Winding down our time in Chiang Mai

Please remember to pray for us as we prepare to embark on the teaching portion of our trip

Only a couple more days and we say goodbye to our hosts, the Rebneys and the beautiful city of Chiang Mai. The time here has been full with meeting some wonderful people and hearing their stories of life in Thailand. We took advantage of our "down time" here to also experience things that could not be done in the states. Besides seeing and getting up close and personal with some huge Bengal tigers, Moriah convinced her parents that bare-back elephant riding was something that might only come about once in a lifetime. After we all spent the majority of a day traveling to and fro in the back of a truck that actually broke down on the way back, spewing black oil all over us, we were convinced with extremely sore pelvic bones that she was absolutely correct; it would be a once in a lifetime experience.
Gary has always complained in the past about the tenderness of his derriere from riding in the saddle when pleaded with to go horseback riding. Now after bareback elephant rumbling through the jungle, negotiating steep incline paths down the mountainside, fording a river while all the time struggling to maintain balance attempting to avoid the pointed spine and shoulder bones of this enormous beast and all without OSHA safety measures in place, he will say- "Give me a horse any day!" All in all it was an hilariously fun time whose memories should remain with us for much longer that the bruised bones and muscles.

Traveling by truck to our elephant ride

Paved road leading to the jungle

You have to be stylish when riding elephants

Trumpeting call to mount up

Riding is a snap, but where do you hang on?

Look Mom, no hands!

Fun feeding baby elephant who couldn't get enough bananas

Narrow, rocky path to the river

Feeling more that 61 years old after dismounting 

Elephant showing affection after being bathed

Its kind of gives me goose bumps. I hope it doesn't blow in my ear!

Gary is not too sure he likes it, feels like a sloppy, slimy vacuum cleaner  

We believe the elephants would have been more reliable

One of our intended goals while in Chiang Mai was to visit members of the Morse family who have ministered here in China, Burma, and Thailand for three generations since 1921. We were able to arrange a meeting with them for two days and received a seminaries education on how church planting has been successful and not successful in this part of the world. Some of the family's earlier experiences have been recorded in a couple books especially working among the Lisu people group (over three quarters of a million population, who have the entire Bible now in their own language as credit to the Lord working through this family. The books are entitled,  "Exodus To A Hidden Valley" and "The Dogs May Bark…But The Caravan Moves On". It was a thrill to meet several members of this family and learn of all that has been accomplished for the kingdom of God through their ongoing over 90 year ministry.

Organization founded after Morse family was forced to leave Burma

Tom Morse, librarian volunteer, Ron Morse, Pat Morse (Ron's wife)

Class of Bible school students

Library at Bible school for Lisu people

Lisu village church

Adoniram Judson's updated translation for Burmese by North Thailand Christian Mission 

Moriah and Lyndell spent one morning touring Grace International School, one of the Christian schools, here in the city established as recently as 1999. All of the teachers are working here as faith based missionaries and there are slightly more than 500 students K-12. Both were very impressed from what they learned and saw during the tour.

Grace International School foyer and staircase

Foyer with flags representing some of the counties of students 

Grace international school cafeteria

 Since we have all enjoyed eating Thai food so much since we arrived, we thought it would be a great idea to learn how to prepare such delicious meals. Therefore, Lyndell, Moriah and our friend Holli enrolled in an all day Thai cooking school, which began with a stop at one of the local morning markets to purchase the required fresh supplies for five main dishes. They were supplied with a simple recipe book so we can now hopefully enjoy this cuisine when we get back home as well.

Proof that your chicken actually had a head and two feet before buying.
Can't be sure in the USA

Choosing fresh meat, but left the pig's head for another fortunate customer

Tom kha and Tom yum soup, definitely yummy and a Thai's favorite

Spring rolls Thai style (Moriah has made these with our neighbors back home)

Moriah learning to prepare very tasty green curry, one of Dad's favorite. 

Ping River

Gary enjoyed a morning engaging with members of OMF (Overseas Mission Fellowship) at the Mekong Centre just outside the old city and across the Ping River.
He was given an introduction by two of their directors as to their work among the surrounding countries as in Thailand as well. Our current plans of perhaps spending half of the year here and half of the year back in the states would probably not be a match with their current mission statement and vision at this time. Even so there is much to learn from this organization, formerly called China Inland Mission, since it has such a long and effective history beginning with Hudson Taylor back in the mid to late 1800's. I also viewed several of Pastor Piper's books in their library.

Adoniram Judson had once said that making a convert in Rangoon, Burma was "like removing the eye-tooth of a live tiger," so deeply was Buddhism entrenched in the culture. The same might be said in this neighboring country of Thailand. Yet, the gospel is the power of God for salvation. Please pray for this land such that a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit would accompany all those here who preach and share the good news of Jesus Christ.

Bengal Tiger