NOVEMBER. was a great month for us. As part of the training of our STL‘s
(Substitute teaching leaders) we schedule them to teach a few weeks during the
year. And so, Claudia & I had
our STL’s take over our classes for the week of 12/13 November. They led the leaders meeting and did the
teaching as well. In meantime,
Claudia & I went to Chiangmai for a little rest & relaxation. It was
our first time to visit Chiangmai, which is a northern city in Thailanad -
about an hour flight from Bangkok. Generally when we have some free time we usually opt to go
south to the beach, but we finally broke out of our rut or normal routine.
The best day we had in Chiangmai was traveling about an hour north
of Chiangmai by car to Maetaman Elephant reserve. We started the day floating down the swift current of the
river on a rather flimsy bamboo
raft (our feet did get a little wet). Then on to an elephant show with
elephants doing tricks and actually painting on canvases like artists. If that
was not enough, we rode on an ox driven cart to a small village and then
hitched a ride back on an elephant. But, before we returned to the main camp,
the elephant we were riding on took a cool & leisurely stroll in the river
itself. That was awesome! Oh, and
there was lunch time in between all that fun. It was a great day. I am posting a picture of Claudia &
I on the elephant and our bamboo rafting trip.
meandering down the river on a bamboo raft
An elephant strolling in the river with her baby
our first night in Chiangmai we went to an outdoor Dinner & Cultural dance
(they did the all the dancing, not us!)
Back to business...
However, it’s not all play and no work. We are so pleased with what God is doing in our BSF classes here
in Bangkok.
The Bangkok Day
Women’s class, it is a vibrant group of almost 100 registered women. Although
life in Bangkok can be unpredictable, the average weekly attendance of 60-70
women is remarkably consistent. God continues to draw women from all parts of
the world to attend this class…giving it an international flare. God proves His
faithfulness every week as He helps prayerful, committed class members overcome
language issues, cultural differences, age and denominational diversity as we
study the Word of God together.
God has recently answered our prayers for a new Children’s Supervisor
and one new Children’s Leader. Please pray with us that God will provide three
additional children’s leaders and an Assistant Children’s Supervisor… enabling
us to reopen our Preschool Program in January 2013.
As to the
evening men’s class, God has been bringing more new men our way. In just the month of November, we have
added 10 new men! We continue to
pray the Lord will add to our numbers so that we can grow the class for a long
term future. Currently, the men’s class has about 60+ men registered class
members. Please help us pray that God will continue to draw new men to us &
for 1 more Group leader. Also, we must also give praise to God who has recently
brought us 2 new leaders; a new group leader and a new Assistant Class Administrator.
What can I say, but God is good to us to grant us the blessing to
live in this beautiful land of Thailand and also to give us the privilege of
serving & teaching his word to the men and women of Bangkok. God is good
indeed!
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