Northmen Thailand Trip 2007
January 2008
Greetings:
This letter is a simple report on the recent journey to Thailand for the annual Northmen meeting there. We are mailing copies to all those who might be interested in the venture. For all of you who shared funds to be used in our projects we also include a statement as to the use of the funds you donated. We thank all for your prayers and interest in the work being done in conjunction with Asian Gospel Outreach.
For the fifth time we ventured to Thailand to share in the annual Northmen meeting there. Six men (Zeke Goff, Peru, IN; Rick Bondy, St. Ignatius, MT; Brodie Mouton, Crowley, LA; Norm Miller, Prescott, MI; Nick Papi, Wolverine, MI; and myself) left the Los Angeles airport on November 29 for the 14 hour air ride to Taipei, Taiwan. From there we flew another 4 hours direct to Chang Mai, Thailand. Needless to say it is a long and tiring trip but it is always a joy to arrive and be greeted by the smiling faces of Ahtapa and Leah Sinlee and whoever else happens to be at the airport with them. This new way of travel saves us an overnight stay in Bangkok and we are thankful for that. From the airport we headed directly to the bank for a money exchange and then to a meal. After some brief shopping it was off to the hostel and moving in for the two plus weeks stay.
Friday morning we would be up at 4am thanks to Brodie who kept us up and going the entire trip. At 5 am the hostel kids meet at the camp fire for morning devotions generally led by one of us. Friday we would need to get our luggage straightened out and be ready to leave when called for the Northmen meeting. This is a trip which takes about an hour from the hostel. It takes a road up along the Ping River which is typical of most mountain roads in Thailand. Ruts, you haven’t seen ruts until you have traveled this road, obstacles, what about elephant dung filled with thorns which will give you a flat tire and then of course the constant up and down and around and over until you reach your destination. It is beautiful country and a great site that we use for the Northmen meeting. They government care taker allows us to use this abandoned site that was once intended for a power dam. I am putting some pictures on the Northmen web site so you can see it. There were some 80 who shared in the meetings from Friday evening through Sunday morning. We had Lisu, Hmong and American speakers with some excellent messages on “Faithfulness.” The great event of the meeting was the immersion of three men and ten boys during the day Saturday. Our food was excellent consisting of rice and greens and pork in stir fry. There was also all the hot sauces you wanted. Those never have been my thing but Brodie, Rick and Nick sure enjoyed them. I stuck to the normal stuff and came out fine. One great feature of the meeting this year was a men’s group from the village at the Morse’s mission compound who shared several numbers and led all the music. It was great. Their harmony is always beautiful and we always sing along in English when it is a song we know. I am not sure, with my tin ear, as to what that does to the harmony. Most of our sessions were held around a campfire with the tea pot never being empty.
Sunday morning we returned to the hostel for a thanksgiving assembly and a thanksgiving diner. Thanksgiving takes place in Thailand among the Christians whenever they are thankful. This normally includes the men who have been at the meeting and many family members who have traveled to the meeting with them. The kids always do some songs and their dances and usually I preach. This year we handed out about 12 boom box CD players to various village leaders. These can be used to play the CDs that Samuel and Ahtapa are making at Sam’s studio. These are lessons, written by Larry Beaverson, (I will be doing some this winter) and translated in Lisu or Hmong so the villagers can have regular studies in specific Bible topics. Larry’s first series deals with the church. This ministry will be enlarged in outreach as we have funds and the translating can be done.
Monday was a day of rest and off to Chang Mai to get some luggage that didn’t make it with our original arrival. It was all in tact and we are thankful. That particular suitcase contained a lot of things for the hostel and for our work. We also traveled north a little to make a purchase of 40 bags of rice. That is only about half of what is needed for the year so Ahtapa will be looking for more. Rice is a little scarce this year with it being somewhat dry. We were involved for a couple days in some little repair and fix it tasks about the compound. We put in some lights, moved some showers and painted Leah’s living room. Grandpa’s steps were also redone as rot and termites where making them shaky. Tuesday it was off to Chang Mai again to make purchase of sheets of plywood for the making of school desks. Fifteen sheets were purchased along with some 1” material. Zeke and I rode in the back of the pickup with the lumber and piles of veggies on us. We also stopped at the market. Those raw potatoes and carrots sure did taste good on the way home. We ended up with 15 desks all nicely painted white. This is a good start to what will be needed for the school we hope to get started soon. We will be talking to you later about needed property and buildings as well as teachers and helpers. Wednesday we cleaned up about 2 miles of street and roadway in honor of the king’s birthday. This involved all the kids and all the travelers. Thursday we worked on the desks and got ready to go north. Most evenings we closed the day with chapel or campfire devotions.
We really enjoy mornings with the kids. Its devotion time and then English study time. All that with breakfast squeezed in before they are off to school about 7:30. Brodie taught the big kids, Rick and Zeke taught the younger girls and Nick and Norm worked with the young kids. Me? You read this and want me to teach English? Ahtapa knows better. I usually take care of devotions.
