Funny story today! I was outside, and Soapy Mou was playing in the rockpile out front. He had a piece of rebar, about twenty-five inches long, that was bent in half to 90 degrees. He was leaning on it. I asked PoEiCho to tell him that it was dangerous, and I did not want him to get hurt. I asked him if I could have it, and he gave it to me. I put it inside the house, and we each both went on about our own business. A little while later, he came back over, and brought me another piece. I guess he figured I didn't want him to get hurt with that one either. It was cute.

Where have I been all this time? 27 Nov 2013

Hello,
I don't know if I can keep up with this thing or not, but it would sure be nice to be able to "share" some info without having to write to ya'll individually, and without having to FB, and with more detail than our bi-monthly letter. Pray for me.

A few weeks ago, our bunch from the Patong group of believers came to us on Sunday, rather than us going to them. They brought treats for kids, and I walked down the street and invited a few of the Burmese kids to come. Some people looked tentative, so I told them, "Mom can come too!" and we ended up with at least six moms, and fifteen or twenty kids. Katy told them about Jesus, taught them some scripture, and some songs in Burmese. The ladies were as good participating as any of the kids. It was a blessing. When they were finished with the lesson and services, they passed out treats and donated clothing from friends and some friend/shopkeepers around where they work.

It was a good day and good to see the adult ladies participating and enthusiastic.

I tell all this to tell about now.  Gospel and Bidya (Burmese) are now co-workers in our village. We have prayed for someone to come and help us for seven years. They feel they are called here. Pray for us for funds to be able to keep this up, because so far it is a blessing.

We are now having a Sunday worship here at our house at 9 am. Then we (Mike and Jody) go to Patong to meet with our people there, of whom really only Julie's family, and Katy and now Nunu are coming.

They  talked to the lady across the street. Kids had told me she was a Christian. She is but in name only. She was really enthusiastic to have them here.

We started teaching kids today. These are kids that cannot afford the "school" that a Buddhist foundation is providing for the Burmese kids. Between the school fee and the bus to get them there, it costs about $200 per kid per year. A few of them couldn't go even if they had the money, because they (most of the time) have to look after little brothers or sisters. Three hours a  day. Burmese, Thai, and English.

Sixteen kids came. This is without advertising, just word of mouth. I don't know if we could handle more, the room was full. Gospel took the little brothers and sisters (not included in the sixteen--these are too young to study) and tried to play with them outside, but we don't know how this will work out. They are difficult to manage and the only one who really looks after them is the big sister that was in the room trying to study!

Also came was one adult (young woman). She talked to Bidya. She is "interested in Jesus" and wants to come to our church service Sunday morning in our village. But she cannot speak any English. This therefore promptly dumped the Sunday morning preaching (like it or not) onto Mr. Gospel. He perhaps cannot translate well yet, but he can give his testimony and preach, and at least tell us(Mike and Jody) what verses he is going to in English. So woo hoo in just a short time the Lord is moving.

They also talked to Soapy Mou's gramma. She told them that grampa is a Baptist (had told us a Catholic, but she is Buddhist and doesn't know one from another) I don't think it is deception, I really get the impression she knows nothing. anyways, Grampa wants to have a Christmas something (they say he usually does) and we may be able to use that as an outreach. It will depend on when he wants to do it, we suggested the 22nd, the Sunday before Christmas--since Christmas day we already have an even planned with the group in Patong as an outreach to their friends. If Soapy Mou's grampa IS
a Christian, he is a back-slidden, hard-drinking one. But other than that he is a nice man.

So if you read all this again in a PL at a later date, don't blame me. I just wanted to put this info out there, to get some prayers for these situations! And pray for Bidya, she is about five months pregnant with her first child. Don't know that maybe she hasn't been taking care of herself.  Bye for now. It is hot here.

Day #3

Today was a day to relax, so I slept in till 645.

We did some running around Chiang Rai (on foot) before getting a ride with another missionary to the Big Spoon restaurant for a group lunch. A good time had by all, too much food but it was good. Visited with a young man we knew from many years ago. We had been passing out tracts at a local school one afternoon, and he came over and brought us a bottle of drinking water. He is a Christian, and his family owns the restaurant.

That evening was the last evening of the preachers' meeting. Saw our old little friend again, who we taught Jesus Loves Me to many years ago. Only got one picture, and it isn't that great, but it was nice to see her and she is becoming such a young lady.

