For this trip, participants are known as EGers, as the purpose is to experience God in this short mission trip and to see and work with Him in outreach.
Day 1
After three meetings and practicing of songs a month before the journey, EGers gathered by 7.00am at Terminal 1 of Changi Airport on Tuesday, Dec 16 to begin our trip with God. The flight was THAI AIRWAYS, TG 402 which would depart from S'pore to Bangkok at 8:20am. Sam LIEW had graciously offered to send the boxes and bags of used cloths, toys, etc. to the airport using the church van. There was some anxious moment for us waiting at the airport as Sam was held back by heavy traffic along his way.
At the group check-in counter we were told that group could check in first with the tickets and the luggage could come in later. This should be taken note of for future trip as allocation of seats would take quite a lot of time. The official allowable weigh of luggage per person is 20 kg with allowance of up to 30 kg without extra charge. Thus, with 13 tickets, the allowable weight is 390 kg and the total weight of luggage come up to around 260 kg with much room to spare. Again, this extra allowance can be utilized in future trips. I guess the luggage limit is really depended on how much we could each carry for the trip. Only used cloths and toys in fairly good condition are to be taken to North Thailand. The criteria should be things that we would still be wearing or using.
TG 402 arrived at Bangkok 9:40am local time. It is to be noted that Thailand is an hour behind S'pore. The group had to find their way to the domestic flight transfer counters 1-7 located at the ground floor. The connecting flight to ChiangMai would leave Bangkok Airport at 10:25am so there was some waiting period at the airport. Jerry's family was in Bangkok earlier and they joined us from Bangkok for the trip up north. THAI AIRWAYS, TG110, arrived at ChiangMai, 1:10pm and we met with Tour, Christina and Aileen at ChiangMai Airport. Christina told us that the MOB had just left for Nellie's place and Timothy TEO and Daphne also left for S'pore the day before. We then took 2 songtheaws and checked into PornPing hotel, which is next to the Night Bazaar area. The hotel is rated about 3 stars, but the room is able to accommodate a family of five.
There was about two hours of fellowship at the Mien Radio office and much was shared about the importance of the radio ministry to believers in CANs. There are about 7,000 listeners in one CAN alone and there is a plan underway to broadcast into another CAN via Hong Kong. The urgent need is the training of lay leaders in CANs, with a total of 7 training seminars currently planned yearly. The faith of persecuted church in CANs has inspired those in North Thailand to be more aware and fervent of their own walk with the Lord. Bartley should get involve and support the works in CANs through varies channels, i.e. financial support for training material and journey in CANs and perhaps shipping of materials through S'pore business contacts in CANs.
Tamami is a vocalist by training. She and the Mien Radio staff at our request sang to us two Mien Christian songs to commemorate this occasion. She really has a wonderful voice as we had expected. She was working on the now completed new Mien hymnal.
After the fellowship, the group with Christina, Tour, Daniel and Tamami, and Liu Zan then proceeded to Khuntoke Thai dance performance centre for dinner. It is interesting to note that this was the first time Christina met up with the Daniel and Tamami. Pray that the two of them will be able to share and assist each other in their respective ministries. The unlimited buffet dinner with the Thai dances were the highlight of our trip in term of vacation. Getting to fellowship with the Mien radio staff and missionaries that we have been praying for round up our joy for the night. After dinner the group returned to the hotel at around 10pm and some EGers venture out to the Night Bazaar for some sight seeing and early shopping.
The next morning, 17th Dec., the EGers were assigned to carry out an Act of Kindness by
sponsoring to paint and clean the inside of a single storey shop house. As a house church will be started there. The ground floor shop house is amongst a block of flats, Rim Naam Mansion, a short distance from ChiangMai University and is ideal for students' fellowship. The Thai lady, Pii Teang, was separated from her husband who remained in Bangkok. She has two sons staying with her. She is young in faith having been baptised just three months when we met her. She was not good at managing her cake or pastry making business. We spent about 7 hours painting and cleaning up the place, in between we had a quick and simple lunch break of noodle. Pray that Thang will be transformed by God into a person that is capable and be given a diligent mind to sort out her short-coming and trouble in her life. Christina and her co-workers are trying hard to help her to stand up again.
