Mark in Chiang Mai November 2010
Learning Thai To Make Connections My work in Thailand has changed a little since my last newsletter. On November 1st, forty-three students from HongHe University in Yunan province, China, arrived in Chiang Mai to study the Thai language at Payap University. This changes my work because I have joined their classes to learn Thai and to make friendships that we pray will lead to a relationship with God. As I said in my last newsletter, this class was not originally in my plan for my year here in Thailand, but God has opened door after door to allow this experience. I wanted to spend time learning Thai and this class allows me to work at the Payap Christian Zone, learn Thai, and reach out to the students in my class in a more natural environment. So far it has been a fun time learning and getting to know all the students in my classes. The first week of school was slow and many of the students were hesitant to talk to me because they fear their English skills
are too poor to communicate. As time has passed we have been getting to know each other better and better. Robert, the missionary here, was able to meet some of the students in this program in China before they arrived in Chiang Mai. This allowed for some
MAKING FRIENDS - Eating sticky rice with some of my new friends in Thai class.
connections to begin easily. Robert invited all the students to his house for dinner the first week we were in school. It was fun to hang out with them and get to know each student better. Since then the seven guys in the group and I have been playing basketball every Tuesday. They love playing basketball and I’d rather play that than soccer. Also some of the girls have been coming to the Zone to study English with Robert and feeling more comfortable around the church group. We have had a few events that the students have attended which allowed them to experience Christianity for the first time. As these relationships continue I pray that God will open opportunities for me to share my faith with them. It was an encouragement to me after cell group when one of the students said, “I really like being around your friends. They are very happy together.” I know God is already working in each of their lives and has big plans for this group.
Experience Thai Culture
Thai Clothing - Hilary, Kara, and Amanda getting ready for a festival.
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Pray for unity within our intern team as our new intern, Kara, joins the team. Pray for growth within the church here so that the church doesn’t rely on foreigners to keep the church going. Thank God for the great new friends that I have been able to make in class. Pray that He will use me to shine His light to them. Pray for my English student, Da, as he is starting to ask more and more about Christianity. Thank God for this opportunity to serve here in Thailand
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Thailand is known around the world for its rich culture and Thai peope are very proud of it. One of the classes I am taking this semester with the students from China is a culture class. Not only are we are learning how and why Thai people do certain things, but. also our understandings are enriched by being around the Thai church members. Every year during the full moon weekend of November, Thailand celebrates a holiday called Loi Krathong, and Chiang Mai has the most elaborate decorations, activities, and events in the country. One event is sending up large floating lanterns into the sky. It makes the sky beautiful every night during this holiday weekend. It was amazing for me to participate in a parade with students from Thailand where I was the only westerner in the Payap part of the parade. Because most of Thai culture is based around their Buddhist beliefs, these events are based on giving respect to Buddha. It is interesting to watch as many people in the older generations are very devout Buddhist, but the younger generation is not as strong in its Buddhist beliefs. I pray that this younger generation will become more open to following God and learning of his love for them.
Be Tough; Go Retreating
Every year the two young professional groups from the churches here in Chiang Mai have a men’s reatreat. This year’s theme was “Having an Athlete’s Heart” (or at least that’s a rough translation). Eighteen men headed out to a national park about an hour and a half away from Chiang Mai for a Friday night and Saturday time to do “manly things.” On Friday night we had a time of fellowship, singing, and playing games together. Then we heard a lesson from O about having strength in our spiritual lives. We must be strong inside and out. We ended the night early because the next morning we had planned a long hike up to the top of the mountain. Around 6:00 the next morning we awoke to a very quick breakfast before starting up the 4.5 kilometer trail to the top of the mountain. We began with seventeen people, but as we continued our group kept getting smaller. We didn’t know if people had turned back or were just taking it slow. I had
time to talk to people from the other church, Chueng Doi, that I usually do not have time to talk to. It is encouraging to hear what other people are doing in ministry in Chiang Mai. As we walked some of us sang, some of us talked and some of us just enjoyed the nature around us. After about two and a half hours we reached the top, at least twelve of us did. We assumed the rest of the group had turned around so we began our devo time. Just as we were finishing, the remain-
der of the group arrived with our eldest member, sixty-five years old, leading the way. It was a blessing to the rest of us that he made it to the top with the encouragement of the other group. We must keep going even when we think we can’t. As we walked down some of us got separated and I ended up walking alone. I enjoyed praying and thinking about my time here and what the future might bring. The time on the mountain allowed each of us to think about God’s plans for us.
The manly Men - The guys at the men’s retreat look in good shape before we start our 4.5 km hike up to the top..