Where's Reg

Last week I got the news that my work permit was finally ready (a process that has taken about six months), so I would need to go to Bangkok to finish this process. On my way back I got a phone call from Bob and Chris that my teacher (Kruu Anne's) Father had passed away. The crazy part is that the funeral was that very night. So I rushed back, but because it was Loy Kratong (I will fill you in about this in the next entry) the traffic was horrible. Well I made it back and was glad I went. This was also my first Thai funeral. The blessings was that it was a Christian funeral. The next day we had a special session for Loy Kratong, and after that was over I went to the third day of the funeral. In Thailand a funeral will last many days. On the third day of the funeral we met at the Crematorium for the final goodbye. The majority of Thai people when they die will be cremated. They don't bury people like we do in North America. One of the reasons is they just don't have the money or the room for it.

I wasn't sure her father was a Christian so I started to ask around. The reason people thought they had a Christian funeral was because Kruu Anne's Mother was a Christian. Yesterday I asked Kruu Anne in class if her Father had come to Christ. She told me until Sunday she did not know. She saw him very seldom read his Bible, go to church,not saying those things is what makes you a Christian, but there was nothing really to show he was, so she really did not know.
The reason I wrote she did not know till Sunday was because that was the night she had a dream. In this dream she was with her Dad and they were walking towards the Gates of Heaven. They stopped before the gate and then her Father turned to her and said, "I love you" and " God bless you". After this he hugged her and went through the gates into Heaven. When she shared this with me she could hardly hold back the tears, but after that dream, she knew that she would see her Father again. He was in Heaven, no more wondering was necessary, she knew!!!!! After I heard this I had those kind of shivers you get when God just blows your mind! Praise God!!!!!!!! He still does speak!!!!!!!!!!!

Last weekend, I went to a mall in Bangkok called Central World to see one of the very first Christmas trees lit in this Country, as well as to see some of the Royal family. After reading about this upcoming event in the paper and finding out that it was after my classes on Friday, I decided to go and check it out. Also, being that Christmas is not a holiday here (since it is a Christian Holiday and Thailand's majority is Buddhist), you have to go to a major city to get into the Christmas mood. The major Cities are decorated more for the tourist than for the Thais. So as you can see, this was the perfect opportunity for me to have a cultural lesson and also a way for me to get into the Christmas mood.

Since I am in classes five days a week and on Sundays at a Church in a nearby town, (that is really like a class), we get Mondays off to relax from the books and take a break. So, when I have some free time like this, I start to consider what I could do with it. I have to say, the adventurest side of me usually wins out with what I do. So being that I love to ride my motorbike (that was given to me free) I headed off to explore more of Lopburi and the surrounding areas. A few days prior to this day, I came across a sign that read something about a 3oo year old tree. The crazy thing is that on this Monday I came across that very sign again, so I thought I would check it out. The only problem was, was that the sign was in Thai. Yes, I have started to read and write, but I am not that far along with understanding it all. So with what I had, I could make out was that this tree was 300 (Meters?) away. Which way? That I did not know. So after riding back and fourth a few times, this Thai fellow pulled up in his car and asked me what I was looking for (He must have noticed that I was continually returning to the sign with a lost look on my face wondering where I was to go). I told him that I was looking for this huge tree that was over 300 years old and if he knew were it was. He laughed and then pointed straight ahead. I was about 100 meters away from the entrance of the Wat (where the tree was), and had ridden past it many times not knowing that was the place. Well after finding that out, I headed off to see this giant of a tree. When I got there, I met a bunch of kids playing around the grounds of the Wat. I started to chat with them, and before I knew it, I had 7 new little friends. It caught them by surprise when a Farang (foreigner) spoke to them in Thai. When they found out I had my camera with me, it was a must that them be in the pictures too! So here are a few of there moments in the spotlight. I really enjoyed this time and was greatly encouraged to why I am in Thailand. These kids and many other people don't have a clue who Jesus is. My prayer is that one day, these kids too will get to know why I am really here. That they too will see the love that Jesus has for them.

He will carry us...

I bet you were thinking I was going to finish that sentence with Christmas? Well, actually it looks still a lot like summer here. We are now going into the sunflower season. There are fields all over the place that are completly yellow. It's so beautiful, God's Creation once again shows forth it's beauty."In the way of the righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality." (Proverbs 12:28)

After Chiang Khong I went back to Chonburi (The Life Center, Team 2000) for another great baptism. They had around 24 people get baptized. Praise God! It's great to see how God is breaking through in Chonburi. To have seen what it was like at the beginning to where the church is now, is of great encouragement to me.

Above is the building were we enjoyed a great meal of sticky rice and stew. We finished off the day with a great time of prayer over this Pastor and his family.
The following day we were also able to go to the other Pastors village. We spent time praying for the church building, the people in the village as well as praying against anything that would come against Christ being revealed to these people. This village has only a few believers, so the battle seems a lot stronger here. God used us to encourage both these Pastors. For them, knowing that they are not alone in this battle to win souls for Christ is of great encouragement for them, to keep moving forward even amongst great opposition. Christ name be praised!!!!!!!!!

Sorry I took so long updating my blog. These last few weeks have been crazy. In the next few blog entries you will get a little glimpse into this.
A few weeks ago, MBMS International hosted a conference here in Phuket, Thailand for all the missionaries working in South-East Asia. It was great to meet with the other missionaries who are out in this part of the world, and hear their stories about how God has led them to where they are. This week was a physical, mental and spiritual recharge.
I left there feeling like I was were God wanted me. I so much want to reach these people with the love of Christ, knowing it's Him, and I can't do it without him.
In the middle of the week the men and women went their separate ways for the day. The guys headed off for a day of hiking and some time at the beach. It's crazy how beautiful it is here. You can go from one side of Thailand to the other and it's a totally a different place.

As men we were able to encourage each other and also ask some of the hard questions of each other. I think that is something that we need to do more often.
I also got to meet up with Rob, Judy, Amber and Amanda. It felt like I was back home again. I got to see where they now live and I have a much better idea of what lies ahead for them. God is so good, and I know many will come to see the truth of Jesus, in the South, North, Central, East and West of Thailand. All glory to Him!!!!!!!!!!