the adventure I find myself in / das Abenteuer in dem ich mich finde

Month: May 2008 (Page 2 of 2)

Giving my Testimony

Today I will talk to a larger Christian group of Thai people at a cell group gathering. It is the first time I speak in front of a bigger group in Thai without a translator. Strange, because I used to lead worship in Thai for two years at a Thai church. Most of my sharing is with smaller groups or one on one. So I am a bit nervous. Especially with talking about what God has done in my life and how it came that I would go to Thailand. It is a long story and it seems such a long time ago. Every time I think of God’s gentleness in the way He led me and gave me directions touches me and gives me a sense of security.

My Thai has improved a lot since i went back to Thai studies and I am still motivated to go on. My goal is to be able to preach in Thai and to translate simultaneously. This was my goal back when I was 20 years old and went to learn English. After being here for 9 years I know that even when I go back to Switzerland part of me will be with the Thai people and South-East Asia.

Less rain, time for my lawn

I wasn’t able to go up to the mountains. It is still sporadically raining and the jungle road I need to take is not passable. Yesterday I phoned Mongkun the project leader. He was in hospital with his wife. She just gave birth to their third child. So I congratulated him and said we would post-bone the project to the end of the week.
The weather seems to get better. This morning I was able to maw the lawn and clean up around the house. Today is a public holiday. So I enjoyed one extra free day with my family. Then tomorrow back to the office and Thai studies.

Today the newspaper gave a sad report on the destruction Cyclone Nargis brought to Burma.

Storm kills hundreds in Burma
RANGOON : At least 351 people were killed and nearly 100,000 left homeless when Cyclone Nargis tore through Burma, razing thousands of buildings and smashing up streets, it was reported late last night. (Bangkok Post)

Here in the North of Thailand it seems quiet down. I mean we had nothing like Rangoon in Chiang Mai. I haven’t heard of flash floods in the North yet. Read here what flash floods are:

"Flash flooding occurs when the ground becomes saturated with water that has fallen too quickly to be absorbed. The runoff collects in low-lying areas and rapidly flows downhill. Flash floods most often occur in normally dry areas that have recently received precipitation, but may be seen anywhere downstream from the source of the precipitation – even dozens of miles from the source." (Wikipedia)

Cyclone Nargis touching Chiang Mai

Cyclone alert
"Sixteen provinces in upper Thailand went on alert on Saturday as tropical cyclone Nargis moved so close to Thailand it ripped off Burmese roofs and closed down Rangoon airport and broadcasting stations." (Bangkok Post)

Since Wednesday we get hit with high winds and heavy rains. It comes and goes. My plans to go to Hui Ba Rai to drive building material into the jungle had to be post-boned. I am planing to go on Monday, but doubt that I will be able to go. The beginning of the dirt road into the valley has an extreme steep incline.
I am also waiting for spare parts for the truck. (I have no clue how they are called, but has to do with the front wheels)

Friday and Saturday I have been teaching English at Lanna International Church in the English camp they are going to have every month. It was fun! I did my first "official" simultaneous translation from Thai to English. It was exciting to see that my Thai studies are really paying off.

Water project at the Prao Boarding home

There is some storm over southern China. This is why it rained the last two days. Forecasts tell us we will have rain till Saturday. It is not rainy season yet, so the rain is kind of strange. But it is very refreshing after so many very hot days.
This morning Lillian and I were in Prao (about 100km. North of Chiang Mai) to visit the Boarding home we support. The local Government installed a new water system for the nearby Thai village. We got the permission to connect a pipe for the children’s-home. This morning we brought a water-tank and money for the project.

Dsc01135

Dsc01143

Dsc01151

Newer posts »

© 2024 philsquest

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