Sabbath School

Here are some pictures from Hope and Haven's Sabbath School class. These are the regular bunch of kids who are usually there. It's definitely different than a Sabbath School back in the States, although there are similarities, and the children sing some English Sabbath School songs. Hope and Haven enjoy it and it is helpful for them in learning to speak Thai as well.

Nong Dteuey with Haven

I think they were tickling Haven

Nong Noong Neeng is a good girl, but loves to tattle on Hope.

These are the parents and younger brother of Nong Dteuey.

Picking a butterfly for the song

Flying butterflies

She's flying her butterfly up high

Nong Mim was the teacher for this Sabbath

Isaiah is only a few months older than Hope.

Hope is helping King Joash rebuild the temple.

Craft time

Matthew is only a couple weeks older than Haven.

Growing Rice Fields

The rice field out our back door is growing quite well. It has all been planted now and the plants are coming along nicely. It's so neat to look out and watch how God causes the rice to grow. Hopefully there will be a plentiful harvest at the proper time, of rice and of souls.

Out Our Backdoor

The farmers who are planting this field sowed all their rice in a small rice paddy. After it had grown up a little, they pulled up all the rice and began replanting in all the paddies right behind our house. I'll post another picture of the completed fields. It will be fun to watch the rice grow.

Distraction

This week we've been dealing with a distraction in the form of illness in our littlest one. Haven ended last week with two days of high fevers. I thought it was because of teething, but then it persisted and it seemed that her ears were bothering her.

We took her to a hospital on Sunday and had her checked out. The doctor said that she had an ear infection and prescribed an antibiotic. I had been administering breast milk in her ears because it has natural antibiotic properties in it.

At first I was hesitant to give the antibiotic, but then I decided I would because she had experienced such high fevers, she is a very tiny girl and can't afford to lose weight (which infections can cause), and I didn't want to chance her having hearing loss from a serious infection.

Three days later we took her back for a check-up. The doctor said that her ears were clearing up but to continue the antibiotic. She also gave us some cream for a rash that Haven had developed on her chest. That was yesterday.

Today she developed a rash. I thought maybe it was an allergic reaction to the amoxicillin she'd been taking. So, we took her to another hospital this time. The reason we go to the hospital and not a pediatrician's office is because pediatrician offices are in hospitals. The doctor who we saw today was much more helpful than the doctor we had seen before. She asked about symptoms and timeline and diagnosed Haven as having roseola infantum. She said we can stop the antibiotics and that this will resolve itself soon. Good news!!!

Health concerns in my children are a major way that I can be distracted from our project and my desire to be a witness to those around me. I am hoping that you will join me in praying for our children's health and that God would block Satan's efforts to continue using our children's health to distract us from witnessing for God. Please pray that Hope and Haven would be healthy and be able to witness for Jesus as well. Thank you so much!

My Favorite Song

This is one of my favorite songs, perfect for mission work. I pray that God will help us to carry our candles to all those in darkness around us.

Afternoon Fun

Hope has become friends with one of our neighbors across the street. P'Suchee (the P' is a title of respect for an older sibling or friend, so this is how Hope refers to Suchee) is a teenage girl from Japan who is living here with her cousins while attending an international school. She speaks some English, some Thai, and of course Japanese.

Today she came over and played with Hope for quite a while. They played with our three baby chicks for a while. Then, for the first time, Suchee came inside our house. Hope has told her, "You can come inside if you'd like." It didn't ever seem like Suchee felt comfortable coming inside, but today I told her, "You're more than welcome to come in." And she took us up on our invitation.

Hope played with magnets with her, showed her what an Etch-A-Sketch is, and we all three played Butterfly Bingo together. It was very fun to have Suchee come over. She even read a Bible book to Hope. Then Suchee and Hope went back outside and played Frisbee. I found a frog that they played with for a little bit. Then they went down the road to visit some neighbors playing badminton. Right then it started raining, so everyone went back to their respective homes and we told Suchee we would see her later.

I hope that we have much more interaction with our neighbors.

Getting Around in Bangkok

When we were in Bangkok, we had our pick of whatever public transportation we felt like taking. Here in Chiang Mai we are a little more limited, especially since we live off the beaten path of public transport. Can you guess what our daughter Hope loved to take?

She loved them all!

Voting Day

Today is Voting Day here in Thailand. This is a very important event. Thailand has been in a state of unease for quite a few years. Several years ago, there was a military coup that overthrew the government and ousted the Prime Minister of that time. Since then, there has been a very tenuous peace.

Our time in Bangkok allowed us to witness several Red Shirt rallies. Thankfully, they were nothing like the riots that climaxed with the burning of a mall and death and injuries to many people just last year.

Please pray for this country. Pray that the elections would go smoothly. Pray that whichever party wins would make wise decisions in how this country should be governed. Pray that whichever party loses will   not seek to make disturbances or fight the outcome of the election.

Please continue to pray for us as well. Here in Chiang Mai, we feel a little removed from the political turmoil which has mostly been seen in Central and parts of Eastern Thailand. However, after this election that could change, and we ask that you would pray for our safety. Also, please pray for our continued language learning, that we would increase in our vocabulary and speaking ability every day. We are so anxious to be ready to serve the Northern Khmer, and we can't wait until our language ability matches our eagerness.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support.