Volume 1, Issue 1

Life in a Northern Town

(of Thailand)

planned a Round the World trip

to accomplish those goals. I got

soo much more, but that is an-

other blog I also need to write.

Where??? Several places have

been coming to my mind over the

last few years but eventually all

roads led to Thailand. Even get-

ting to The River Team, was a

series of strange events, circum-

stances, plans and changes of plan.

The thing is I am here, I am serv-

ing and I am so blessed every

single day.

I am finally getting around to

getting some things down on

paper for all you out there who

would like to hear about what I

have been up to. I have been able

to blog a little of my new adven-

tures but not enough. I have chat-

ted with a few of you at times but

hopefully this will cover more

than my status updates will allow.

To say that my life has changed

over the last few years is an un-

derstatement. For nearly 20

years, I have had something in the

back of my mind niggling away,

reminding me constantly of some

sort of missions/volunteer work

and my need to be serving in this

way. Until August 2008, I was

able to suppress it, or at least in

my mind say, I was serving in

what I was doing. Then one day

things at “home” turned, my

thinking was, “What am I doing?

Could I just carry on for 30 years

doing this???” Life was not getting

to me, but I just knew there was

something bigger for me, that I

could be doing soo much more

for God. My possessions at home,

just gave no joy, I had so much

stuff and was so busy, but losing

the desire for “things” and wast-

ing my time.

To serve God more, but where???

I knew that once I made this deci-

sion, my circumstances would

change an limit the opportunity

for world travel. I had previously

agreed to a short mission trip to

southern India, back to where my

life had been changed in 1992.

With that as the starting point

and a few people around the

world I wanted to catch up with,

and some time also looking into

other places to serve, and a keen-

ness to Road Trip America. I

Thailand - Why am I here??? The journey so far...

Teaching at the English Camp

“Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your many blessings, see what God has done! ” J Oatman, Jr. (1897)

Highlights -

Getting here - the jour-

ney has taken a while, but

finally I am here and I feel

at home.

Meeting the fantastic

team over here at The

River Training and Con-

ference Centre

Kids Club every Sat-

urday

Learning to ride a mo-

torbike (scooter)

Driving here and not

hitting anything!!!

Living Life Loud

Visiting a nearby country

and teaching English

Being a Leader at our

Youth Camp

Experiencing Song Kran

or Thai New Year

Getting my Thai Drivers

Licence and Motorbike

one also

Meeting soo many great

people

What I have been learning!!! I arrived in Thailand prepared a little for

what I would be encountering, but it is a

daily process of change and growth. You

really just have to get in and live life be-

side the local people, serving in any way

you can and building relationships. I am

fortunate to be working with one of the

most fantastic teams of local people and

“farangs”. The term farang is an Asian

term for foreigner and it will come up

often.

I arrived in early March, to a place I had

never been before, planning to spend at

least seven months on mission here to see

if it was something, somewhere that I

could maybe spend a large chunk of the

rest of my life. Exact plans, who knows???

I go by the philosophy of “DO NOT PLAN”

and Nike’s “JUST DO IT”, so I just got on

with it. Apart from a few emails, I really

had no ideas or preconceived ideas of

where I would be going and what I really

would be doing. I just wanted “to serve

God”.

So just about three months in, I can say, I

am loving it. I have posted this many

times to my Facebook status throughout

my time here. I have felt down, frustrated,

lonely, pain, exhaustion, sad and just

about every bad emotion you can have.

I have also felt exhilaration, love, content-

ment, surprise, passion, contentment,

caring and every good emotion you can

have. Amazing!!!

I guess this is what happens, when you

give up a great job, good money and

comfortable life, for a life of service. I am

enjoying the freedom of serving people

who care so much for others and give of

all they have in serving the people in the

local communities.

I struggled for a while to find my fit. I have

skills and I wanted to use them, share

them and train others. However, I quickly

learned where I am good and have

knowledge, it is all a waste unless com-

munication is available and people are

willing to listen. Since then I have realized,

you need just wait and people will watch,

see what you do, how you do things,

then they will come to you and ask for

assistance. You show them, teach them

and they will own it and pass it on to oth-

ers.

This is a life lesson for all missionaries. Until

there is relationship, you really have no

right to speak into others lives. If you try, it

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO PRAY:

Praise God for His amazing plan for my life, bringing me here and giving me the chance to observe and help.

Praise God for The River Team and their ministry among the local community and in the remote villages for 17 years.

Please pray for the team and for opportunities to share Jesus with those they are working with.

Praise God for looking after me health wise. I have only had a few minor incidents and am physically feeling great.

Please pray for Thailand, recently the craziness in Bangkok has had major ramifications for the country and economy,

but thankfully has not directly affected any members of our team. They are saying more will come, who knows???

Please pray for our kids, our youth and everyone who visits our facility.

A week in my life...

Life in a Northern Town (of Thailand)

Daily Routine I will run through some of the different activities I

have gotten up to on different days through my

weeks here.

Most work days for my chores I get up to a variety

of things around the place to get me moving and

breathing hard. Includes pool maintenance and

cleaning, drain cleaning, mopping, sweeping, edging

and generally dirty stuff.

Mondays - Day Off Normally - Activities onsite

and offsite over my time, got my license one day

(then they said “DON’T GO MONDAYS, IT’S

BUSY AS” - Thanks), three hours of slashing and

clearing the back paddock, mopping floors and

flooding downstairs. Then offsite - shopping malls,

Chiang Mai and even had a burger one day.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - These days run

fairly standardly each week, after the morning

meeting, find something to do, do it, find some-

thing else, do it. I have a bunch of mini projects

going on, so slowly getting bit and pieces done

daily. I sometimes run computer classes, driving

lessons or lifesaving/swimming sessions plus what

ever else I get asked to help with. I have my cell/

lounge/home group on Tuesday night.

Friday - Weekly Team Meeting and Volunteer

meeting. Then continuing with projects with what-

ever time is left over.

Saturday - Kids Club, then relax or off.

Sunday - Church, then relax or off, then prayer

meeting.

It took a while to settle in

with everything and to

work out my fit, but now

my daily schedule is set.

6am - Chores

8am - Morning meeting -

Worship, Prayer &

Announcements

Around 10ish - Work Time

1pm ish - Lunch

After Lunch - Stuff & More

Stuff

Around 6pm - Dinner

Around 10pm - Sleep

Clockwise from top left - Behind the lens is where I belong, The River Team,

Cooking at our Community Fun Day, giving everything a try or at least looking like I am.

PO Box 11

HANGDONG

CHIANGMAI 50230

THAILAND

Phone +66801202074

Email -

schoolies2@yahoo.com

The River Training and Convention Centre

Any questions please do not hesitate to send me an email, schoolies2@yahoo.com or give me a call.