Hi to Family and Friends! Today (Friday) was our first day at the retreat. First we got up and went to breakfast. Then the team had a session so me, and the grandparents (both Lynn and Amy's parents)took the kids to a different area and had kind of like a bible school thing. Then it was lunch time and then free time. At first I wasnt planning on doing anything. But Jodi and Becky convinced me to do the high ropes course with them. I thought it was pretty fun except for the one guy that worked there decided to have a little too much fun doing anything he could to scare me! He would scream and shake the ropes, and anything else he could think of. Don't worry, after we got off the ropes i popped him in the chest :-) You can tell i have older siblings!!.. After that there were "zorb balls" that all the kids wanted to do. julia really wanted to do it so i said I'd go with her.. in that we got really wet so we went back to our houses and got cleaned up for dinner. after dinner was a game night. -bekah Oh, what's a "ZORB ball"???? It's a ball about 10 feet in diamater, filled with air. Then there is a compartment inside that you sit in and they fill with air and water. Julia and I sat in there, and they pushed the ball down a hill that's 2-3 stories high! An amazing ride---they would not allow this at home! Micah and Laverne rode one that you get strapped in and actually flip around inside the ball head over heals the whole way down! (see video and pics) The Bob and Linda K. have done a great job of leading the sessions each morning, and the kids continue to have fun learning times with the grandparents and bekah. Yesterday in the afternoon, we went to Choke Chai farm---you guessed it, a "real" western farm, with cows, fresh milk, ice cream, steak, etc. We celebrated Jodi's birthday there, with the entire restaurant singing happy birthday! We even did a bit of "outlet" shopping---outlets in Thailand? wow! Today (Sunday), we will gather together in the morning for a session, do some activities in the afternoon, and then a time of wrap-up and communion and prayer together before Micah and Randy head back to Ubon. The rest will be leaving in different directions on monday morning--Some to Ubon, and some on to Bangkok. ~bekah
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
ubon it is!_monday-tuesday-wednesday
on monday morning we got up at 4:30 am to catch a flight to ubon. when we arrived we met kris at the airport and she took us out for breakfast. my mom and kris got cream of rice. ik lost my appitite when kris said it can be served with or without blood. hmm yumm. im glad i didnt get any because it didnt taste like cream of rice, and it had some oregons in it. (yuck!). then we went to dungal village, abby and lavern (amys dad) had stayed there over night, lavern helped the village people and abby was the translator. after we picked them up we met up with the rest of the team for lunch. then i came back to the myers house to watch the kids while the team went out with mom to have a meeting. we then went on to go out for dinner with randy and jodi.
on tuesday we got up and went to the myers for breakfast, lynns mom had prepared it, and it was nice to get a good american breakfast for once! then we went on to go harvest rice. what an experiance! the owner of the feild said it takes two people and ten days to harvest the whole feild (by hand). this was a pretty big sized feild! after that we went to a candle place where a lady makes beautiful candles by hand. then it was lunch time. after that we went to see randys fish farming research. after that i stayed back with the kids at the myers house while mom and the team went out for a nice dinner and meeting.
one wednesday, mom and i went out to lunch and breakfast with kris. it was a pretty relaxing day, all we really did was that, and hang out at the myers house, and helped them finish packing their house up for the day. in the evening we went out to dinner with micah.
thanks for your prayers and thoughts
~bekah
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sunday in Bangkok
Blessings from Bangkok!
We had a great day of worshipping with our brothers and sisters, and reconnecting with good friends. The gathering this morning was anointed and inspiring thru worship and praise. I was able to put a message together that Dr. Phaitoon said "hit the bullseye" with his people. I'm thankful for the wonderful opportunity to share with them. We enjoyed a lovely lunch together, had a great time of visiting and making new friends before saying our "good-bye's" for now.
Jon and Becky then took us on a "market adventure". Another great experience in Thai culture. Bartering is a definite opportunity and always fun!
Tomorrow bright and early (4:30 am), we'll catch a Taxi to the airport and head to Ubon. Only a 1 hour flight this time! Kris will pick us up to begin a very busy schedule before we leave for the retreat on Thursday. It will be a great blessing to spend time with each of our Thai Team members over the next couple of days. We will also be visiting the school where Lynn, Kris and Micah have taught, and some of the villages where they have built relationships.
Thanks for your continued partnership in these days.
Bekah and Chris
Saturday, October 25, 2008
A day in Bangkok
Hi to family and friends,
Just returned from a great day adjusting to the culture here in Thailand. We were greeted by Jon and Becky W. this morning, and headed off to see the Grand Palace, and other great sights in the city.
