Off and Pueng

Lopburi

Staff Workers - Off has just finished T2S

Bob

Nakhon Sawan

T2S (Trained to Serve, slave? sunbathe?) worker

Just graduated from Pitsanulok

Let me introduce you to the student ministry team: -

First Julia based in Pitsanulok

Student Retreat - This last week I have been with the student ministry team enjoying God's beautiful creation, reflecting in his word, and having lots of fun and getting to know one another better. Facts that my team members have learnt about me!! I'm a little forgetful, I like hot showers, and I get cold very easily, I really like banana boating, and I especially sing a lot when I'm near the sea!!!!

Ever wonder where cashew nuts come from? This is a cashew nut tree. Cashew nuts are expensive because they have to be removed and there is some kind of chemical which makes it dangerous, so processing is very expensive. Just one of the things I continue to learn in Thailand whre tropical fruits and nuts come from!!

Hiding
Sorry I don't have any exciting pictures or stories to tell. Last week was Thai New Year when everyone goes a bit mad and throws water and puts powder on everyones face. Last year I joined in the celebrations and it was fun but this year I have decided to hide. I have been hiding in the Bangkok mission home, I have also been helping a little bit, writing up research and filling in application forms for Bible College. Being in Bangkok I've got to go to English Church the last few weeks which has been fantastic.
Now I'm off to the beach for a retreat with the student staff. Then I will go on holidays. So probably no more posts for a few weeks and then the cunt down begins, I will be back in NI on the 27th of June. Look forward to catching up with lots of you then : )

Answered prayer - Thank you for your prayers. Before we left for Cambodia I posted these prayer requests (light blue) Here are the ways in which God has answered these prayers.

This is my first time to take anyone else on a mission trip I am seen as the leader - as I'm the oldest!! and they also say the most beautiful - ha ha
I had to take on the role of leader much more than I expected. I was very thankful that the week before going to Thailand I had been at a training week focusing on mentoring and discipleship. I often thought back to Christs example of leadership.

Pray for our adjustments to Cambodian culture this will be the girls first experience of living in another country, I'm told that when Thai's go to another country they really miss their food (so i've some mama noodles packed - like pot noodles - don't think it's something I will miss but i'm told the girls will!) I'm personally looking forward to having bread for breakfast : )
I did indeed enjoy the french baguettes for breakfast. The girls struggled with culture shock much more than any of us expected. Please continue to pray for Paa and Leeh as they adjust back to life in Thailand and reflect on how they reacted.

Language - they speak Thai fulently I speak English fluently (well i used too - I'm going through a real phase of forgetting English words at the moment, it's no that I can think of the Thai I can't think of anything!!) That this wouldn't cause unecessary stress and strain - especially when we are tired.
It was difficult for the girls at times being exposed to English so much. I was thankful that they were able to spend some time with Thai missionaries this of course was a little bit more stressful for me- but it was fine.

Faith- Cambodia isn't very far away, but it still costs money to travel and live there. Supprisingly food costs more in Cambodia than Thailand. The money we need to a westerner doesn't seem like very much but for a Thai student it's a lot of money. May they be amazed at God's provision.
Praise God he provided all we needed and a little bit more. Food does indeed cost more in Cambodia despite the fact that the average Cambodian earns a lot less, it is difficult for the majority of Cambodians to survive. I think this also really challenged the girls although they don’t have lots by Thai standards to the average Cambodian they are very rich, they have been able to study at university, and they are very thankful for this.

And above all that God will be glorified. That we all would be stretched and challenged : )
We most certainly were stretched and challenged. At times I wondered if we would actually break, but in God’s mercy when we put our focus back on him this did not happen! : )

MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN!! I spent my 26th Birthday in Cambodia. As in Thailand, Birthdays are a time when you give, not receive. So I made a Birthday cake. Sounds like an easy task – but remember I’m in Cambodia were ovens are not widely available. So can one not bake a cake – no one can – but one must use a ‘black box’ the name says it all really. It is a black box made of some kind of metal, it is quite light, and you place it over the gas stove. Very important to have a gas stove as the electricity often goes off, and we were staying in the capital city!! (but that’s a story for another day!!!)
So who was this master piece of a cake for? For most of the time we were in Cambodia we lived at a hostel for factory girls, half Christian half not. So when they came back from work we had a party – lots of silly balloon games, cake, snacks, and noodles. It is common in this culture to give a present on your Birthday so I gave them a key ring which I then used to tell the story of my life. The girls (Paa and Lee) did a skit about how there can be more to life than eating, sleeping and working. Life is hard for these girls there isn’t much more to life than eating, sleeping, and working, it is my prayer that these girls can know God’s peace in the hardship of life in Cambodia.
So does the black box work – looking at the picture – you might have your doubts I most certainly have!! But it worked – Praise God and it was actually quite yummy, but that’s maybe because I’m quite chocolate deprived at the moment so anything with a chocolate flavour tastes good!!! :)