Jan 7, 2019 - Koh Phayam & Ranong

So, tonight we're heading back to Bangkok on the night train from an interesting place called Chumphon where we've been staying for the past few days. After a couple of days here, we realised we'd actually been here before - about 10 years ago but only for one night. Alan's feeling of deja vue proved right! Before that, we were on the idyllic Andaman island of Koh Phayam. Still unspoilt - no cars, electricity only between 6.00pm and 8.00am, mangroves, long white sandy beaches, families of hornbills, and yes, swaying palms and cocktails. We...

Dec 29, 2018 - Happy New Year from Ranong!

So we left Chiang Mai this morning after a couple days there and are now en route South to Ranong. We spent a very enjoyable Christmas week with our old friend Chris Stanley who we first met over 10 years ago on the island of Koh Chang. He is now living in deep rural Omkoi in the North West of Thailand. Chris was kind enough to meet us in Chiang Mai and help organise our motorbike (a Honda 300cc Forza), hardy enough to cope with Alan, myself as pillion and our rucksack/s. We spent a week in the delightful farm stay called Pingthara, run by...

Dec 24, 2018 - Happy Christmas from Omkoi

As part of our six weeks in SE Asia, we're starting off by visiting our old friend, Chris Stanley, who used to run a resort on Koh Chang but now lives in the wild west part of North West Thailand. We took the night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, and hired a bike on our arrival in Chiang Mai. Today, we are going for full Christmas dinner with Chris's friends, Steve & Stephanie who have an amazing house they've just completed building in Om Koi. We've brought two M&S Christmas puddings and some mince pies plus Birds Custard, so we won't...

Dec 19, 2018 - To Bangkok

Yesterday morning we were all feeling a little sad. It was a beautiful morning and sunrise over the river heading to the train station. Myunhong Lee and Netnapas took us. We were a little relieved it was only them, because Lee posted our leave times on the Congregation Line. But like Ma'am said it's too early I not get up. If we would have gotten more we would have probably cried. These friends have truly taken our hearts and we have such close friends here. Even though we barely can communicate because we are still toddlers in the...

Dec 17, 2018 - Final days in Ubon

Saturday would be our last day in the ministry. We worked a business section of the city. I placed several tracts. One place was obviously an old restraunt. If you walk in the door it was dark but the doors and windows were open for light. They had traditional thai style charcoal grills going outside in the back. But much of the smoke was coming into the restraunt. It smelled delicious but probably not good for the lungs. But the lady accepted a tract and meeting invitation. Also the brother with me was able to continue a nice conversation...

Dec 13, 2018 - This week

This week has been relatively quiet. Monday after service Emily left us and went with Sky on return visits. Then they went to play basketball, and badminton. Badminton is very popular in Thailand. Often many from the congregation get together to play. Sky didn't bring her home til after 10. I think they had fun. We've been mostly catching up on school work. Were now getting to our last week in Thailand. We bought our train tickets to Bangkok. We got 3rd class for only about $5 each. It's a daytime travel. So by the evening we will be in...

Dec 8, 2018 - International Convention

The last two days have really been a bit of an international affair. There we're 105 at the meeting on Friday night. And as Brother Lee put it, this is an International Convention. Ones from all sides of the Earth are here in this congregation. One highlight. On Friday morning in the ministry I placed a tract with a man sitting by a food cart. A little bit later a sister from Korea that is here for the campaign tried talking to the same man. Only she gave him a meeting invitation. He came to the meeting last night. I think he was impressed...

Dec 6, 2018 - International dinner

So a wonderful sister from our congregation invited some of the campaign guests who are here for dinner. I want to say there were about 25 people in her home last night. It was very beautiful to see. These were of the first group of visitors to be here. A few more arrived this week. Altogether we had ones from Wales, Australia, Korea, Japan, Canada, US, and Thailand represented. Sam, and La are from the gold coast of Australia. He owns a beautiful area of land that if anyone wants to go to Australia and go camping, it would be the perfect...

Dec 5, 2018 - Suprise

So I have been getting up at about 3 AM to go to a public area downstairs to start tutoring. It's been working good. I get a quiet space, good internet signal and I'm not waking everyone up. Then yesterday and today I go and take my morning walk. I usually will head towards a nearby market. Scout out various meats on a stick, and sticky rice. I found these things that looked like potatoes wedges from KFC. But they were breaded and what I thought was chicken turned out to be banana. A pleasant surprise. It was crispy, and soft an melty...

Dec 3, 2018 - Going too fast

Its hard to believe we only have 18 days left in this amazing country. It feels like 3 months have gone by so fast. The last 2 days have been special. We have the first of the visitors here for the campaign. Sunday after the meeting we had a special entertainment evening at the KH. Much like what would happen for an Assembly Hall during the time of an International Convention these days. They will have such every week for the campaign. Over the next 3 months there will be 124 from Korea, Australia, Japan, USA, Canada, Switzerland, The UK...

Nov 30, 2018 - Anna

We think we have figured out why Anna hasn't been feeling good. Jenny discovered Anna has a loose tooth. It may fall out soon. But underneath it is a new tooth trying to push through. But it hasn't broken the skin yet. So that should be good news. It would explain a few things liken why she hasn't wanted to eat. I did get her and Emily out today for a little walk. We went to our favorite lunch place. It has a waterfall, and green area. Quite a pleasant experience. I don't know the name of it. But if you walk past Tesco there is a noodle...

Nov 29, 2018 - Hello

Hello, just checking in. It's been an interesting week. I'm trying to get 2 online teaching jobs started. But it will take a little time to go through the initial stages. Plus the times I've been logging on the Internet servers seem to be down. Or being updated. So that hasn't helped. Anna's getting over a bit of a stomach virus. We don't think it's serious. But it's slow going away. Each day she's getting a little better.