In America it’s easy – weeks before the big day, the aisles at Target overflow with pastel-packaged candy and plastic grass, lilies decorate the ends of grocery store counters, and the kitchen smells like vinegar from 49-cent PAAS egg dying kits. Not so in Thailand. My pastor, King, came into the office yesterday with a question. The conversation went something like this: King: “Do most […]
Christmas at TLC English Center
Our Christmas party at TLC English Center was a blast! Students and church members joined together for a delicious BBQ dinner, Christmas cookie decorating, games, and a re-enactment of the Christmas story! We sang carols by candlelight and learned how Jesus is the Light in our darkness. Merry Christmas!
“Mehlee Kreet-sa-mat!”
Translation: Merry Christmas! It is Christmas season — the third week of Advent, actually — and I’m a little behind in my usual Christmas-holiday-spirit. I’m trying to figure out why. I don’t think it’s because of the weather (I know some of you could never fathom a Christmas without snow, let alone a winter with highs in the mid 80’s. Christmases in SoCal aren’t too […]
Happy Thai-nksgiving!
I have the old song in my mind today, Give thanks, with a grateful heart, Give thanks, to the Holy One, Give thanks, because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son… I hope that all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving day and are able to celebrate with friends and/or family 🙂 Don’t let Black Friday overshadow the more important Thursday that comes before it! […]
Guns Everywhere! …water guns, that is.
This week is SONGKRAN, the Thai New Year festival that is celebrated with water fights! With highs of 104+ degrees, the water (often) comes as a refreshing cool-down. I’ve posted two videos you can check out here and here. We drove around the moat in Chiang Mai on the back of pickup trucks. There were about eight people in our truck, and we had 4 […]
Christmas in Thailand Part III: With Friends
On Christmas Eve, my friends Heather and Kara came to Chiang Mai from Bangkok. They are both working as missionaries there, and decided to come spend Christmas with me! On Christmas day, we had a good breakfast out, and then drove to Doi Inthanon, the highest point in Thailand – around 8,500 feet. Christmas lunch was a picnic at a waterfall on the way down […]
Christmas in Thailand Part II: With Family
This was my first Christmas away from my family. At some points it was hard, because it didn’t quite feel like Christmas with the same traditions and decorations. But on the other hand, I was excited to celebrate Christ’s birth in my new home. I decorated and had a nativity, Advent wreath, and tree! God has blessed me with friends and a family in Chiang […]
Christmas in Thailand Part I: Church
On the Sunday before Christmas, TLC Church had an evangelistic Christmas party/service. We had special music, a few games, and Apple shared a short message about the Greatest Gift of All. I was so glad that two of our students, Liw and Nan, came that morning!
My Question, Mary’s Answer
At first, Mary’s response to her angel visitor is very similar to Zechariah’s – “How will this be?” (read about Zechariah here.) You have to admit, though, that Mary’s situation looked quite a bit less possible than Zechariah’s did. The angel patiently explains to Mary how the miracle will happen, and tells her “nothing is impossible with God.” She will be the mother of the […]