Thai Journal #1

Walla Walla University has a strong Missions program that includes sending 80-100 student missionaries for at least one year of service around the world, as well as a short-term program that allows groups of students, faculty, and staff to minister around the globe in numerous capacities. A few years ago we decided to focus on Thailand (while not ignoring other areas of the globe). Those who have been following my journals are well acquainted with our sojourn in this wonderful country.

This year I’ve been invited to conduct the annual “Festival of Faith” at Mission College. I’ll take the opportunity while there to make arrangements for a short-term mission trip to Thailand in the summer of 2008. Rotary of Walla Walla is also piggy-backing on this trip to send me to Chiang Mai to visit the Hostel that we obtained a couple grants to help. More about that possibly, in my next journal. And I’m piggy-backing on that assignment to visit Chiang Mai Adventist Academy where I led the last mission trip to help build the Elementary dormitory and conduct a Week of Prayer. A number of us also sponsored some students. As you can see in the photos, I was Santa Claus today.

Last night I arrived at midnight, and Howard Vandermark and Melissa Erbenich came to meet me at the spanking new airport in Bangkok. And this morning I caught a flight to Chiang Mai where Annabelle Bell met me (with sticky rice in bamboo for lunch – it was good!) The tour of the campus was simply amazing! Those of you who were here in 2005 will not believe your eyes! Tonight I spoke for worship. And I just came from a little worship to mourn the death of the dean on men and his wife’s loss of their 8 months in-utero unborn child. Last week the school buried a student who died in a motor-cycle accident. It is a sad time here.

Here is the site for my photos:

http://www.wallawalla.edu/campus-life/spiritual-life/gallery/thailand07

Here is my cell phone #: 011-66-843-225-397