Life in a Northern Town

(of Thailand)

Holiday, reunions, furlough, I don’t know???

My name is Shayne Rochfort and I am a servant of God, volunteering in

Hangdong, Thailand! I am helping support an amazing team in their work in the

local schools and community. My main role involves everything and anything.

Highlights -

Nation Builders

Conference in

Chiang Mai

CHE TOT Vision

Seminar

Going to Bris-

bane & seeing

everyone

Surviving Reverse

Culture Shock

Reunions for High

School and Pri-

mary School

Joining One Mis-

sion Society

Seeing everyone

in Brisbane

Going HOME to

Hangdong and

getting back to

The River Team

sure BOTH were on consecutive weeks, because I knew my bigger plans were to be overseas some-where. Well all the plans worked out awe-somely, it was so amazing to re-connect with soo many people from my school days. I believe that it is something that is very important. In some case you have spent at least a year (or 5 or 7 or even 12) with these people, and the years go by we have our own lives and families to look after and friends come and

I don’t plan!!! One of my life phi-losophies is “DO NOT PLAN!”. Why??? It just helps lessen disap-pointments. Anyway, in late 2008, I joined a few others on a committee to plan my primary school reunion, we worked out a date for it and I had to be in Australia for it. Then a bit later that year, I began to con-nect with some high school friends and the subject of a 2010 reunion came up, so I started a Facebook group and found a committee and organiser. I “PLANNED” to make

go, but you will always have your school mates. Sometimes, you may not have gotten on with peo-ple at school or you may have been BFF, but life changes every-thing and we all write our own sto-ries. Well over the last few weeks I have loved sharing stories with every one of you. My hope is that we can continue to stay in touch over the next few years. I think that heaps of emails and phone numbers were exchanged so I’m sure we can.

My Reunions

I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

Ettiene De Grellet

Volume 1 Issue 4

Where have I been for 3 weeks??? Brisbane. What

have I been doing??? I don’t really remember too

much. I have been catching up with friends, rellies,

school mates, old work mates and all along the way

meeting so many interesting new friends also. It has

been awesome!!!

I had no real plans when I left Thailand, except for

my reunions and catching up with as many people

as I could. Well I completed most of that, and

more, but unfortunately there were many people I

didn’t get to catch up with. I do not know when I

will be back, but I invite you all to come and visit

me in Thailand.

My first challenge was to find transport for the time

I was there. That was solved by my Dad. Next was

catching up with my close friend Paul and my

XBOX 360, well that was fun, tiring, but not good

for catching up with people. Next was joining One

Mission Society, I connected with their Aussie di-

rector, Ray and we worked through everything I

needed to do to make things happen for me for my

future and my work in mission. On that note, if you

want to connect, pray or support me, please feel

free to contact me about this.

My next few days were busy with getting a bunch of

stuff done. I was able to create a photo story video

of some of my Thailand experiences that I showed

to churches that I visited. This video is up on you-

tube and linked on my Facebook page, if you want

to check it out. I spent the weekend at my primary

school reunion (see story below) and visiting my

home churches.

The second week, I went and visited Dad again,

before spending a few days helping a friend move. I

then connected with friends from Hillsong Brisbane,

that I had helped out at the Nation Builder’s Con-

ference. My Saturday was very big, it started with

golf in the morning with some high school friends

and then heading down to Redcliffe for my high

school reunion. Well everything was already done

by the team and it was time for the fun to begin!!!

We had nearly half of our 280 strong class join with

us for a great night of 90’s music, reconnecting,

catchup and dodgy dancing. But, all to quickly, it

was over for another 10 years at least. Great work

team!!! I spent much of Sunday recovering, it had

been a big week. That night, I went in and caught up

with others who I had met when they came to visit

Thailand this year.

My final week in Brisbane had begun and I still had

so much to do. I was not going to be sleeping in the

same bed at any point this week, but every day and

night was a great chance to spend time with those

who are so close to me.

As I am journeying home, I am remembering each

connection I made and how blessed I am. Thanks!!!!

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO PRAY:

Please continue to pray for me in my work. I love being able to serve the team here as they make a

difference in the Hangdong community.

Praise God for The River Team - our team is growing and we have some many new things happening

here.

Please pray for the whole River Team - We are starting a coffee shop and English Club in the middle of

Hangdong. This will take a while to get going, but everyone is getting very excited.

Praise God that I enjoyed a great time in Brisbane and was so blessed by all the support I have re-

ceived in what I am doing.

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

Please pray that I am able to raise the necessary support that I need to continue my work in Thailand.

Life in a Northern Town (of Thailand)

PO Box 11

HANGDONG

CHIANGMAI 50230

THAILAND

Phone +66801202074

Email -

schoolies2@yahoo.com

Skype - slr_legend

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.

Well since coming home, it has been

pretty crazy times. The day I returned, I

was greeted with the news that our next

few weeks would be quite busy. It was

just so good to be back.

Starting the next day, I would helping our

team with an English camp catering to

upper primary school students. This camp

was only a morning one and we would

run three sessions with each group of

students rotating through our class.

On the weekend, I was also back in the

swing with kids club and my normal week-

end routine. On Sunday a team from Hill-

song church Brisbane arrived to prepare

for their high school English camp which

we were assisting with. The next few days

were a blur. We completed both camps

and it was just so much fun connecting

with around 150 high schoolers and their

teachers.

Our kids club had an overnight camp on

Friday and Saturday. It was heaps of fun,

we ran a bunch of games on the Friday

and then went for a swim, had dinner and

then each team did a skit for the rest. On

the Saturday we joined with the youth

club and the Hillsong team ran an English

camp. We finished up camp with another

swim and everyone then headed home.

Some of our team then headed for Laos,

the Hillsong team headed off and the rest

of us spent the next few days cleaning up

after camp and trying to recover from the

previous busy-ness.

Just this last week, I have been in full time

training sessions. We have been looking at

the CHE 1st level course and it has been

very interesting. The course looks specifi-

cally at ways of working with local com-

munities for lasting change, both physically

and spiritually.

The Return Home

Pictures

of me!

(clockwise from top left)

At English Camp, The Hill-

song team and Thai

teachers, 3 Sha(y)nes,

some Primary school

mates.

I am committed to being in Thailand

and with The River Team in a full time

capacity. I would like to let you know

that if you are able to support me in

my work, then you can do so through

One Mission Society. While I was in

Australia, I joined One Mission Society

so that everyone can have a way of

partnering in my ministry here in

northern Thailand. There are many

ways you can support me, through

prayer as well as financially.

Please go to the One Mission Society

website for more details or email me,

schoolies2@yahoo.com . My prayer

card with all the details is available at

http://tinyurl.com/33ppyxc .

Supporting Shayne