The weekend was spent at a rather destitute village in the far north of Thailand. Just over the mountain was Laos. Most of the folk there were refugees from Vietnam or Cambodia. We met people who had fled for their life. One man who was spokesman for the Christians has lost all he had three times due to having to flee for his life. He is only about 36 years old. We took all the clothing we had with us to these villagers and spent the two days there building two “outhouses” Thai style. This we pray will help the sanitation problem that existed. We stayed in the school yard and used the school buildings for shelter while there. Leah and Xai Xong's wife fixed all our meals with food that we carried with us and some they purchased from the villagers. . It took us from 8:30 Friday morning until well after dark Friday evening to get to this place. We rode on roads that would make Disney’s big roller coaster seem puny as best. It was a short cut over the mountain. Oh, I should tell you this was to be a short four hour trip. Ha, ha, now you know a little more about Ahtapa and the Thai culture. Time really doesn’t mean much. Saturday night we had a meeting and I spoke about Jesus and baptism. Several wanted to know more and so we studied further and Sunday morning four were immersed into Christ in a mountain stream. A number of folk gathered with us for the Lord’s Supper and fellowship before we left. We returned home very late Sunday evening, restrooms usable and gospel shared along with clothes. We returned a different way so Ahtapa could show us the Mekong River and the Golden Triangle. What a venture. A picture of the restrooms is on the Northmen web under Thailand Trip.
During the next week we spent time at Xai Xong’s village (Hmong) which is located half way up the highest mountain in Thailand. Xai Xong has a clinic where he deals with peoples physical and spiritual needs. He is a professional herbalist and Thai masseur (good at it too). While treating people he shares the gospel. We stuccoed part of his clinic with mud while there. We also traveled to the top of the mountain. In the evening we shared in study about the New Testament church. It was a rich experience indeed. Most of the folk in this village (1720 people and 300+ houses) are farmers and there are several Christian families. Xai Xong and his family have a Presbyterian background but now desire to be just simple New Testament Christians. Back at the hostel on Thursday we finished up the school desks and other little jobs. Friday we went to Chang Mai to meet with Joseph and Samuel and several other men who had shared in the Northmen. Lunch at Joseph’s was enjoyed by all and he shared his story of killing two cobra in his home within the past couple months. Of course those cobra became soup in the Lisu custom. We visited the Morse training school for evangelists and then spent the evening at the night market doing a little shopping. Saturday we were off to the pig farm (about 2 hours). There the kids shared a program with the farm kids in the afternoon. We had a meal with a Christian family (there are about five Christian families still living there) and other brethren and then Brodie spoke for the evening meeting and the girls did their dances. We arrived home about midnight. Sunday morning was a time of fellowship and sharing about the table. Xai Xong and his family joined us for the day. It was a rich time of sharing with both adults and kids. Monday was packing day and a quick visit to the elephant farm so Brodie and Rick could have a ride. We all saw the elephant show and shared in a great meal at a Thai type buffet. Tuesday we were up and spent our last sessions with the kids at campfire. Some of them personally spoke thanks for our coming and we shared a last encouragement. I wish you could have heard one young lady talk about her commitment (I believe she was one who had been immersed the previous Lord’s day) and the need to evangelize. Progress is being made here as the truth is taught and the word is practiced. We left the airport in Chang Mai shortly after noon and arrived home here in Prescott about 9:30 Wednesday morning.
In one of my e mails I wrote “Ahtapa and Xai Xong have really teamed up and will do the work regardless. They share totally with each other in a solid Christian partnership. Many Americans will be frightened by the direction they have taken. Jesus is taken literally (shouldn’t we all) and they are “sold out” to His will. Nothing belongs to either. All is for the glory of God. Wow, the church might set the world on fire again in Asia!” Train these kids; grow a priesthood of believers, and who knows what can happen.
For those of you who shared monies to be taken and used in Thailand there was a total of $5950 given to Ahtapa on arrival. Upon our arrival home another $400 had been sent and will be sent on to Ahtapa. This year we handled the whole matter differently giving all these funds to Ahtapa to use as he needed and knew best. I list below some of the areas where funds were used or are still to be used. If you have any specific questions please contact me.
All food and hostel expenses for the visitors and for the Northmen meeting.
Diesel fuel for evangelistic trips
A year’s supply of rice for the hostel. (40 bags purchased 60 more needed)
Expense of several fix up and install items.
Some needs of evangelists that Ahtapa helps out regularly.
Gifts to the workers at the hostel.
Wood, glue, paint for new school desks. (15 desks completed)
Two or three special meals while we were there – while traveling with a large group.
Some to be used in making down payment on property if the deal can be made.
Medical bills and special school expenses.
Herb grinding machine for Xai Xong
Special computer, mixer, CD printer and such for the hostel so CD work can be done there.
Some needed fix up and replacement on present computers.
And on and on we could go.
I have total trust and confidence in Ahtapa wisely using the funds to God’s glory in the word he is doing.
If you would be interested in us sharing the news of this work with your group please contact us. We will be doing this throughout the year. We need more regular funds to provide for the kids and their training as well as funds for property purchase and later a school building.
God willing the sixth annual Northmen will take place next December. Our theme will be “Contentment.” If you would be interested in making this trip please contact me soon.