January Happenings!

With each new month come new challenges and new opportunities. We grow from the challenges and we enjoy the opportunities. Also, when living in a foreign country it seems that there are many good-byes that have to happen and that part is kind of sad. We had one of those good-byes already. We have had a wonderful lady helping us at our home 3 days a week. She is precious and we have really enjoyed her and she has been kind of like a grandmother to our kids. However, last week she had to move to Bangkok so she can no longer be with us. She came over the last night here and spent a few hours with us.

One of the things she said she enjoyed about working with us is that she felt a part of the family. So of course, we had to get a family picture before she left.

Pii Aaree also wanted to teach me a few things before she left. So she took me in the kitchen and we started cooking. She taught me how to cook 3 Thai dishes and then we had fun washing dishes together. She makes me laugh all the time and I make her laugh as I try to speak Thai and understand her as she speaks quickly. She only speaks Thai so she has been good for us, letting us get some experience speaking. We miss her but stay in touch with her by phone regularly.

The end of January also brought with it the last Chiang Rai United soccer game of the season. We have fast become Chiang Rai United fans and love going to the games. It's great, you go to a professional soccer game for $2.50. We love it and it is so much fun!

This game we invited our teammates to go with us because they had never been to one before. The Thai people are fun fans to get excited with!

The game ended in a tie but it was very exciting just the same! Joy and Davis certainly enjoyed it, as you can see. They also enjoyed dancing (which is what they are doing in this picture) at the end of it.

January also brought with it a couple of care packages from the States. It's amazing how you get so excited about the little things you miss, like Burt's Bee's chapstick which came in this package from our friends in TX.

Slim Jim's were a hit!

There were even small fun toys for the kids. You have no idea how much fun a care package can be, no matter what is in it!

Remember my friend Carol, who was in the hospital for 10 days in very serious condition and you all prayed for her? Well, she had worked on a package before going into the hospital so when she got out, she finished it and sent it on. It had much fun food, like cereal but it also had something so special to us all...

She put together a very special photo album of pictures of all of our 2 families camping trips together and other things we have done together. It was so very special and perfect because we didn't bring any photo albums with us because we were afraid of them getting damaged. Now we have one. By the way Carol is doing great and has been back at work since the beginning of January. Praise God!

We are so very thankful for all our friends and family and all of you who remember us, pray for us and love us well as we are far away!

Grand Opening at the kid's school

Well you prayed it in and it was great! I know God used our kid's school Grand Opening as a time to speak truth and the gospel to all who were there. There were many there that do not know Jesus so it was an exciting time to get the word out of who He is. The school has an amazing history and God has been behind it all and it was a time to celebrate Him. Here are some pictures of the event:

There were many at the Grand Opening and we began the day worshipping God. How amazing it always is as you play music. Thai people typically like music and they can read English but just not speak it so they love to sing along. Every time I see that happen I say, "yes Lord, make it so!" (to whatever they are singing about Him) It was no different on this day. Everyone joined in as we worshipped.

There were several songs and/or dances in the program and Samantha had the opportunity to be in some of them. This is one of those. The joy of the Lord abounds.

David and I had the special opportunity of taking care of our friend's little girl, Joy. David did a good job and she sacked out quickly before the program began and slept the whole time. David looks like he is sleeping but he wasn't.

Davis and his school buddies were looking very handsome for the grand opening

Samantha and her friend Hattie were greeters for the day. They are dressed in traditional Thai dress and they are giving their Thai welcome. Everything they did was according to Thai traditon as far as welcoming and seating people. It was fun to watch!

Joy just woke up, right before the last dance! She really is happy just trying to finish waking up.

The last dance was a Thai traditional dance but to a Thai Christian song. Samantha had the opportunity to be in this dance and she really enjoyed learning some Thai dance. It was beautiful and very powerful. As the Thai people there saw this, many commented on how surprised and impressed they were at our students doing Thai dance. I think it went a long way to show them we want to be a part of their country and that we love them and want to know them. It was a great day!