Lop Buri Monkeys

There are monkeys in Lop Buri, Thailand. These are not zoo monkeys. These are long-tail macaques that live around a temple that was built in the 8th century. They climb all over it, sit all around it, and their young scramble and play everywhere. The monkeys are not contained at the temple. They cross the street and steal bags of food from people passing by. They swing along power lines and climb up to the rooftops of buildings surrounding the special "prasat" from ages past. There is also a special temple (more recently built) for worshiping the spirits of the monkeys (or something like that). A jungle gym of sorts has been set up for the monkeys, and people sell food for tourists to feed the monkeys.

Earlier this month we passed through Lop Buri on our way to some meetings. We didn't have time to stop on the way down, but as we were traveling back to Chiang Mai we decided to stop and have a look at the monkeys. It was worth it!

Hmong Village Camping

Several weeks ago, we had the opportunity to go experience camping in a Hmong village. We drove for several hours, a couple of which I spent hanging on to the edge of my seat and stomping on my non-existent passenger brake. The road went up at a 45-50 degree angle in some places. It didn't help that our trip up the mountain took place after dark. There were major ruts in the road making our drive slow and unpredictable, when adding in the hairpin turns.

Once we arrived in the village, we tried to set up our tent and eat dinner quickly so that we could bathe and go to sleep since it was so late already. There was a fire burning near one house near where our cars were parked, and several of our group sat around talking with the villagers there. The church in Chiang Mai has many youth who are Hmong and they participated in this camping trip/evangelism. Some of the villagers speak Thai as well as Hmong, though many of the older generation do not.

The next morning, we woke up to the sounds of the thousands of roosters crowing all over the village and in the forest. Out our window we were greeted with the curious stares of the little children looking back at us. We got dressed, brushed our hair, and headed out for breakfast.

After breakfast, we spent the morning helping to clean up the village. The school bathroom was the focus of the group that Hope and I found ourselves a part of, although my focus was more on keeping Hope focused :)

After lunch, it was time for games and just playing around some. I took the opportunity to shoot a whole slew of photos. It was fun to get so many good pictures of the time we spent there.

After games and playing for a while it was time for baths (before the sun went down so that we wouldn't be too cold), and dinner. Our girls were tired, so they headed to bed before the evening program began. The evening program was a concert put on by mostly the youth of the Chiang Mai church. I was also asked f I would sing a song that I had sung at the church a few weeks before, and there was also another foreigner who sang a song as well.

The next morning was spent getting ready to go and handing out clothing that had been collected to bring to the villagers. We really enjoyed our time in the Hmong village. Although I couldn't speak any Hmong I enjoyed visiting these precious people and pray that they will come to know Christ and His love.

Festivals

Chiang Mai just finished participating in two Buddhist festivals. One of them, Loi Krathong, is celebrated throughout all of Thailand. The other, Yi Peng, is celebrated at the same time, but only in Chiang Mai. It is a festival from the time of the Lanna kingdom in northern Thailand.

Loi Krathong is celebrated by floating offerings down the river in order to honor and appease the spirit of the river. Offerings of flowers, incense, coins and candles are placed on banana leaf or bread boats.

Everyone gets their own krathong, or offering, to float down the river. I am sure that many people float more than one. 

Yi Peng festival is celebrated by releasing rice paper lanterns into the night sky. Thousands and thousands of these lanterns are released on the actual night of Loi Krathong, as well as the days leading up to and right after Loi Krathong. The releasing of the lanterns signifies the letting go of bad luck and as people let them go they pray for good luck. Each lantern is released with prayers, not to the God of heaven but to their ancestors and the spirits.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support as we are learning more and more about Thai and Northern Khmer culture, and how to reach them with the gospel of Jesus.

Sundown Worship While Camping

Last weekend, we went with the Chiang Mai Adventist Church youth on a camping trip. It was an overnight trip, but it was a lot of fun. This is one of the videos from the sundown worship we had Sabbath evening. The song, if you don't recognize it, is "As The Deer."

An Evening with Our Neighbors

This evening, as we do often, we went out and Hope rode bicycles and played with a couple of younger girls who live around the corner from us. The third picture shows a wall behind the motorcycle in the far back. That is the house of this family behind that wall. Where the grandpa is standing is our driveway. So, this family does not live far from us at all. Hope and the older girl, Idea, like to trade bicycles. The bicycle that Hope is riding in all these pictures belongs to Idea, and vice versa.