DAY 3
18th Dec morning was our Jericho Tour of ChiangMai, originally built as a walled city. 1st we went prayer walk at the Tha Pae Gate which is a part of the city wall protecting the defeated Lanna Kingdom. Chiang Mai City has a history of spiritual battle that blinds the Thai people and keeps them from knowing the Lord. It is important to pull down strongholds of their thoughts and minds through prayer according to the Word of God. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). PRAY that the eyes and hearts of the Thai people will open to God's truth and that they will turn from their rejection of God to an obedient response to Him. PRAY for God's anointing to be upon the evangelistic and church planting efforts to reach all Thai people.
The Mekong Region of the past had many people suffered from leprosy. The leprosy centre started by Dr. McKean has healed the people of leprosy and also brought spiritual healing. The centre is located on a huge piece of unwanted land surrounded by water predestined by God for the work. Leprosy reminds us that pain and hurt are God's way of protecting us from sins and danger. There is also an urgent need to take care of AIDS patients in Thailand.
The ministry of healing plays an important role in reaching out to the Thai people. This includes physical healing through medication and spiritual healing through the preaching of the Gospel. Hurting and wounded people need the Lord. PRAY that God's light will shine on the Thai people who have been lulled into believing that they do not need God or spiritual healing. (Isaiah 49:6) PRAY that the Thai Christians will actively share God's love and blessings to the underprivileged in the community.
We completed our trip with the visit to McGilvary Seminary. Tour our guide was trying hard to explain the necessity to contextualise the Gospel for the Thai to gain their understanding. Westerners eat bread but Thai people eat rice as a staple. Westerners shake hands but Thais do the "wai" as a greeting. There is a need to bridge cultural differences and learn how to make the Gospel message relevant to the Thai people and other Mekong's cultures. PRAY for both the missionaries and the Thai Christians working among the Thai people that they will seek to understand the Thai culture and diligently seek meaningful ways to share the Gospel relevantly to the Thai people. (1 Cor. 9:19-23). PRAY that God will give 'the Thai Christians a passion for the lost and 'boldness to speak the word of God so that they will step out of their comfort zone to bring salvation to non-believers, even to those beyond the borders of Thailand. (Acts 4:29-30). PRAY for yourself that you will be moved by what God is doing and be willing to join Him in reaching out to people whether here in North Thailand or back home. (Isaiah 65:1)
On the tour bus we get to see ChiangMai in winter day, and it is really beautiful with its blooming blossom almost everywhere. The whole city was in air-conditioning, making travelling very comfortable. The city streets were surprisingly clean; just wonder if this was the effort of the cleaners who woke up before everyone or the Thais really know how to keep their city clean. By the way, another group of Christian, mainly retirees from the US joined us on the Jericho tour. After the tour, we went to the new Airport Shopping Plaza for lunch at The Pizza Company. The meal was good and reasonably priced. In the evening, the EGers with Christina and staff were to host a gathering at Pii Teang's house for the folks living in the vicinity so that the gospel and Christmas message could be shared with them. So we bought some foods for the occasion.
Yi Jia, my son had come down with fever the night before. After lunch, Doris and Yi Jia were taken back to the hotel for rest and they did not join us for the rest of the day. The fever to Yi Jia was indeed a test of our faith and he was asking to go home as he was not used to travel in sickness. We SMSed our CG members to pray for us as we continued with the journey, knowing that God was with us on this trip. We trusted the Lord to heal him in His time.
During the evening gathering, we also prayed for Yi Jia, even Pii Teang prayed for him. The actual fellowship started late because I went out to buy T-shirts (120 pieces) for the Mien school children in Palay. The house gathering ended at 8.00 pm, we had two ice breakers and sang two Christmas songs in English and Thai together. We also close with a prayer of blessing for Pii Teang. Pray that God will use the house mightily as a focal point to reach out to people and students in the vicinity. Christina could not join us at the party in time as she was with a house church member who was facing a crisis.
