Singapore snap shots

Christmas tree pic outside one of the many shopping malls in Singapore.

A view of downtown Singapore atop our tour bus
Cluadia and me atop the tour bus

Singapore Christmas gathering with Tulsa friends

Small world...during our Christmas break in Singapore, we met up with some BSF friends from Tulsa who were visiting their daughter Megan, who lives and works in Singapore. Claudia and I knew Paul and Sarah Welch through our work with BSF in Tulsa. Paul, attends the mens' BSF class on Monday nights as a class member and Sarah is the Class Administrator for the Tuesday morning class. Their daughter Megan works for Crocs in Singapore. We met up with the Welch's on Christmas eve to attend a Christmas candle light service at the St Johns-St Margaret Church (an Anglican church). The service was from 10:30 pm to 12:30 am (Christmas morning).

Candle light service; picture of the congregation at St Johns -St Margaret

Early Christmas morning after the church service. From left to right:Gary, Caitlin, Claudia, Sarah Welch (background), daughter Jennifer (foreground), daughter Megan (background), Ed (foreground, Paul's father)and Paul Welch.

A Trip to Prison...

Wanted to let you know that on Tuesday, I went with a local prison ministry group to teach English in a nearby prison for men. The men in the the low security prison (2000+) are primarily there for drug related arrests. Of course, while teaching English, you can share the Bible, your faith or other means to introduce the men to Christ.

I partnered with a Thai woman (Nelda) in the beginners English class of 5 young Thai men. However, during Nelda's teaching, I was given an opportunity to share my testimony and why I was in Thailand. Later in the class, Nelda asked the men their questions and thoughts about Christmas. What is it for? What does it mean?

Most of their questions or responses were about "gifts", Santa Claus (which is a gift giver) and the Christmas tree (ie. ever green or everlasting life). Nelda gave me an opportunity to answer their questions, so I began telling them (she translated) of God giving us the perfect "gift" of Christ and that Christ gave us the "gift" of new life through his death. And, as I ended, Nelda and I prayed with 2 young men to receive the "gift" of salvation through faith/belief in Jesus Christ.

How's that for an English class! Praise the Lord!

International School of Bangkok (ISB)

Here are a few pics I took today of Caitlin's school.

Caitlin's ISBTouch Rugby team in action

Today, Cailtin's touch rugby team for girls at ISB (International School of Bangkok) played today with an opposing International school. Here are a few pics.

Caitlin waiting to get in the game


Caitlin with team mate before the game


warm up drill


huddle with the coach (Joni) during the quarter break

Caitlin in game action

Christmas Thai style

Christmas displays at a nearby shopping center. It doesn't feel like Christmas since today's high was 90 degrees F.

Notice Santa's sleigh has done away with reindeer and has various animals such as an elephant and a red-nosed giraffe.

Weekend Church Retreat; Nov 21-23

Last weekend, Claudia, Caitlin and I attended a weekend retreat with the Chaengwattana Community church. We stayed near Khao Yai National Park and on Saturday we hiked in the Park on one of the many trails.

Cooler weather in Bangkok!

Well it's about time! Beginning last Monday, we've had cooler and dryer weather. As they say back in Oklahoma...Yipeeee!

Since we've been in Thailand (since late August), the weather has been hot, humid and with a fair amount of rain. But, it now appears we are in a different weather pattern; dry, mostly clear, lower humidity and with moderately warm day time temperatures with cooler nights. Awesome!

I've actually worn jeans in the day time rather than my typical uniform of a T-shirt and shorts.

...stay tuned later for more weather updates from your on the ground foreign Asian meteorologist...
...reporting from Bangkok, Thailand for the Bangkok Weather Network....Gary Walthall

Meeting with Aaron and friend; an answer to prayer

I'm having lunch tomorrow with a young man (Chinese) that I met at a our "small group" from church. His English name is Aaron (or Yibing).

Aaron is a fairly new Christian (about a year ago). God used his wife (Nink) to bring him to the Lord when they met in London. It's amazing how God works to reach people. Aaron, being from China, was an atheist, but now he proclaims the name of the Lord!

I've met with him before over lunch and explained what BSF is all about. He's really thirsty to know more about God's word and has indicated he wants to be apart of BSF when it starts. He's also apart of our Planning Committee to help us get a men's BSF class started in Bangkok.

He called me today and wants me to meet him for lunch and he also wants to bring a friend (co-worker) with him so I can tell him about BSF.

We (our group of BSF employees in Bangkok) had just prayed today that I would continue to connect with new men so that I could tell them about BSF. In fact, I voiced the prayer concern, and before we actually prayed, Aaron called me. I didn't immediately take his call, but silenced it until after prayer. So, when I called him back after prayer, Aaron told me he wanted to have lunch and to bring a friend so I could tell him about BSF.

What an answer to prayer!

God is good!

"Stupid hat day" in Bangkok, or Halloween Bangkok style

This is what happens when you have too much time on your hands. Claudia and Caitlin talked me into doing this picture...against my better judgment. Oh well, it was good for a few laughs. These are some Chinese hats that Claudia bought at the Chatachuk market to actually use as wall decorations, but instead were put to some unintended use. Actually, the hats are multifunctional as they also can be used as a Halloween costume. Trick or Treat!
Sa-waa-dee!

FIRST MEN'S PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

We met Monday night at Calvary Baptist Church for our first Planning Committee. Not including Mike and I, we had 9 of about 24 who have said they want to be a part of the planning committee. We will meet twice per month (1st & 3rd Mondays) through May, 2009. Our purpose is to build this core group of men so that when next September rolls around, we can begin the Pilot class phase by registering men for the class.

