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NORTHMEN THAILAND Northmen Thailand Trip 2005
We arrived at Chang Mai airport Friday morning, December 2, and went directly to the bank to change some funds and then headed for the hostel. After lunch on the way we arrived leaving things not needed for the Northmen and traveled on to the site. Our theme this year was “The Mind of God” and I spoke Friday night on “Knowing the Mind of God.” Zeke Goff spoke Saturday morning Mark McCool Saturday afternoon and Precha (a professor for Lanna Christian College) spoke Saturday evening. I spoke again on Sunday morning on the “The Mind of God and Evangelism.” This was early, before breakfast and around the campfire. We shared the Lord’s Supper and then after breakfast packed up for the trip back to the hostel. There we shared in the thanksgiving service and dinner. The Lisu people have thanksgiving often (whenever they feel like it) and that makes sense to me. Monday was a holiday being the king’s birthday so we kind of eased into things but did help with the village project for the day. Such projects always take place on the king’s birthday to honor him. We dug out a ditch along the road by the hostel. It had filled because the neighbor across the road built his driveway wrong. Where did we put the dirt? Back in the neighbor’s yard, that’s where it came from. He didn’t seem to mind. I am not sure that he wasn’t helping us dig it out. We spent a day or two going to town, buying needed items and the tools and parts to fix some things. We (Mark McCool, Zeke Goff and I) did several plumbing and electrical jobs. Each day we had the privilege of working with the kids for their early morning Bible study (learning English with Bible discussion) and then their English classes. I worked with David (the older kid’s leader) and Mark worked with Lauren the middle age kid’s leader. This is always fun and you are not with these kids long until you realize there are some brilliant minds at work. Their musical interest has not waned but is limited by a curfew on music that runs from 8 a to 8 p. I am not sure but think that came from villagers complaining about early and late noise. The hill people of northern Thailand work from daylight to dawn. So it is early to bed and early to rise. Most nights we were in bed by 9:30 and we arose each morning around 4:30. We had devotions Wednesday evening and I taught for that. It was not made clear to us as to why these devotions are not held each evening as in the past. We also were involved in the daily staff devotions at 9 each morning. This provided some lively discussion and learning time for us all. The hostel staff consists of Ahtapa & Leah, Ahtapa’s brother Sam and his wife Hannah, Lauren from California and David from Philadelphia who recently married Leah a long time resident at the hostel and now a staff member. Two of Ahtapa’s sisters are also involved as they help with meal preparation. Also living at the compound are Grandpa and Grandma, Ahtapa’s folks and another sister and a brother in law. Then people seem to kind of come and go regularly. Grandfather and Grandmother are a joy to watch. When you know grandpa was perhaps once the biggest drug dealer in the “golden triangle” and is now a part of the Lord’s body it is a thrill indeed. Grandfather was taught by some of the Morse family and he in turn led his family to the Lord. He also is the one who began the village where the hostel is. If you ever go visit you must have a cup of green tea with Grandfather. Saturday of the second weekend we went north and east to the “real’ mountains and stayed over night with the family of one of the girls from the hostel. Lishia is the father’s name. What a privilege to share in the humble bamboo home for the night. We had an assembly of the brethren that evening and again in the morning. Mark shared for the evening meeting and I shared for the morning one. They had never heard the concept of the living stones from Peter and I was promised they would continue to study that idea of each one being so important to the body. Their concept (from American missionaries) is a strong clergy led group. No one is required to teach or lead other than the preacher. Lishia is an evangelist (he preaches at three or more meetings each Lord’s day) and is slowly beginning to break down that concept. We visited two other villages in the area while at Lishia’s and then on the way home shared with the brethren at Snake Creek village. I was called on to share the message at this special evening service which was a house warming for a new home. I used the building concept again and this young group seemed to be interested but somewhat taken aback by such an idea that all of them should be servants, serving each other. Monday Mark and Zeke did some finish up items on our projects while I went with two Mong men to see some property Danai Chowwiwat is hoping to buy for use when he will return to Thailand later this year. I serve on a board which helps Danai and the property is an excellent piece, well located. It will be costly but God will provide if that is what the Mong people need to further advance the kingdom among their tribe. Danai is now starting new churches in Eau Claire Wisconsin but his plan is to return and work with his people in Thailand. It was a joy to share with the two Mong brothers (Shomphet and Precha) even though we could not communicate real well due to language barriers. We left Monday evening for a village in northern Thailand very near the Burmese (Manyamar) border. They were having a Christmas celebration and the hostel girls were a part of the program. Mark and I also were included in the preaching aspect of the program. We slept on a concrete floor (with Christmas caroling going on throughout the village all night) and then shared the next day with brethren in singing and preaching and just enjoying each others company. We arrived back at the hostel about three in the morning and then were up at 5:00 to get things started as to packing and getting things finished up before we left for the airport that afternoon. It is always a joy for me to share with these brethren. Conditions are somewhat primitive and the food (although I have no trouble with it) is always the rice and stir fry. The most prominent veggie for stir fry is probably mustard greens but you will also have asparagus, bok choy, string beans, endive, spinach, and other veggies along with mushrooms and pork or chicken bits. Of course there are always those things you don’t even ask about. I find myself thriving and alive while I am there. Ahtapa is a Spirit driven man and to work with him is a blessing. Lord willing we will probably return another year. They want the Northmen to continue and they are taking over the program with next years speakers being lined up already. I miss the kids (70 of them) and their big smiles and love for Jesus. You might want to look into adopting one. Thirty or forty dollars per month will help Ahtapa and Leah feed and cloth them. And out of that the child will get some spending money. Dennis Moss in Alabama will be heading up this program. If you are interested let me know and I will see that Dennis gets you set up with a boy or girl you can help support. They will write you and expect you to write them. You will be kept informed as to their life and growth and needs. I will gladly go anywhere and share about this work in northern Thailand. If you are interested in a presentation or know of someone who might be just let me know. There is much to be done and these Lisu and Mong people are determined to evangelize their people and go on out into the world. Keep praying for them. Pray specifically for Ahtapa and Leah as they labor each day with their family of 70+. Pray for Ahtapa as he will be taking trips in Laos and other countries bordering Thailand in the next few weeks. Pray that we will not slacken and let a great opportunity to reach a lost people pass by as they go into a more modern culture. Thanks to all of you who sent gifts that we could share with the brethren in Thailand. Until you are there you cannot realize the joy of one receiving a cheap pair of gloves which will allow him to ride his motor bike down the mountain to market with warmer hands. Oh, by the way, he goes down the mountain at 3 in the morning to get his goods to the early market. His farm, on hillsides so steep I could not stand up, is his only means of income. So from daylight to dark he and his wife walk those hillsides and care for their crops, trusting the Heavenly Father to provide what they need to continue in their meager existence. How do they exist? They know the promise of eternal life! In His love, Mike |
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