Wednesday, June 18, 2008
hello from lopburi

hello everyone!!! so sorry for the missing updates and stuff. haha, and since the mongolia team finally updated, we must keep up to date too(:(:(:

actually life here in Lopburi is both relaxed and taxing. we have a good share of day-off and rest, and aslo a good share of rushing out english lessons plans, activities and logistics needs. last sat's open house was really much better. we scraped our boring presentations, and came up with skits of life in singapore, the girls did some ge-tai scene, while the guys acted out an army scene (with the poor me as the recruit being punished). haha, and after a long day of cooking, preparing, acting, decorating, attempting to talk thru our broken thai, playing games with the students, we took a break by going swimming! haha, how ironic tt i never really found time in singapore to actually do some exercise, but found plenty of time to do some here(:(:(:

on sunday was our first visit to a Thai church, the girls headed off with Tham to Parbat church (where art, mil, top are at). and the guys went to the Lopburi church with Off and Peung. i think the girls had fun, but me and shaun were totally lost with all the Thai songs and prayers (tts cus Off and Peung were involved in leading worship, so we had no translation). the day went on with me and shaun teaching english at the youth house, while the girls went to bow's house for hotpot!!! still have the cheek to not invite us!!!

oh monday was fun!! our first day off!!! woke up slightly later, (but still quite early) for a (long) time of team devotion and reflections. haha, den headed to boy's new duck noodle's stall for lunch, and ended up at monkey square/banana mall playing acarade and enjoying an hour long of Thai massage(Shaun had 2) yay! it was a fun day, and Off and Peung are really funny pple to be around with(:(: but they keep making fun of me too:(

den it was down to a mad rush of work again! haha, we were rushing out ppt slides, games and mime for the next few days. yesterday, we visited Lopburi Technical and Commerical Centre(TCC) for the first time. they were all like high school students, around 16 years old. initally it was really hard to talk to them, cus they were pretty shy, and their command of english wasnt very good (so was our command of Thai). but after a few short sessions of games, skits, mimes, and sharings, they really warmed up to us, and at the end of the lessons, a group of students even volunteered to see us to our car. according to Off and Peung, this have never happened before at TCC, and they were surprised to see how friendly the TCC students were. hope we get to meet them again, and maybe continue to invite them to the Youth House.

oh, we went back to teach the 2nd years at Rajapat university after TCC. met all the familiar faces of golf, nam, pat, buoi etc.etc. some of them who have joined us for our open house programmes. so it took no time for everyone to warm up to each other, and we started a whole series of songs and games (since the session was on singapore songs and games). haha, at the end of the day, they even taught us their game called 'sheepy sheepy sheepy sheep', it is something similar to chop chilli chop chop, and of course i was the winner. muhahah! but it was really amazing how friendly all the Thais are. hopefully, all the relationships and friendships tt we have made will bring the students to youth house, where Off and Peung can really continue to maintain the friendships and even expose them to the gospel.

haha, i seem to be writing a long long journal about whats been happening so far. today, we met the Rajapat 3rd years, and an older class of TCC students. ruth even got a rose from a girl in class. the syallabus at TCC is more flexible, so we were allowed to share abt the gospel, and on both occasion, we did share about who Jesus is, and what He has done (heart mime on the first, and colour gospel on the second). hope the short sharing will touch the students' heart, and make them want to know more abt this Jesus tt we have.

all in all, the experience in Lopburi so far have been exhilirating. the friendliness of the Thais is really surprising, and tts a wonderful avenue for us to make and meet new friends. really amazing to see how God can work in all of us. sometimes, we are just so overwhelmed by the things left to prepare, or sometimes we just dont noe what to do. But our dearest Father is forever as faithful, and always guide our steps and lips. Thank God for everything!!!

got a couple of important prayer requests. Shaun has just fallen ill today. down with cold and sore throat, but luckily no fever. he didnt join us today at the school, but rested at the youth house. pls pray for his speedy recovery, so that he can continue to serve in this ministry with all his heart. and pray that the rest of us have enough rest and fluids each day, tt we might not fall sick.

secondly is for Ashley's dad, who is currently unwell. pray for Ashley and her family, for strength, for comfort, for unity and tt everyone in the family is able to support each other in this difficult time. and esp for Ashley, for she is unable to head back to America to visit her dad.

last but not least, pray for the whole functioning of the team. not just us (the singapore team), but also for Jonathan and Ashley, Off and Peung, and Tham. pray for smooth communication even between these pple of 4 different nationalities, pray that we will be able to work together and help each other out, and let us remember that if there is one reason why we are here together, it is to bring glory to God.

kop kun karp! pra chao wei pon.