Read on to hear about the adventures our team had in Thailand!

Here is both the short email cover letter in italics and the longer version follows it.

We arrived and spent an amazing week seeing sights of Thailand, working to get plans for children’s sessions finished and getting over jet lag.  MORE:

We did take some fun trips around the area to see an ancient Buddhist temple, a modern shopping mall, the ancient wall and moat around the old city, and out to the countryside to see and ride elephants.  I took off my sandals so I wouldn’t drop them and then just rested my feet on the elephant’s back!  We saw an entertaining elephant show that ended with the elephants painting pictures.  Be sure to note the photo with the elephant’s painting in it!

We then went to the tiger center because several of our group wanted to go into the tiger cage to pet the tigers.  One wanted a companion to take pictures, so I went and even petted some (thankfully) lethargic tigers.

We also went (several times!) to the “Night Market” a couple of blocks from our hotel where vendors set up stalls along the street and in open areas to sell a wide variety of items.  I have included some pictures of the street in the day time and at night.

I bought some (pretty unique) sneakers from one vendor (there is a picture of him and his stall) and had a chance to talk with him about Christianity.  He said a man had prayed for him once and he felt a current through his touch.  When I prayed for him, he said, “nothing, no current.”  The next time we saw him he stopped me and said that after we left his stall, he sold more shoes than he has ever sold in one night, almost all the stock he had.  He was clearly impressed.  He expressed interest to receive a Bible and I made arrangements for one of the Thailand SIM staff to take him one.  Please pray for this lovely Buddhist man to come to know Jesus as his savior.

From Saturday to Wednesday we were outside Chiang Mai at a lovely resort area for the Spiritual Life Conference (SLC) for the Thailand team and the Central and South East Asia office, both located in Thailand.  It was great to get to know these saints who labor and serve in this challenging area.  Their children were lively and engaging, and we had a lovely time together.  MORE:

We were pampered at a lovely resort set in the Thailand hills with individual huts nestled in trees with meandering paths all set on a peaceful little lake complete with canoes, a picturesque bridge, and fabulous sunsets.  Meals were served on a shaded sprawling porch right next to the modern air-conditioned conference room where the worship and adult sessions were held.  Over meals, I was able to meet with and get to know some of the adults and parents, some of whom I have been corresponding with for By Prayer over the past year.  It was nice to get to have people’s faces to put with email addresses.

Children smaller than 7 years old met at a separate building overlooking the two swimming pools, and the 7 to 12 year olds, Austin Thorsen and I held our sessions next door to the conference room.  We had six children and studied a different Bible hero/heroine across the five sessions.  When one boy was told his family would have to leave the retreat a day early, he begged his mom to come back for the final day, and they did.  So, I think they all had fun and learned some.  The highlight was tie dying t-shirts, reenacting the rout of the Philistines after David killed Goliath (Austin), and the contest of Bible Trivia between the children and myself.  When I beat them the first go round, they spent the rest of the days trying to collectively beat me!  Yes, they finally did….  I think we all will remember this SLC together a long time.

We returned to Chiang Mai for the last several days of our time in Thailand and did some final touring and shopping and lots of resting.  Our team departed in stages and I traveled back alone arriving on Sunday evening.  MORE:

We made one last touring trip up in the hills to see another Buddhist temple and a Buddhist retreat center, and visited the Night Market a couple more times.  I spent a good bit of time in my room finishing up edits for the latest issue of By Prayer to send to the typesetter and just resting after a whirlwind two weeks in the flip flop thirteen-hour time difference.

I flew back last and alone.  I left Thailand at midnight on Saturday, flew in three flights in which I spent twenty-one and a half hours in the air, seven and a half hours in airports, traveled across thirteen time zones and arrived back in Charlotte on Sunday, July 31 at 3:30 in the afternoon.  Jet lag has really been a challenge to process, since our bodies take one day per time zone crossed to adjust.  I only have about three more days.

Because I was in Connecticut the first week of July, preparing for and gone to Thailand for the next three weeks, and the Perspectives course continued on, I am behind on homework for five lessons.  We are in the middle of a two-week break so I am trying to catch up on as much as I can.  I also have a project to turn in.  Fortunately I was able to interview a Thai for my project so only have to write it up, but it all takes time and energy.  While I have time, I haven’t had the energy for it all!

I have started to help out with transport of visitors to the SIM campus to the airport and have taken two trips to help relieve the very busy Hospitality staff at the SIM USA Office.

As I look back on the last month, I can see the amazing hand of God in all that has happened.  Your partnership in confirming and equipping me with your prayers and support strengthened me to do everything that was done.

Be sure to check out lots more pictures here!

Praises:

• Flights, while long, were uneventful and everyone’s luggage made it both there and back.
• Our plans were completed, the retreat was refreshing and all benefited.
• We all had a fun time exploring Thailand.

Prayers:

• Because I was gone three weeks in July, I am behind in lots of work!  Pray I will be able to focus and accomplish everything that I need to in the coming weeks.
• While I currently have adequate funds in my support account, please pray for more regular monthly supporters.