2 May 2018 - Visiting Ban Makrud

We hang out with the locals from Ban Makrud village today.  Wonderful to just drive around the village, stop here and there and have a chat to everyone we know.  As always, we run into the kids as well and although it is still school holiday, they just run to us and have a chat.  Building relationships in our community is so important.  It builds up trust and mutual respect to each other and also develops in precious friendships.  We love Ban Makrud village and who knows, maybe one day God will send us to go stay there :)

 

Mauy, our "adopted Thai granddaughter" is always full of joy and jokes.  She is such a cute little girl and this year she is going to grade 1.  We are so proud of her.

 

Some of our other kids from the school in Ban Makrud who we chatted to in the streets.

Mauy's grandfather relaxing in his hammock at home.

Most villages has a Buddhist Temple.

A typical "spiritual house" in front of one of the houses in Ban Makrud.

This lady was pushing her trolley with some fire wood for one and a half kilometers.  Isaan life is hard and we don't always see it or take it in as it is.  

Typical Isaan style house.

The Isaan does not always have the best grass for cow's to graze on.  Lucern is very expensive here so the farmers don't give to much to eat every day.

 

It is almost time for the raining season to start.  We had some good rains the last couple of weeks and are very grateful for this.  It breaks the heat of the day a bit seemingly that we are still in May which is considered to be one of the hottest months of the year.

 

 

Makrud Village Outreach - 4 April 2018

This morning we had the opportunity to do a small outreach to Ban Makrud.  Most of the children or away during the school holidays visiting parents or other relatives.  But for the children who were available, they had fun.  Jomi, Art and Paul from SPM in Ubon Ratchathani joined us today and they brought their guitars and everything with to entertain the kids with some fun and games.  They really do have a gift entertaining and ministering to children and youth.  We are so grateful to be able to work with them.  

Children are always nervous before we start for they do not know what to expect.  Obviously they don't know Art, Jomi and Paul but believe me, now they know.

Firstly Art told them a funny story with a song or two and they really enjoyed and got stuck into the story.  

So the first set of games began just to warm the kids up for what's to come.

Once the kids felt comfortable and save they really started coming out their skins and enjoying every moment of the morning.

. . .  and not long, they all had some fun and laughter.

Big against small . . . mmm, who is going to win this game?

Hop, skip and jump all the way.  Big and small everyone danced around.

Jomi has his hands full with Khan being so quick to react on identifying who is behind the curtain.

Surprised by who was on the other side :)

Oh, I got you!!

Once again, Khan is the quickest of them all.

Art shared his testimony on how he became a Christian and what God is doing in his life.  The children were all quite and stared him on.  One really felt the Holy Spirit's presence today.

Art and Paul learning the kids new songs.

As always in Thailand . . . a group photo of everyone present.

Graduation - 28 March 2018

School is out, holiday is here.  Last week four students of Makrud Community School graduated from Makrud School.  From the next school year, starting end of May they will be going to Kanthararom Secondary School where they will do grade 8-12.  Community schools are only until grade 7.  I was honored to attend their graduation.  We have been serving at Makrud School for two years already and we are really going to miss these kids.  As a gift Frontida was able to give them each a children's Bible and other gifts.  They really worked hard, well behaved and a blessing for the community of Makrud.  It was the first graduation ceremony Frontida attended so it was quite a learning experience.

Plain and simple ideas to create a background for some pictures of the graduation.  It is the idea that counts.  When you drive around Makrud village and visit the community, experience the poverty state of more than half of the community, you really appreciate the simple effort the community does for the kids.

Today, Frontida was just driving through Makrud village and gave some sweet treats for the kids who were in the village.  They are a real blessing to us.

28 March - A Different Language

As you know, Marina is attending Duke Language School in Bangkok to learn a little bit more in depth the difficult Thai language.  She is doing 2 modules which is one month each therefore she will be staying in Bangkok until 5 May.  She just finished the first module today which started on 28 February and tomorrow, 29 March she will start module 2.  Apart from the Thai language study's, Marina also has the opportunity to reach out to some of the students with the Gospel.  From tomorrow on she will also spend time with 2 ladies from Korea after class (in the afternoon) for the whole duration of module 2.  Wonderful opportunity to share the Gospel and build relationships.

Being away from each other for long periods of time is not always easy.  Especially when you are in a foreign country.  But God always make a way so Marina had an opportunity to come home for one and a half day to visit.

Their teacher, Jack (nickname) was a real treat in her way of teaching.  

Marina and her fellow students from Journey 1.  8 Nations all together. 

Don't worry, this is not encrypted writing :)

Big Church vs Small Church - 5 March 2018

As you all know that Marina will be in Bangkok for two months as she is attending a Thai language school for learning to speak Thai.  It is not an easy language to learn but never less, with God on our side all things are possible.

On Sunday 4 March we attended the Evangelical Church Bangkok situated in Asok, Sukhumvit.  Now bare in mind that we are used to have church with members attending of between 10-20 on a Sunday.  In our 4 years of being in Thailand, it was the first time we attended a church where about 400+ people were attending the first service of the morning.  The second service starts at 11:15 am and we attended the 09:00 am service.  One Sunday mornings offerings at this church is equal to our little church in Kanthararom's budget for 3-4 months.

It was quite overwhelming to attend a service with a full on worship band, sermon with detailed slide notes and handouts (bulletins) at the door and many more.  The church members really made you feel at home.  Marina will be attending this church while she is in Bangkok.  

It was a really nice experience and we are great full and privileged to have attended this wonderful church.  But we learned 2 things here.  God said that where 2 or 3 people gathers in His Name, there He will be.  So whether 10 people or 400+ people gathers together to worship God, He is there and you can feel His presence.  Secondly, if the Word from the pulpit are TRUE to God's Word and Jesus Christ is glorified in all, the size of the church doesn't matter for the church is known by it's preaching of the Word of God.

It is a myth to say that one can experience the presence of God in a bigger church (400+) setup MORE than a little church of 10 people.  But we honor God for churches like ECB in Bangkok where one can feel safe to go to and we pray that the Holy Spirit will touch everyone's heart who sets foot through the doors of ECB.