It's too early to tell who is really going to be committed on coming regularly, but we are encouraged by the number of men so far. Last night, the men who attended are all living permanently in Thailand with the exception of one man (standing next to me) who is doing ministry work in Bangkok and his home is in New Zealand.

The nations represented (excluding Mike and I) in this group are Japan(1), USA (1), Philippines (1), China (2), Thailand (3) and New Zealand (1).

Our prayers are:
God will increase our numbers
God will hold us together as a group
Each man will capture the VISION for BSF in Bangkok and will help us achieve that goal.

thank you for your support and prayers

Gary

BSF Men's Informational Meeting a Success

Our scheduled Informational meeting on Monday night was a great success. The meeting was held at the Calvary Baptist Church of Bangkok and we were very encouraged to have 21 men in attendance. Praise the Lord!

As it turned out, most of the men in attendance were there because of their wives or friends in the Women's BSF class had told them about the meeting. Having an existing BSF women's class in Bangkok is definitely an advantage because men can actually see the "difference" a Bible study like BSF has had on someone they personally know.

We spent our time telling men about BSF and letting them know about the process of starting a BSF class.

For now, we are asking men to join us in a Planning Committee (our core group) to help us "pray and plan" on getting connected to other men and churches throughout Bangkok. Out of the 21 in attendance, we had 16 men who said they were willing to be apart of the Planning Committee. We will begin meeting on a regular basis on the 1st and 3rd Monday's of each month.

For the next several months (until May, 09) our goal is to continue to nurture and buildup this core group of men so that we will be ready to launch into the Pilot class phase (Sept, 09- May, 10). The bigger and stronger this core group, the greater chance of success.

thank you for your continue interest and prayers

Gary
Phil 4:13

A Day in the Life of Bangkok; ...Part II

After our meeting, we all boarded the "tuk tuk" at Mike and Charlene's apartment and drove down the street to the end of the block. Now, it's lunch time!

On route, Claudia in the "tuk tuk"

Today, Melinda took us to a really good hamburger place called the "GARAGE." Melinda and Claudia are cleaning their hands with "wipes" and waiting for a good old fashion cheese burger!

Later on in the day, Gary riding on the back of a motorcycle heading home...we're weaving our way through traffic! Claudia took the more sane and safer route via the Sky Train.

A Day in the Life of Bangkok; ...or "Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to work we go

Thursday's is normally our day to meet with the other BSF FRA's (Foreign Resident Ambassadors)to pray for our success in Bangkok. We typically meet Mike and Charlene's apartment which is across town from where live, so it means off the the nearest Sky Train terminal (Chong Nonsi); about a 10-15 minute walk.

Claudia seated on the Sky Train on our way to Mike and Charlene's apartment.

After getting off the Sky Train , we are walking to the nearest corner to catch a motorcycle taxi to take us the final leg of our journey (about 1/4 to 1/2 mile down Soi 61). We pass by a local MacDonald's with Ronald MacDonald greeting customers in the traditional Thai way with hands clasped together called a wei(pronounced "way").

Melinda (the BSF teaching leader for the BSF women's class) on the motorcycle taxi. The cost for the 2 minute thrill ride is 10 baht (or about 30 cents US, well worth the cost).

Claudia on her way as well, with me following the 2 ladies on a 3rd motorcycle...And, off we go!!! Hang on!

This picture is the BSF FRA's in Bangkok. We are in Mike and Charlene's apartment. This is also evidence we all made it safe and sound. The picture from left to right is: Gary, Claudia, Melinda, Charlene and Mike(sitting on the ground).

Men's Retreat in Hua Hin; A Band of Brothers

Last weekend, I attended a men's retreat with ECB (Evangelical Church of Bangkok)that was about 2 1/2 hours south of Bangkok in Hua Hin. While the resort we stayed in was a Golf and Spa Resort, we were a short distance to the Gulf of Thailand. It was a great retreat with 68 men in attendance. The retreat was a great way for me to connect with a lot of new men that I would have never seen or connected with just going to church on Sunday. Needless to say, I had a great time and the food was fabulous. I have already contacted several men since I've been back to talk with them more about BSF. I pray that my contacts with these men will bare fruit in terms of introducing them to BSF. Below are a few pics of the weekend

The entrance to Springfield Village Golf and Spa Resort

Pastor John Teschan leading the men with the theme of "A Band of Brothers"

A group shot of the men while listening to Pastor John

During Saturday afternoon, I took a break by the pool for some relaxation and swimming. Some of the men opted to play golf, others went to the nearby beach resort (a 15 minute van ride), but I chose to hang around the pool instead.

A day at the Chatuchak market

Chatuchak market is open only on the weekend in northern Bangkok. If you can't find what you are looking for at Chatuchak, you probably didn't really need it. It's a huge market that sells everything from jewelry, pottery, home decor items, to antique buddhas (if that's your thing), hippie clothing (no kidding), pets of all kinds, textiles, antiques... I think you get the picture. Speaking of pictures, here are few pics of the day. I did go along this morning for a couple of hours, but after that, I bailed out and let Caitlin and Claudia enjoy the rest of the day on their own.
This is the Sky Train station near our apartment; Chong Nonsi.

Caitlin and Claudia are into "full contact" shopping. Fortunately, no one got hurt with this aggressive move...a move that she apparently learned well from her mother. Anyway...as I always say, "no blood, no foul."

a bunch of beautiful orchids

after a long day of shopping, it's time to come home. Claudia's probably thinking of either taking the Sky Train back home, or maybe the elephant taxi in the background. I'm not sure the elephants could carry the heavy load that Claudia is trying to bring home.