Day #2

    First full day of "vacation" and we got up VERY early, and walked to the bus station from the hotel. It was an hour and a half ride on the bus to Mae Sai, which is the Thai city in the north that is at the Burma border. We got on the bus by 8, and Moe had been calling us since 7, to ask when we would get there. They had already made food in anticipation of our arrival.

    When we got to the Mae Sai bus station, we had to get on a "songteaow" to go to the border. Then wait in line at the Thai Immigration to "check-out" of Thailand. Thank the Lord we had already gotten our "re-entry permit" before we left Phang Nga, or that would have been more time. Without that, we couldn't get back into Thailand.

    After "departing" Thailand, we had to go to Burmese Immigration and apply for a visa to visit Tachileik. You aren't allowed to enter the rest of the country here, but you are allowed into the Tachileik area on a short tourist visa. Ours was for 24 hours. Pay the money, take your picture, stamp the visa into the passport. Unfortunately we were behind a Norwegian group of about twenty people, so we had to wait for them to finish. I guess the Immigration Officer thought I was an old lady or something, he said "Sit down, (mommy or madam, don't remember which--they might say either to a "mature" white woman)" because we had a bit of a wait. It took at least an hour to get through the process.

    Once we were across the border, I called Moe again. The plan was that she would come to meet us once we got there. So I called her and they were on their way. We waited a good while, and unfortunately when you stand around in Burma as a foreigner you are such a target: for salesmen, beggars, taxi drivers, etc. If you look at all like you are unsure of what you are doing or where you are going, you better look out. You just must look determined or ignore people a lot.

    A white car full of people pulled up; there was Moe, smiling and nervous but so happy to see us; it had been a couple years since she and her family had left Thap Lamu; her dad was still alive--he just wanted to get back to Burma (he had AIDS) because he said "I don't want to die in Thailand." And he had gotten his wish.  Moe held on to my arm or my hand most of the time we spent with them. She loves her teacher. I think it was her cousin or brother in law driving the car. He is a motorcycle taxi driver, and borrowed the car for the day for Moe. I am sure she paid the expense. And as many of the extended family as could packed into the car to come and greet us, and to take us to her sister's house.

     Immediately we were fed, everyone else claiming they had already eaten. They all (basically) just watched us eat. Not uncommon we found out in our Burmese travels. Invite you to eat, then watch you do it!

     Well to shorten the story, after eating we spent the next few hours visiting pagodas. I guess it is just the thing to do when you have company. Isn't our idea of fun, but we weren't really there just for us.

     Moe confided to me that the rest of the family did not know what her father died of, and they did not know her mom has the HIV virus. Moe is staying in Tachileik right now out of concern for her mom. Before Moe came, her mom was working a job, and making about 40 dollars a month. Probably working six or seven days a week. Moe came from her village and got a job making about 60 dollars and insisted that her mom stay home while she is there.

    We talked about the Lord. Moe had listened to our witness while in Thap Lamu, but her understanding of English is not great. She is now going to church one a week and to the (Buddhist) pagoda at least one other. She thinks all religions are good. But she wants so much to understand what I have.

     Before we had gone, I set up an email account for her. I planned to go with her to an internet café to show her how to use it, but we ran out of time and needed to get back for our Tuesday evening meeting. I gave her the email address, told her my plan and she assured me someone could help her.

     She was so sad to see us go. And we to have to go also. Tachileik was hot and dry but it was a lovely day with my English student who loves and misses her teacher.                          

Our trip 2013

Well whaddaya know, here I am again. I am hoping to catch up on telling somebody about our travels last month. I am going to try a day at a time. If possible.

Day #1. If this is a holiday, why do I still have to get up so EARLY? Because I needed to boil fish for the cats (they are still hungry) and be ready for our Filipino pastor friend to pick us up at nine to go to the airport.

We departed on schedule, with a stop (barely an hour) in Bangkok, and then flew on to Chiang Rai. Thank the Lord everything smooth(except special meal, of course) and we arrived right on time.

Chiang Rai was our first stop. We were there to attend a preachers' meeting for missionaries. A pastor from the States was the speaker, and the first night he preached on "Losing Jesus"-- as in when Joseph and Mary did. And also Martha, when she was cumbered about. A very good message for me, since I am as "Martha" as you can get!

In Chiang Rai, it means old friends: Sutin and his mom and dad. Actually, this picture is Sutin, his mom and his wife. Dad had to go to a wedding or something. Ha Ha I just noticed Sutin is holding a baby bottle. Yes, they have a little one now. About a year and a half old. I think she is hanging from that cloth his wife has tied on to her. But Sutin and his wife still look like kids themselves--he is about 27.
A good first day of travel.