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| Eastern view from the rooftop of our apartment |
Yes, life gets busy on this side of the globe here in Bangkok as well as in America and it has made posting a newsletter a bit challenging. We're already into our third week of teaching English at Santisuk and are enjoying it very much. Our apartment is new, clean, 440 sq. feet with separate bedroom and study room, and only a 5 minute walk to the school. Lyndell is teaching two Level 3 classes, one in the morning and the other at night. Gary teaches a Level 2 class at night and has been helping to preach at the weekly Friday evening worship services held at the school. The service is in Thai, so the sermons of course need to be translated by our director Awe. We teach our two hour long classes four days/week from Monday-Thursday and try to find things to do with the students or staff on the weekends. After class in the evening, which ends at 8:30, we usually go out to eat with members of the Thai staff and some students. However, the late night suppers are not helping to control the waist line.
Every week there are also opportunities to help disciple new believers at our cell group meetings on Sunday afternoons, which are open to anyone seeking to know more about the Christian faith. Thus, there are unbelievers in attendance at those meetings as well as at the worship services. One question came up last week as a gay, 20 some year old, male Buddhist wanted to know if it was really that important to become a Christian, since he was already having a happy life. We began our answer to his question by sharing John 3:16-18 and went on from there to proclaim the gospel by having him read many others portions of Scripture. We let Jesus and other sections of the Bible provide an explanation of why trusting in Jesus alone is so vitally important now and for all eternity. He said he would begin reading the book of John and write down any questions he had along the way. We're praying that his eyes would be opened to the truth as were those of his former gay partner who has repented of his sins and is now a believer at the church.
There have been other meetings, by God's providence, to share the reason for the hope we have in God. Each student in Gary's class is required to have an interview session with him at which time the gospel is presented and the distinguishing characteristics of our faith in Jesus Christ is compared with all other religions. This is a story most say they have never heard before explained to them. One day in Gary's class after singing the specific song for that day, which was Amazing Grace, he gave an explanation of what grace meant and why it is so amazing. Our sin transferred to Jesus who in turn has given us his perfect righteousness by grace through faith alone (none of our merit required) is truly the unique and utterly amazing great exchange. The next day of class one of the students wrote for one of their homework sentences requiring the use of the word "is", "The love of God is amazing!" Wow, coming from a devote Buddhist, that is amazing.
Although we have discovered some favorite foods to eat, we continue to try different items as well. Our default restaurant is only a short distance from our apartment, which has a tasty menu (with pictures!) and is also very inexpensive.... around $8.00 or 280 baht for the two of us. Lunch varies for us quite a bit with so many options everywhere. The challenge comes when almost everything is just written in Thai and there aren't many good english speaker translators around. We like to try places that have a long line of people waiting to get food :). We also enjoy a small hole in the wall street side restaurant across from our apartment that serves only a special northern Thailand soup with either chicken or pork called Khao Soi.....it's "aroy-mak-krap" (very delicious)!
Last Friday we taught English all day at a very poor public school about an hours taxi drive from downtown Bangkok. The students were mainly from 4th to 6th grade. They all seemed pretty excited to have us there especially since this outreach happens only once a year. The children are learning English in school, but from Thai speakers, and therefore they appreciate hearing English from native speakers.
Even though this is winter in Thailand, the daily temperatures are very hot for us Mid-westerners from highs in the mid-90's during the day to lows in the upper 70's at night. We very much appreciate the A/C here to say the least. We drink a lot of water and fresh-pressed fruit juices from the street vendors, which taste so wonderful.
We hope the following pictures give you some idea of what we've been able to experience here so far. Please keep praying for hearts to be open and receptive to the good news of Jesus Christ.
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| Our comfortable home away from home in Bangkok. |
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| Friday evening worship service |
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| Our favorite default restaurant kitchen- make sure to say "mai ped na krap" (not spicy please)! |
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| We found a new use for our grill back home this summer- barbecued bananas. |
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| How many colors can you identify in this food selection? |
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| Our local fruit vendor Palope who now calls out our names upon seeing us |
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| Delicious mu (pork), gai (chicken) or gung (shrimp) Pad Thai can be found just about everywhere. |
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| After class dinner party with January class |
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| Final class pizza party (yes, I said pizza and it's very good) for January class |
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| One of several local restaurants across on our narrow soi (street) |
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| Not really sure where the driver is on this kitchen accessory mobile stand |
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| Former king now deceased |
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| New king |
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| Very popular restaurant serving khao soi (northern Thai coconut curry noodle soup) for $1.00 |
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| Enjoying dinner from a street-side vendor with students in the evening |
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| A serene lake in the 142 acre Lumphini Park in the midst of the city |
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| Uh, let's try to find another canoe. This one seems to be reserved. |
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| Work out stations for young and old |
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| Free outside park fitness center that Gary chose to avoid |
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| Christian books in the library of an early 20th century doctor in Bangkok |
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| Our cell group meeting in our apartment with treats afterwards |
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| Hmmm, a little hard deciding on what to order here |
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| Decision easier here. "Mango sticky rice please." A favorite dessert for many, us included. |
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| Evangelical Church of Bangkok since 1971 |
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| Students from Thailand, Iran and Pakistan |
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| Syncretistic worship confusion- Hindu shrine, animistic spirit house with rope leading to Buddhist temple on roof of adjacent building |
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| Monk wax exhibit at Maka Bucha Day festival |
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| Gary's Level 2 class first day |
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Mu Ping หมูปิ้ง (pork on a stick) quick snack
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| I'm feeling antiquated- what I used in high school and college is now in a Bangkok museum |
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| Chao Phraya River-use of inexpensive river boat taxis to avoid congested city streets |
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Short and long term missionaries from Bethlehem Baptist Church
L. to R. Lyndell, Karen Indehar, Myra Pehoski (short term), Gary, Todd Indehar, and Sean German
(Todd & Karen long term Thailand missionaries in Bangkok)
(Sean German long term Bosnian missionary visiting while attending leader's conference) |