The very late dinner was a simple one at a coffer shop just outside our hotel. It is run by a TeoChew lady. All of us had guotiao and takeaway for Doris, Yi Jia and Yi Zu resting in the hotel room. In these three days in ChiangMai and fellowship with Christina and her Thai Christian groups, we get a glimpse of her urban ministries in ChiangMai. There is still much to learn. We also brought some gifts for Christina, the Arisawas. the Mien Radio team and Tour.
Day 4
The next morning, we gave thanks to the Lord for Yi Jia had recovered from his fever and we prayed for journey mercy in the Van. We set off to ChiangRai on 19th December in a day-rated Van and a songtheaw to carry the extra luggage to OMF mission home (MH). Nellie was at the MH waiting for us and we were an hour late as we had started late. After some repacking of luggage for a one night stay at Waterfall Basin (WB), we proceeded for lunch supplied by Gwey Ching at River Mountain (RM) and visited Ann, Gwey Fong, other brethrens there. We were in RM for about two hours. The new house of Nellie's intern Goy has been nicely built and the single story RM church building is still under construction and is about 70% completed. RM was the first experience of North Thailand village for some of us. We brought gifts for Ann and Gwey Fong, the latter seemed unwell. Pray that the Lord will keep both them strong and well as the checking of the newly translated Mien bible is still in progress.
Breakfast on 20th December was bread with jam and peanut butter, and a cup of 3-in-1 Milo or coffee. This was the day WB celebrated Christmas with a service and lunch for the villagers which we contributed in kind. The EGers went for a walk around the village and we 1st visited the village head to pay our respect with a gift and prayed for his mother who is a Christian. She has been unwell for a long while and the Lord has kept her in the village as a witness of His love for His people in WB. The village head asked that we should stay with him while we visited them. We told him that the group this time was small and Soo Jyem's house was sufficient for all of us. We also discussed about the initial contact of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) to upgrade the living condition of WB. This is God hearing our prayer through our monthly prayer focus for the Mien villages. We also visited other villagers and the disused school ground before joining in the Sunday school with the children. Jed & Mei Ching were leading the Sunday School. Connie was busy with her balloon sculpturing over this period to decorate the church. Everyone was using his or her gifts in ministry.
We left after lunch in two pick-ups. Due to time constraint we missed visiting the sunflower field but proceeded to ChiangRai's MH to pick up our main luggage. We took a detour to Mekro to buy food staff for Palay Christmas celebration before proceeding there. We reached Palay in late afternoon and started to decorate the church. Nellie cooked two dishes, scrambled egg and white reddish soup, for dinner. The MOB team were at the church earlier to decorate it. When night fell, the ladies were assigned to sleep in Nellie's house with the men in the church. My family were assigned to sleep in Mr. Fin's new house to get to know the family better. Indeed with this period of fellowship I could now address him as my elder brother "Kore" as he is two years my senior. Mr. & Mrs Fin have indeed been "blessed" and all his children have moved out of Palay to Bangkok and his only son is in Japan.
Joshua had fallen sick by this time also with a fever. We again SMSed our CG members to pray for us. We had brought medication with us for this trip, so the fevers were always under control. The night at Palay was really cold and Yi Jia could not walk properly the next day as we did not cover up his legs properly during the night. It is thus wise for young children to wear sock when sleeping at night as they tend to roll away their blanket.
Day 6
Breakfast on 21st December was again bread with jam and peanut butter, and a cup of 3-in-1 Milo or coffee. Nellie had order the slaughtered of a pig to signify the occasion – the 1st Christmas service in Palay with the new church. The MOB team did not join us for the Christmas service as planned. Yi Jia and Joshua were well enough to join us by then. We presented three songs and I was assigned to deliver the Christmas Message with Ann Burgess translating. The Mien youth and children also presented many song and dance items during the service. The church was packed with people coming from surrounding churches for this special occasion.
The main points of the Christmas message were to urge the Mien people to seek God. That in Christmas, they can find forgiveness of sin, peace of mind and the grace to forgive others. For the unbelievers, in Christmas they can find eternal life through God's son and I urged them to receive the free gifts of Christmas. The message ended with the reading of John 17 and prayer, urging all to unite and love one anther and carry out God's great commission.
