It's down to the last few hours here in Thailand before I head back to the U.S. What a wonderful time this trip has been! So many new, amazing experiences! So many God-ordained appointments, connections and blessings. This trip, and starting 2020 this way, has truly been a gift that I will not take for granted.
The last few days here in Bangkok have been a combination of some fun and tourist activities as well as a few ministry appointments.
Tuesday morning started bright and early so we could get out of the city ahead of traffic. Our first stop was the "folding umbrella" market -- the market that is set up on the train track. It's crazy! All of the vendors are set up along the track, while people shop, walking on the track. When the train whistle blows, vendors start folding up their canopies, pulling the wares back off the track and step aside as the train SLOWLY goes on through. Then, as it passes, the vendors pop all of it back into place. So fascinating...
After spending a bit of time at this market, we went on to the floating market. Another cool market! Here, you can walk and shop, or you can also get into a boat and be paddled down the canal to shop from vendors, from the water! I really enjoyed this market a lot. Funny, though, I didn't buy a thing...
We left the floating market and enjoyed a delicious lunch at a local resort. It was beautiful.
Later this morning, we will be visiting another English center and having some lunch before Kris and Silk get me to the airport.
Please join me in praying for the country of Thailand, the Isaan people in Ubon Ratchathani, and our team here, diligently serving the people here. They tell me I was an encouragement to them, more than I can ever know. I am thankful I could be here for this time. Please pray for the team to continue to be encouraged, refreshed and renewed to press on. Pray for wisdom for them as they seek God's direction on how he wants their ministry to continue here and what it should look like. Pray for protection against the enemy. Pray for fresh new vision and ideas that can only come from the Lord.
I'm happy to be going home to see Jared again, but I'm sad to be leaving Thailand. Something about this country and these people...
Until next time...
The last few days here in Bangkok have been a combination of some fun and tourist activities as well as a few ministry appointments.
Tuesday morning started bright and early so we could get out of the city ahead of traffic. Our first stop was the "folding umbrella" market -- the market that is set up on the train track. It's crazy! All of the vendors are set up along the track, while people shop, walking on the track. When the train whistle blows, vendors start folding up their canopies, pulling the wares back off the track and step aside as the train SLOWLY goes on through. Then, as it passes, the vendors pop all of it back into place. So fascinating...
After spending a bit of time at this market, we went on to the floating market. Another cool market! Here, you can walk and shop, or you can also get into a boat and be paddled down the canal to shop from vendors, from the water! I really enjoyed this market a lot. Funny, though, I didn't buy a thing...
We left the floating market and enjoyed a delicious lunch at a local resort. It was beautiful.
After lunch, we went to Elephant Village where I took an elephant ride. "Tiny" and I went on about a 20 minute walk, through water and everything. It was pretty cool! And...they care for their animals kindly here, just sayin'.
Later in the day, we had an appointment to meet with those doing ministry at the Santisuk English Center. We are also visiting another center on Wednesday.
These centers are places that offer English classes, church services, and small groups. Their curriculum is actually Biblical based, so as they are teaching English, they are also hearing Bible stories. The teachers also spend a lot of time with the students outside of the classroom. It is very intentional in relationship building and sharing Christ's love.
I was interested in seeing these centers to just see how the programs are run and to see if this would be something that may work well for our team in Ubon. The Santisuk curriculum is available to purchase, so there is a possibility that we could run our own version of something like this in Ubon. Please join me and the team in praying for direction on whether or not this is something that God would want to have us pursue.
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| Meeting the director and another teacher at Santisuk English Center |
Wednesday morning started with a final run for me in the beautiful park in Bangkok. It was a humid one, whew! It was good to get out moving again, though, before I fly home later today.
Walking back from the park to the guest house, I snapped some photos of the busy street, the many vendors selling food.
My breakfast at the guest house for the last morning. I decided to make an egg sandwich with morning glory (veggie). Kris was more impressed with this creation than my peanut butter in rice the other morning, haha.
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| The taste was good, but the morning glory is more "stringy" so... |
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| ...I resorted to cutting it and eating it |
Please join me in praying for the country of Thailand, the Isaan people in Ubon Ratchathani, and our team here, diligently serving the people here. They tell me I was an encouragement to them, more than I can ever know. I am thankful I could be here for this time. Please pray for the team to continue to be encouraged, refreshed and renewed to press on. Pray for wisdom for them as they seek God's direction on how he wants their ministry to continue here and what it should look like. Pray for protection against the enemy. Pray for fresh new vision and ideas that can only come from the Lord.
I'm happy to be going home to see Jared again, but I'm sad to be leaving Thailand. Something about this country and these people...
Until next time...
