Thailand Mission and Cultural Trip 2015 - Journal 1

I have arrived in Thailand (after a long trip that begun on Sunday and ending on Wednesday in Chiang Mai), to continue our long-term endeavor of partnering with the Thai people in wholistic mission and an exchange of culture – learning and teaching. For those who are new to my Thailand blog, let me repeat the post (edited) of last year. In 2003, as Walla Walla College’s Vice President for Spiritual Life and Mission, I visited Thailand for a General Conference Youth Congress. At that time I had discussions with the Thailand Mission officials, Chiang Mai Academy leadership, and the administration of Mission College, and they all expressed deep interest in having an on-going partnership with WWC. The first trip in 2004, which included six from campus, and a number of our Student Missionaries teaching at Ekamai (a private Adventist English school in Bangkok), was on the western border with Myanmar (Burma) where we built a church as our main project. The following year we were at Chiang Mai Academy. There we assisted in building the Elementary dorm, conducted Week of Prayer, and conducted up-grading and continuing education classes for their teachers. We also had the privilege of sponsoring needy students. One of the 13 I baptized that year, and we continued sponsoring for the next 10 years, finished her accounting degree at the University here this last Spring (2015). During the trip of 2005 I had extensive discussions with the President of Mission College and her Cabinet regarding having a long-term partnership with our both institution, operating in a number of areas. Walla Walla College President’s Cabinet also voted to adopt Thailand as the major long-term country in the 10-40 geographical region (with its over 90% Buddhist population), as a focus for mission and culture. Since that time WWC President, and the VP for Academic Administration have been Commencement speakers; I have conducted a week of “Festival of Faith” (Week of Prayer); the Dean of the School of Engineering have been in discussion with the University for collaborative endeavors; Paul Dybdhal of WWU School of Theology have taught in their summer program; and I have taken about 12 – 20 students (and as high as 30), employees, alumni, and friends on an annual Mission and Cultural Trip. The mission is wholistic. The endeavor is to introduce them to the Jesus as portrayed in the Gospels, through helping, teaching, and friending. In 2009 I outlined the philosophical grounding of the project in the final blog of that year. You can read it here:  (http://blessingsfrompedrito.blogspot.com/2009/08/thai-09-journal-24.html) .

A few years after I became a Rotarian in 2000, I was invited to chair the International Service Committee of our local Walla Walla Noon Rotary club. We engaged in an aggressive plan to be more international in our focus. Since the College had already chosen Thailand as its Asian focus, the Club decided that it would be apropos to make there a center for our endeavors. We continue to provide

College scholarships for the kids at the LaWa Hostel; and we are in the middle of writing a $200.000 grant for a major water system in the Chiang Dao region. About every other year I visit Chiang Mai to have discussion with our sister club and to audit the projects. Today I spent the day with Alan and Joan Eubank who have been missionaries here for over 50 years, and who are key figures in the LaWa outreach and development. Great time at the Hostel, and hearing the testimonies of the kids who have benefited from the Rotary scholarships. We also visited Prince Royal’s College (a Christian High School) where the Dance and Drama troupe that the Eubanks founded (and which I brought to WWU

to perform some years ago) was conducting a Week of Revival, with dance, drama, and inspiring worship.

The night ended with a trek through the famous Chiang Mai Night Market.

Here is my new cell phone in Thailand: (66) 926-122-822.

Here is the link to all my photos of the trip: http://people.wallawalla.edu/~pedrito.maynard-reid/gallery2/main.php/v/WWUThailandMissionTrips/thailand_cultural_and_mission_trip_2015/pedrito_s_thailand_pictures_2015_/