CCP Thailand/Australia 07/08: 2007

Sawasdee Ka!

We have safely landed in Thailand. Everything has gone so smoothly with no loss of baggage, no one has been sick...maybe a little loss of sleep on the flight over but we are adjusting well to the time difference.
We had the opportunity to do a bit of sight seeing on the first day in bangkok. We had our own personal tour guide (Pi Moo) who took us to one of the local shopping complexes....girls...this is your dream come true! They are awesome!
We also saw and eco living exhibition where they were exhibiting furniture made from recycled material....much to my delight :) the team graciously followed as i had a look and took photos :-) We took the sky rail around town and then a local ferry to the grand Palace. This Place is extensive with so many temples ... decorated with gems and Gold.
Later that night we went to a place called Silom Village where we saw a traditional Thai dance... I have no idea how those girls bend their fingers back so far!
We arrived safely in Khon Kaen yesterday where we were greeted with so many smiling faces. We got to settle in yesterday afternoon then had dinner with the staff.
Today was a full day of cultural and Campus Outreach Orientation. And then this afternoon/tonight we are going to go along to the Loy Graton Festival (a river fesitival of sorts) Tonight will be the first opportunity we have to go out with our ministry partners and meet some of the students. Please be praying that we will be able to connect with these people.
Well thats all for now. I've tried to keep in brief as i can possibly write :-) hehe

Proof that Zoolander is universal

The building with the yellow on it was where we stayed in Bangkok.

River Ferry

Houses....right on the banks of the river... Some of these had garages out the back with 4wds here too!

Pretty cool in front of the temple..

Josie at the grand palace :-)

Traditional Thai Dance

Pete attempting to blend in with the locals (ahh...pete...it's a poster)

A typical view of what some of the better housing looks like in Bangkok

One of the Main Streets and shopping complexes. the structure in the middle of the road is the skytrain.

Some of the structures at the grand palace. This place is amazing.

Hello hello!
I've created this blog so that as a team we can either collectively or individually post what is happening up here while we are in Thailand. The team wanted to crash my own personal Blog...but i am rather partial to it and would like to keep that for my own personal creative juices.... :-P I will be sharing on here too! But this is one for the whole team :-)

Well...there is no better topic to start writing on this blog than our trip to Buderim on the weekend! I know that I can definitely say this on behalf of the team that this whole support raising process has been a massssssssive learning curve and one where God's faithfulness, strength, love, grace, humility and sovereignty has far out-shined what we could have possibly provided...and has made Him all the more beautiful as we see Him working in and through us! It is such a humbling process where you learn so much about resting in God.

...So back to Buderim... :-)

Naomi, Rod, Pete, Josie and myself piled into Naomi's beast of a car and headed up to Grace Christian Church Buderim, to share with them what we will be doing in Thailand. This church is one that Uni Impact students call home while attending a one month camp in jan/feb called Summer Beach Project. It was such a blessing to go back and visit - you are always welcomed with open arms. We even acquired a team tag being 'Team Thailand'... I quite like it! We had so many good conversations with people there and the Lord was gracious to provide us with more people supporting us in prayer and finance.
Once we had chatted for quite some time, we took our leave and headed towards the beach! :-) Who wouldn't make the most of the opportunity to hang out together for a bit at the beach!! It was good fun. We found a street named Roderick St which led us to a beautiful little beach at Caloundra. We ate some fish and chips then went for a dip and chillin on the sand :-)

It's 3 weeks today until we leave! I cannot believe that it has crept up so quickly! Wooh!

Please be praying for us in these final weeks as we prepare to leave.

Most of the team are snowed under with assessments and exams. Please pray that they will be abiding in Christ during this time and resting in His strength.
I'm working right up to the day before we leave. So please pray that I will remained focused in what I have to do at work (and not get too sidetracked with the excitement of leaving) I also have logistic things to try and sort out...which can be challenging when most places are only open from 9-5.... :-S
Please pray for diligence in following up all of our supporters. I know that I still have a few people to catch up with in the next 3 weeks.
Posh (David Richards, who's leading the team) arrives back on Sunday from 2 weeks in America...then he has to fly out again in 2.5 weeks to Thailand. Please pray for his adjustments between cultures and jetlag and that he will feel ready to leave in 3 weeks time.
Praise God for the support team that he has raised! Pray that they would be faithful in praying for us while we are in Thailand.

That's all i can think of for now. Someone else can jump on and share from their perspective... hint! :-P

Your Sister in Christ signing out

Sam