“What is he doing here?”  Cindi asked me in church last Sabbath.  It was Chokchai, a Thai youth pastor / Bible teacher that we had met several months ago in Bangkok.  When we first met, we had a lengthy discussion at a church potluck and he told us that he would be happy to show us around Bangkok and take us sight-seeing.  Sensing that this may be the beginning of a good friendship we eagerly told him that we would love to do that.  A couple of months went by before our next encounter, but he again told us he would like to take us places, in fact he even invited us to visit his home village in Northern Thailand.  We told him we were interested but ended up moving from Bangkok to Chiangmai shortly thereafter. 

Khom Loi

After church we talked with Chokchai; picking up where he left off in Bangkok, he asked us if we had plans for the evening and asked if we would like to go the Yi Peng festival at one of the local Universities.  Yi Peng is a Northern Thai festival that coincides with one of the most popular Buddhist holidays Loy Krathong, part of the celebration process involves lighting “kite-like” lanterns (khom loi) and then releasing them to fly away in the sky; it is quite sight!  We told him that we were already planning on going and that he could come with us, to which he agreed.  We had a great time that evening enjoying the festival and talking with Chokchai and others.  He told us that he had just moved to Chiangmai and would be here for several months while he worked on his Masters degree in Education.  As we talked he began giving us ideas about how we could practice our Thai with some of the church youth, and how he could organize times for us to meet with them.  He shared with us some of the burdens that he has for the church in Thailand and some of the ideas he has, and he invited us again to visit his village, which is very close to Chiangmai.  When we moved from Bangkok three months ago, we were a little saddened that we wouldn’t be able to develop our friendship anymore, but now we marvel at how God has allowed our paths to cross again.  We truly believe that this could be a great friendship that will not only bless us socially but will also enhance our work and ministry in Thailand.  We really sense that Chokchai is a godly, dedicated man, with a burden for seeing the work in Thailand grow and develop.

Khom Loi

We have continued our weekly meetings with our friend Sanga, the monk; in fact we were able to visit his temple last night during their Loy Krathong celebration.  We have enjoyed learning more about Thai traditions and culture, but we have seen more clearly how entrenched it is in superstition.  Loy Krathong is a time when Thai people thank the “Goddess of the River’ by making krathongs (meaning decorative float) out of stalks of a banana tree and then decorating it with leaves and flowers and a candle; the krathongs are then floated down the river.

Khom Loi

On another note, two weeks ago I came down with Dengue fever, and was sick for about one week.  Thankfully I had a mild case and was not seriously ill; I praise God for the quick recovery and being able to get back to work.  We also praise God that we have survived our first year in Thailand; November 20 is our one year anniversary!  It has truly been an adventure, and we look forward to what the future holds.  We again solicit your prayers as we continue our language learning and ministry here in Chiangmai.  We appreciate your prayers and support; do let us know how we can pray for you, and may the Lord bless you all richly!

Khom Loi

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