to travel by boat up river to Sangklaburi. Their children attended the same boarding school that I did. When I come to Huey Malai today, I feel the presence of Christ in this place and see the face of Christ in the faces of the missionaries and volunteers that have come to this remote place to share their faith with those who live here.

More photos (Click on each photo to enlarge it):

The War Cemetery at Kanchanaburi

The Bamboo Forest Near Hellfire Place

The Wooden Bridge of the Mon People

The Wooden Bridge with the Poor Living Below

The Grand Chedi at Nakhon Pathom

Carved Teak Window Shutters at the Mon Temple

Window of the Sunken Temple

The White Jade Buddha

Peace Vessel at Hellfire Pass Museum

Donors from Narrowsburg

 

The Treadmill from Hell

The Treadmill from Hell

I rarely have altercations with mechanical things.  I tend to be a fairly logical person and, if there is a problem with something mechanical, I look for someone who can fix it.  That’s because, most of the time, I do not believe that mechanical things have it in for me.  All that changed last week.  When my friend, Beth Roadarmel, left Thailand, I inherited her treadmill.  She used to run on it for several minutes each day after work.  While I cannot run (thanks to the condition of my knees), I do walk and wanted a way to walk even during the rainy season.  While it was a huge hassle to get this large piece of equipment from Beth’s home to my home, I thought it would be worth it.  Of course, for the first six months it lived in my house, it just sat there, taking up space.  But just before Christmas, I plugged it in, programmed it, and set off walking at a brisk pace for 30 minutes each morning.  That lasted for three days.  What happened next is inexplicable!

On the fourth day, I turned it on, programmed it, and stepped on the belt to begin my walk. When the machine hit two minutes, it suddenly began to pick up speed.  When I had to begin jogging to keep up, I stepped off the belt onto the frame of the treadmill and watched in amazement as the belt continued to pick up speed until it hit 16 mph!!  I used the emergency stop to shut it down.  Then, I turned it off, unplugged it, plugged it in again, reprogrammed it and turned it on again.  This time, it went from 0 to 16 mph in record time!  I repeated the same sequence several times and, each time, the machine went from 0 to 16 mph as soon as I hit “Start.” I reported this to Julian and, the next day, my son took on the machine.  It treated him in exactly the same way.  He worked with it for a while and finally discovered that there was only one program that would not cause the belt to accelerate to its maximum speed – the “you-must-program-everything-you-want-it-to-do-manually-as-you-go” program.

Julian had to return to the USA the following day, but I rose early on Monday, determined to give this “Treadmill from Hell” another chance. I plugged my earphones into my iPad Mini to listen to the NBC Nightly News and hit the “Start” button on the treadmill. Sure enough, I strolled along at .8 mph until I manually increased the speed to 4 mph.  Even when I took it up to 6 mph, it came right back down to 4 mph as soon as I wanted to change it. That worked for three days.  What happened next convinced me that this machine was out to get me!

On the fourth day, I plugged in my earphones and began listening to NBC Nightly News on my iPad Mini.  When I hit the “Start” button, the belt began to move a .8 mph, as usual, but without any warning, the incline on the machine went from 0 to 15. Nothing I could do would make it return to 0, until I shut off the power.  I went through the same ritual: turning it off, unplugging it, plugging it in again, turning it on and hitting “Start.”  Each time, the pace was slow, but the incline moved from 0 to 15 and stayed there.  I managed one workout at 4 mph and an incline of 15, but my left knee was in agony the next day. Perhaps there is a solution to this problem as well, but for now, I am walking on the concrete road that circles through my neighborhood, wondering what to do about this possessed treadmill.  Does anyone know a treadmill exorcist??

Late, But Not Forgotten

Ajarn Achara at the McKean Christmas Party

I went out to McKean Rehabilitation Institute yesterday to look at some houses that they have available to rent. I met Ajarn Achara, the Director of McKean – a friend who was a another student of my father many years ago – and she drove me over to the North Village. McKean Rehabilitation Institute was built as an asylum for lepers on an island in the river more than 100 years ago when lepers were still outcasts in Thai society. The land was given to the Christians because it was thought to be inhabited by evil spirits and a rogue elephant and no one else wanted to live there. It is a spacious island with acres of land that contain a hospital, an assisted living facility for the elderly, tiny houses for the leprosy patients to live in, two chapels, and housing for the staff.

Small Chapel in the North Village

McKean was once a huge operation that was a world leader in the treatment of leprosy. It has fallen onto hard times since sulfa drugs have made leprosy controllable and patients have returned to their home.  The only ones who remain are the elderly who have no home or family to return to or those who have lived here for so long (some for over 50 years) that all their friends are in the community at McKean. The administration is working to create a new vision for the facility that will address current problems and allow the facility to regenerate and, once again, be a leader in the field of health care. The logical transition seems to be a transition into care for the elderly, as the facility has housing, a hospital, and an assisted living facility. What McKean needs is a new partnership – a partnership or partnerships with organizations that are interested in gerontology or in doing research among the elderly.

Christmas Worship at McKean

Our reason for going to the North Village yesterday (before looking at housing options) was to join with the patients and staff in their Christmas party – complete with worship service, gift exchange, and food.  Yes, it was the fifth of January, but I was glad to see that those who are often forgotten had not been totally forgotten.  They had to wait a little longer, but they were not forgotten. Those who came to help with this Christmas celebration came from the CCT’s (Church of Christ in Thailand’s) main office building in Chiang Mai, giving up their own Saturday to bring a little Christmas cheer to those living at McKean.  They came with smiles, a word of comfort and cheer, music, gifts, food and much more.

A Table Filled with Gifts for Patients at McKean

The worship service began at 10:30 AM with a reading from Isaiah and singing “Joy to the World” (in Thai, of course).  Ajarn Prawate, the Director of Policy for the CCT and an elder in the church, was the preacher.  He also serves as the Interim Financial Manager for McKean Rehabilitation Institute. His message, taken from Psalm 118:8, was to challenge all of us to have greater faith in God in the coming year. Immediately following the worship service, gifts were given to every person – simple gifts like a new pillow and warm blanket for the cool months of January and February.

Dishing Up Food for Everyone

The giving of gifts was MC’ed by a wonderful young man who asked the name of every elderly person and announced the names to the rest of us as each person received his/her gift.  The gift giving was followed by a huge lunch of rice, barbecued chicken, chicken curry, vegetables, and ice cream for dessert. The elderly patients were served where they sat, with young people from the CCT running to fetch food and water for each person. Each person also received a small basket of mandarin oranges to take home with them. It was a warm and friendly time, filled with Christmas cheer.  When it was over, Ajarn Achara took me to see the three buildings they have for rent.  Most are very old and need some work, but she assured me that she would fix them up, if I was interested in living on the island. (My son, Julian, thinks it is too far away from the “action” in Chiang Mai, but it might just be the peaceful, quiet refuge that I seek at the end of a busy work day or work week.  To be sure, it is a topic for prayer, so please pray with me that God will lead me in the way that is his will for my life.