OH Snap! Thanksgiving in Thailand?

I can't believe it! Our Thailand trip has been such a blast but it's been flying by so quickly. Today was the first day that we haven't had a schedule jammed packed with activities. It's crazy that just a couple of days ago I was utterly exhausted and posted a blog about preparing to head north to Chiang Rai and Mae Sae. That trip seemed like ages ago, and it would be too much for me to post individual updates on every aspect of our trip, so I'll sum it all up with one word... AWESOME!

For example, our trip has been awesome because we had the opportunity to visit an AWESOME Coffee plantation and harvesting farm that helps provide financial support for the local Akah pastors. Our drive up to this plantation was also AWESOME because we zigged and zagged our way up some of the most beautiful mountains I've ever seen to find the plantation.

Here's another example of why our trip has been AWESOME -> We were able to visit a Bible School in Mae Sae that trains and equips Burmese Pastors to go into Burma/Myanmar and pastor communities of believers in some of the most rural areas of South Asia. After that, we also visited an AWESOME center for children in Chiang Rai that houses orphans and children who's parents are serving 20+ years in prison and have no where to go. We had the opportunity to hang out with them and play a friendly/competitive game of soccer too! P.S. America won!

Finally, we capped off our weekend by attending the Loi Krathong Festival in Chiang Mai. No lie, there had to be at lease 500,000 people along the banks of the river in Chiang Mai that night. It was the night of the major celebration and we were walking through a sea of people starting about 15 blocks from the river, all the way to the river and up and down the river bank for at least 2 miles. It was AWESOME!!! The sky was filled with floating lanterns that ascended into the sky as far as my eyes could see.

After an intense weekend of traveling and preaching in Akah churches, visiting remote mountain villages, and eating some amazing Thai food, we have finally been spending time working at the Venture Ban Pong Community Center for the past few days. At first, we put on a school assembly teaching English to local elementary students and teaching them that they were special and valuable for who they are. It's amazing to think that most of these children are not told that they are special or of value. The faces of the kids lit up like Christmas trees as we talked and played with them, and shared stories of our trip and homes. It's crazy to think that a little time and personal interaction can change a kid's day.

After our school assembly, we taught a bunch of English classes and began working on bringing some life and color to the center. We began by painting a giant mural in the main room of the Community Center, and also by putting a fresh new look on the front portion of the fence surrounding the compound. I'm not going to lie, the mural is AWESOME! Ellen and Kristina painted some AWESOME Pandas and the room looks amazing. Our fence is pretty awesome too!

And today, after finishing our painting projects and climbing 999 stairs to the top of the local temple, we had Thanksgiving dinner with Mark and Janie Durene! The turkey was pretty awesome, but the Squash/Sweet potato pie was AWESOME!!! I could not have asked for a better Thanksgiving than the one we celebrated today. The icing on the cake was personal Thai dancing lessons from P. Doi! This guy is amazing.

Tomorrow we are taking a break from our hard work to head off on an Elephant trek through the Jungle, a Bamboo River Rafting ride, and lunch at a butterfly and orchid farm. It should be a blast!

2 more days to go until we start our 40 hour trek back to the cities. Please continue to pray for us, and for the work that the LORD is doing here in Ban Pong. Pray for Mark, Janie, P. Doi, P. Phat, and Josaias too! And also pray for our Canadian friend Devun who is helping out around the center.

Until next time. Ka Pun Krap! Sawasdee Krap!

Peace Out!