Hope loves having this family come out and play in the evening. I love it as well. The mother of Idea, and her sister Image, is very sweet. We have talked some, and I keep praying that we'll be able to have more meaningful conversations. 



The grandfather is also very kind and watchful of all the kids as they are driving around.

Idea is younger than Hope, but here in Thailand the children start preschool at three years old. Some even younger. Idea's younger sister is already in preschool and she just turned two.

Our next door neighbor, Suchee, came out and played ball with the girls right before it was time to head inside for dinner.

This is my friend, Dik, with her younger daughter Image. Please pray that our friendship will deepen and we can speak of more than just our children.

Another Critter

Robbie found this guy a few nights after finding the snake. I think he was old and that our handling of him wore him out still more, because the next morning he was in our grass, unmoving.

In the Driveway

This is a harmless Checkered Keelback. We killed it first and asked questions later.

Backdoor Bird

Out our backdoor we saw this bird across the rice paddy. Amazing colors!

Evacuation and Cleanup

On Wednesday of last week, we knew there was flooding, but we didn't think that it would affect us too much. By Thursday morning, the floodwaters were seeping up into our yard. By that evening, the water reached to our bottom steps at our front and back door. Through the night, I monitored the level of the water. 

What I didn't realize until the next morning was that the water had covered our septic tank, and the lid of the tank had popped off and was floating. In the morning, there was quite the stink. I went out in plastic bag boots and managed to put the lid back on and weight it down. Unfortunately, with that happening, our toilets no longer flushed, so we made the decision to leave for a couple days and come back when the water had receded and we could clean up and use all of our own facilities again.

We are thankful for friends that we have here in Chiang Mai who so graciously opened their home to us! They are a real blessing. We know that the Lord takes care of His children and we are so thankful for His watch-care.

Going to see if we would be able to drive our truck out.

We couldn't get our truck out, so we had to pack light and walk.

Many people were out, some just observing the floodwaters, others
walking to where they could get transportation.

This truck stopped and gave us a ride on the back

One of the guys on the truck

Upon returning two days later, we set about rinsing down our driveway
and the yard and cement around the house.

I started scrubbing down the walls. 

Our whole yard and house stink because of the floodwaters, the algae and fungus that is growing now, and the yucky matter that was introduced into the floodwaters and settled back into the ground around our house. We hope it will rain and rinse it all away without causing another flood. We are thankful for your prayers and know that God protected us, and our house, from the flood.

Flood

Yesterday the water started rising here in Chiang Mai. Today our house is an island. We're praying the flood will crest before the waters reach our doors.

New Wheels

Praise the Lord! We were needing a vehicle and He has provided for us, both funds and affordable vehicle. We are so thankful to all who have supported our project vehicle fund and especially have joined us in praying for a vehicle and for the money with which to purchase it.

Obviously, it's an Isuzu. A four-door truck with two-wheel drive. I believe it's an Isuzu Highlander, I could be wrong. It's a four year-old vehicle that we purchased from some friends of ours. The family who I worked with my first year as a student missionary here in Thailand were looking for someone to buy their truck because they had been called to work in another country. So, they gave us a very good price. That was such a huge blessing.

We are so thankful to God and to the generosity of all those who helped make it possible for us to purchase a safe vehicle for getting our girls around in. Praise the Lord!!!

Making Merit

During holy days and weeks, merit-making is very important. Everyone goes to their chosen temple and they will light incense and pray, give money and cigarettes and other gifts to the monks.

All of these things are done to offset the sinful things they have done. This is a country and religion of salvation by works (although nirvana is much different than the salvation found in Christ). 

When they pray, I'm not sure what they say. I don't know who they pray to. Some village spiritual leaders know some Pali chants, but those are not common knowledge. I believe they pray to a mix of Buddha, ancestors and spirits. Their prayers are much different than a prayer to a personal, loving God.

Ringing bells, offering flowers, prayers, pouring oil over the flames, burning candles, pouring water, walking around the golden stupa while holding a flower and chanting... There are so many ways to make merit and store up good deeds. 

I want them to know Jesus. I want to tell them what Jesus has done for them. So much more than they could ever do. They need to have an opportunity to accept Christ's sacrifice and realize how futile their own efforts have been.

They need to know that there is hope. Making merit for themselves leaves a feeling of hopelessness. They know that they can never do enough to reach nirvana and escape suffering. They need Jesus.

Please pray with us as we continue to language learn, so that we will be able to effectively share with the Thai and Northern Khmer people what Jesus has already done for them. Please pray that they will accept what He has done, and choose to live for Him.