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Life in a Northern Town

(of Thailand)

Surin Adventures - Life in an Eastern Town

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 -

Surin Trip

My 1st Thai

Wedding

New community

adventures

State of Origin -

Thai Style

Visiting Teams

New Friends

The Rain

Kids Club

Back in Schools for

the New Year

The title just doesn’t have the same ring to

it, but In May, I had the awesome privilege

to head out from The River and to visit

some wonderful friends in a place called Su-

rin. Well apart from it being 15 hours away

by bus and Thailand’s other elephant king-

dom, I didn’t know too much about it. I was

expecting the usual Thai awesomeness but

was completely overwhelmed by the people,

their hospitality, generosity and love.

The bus ride down there was ok, I enjoy bus

travel but 15 hours is right on the edge of

being not fun anymore. The good thing is, I

can sleep anywhere, so I slept most of the

trip.

My friends came and got me from the bus

station and took me do to where I was stay-

ing, which was a room inside their church.

This room was reserved for special guests

and visitors. It was so awesome to be able

to get out of bed and go to church by walk-

ing a few feet and going through one door,

but it was also a little loud during some

practice sessions.

I didn’t have much idea of what I would be

doing in Surin, but I just wanted to connect

and see what is happening in the other parts

of Thailand.

The first day I went out to “get lost”, I hate

to walk, yet I like to see a place by walking

the streets, getting lost and then finding my-

self again. Fortunately Surin is quite big, but

quite small so I was OK and found my way

around with ease.

I found the bus station again, some shops,

the railway station, more shops and the

market. As I was walking through the mar-

ket I saw a lady selling “ro-mit”, a Thai des-

sert which is hard to explain, but a mix of

jellies, fruits and coconut in many various

forms. Back to the lady, she was the singing

leader from church the day before, so we

chatted for a bit and it was good to hear her

story and a bit about daily life. She practiced

her English and I tried out my limited Thai.

I then had to head off, so I bought some

things to try.

I was given a couple of opportunities to lead

the youth bible study, so it was good to

connect with the teens of the area and

share some thoughts on how valuable they

are and how they can make a difference. It

was challenging as my translator was only

available one week, but the second week we

got through and had some fun.

I also was taken

out to the ele-

phant camp and

had a great day

out there, yep,

that is me planking

under the

elephant’s foot.

A special day!!!

Actually every day in Surin was special. One

of the church families ran the restaurant at

the local buffalo/cow market, so we went

out there for breakfast and lunch both

Wednesdays. Incredible food!!!

I visited many of the other local churches

around the area and joined in many prayer

meetings and seminars, but probably the

highlight was attending my first Thai wed-

ding. The my host’s sister was getting mar-

ried, so I was invited along to the wedding

and I took my camera to, as they were keen

for me to take some photos. It was very

nice, but over really quickly and then it was

party time. Thais know how to celebrate! I

took a whole lot of pics I thought would be

alright, but it was a challenge as I just didn’t

know what was really happening, so I

snapped away and afterwards found I had

about a hundred good photos and 800 play

ones. I need a lot more practice taking pho-

tos, one day I will actually learn how to take

more good ones than bad.

Overall, I had so many other great adven-

tures in Surin and I met many amazing peo-

ple, who were all very keen for me to head

back to Surin to spend a bit more time

there. I think that one day, I will be back

there, but I will just have to wait and see as

to what plans God has for me.

Volume 1 Issue 8

Photos by Isaac Yeo

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This God, who took me in hand from the moment of birth to be his servant, to bring Jacob back home to him, to set a reunion for Israel - What an honour for me in God's eyes! That God should be my strength! He says, "But that's not a big enough job for my servant - just to recover the tribes of Jacob, merely to round up the strays of

Israel (or Thailand). I'm setting you up as a light for the nations so that my salvation becomes global!" Isaiah 49:5-6 The Message (MSG)

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO PRAY:

Praise for God’s blessing through The River Team - the last few weeks God has

been helping our team overcome many challenges and He has helped our team

thrive! Amen!!!

Please pray for the whole River Team - please pray for unity of mind and purpose

throughout our team. There are many important months coming up, as our team

continues to connect to the community and following in Jesus’ foot steps.

Praise God for several donations that came in following my last newsletter, but

please continue to pray that I am able to raise the necessary support that I need to

stay in Thailand.

Life in a Northern Town (of Thailand)

PO Box 11

HANGDONG

CHIANGMAI 50230

THAILAND

Phone +66801202074

Email -

schoolies2@yahoo.com

Skype - shayneinthailand

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.

Living Life in the “new”

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 Aus-

tralia, 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 fi-

nancially. Please go to the One Mission

Society website for more de-

tails or email me, schooli-

es2@yahoo.com . My prayer

card with all the details is

available at

http://tinyurl.com/33ppyxc .

Supporting Shayne

Since returning from Surin, I have seen many changes in our team. Don’t

worry, it is all good! They have been challenged daily “to seek and save the

lost. Their response has been just amazing!!! They have risen to the chal-

lenge that was before them and they have been victorious.

All this year, our focus has been becoming more like Jesus. Well our team

has served the people here, and been Jesus to community of Hangdong.

Each morning, as part of our regular meeting, the team was sent out to new

places, well sometimes new places, but actually old places, like where they

buy their veges or dinners to bless the market person they see each day. To

share with them, to listen to them. After that they continued on to other

new people in the community, to connect with them also.

Imagine the picture, more than 30 or 40 random acts of

kindness in and around Hangdong each day for weeks. It

sure had our team buzzing and there was lots of buzz in

the community also. To finish off our meeting each day we shared our experiences and observations and prayed for

those we had met. The heart of Jesus on display!

One of the many stories, to be shared is that of an older man who potters

around the area collecting recyclables or other things to try and get a bit of

money. He lives in a bit of a bamboo hut, with no bathroom facilities or

even a fourth wall. He could move in to a nursing home, but doesn’t want

to. He lives near a wat, but receives no help, he has family just down the

road, but they don’t help either. However, our team loves this man and has

been helping him and praying for him. It isn’t really the done thing in Thai-

land, but it is at The River.

The River team is committed to serving the whole community, through our

many weekly activities and visitation. Last year alone, the team made more

than 1500 visits to those in need and this year we are going for

many more.

“For the Son

of Man came

to seek and to

save the lost.” Luke 19:10 NIV

Above - Stop! Don’t do it!

Left - Kids Clubbers.