Bekah has been enjoying the people very much, and even found herself in a conversation with 2 teens at a food court. They were asking her about a certain University in America, and figured if she is from the US, she would have all the information they need! (I imagine as Americans, we tend to do the same when meeting someone from a foreign land!) It was neat to see Bekah engaging with others so easily...she's a "natural".
I just received word that I will be preaching at Dr. Phaitoon's church in just 12 hours! What an honor to be given this opportunity. It will be so good to reconnet with Dr. Phaitoon and his family, whom I've known for about 11 years.
Please remember the Thai Team, as all involved prepare for the retreat--Lynn and Amy are saying "good bye" in the villages, schools, etc. where they have invested so much love over the last several years. Their family will be returning home following the team retreat.
Much blessing to each of you!
Chris and Bekah
Friday, October 24, 2008
Bangkok it is!
Hello Family and friends!!
We arrived at midnight (Friday nite) here in Bangkok!
Our flight from Dulles was delayed 2 1/2 hours because engine #2 wouldn't start! We were on the runway when they discovered this "minor" problem. They towed us back to the gate, and we waited on the plane while the engine was fixed. We finally took off at 2:30 pm, and began our journey! We learned later that if we would have been delayed just 15 minutes longer, they would have needed to scrap the flight completely (too many working hours for the crew including the delay)---the next available flight was in 2 months! Though we were delayed, we were able to make our connection in Tokyo with only minutes to spare! God's hand was on us!
We landed at the new Bangkok Airport, and flagged down a taxi, where Bekah decided to sit up front to get a "bird's eye view". (Thanks to our friends here, we had Thai directions to give the driver.) Our room was waiting at the Alliance Guest House. We both slept well, and enjoyed a nice Saturday morning breakfast with new friends from Indonesia and India. Today, we're off with John and Becky W. for a day seeing the sights and culture of Bangkok. Until later....
Chris and Bekah
We arrived at midnight (Friday nite) here in Bangkok!
Our flight from Dulles was delayed 2 1/2 hours because engine #2 wouldn't start! We were on the runway when they discovered this "minor" problem. They towed us back to the gate, and we waited on the plane while the engine was fixed. We finally took off at 2:30 pm, and began our journey! We learned later that if we would have been delayed just 15 minutes longer, they would have needed to scrap the flight completely (too many working hours for the crew including the delay)---the next available flight was in 2 months! Though we were delayed, we were able to make our connection in Tokyo with only minutes to spare! God's hand was on us!
We landed at the new Bangkok Airport, and flagged down a taxi, where Bekah decided to sit up front to get a "bird's eye view". (Thanks to our friends here, we had Thai directions to give the driver.) Our room was waiting at the Alliance Guest House. We both slept well, and enjoyed a nice Saturday morning breakfast with new friends from Indonesia and India. Today, we're off with John and Becky W. for a day seeing the sights and culture of Bangkok. Until later....
Chris and Bekah
Monday, October 20, 2008
3 days until TAKE-OFF!
Hi To Family and Friends!
Thank you so much for your prayers and support as Bekah and I have prepared for this wonderful opportunity to reach into the world. We are looking forward to finally arrive at Dulles Airport in Washington, DC on Thursday morning to step onto our first leg of our journey.
Our first flight (14 1/2 hours) will land us in Toyko, Japan for a 3 hour lay-over, and then another flight (7 1/2 hours) will take us to our first destination in Bangkok, Thailand.
We will be spending the weekend in Bangkok, with John and Becky W., who are in Language school there. Over the weekend, we will also connect with a Thai believing community that I first met in the mid-1990's, Dr. Phaitoon and his family.
We hope to post notes on this site as we travel, as internet access is available.
Bekah and I want to thank you for your great words of encouragement as we prepare for this incredible journey. We welcome you to converse with us through this site as we travel....
Until later....
Chris and Bekah
Thank you so much for your prayers and support as Bekah and I have prepared for this wonderful opportunity to reach into the world. We are looking forward to finally arrive at Dulles Airport in Washington, DC on Thursday morning to step onto our first leg of our journey.
Our first flight (14 1/2 hours) will land us in Toyko, Japan for a 3 hour lay-over, and then another flight (7 1/2 hours) will take us to our first destination in Bangkok, Thailand.
We will be spending the weekend in Bangkok, with John and Becky W., who are in Language school there. Over the weekend, we will also connect with a Thai believing community that I first met in the mid-1990's, Dr. Phaitoon and his family.
We hope to post notes on this site as we travel, as internet access is available.
Bekah and I want to thank you for your great words of encouragement as we prepare for this incredible journey. We welcome you to converse with us through this site as we travel....
Until later....
Chris and Bekah
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