Last Days in Thailand 2007

The Fountain in front of the building.

Overall it was a great trip. Those going on future trips will benefit.

A condensed list of potential opportunities:

1. In my-an,mar we can teach at college but it must fit curriculum and there are access restrictions.


2. Boys dormitory needs to be built but first land must be purchased and there are access restrictions.


3. By travelling further in we can support people who have less governmental interference.


4. For those interested, a small group can continue on to China, make a loop through Laos via the Mekong river, and back to Thailand.


5. Timothy has a need for a week long pastor and spouse retreat: family (marriage) & ministry & teach things they can use and replicate.


6. Teach them (Timothy's church and others?) how, why, show effectiveness of skits. Remember bible verses read in Thai are twice as long as English.


7. Build bamboo church and pastor's house in a hill tribe; can be completed in a week.


8. Paul & Lori - Medical team - doctors or nurses would be most useful, they can handle everything else.


9. They could teach us how they do mobile medical.


10. Stop at their Ahka tribe north east of Fang and hear their story.


11. Ask them what to do teach?/do? skits.

The last days:
I did the first Sunday morning sermon in the new building - a skit of David, Saul, and Goliath (starring me.) I stole Dan's 5 smooth stones talk and made it better :-) George Butron also spoke about happenings in Vietnam and Cambodia.

I got to explore more food, and learned the 'intestinal' problems we experienced are often due to diarrheic herbs, not microbes. I experienced century eggs for the first time, these duck eggs are buried raw and cook/rot in the ground, it was better than it sounds. There was lots of durian around but no one to help me eat it. Lots of stews and soups prepared in a clearly Chinese way.

After church, and the served lunch, everyone else was heading north so I took the 3rd class bus south to Chiang Mai, no air con, an unforgettable experience. It 'stops' for anyone along the way, but most wait at the mini-bus stops every few miles. No bathroom break in 4 hours, I guess you just get off the bus use the non-existing facilities and catch the next bus in 30 minutes.

I spent a lovely night in the new Bangkok airport, very modern yet somehow still dingy Thai. With many sushi restaurants and bars, I stole away in small coffee shop with WiFi and worked. Since I flew unrelated airlines I needed a new boarding pass which was a massive task. I learned they are at the entrance, but from inside there is no obvious entrance.

A typhoon hit Taiwan just as I arrived, and the airport closed for 7 hours. That gave me more time to try the food - mostly really good noodle soup.

After 49 hours of non-stop travel (and waiting) from Fang, Thailand to Pullman, it is nice to be on the right side of the road again.

The view out my hotel room in Fang.

Stacy treated everyone to ice cream.

Saturday: Fang Thailand, Church Dedication

Today was the dedication of the new church in Fang, Thailand. We had a ribbon cutting ceremony and many speeches and mini-sermons, including me. The place was to the max with flowers.

Today I also was able to meet the SE Asia Foursquare head, George Butron, missionaries Paul and Lori Vernon. cc was in town and Kelly Hildebrand. I had productive discussions with everyone. I extracted many ideas for future trips and how to be more affective on our trips.

Ribbon Cutting

People entering church for the first time

The crowd gathers


The church is PACKED!

 

The Bangkok people are duly impressed.


Timothy Expresses his gratitude.

Photos

Photos of Photos

Pastor P's orphan children in their truck. The orphanage is now where the school used to be.

Timothy in front of new Church

New Church Interior

Me, Fong Fang, Timothy, Pastor P.

worship at orphange

Wednesday Update: Fang

I woke up this morning with 2 calls from the US and very fogged over windows. When I left my room my glasses fogged over, too. It had been raining hard and humidity was high. But the rain made it cooler, 70% humidity and 85 F. By afternoon the rain stopped, by evening it was 60% humidity and what seemed like a cool 80 degrees.

Today was another work day. We did some cleaning up, purchased more plants, including aquatic plants for the fountain and cleaning the fountain. I also balanced the various ‘spouts’ to spew out about the same amount of water each. I spent a lot of time in the fountain, and my lower legs were pretty itchy, but ok now.

Last nights Korean barbeque caught up with me, but I think I’m ok now, just take more pepto. Once again we had breakfast, second breakfast, lunch and dinner. We successfully avoided Ritzys and KFC. We ordered family style Thai. I had my usual chopped chicken and Holy Basil, it was good. We also had Tom Yum Gook and deep fried Tilapia (excellent.) Of course Timothy tried to mess with me and ordered what he called pig intestine, which if definitely was not, probably buffalo rumen it was very flavorful but very rubbery.

I’m getting just enough chocolate to survive but the coffee situation is sad.

Tomorrow we’ll travel to Chiang Rai to pick up the team that will be doing leadership training and evangelistic outreach on Thursday and Friday.

Good night,

Bruce

Monday: Mai Sai and Fang

Today, after 10hrs of sleep, Pastor P woke me with the hotel phone at 7am. We didn’t set a time.

We had a good conversation, many ideas for future trips. I visited the orphanage, did a short sermon and impromptu skit at the Sunday morning service. Also visited possible sites for boys orphanage dorm and a drug rehabilitation center. With 80 chuches, a college, orphanage, and his own church Pastor P. now has someone to oversee/manage the orphanage, college, and his church has a new pastor.

I traveled with Timothy and Fang Fong to Fang and we stopped at little noodle place in the mountains for lunch, turns out to be the same place that Scott Linklater, cc and I ate at 5 years ago on our first trip. And the noodles were as good as I remember.

We went to the new church; it is really nice. We did a few items around the building while other workers buzzed along on the finishing touches. I purchased some plants for front of the stage and steps leading up, it was a bit bare. The outside is very nicely landscaped with multistage fountain and GRASS around it. Most of the fence that we put up 1.5 years ago has been replaced with solid walls 6 to 8 feet tall. Pastor P purchased a last supper print in T where we had it framed along with 2 Palouse prints that Laurie took and we printed them at home with verses. They did a professional frame.

Tonight we went with 2 of the ‘boys’, young pastors to a ‘Korean’ barbecue’. This was NOT an experience for the faint of heart or picky eaters or those concerned about food born illness. There was standard chicken, pork, beef, clams, shrimp, and squid. But also all their insides were available and NONE of it was kept cold. You cook and eat with the same chopsticks. There were 3 bowls of excellent dipping sauces for the meat. They kept bring out new odd things which I of course HAD to try, I felt like Andrew Zimern, consuming one slimy, transparent, strange, or oddly green item after the other. The no live plant matter ‘salad’ was other worldly in appearance and texture, but rather plain flavor. For all five us, all you could eat, the total was $17.00 including drinks!

I have wireless Internet in the lobby so I hope to have regular updates.

Bruce

Saturday: Travel, arrival in Mae Sai

Well, I've been in Mae Sai for about an hour, no travel problems, 6 hrs of sleep since I left. Had a super spicy meal for dinner.

Traveling alone is sure faster. I probably would have missed my bus in Chiang mai but zipping out of the airport (no checked luggage) and with a quick and only slightly scary tuk tuk ride, I made it to the bus station with 5 minutes to spare. The bus was second class but the AC worked so I was happy. My cell phone works here this time, but not data. Also cannot get my vioce mail.
from the bus terminal in mae sai I took a scooter taxi the 3 miles to my hotel, at significant risk to life and limb - but it was only $1.

The 2 transfers, tuk tuk and scooter, cost MORE than the 5 hour bus ride :-(

Well I'll be visiting Pastor P and speaking at his Sunday morning service tomorrow. then he and Timothy and I will meet for breakfast back at the hotel and timothy will take me on to Fang.