Day 7
Mr. Fin, Nellie and I had to wake up at 3:00 am to buy food from the MaeChan's market for the Christmas lunch for the Palay Primary School children. We bought 20 kg of chicken and about 10 kg of BaiCai for this occasion. I could not wake up early enough in the morning for breakfast and just went straight to the school to start preparing the lunch. Lunch preparation for close to 180 people including ourselves took about 3 long hours. The fried chicken took longer than I initially thought. Connie was also doing her balloon craft to give out to the children. The MOB team had also taught the children English. Other than serving lunch, we also gave each child a T-shirt as an act of kindness. The school headmaster and students thanked the MOB team and us for what we had done for them. This Christmas, the church had indeed imparted great awareness of God's love for Palay. Pray that this effort in community penetration will bring the villager closer to God and cast away all fears and hostility towards the church. Already, Palay's youths are beginning to accept the Lord as their saviour, even before this Christmas.
After lunch in the school and packing of luggage back at the village, the MOB left with Nellie to MH first. The MOB team would then head for ChiangMai for their debriefing with Christina. Before we left Palay, Nellie and I went to show our respect to the village head, Mr. Fin's younger brother, and presented our gift to him. We also exchanged gifts with the Fins. Mr. Fin sent us sight seeing to the Golden Triangle before return us to ChiangRai MH for our last night stay in North Thailand. At MH, I took two Panadols to relieve my probing headache due to insufficient rest last night. In the evening we walked to the night market and had dinner at a famous noodle shop. After dinner we went for shopping at the Night Bazaar spending about two hours there. We end the night with ice cream at Swensen. Some of us helped Nellie to sort out the cloths we brought there and a bagful of cloths were deemed unsuitable for the Mien and needed to be given away to others or be discarded
23rd December was our last day in North Thailand. Everything was packed up by 8.00am, and we walked to the morning market for breakfast and do some last minute sight seeing and shopping. There were still about three hours that we could spend wandering round the market place. We took a songtheaw from the market to MH to pick up our luggage and said farewell to Nellie. The songtheaw then took us to ChiangRai Airport an hour before the departure of THAI AIRWAYS flight 133 to Bangkok, at 12:35pm. There is transfer period of an hour at Bangkok Airport before we took the connecting flight TG409 from Bangkok to S'pore. We reached S'pore at 6:45pm.
Doris thanking our CG members via email: Thanks for your prayer supports during our trip to N. Thailand, esp. when Yi Jia and Joshua were down with fever. It was a test of our faith in God to entrust our children in His care. At one stage when Yi Jia's temp. was 38.3 deg. C I almost broke down and was very worried whether he will be able to take the journey to ChiangRai the next morning. He was complaining about his headache. I kept sponging him and continue to give him Panadol every 4-6 hours. Then Heb 13:5 reminded me again of His presence. PTL! The next morning his temp. was 36.4 deg C and we started to leave for Chiangrai after breakfast. Now that we are all back safely, tired and worn-out but with renewed faith and strength from the one Above us. I treasure the unity of prayer in our CG. May God bless you all and your family this Christmas and the year ahead. (2004)Things bought as Chirstmas gifts: Book, tape, in Chinese for Gwey Fong – Pastor Cheng @ JB / Gifts for Ann: Cup Soup and Peanut Butter and a Singapore T-shirt each for Jiat and Mei Ching – Jenny from S'pore / High quality tower as gifts - Jenny @ Bangkok / 120 T-Shirts as gifts for P2 – P6 school children – See Chee @ ChiangMai / 3kg of Bak Kua for church leaders and village heads, 0.5 kg each for Leaders: Ps Tien, Mr. Fin, 2 village heads – See Chee from S'pore / Soo Jyem and Liu would appreciate Tea ++ Connie & Doris / Packages of Chocolate and sweet for children – See Chee from S'pore / Books for Tour and Christina – See Chee from S'pore / Other special items to bring up to Thailand as gifts.
The VWAP North Thailand 2003 Team Members: See Chee, Doris HOE, Yi Xian, Yi Zu & Yi Jia,; Eric MAK, Zane MAK, John MAK; Evangeline CHIANG; Jerry, Jenny & Joshua LEONG; Connie LIEW.
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