Stickywrites

As you might have read on our newsletters or previous posts, we have been hosting a women’s brunch at our home every Wednesday for many months now. I have invited just about every woman I know or have met in our area, and for the most part it has turned into a group of women that are stay-at-home moms or are self-employed in some way and have a freer schedule during the day.
I look so forward to this time every week because basically we just spend time together talking, laughing, and eating (what women do best, no?) I try to make a ton of food to feed anywhere from 10-15 people or more if they bring relatives or kids along, so I never really know what it will look like each week – part of the fun and suspense in hosting! Recently I have introduced prayer requests and sharing when we are done eating. Sometimes just a few of us are there and sometimes more, but it is an easy way to start introducing Christian concepts to them with other Thai Christians present.

I never take pictures because I’m occupied most of the time – visiting with people, getting things situated, etc. So this past week sweet Dana played photographer and now I have some shots to share!

Khruu Awe is leaving our company this week as our team’s Thai teacher and staff.  We all shared our last brunch with her and she brought this cute cake with.  She will be teaching Thai at an international school nearby and will be dearly missed.

Phii Tawy is a really spunky, loud and  funny friend of mine that I absolutely love.  She is a natural leader and always the life of the party and center of attention wherever she goes.  When she is not there everyone notices her absence b/c of the enthusiasm she brings…”Where is Phii Tawy today?”  I pray that someday this enthusiasm is for Christ!

Here’s the table where everyone crowds around to grab food before sitting down.  Khruu Awe is on the left here.

From left, Phii Kieow (staff), Pong, (staff), Yu (staff) and Phii Nawng.

Everyone sits around for the first hour just chatting and looking at magazines and catching up.

Please pray specifically for the women that come to the brunch: Phii Tawy, Phii Tay, Phii Nawng, Pong, Nawng Taa, Phii Maew, Phii Nut, Phii Jawy, Phii Yaa, Phii Tukataa,  Phii Pawn, Phii Awy, Phii Bawm, Phii Joy, and Phii Nai.  Also for the staff that helps me: Yu, Phii Kieow, and Phii Pawn.

Once upon a time, Becky Bronson and her fearless sister-in-law Bethany Bronson, a pair known to most as The BBs, were invited to the coastal beach town of Rayong by Becky’s English students Dam, Tuum and Kim. Many a new sight was seen on their journey and many laughs were laughed, as part of the never-ending cultural confusions, hilarities, and mishaps that mark friendships between westerners and thais.

Crabs, Prawns, Locust Lobsters, and Sea Snails were eaten in a massive seafood feast, only to be spotted behind glass at the Rayong aquarium the next day.

The Frisbee was introduced.

Dives into the Gulf Sea were faked.

Cheesy moments were had…

Fish Faces were modeled…

Sad faces were modeled after stony-faced fish…

Many inside jokes about not showering and other running jokes (that always seem to happen on road trips) were had…

…And the island of Koh Samet was viewed from the distance…

but the BB’s and their friends stayed on dry ground and enjoyed the inexplicably cool and rain-free weather!

It has been a furiously busy month with so many visitors that I realized I have GOT to start a guestbook for our house. I counted about 15 people who have stayed at our house in the last 10 months. We also had a short term team here from Calvin PCA in Pittsburgh, who helped us paint the office and with Mahathai outreach as well. The office building looks beautiful and we are so thankful for their hard work and service. Here are a few pics although the new paint job might be hard to really see -

1st Floor.

2nd Floor – getting ready for JoyKids on Saturday by covering the walls and decorating.

And 3rd Floor, the office desks and classrooms floor. The black chair desk is where Andrew sits everyday for admin , financial, etc office work.

Other visitors we had included, first, our friend from college and Dallas church buddy, who came through while travelling, Spencer. So much fun to catch up!

Then, an old friend from our Dallas church, Vanida, came through Bangkok while touring Southeast Asia and visiting relatives in Nong Khai, where her family is originally from. Here she is helping with JoyKids on Saturday (pink shirt)

and here we stand in front of our church’s banner advertising our Thai church and worship service on Sundays at 1:30.

She was such a blessing to us and a wonderful encouragement. Many years ago Andrew and his brother and sister used to help and lead a summer camp for the Thai/Lao congregation’s kids at our church. Vanida was one of the participants, and then in later years, one of the fellow leaders at this camp. Over the years she is still helping the church and working in Dallas and it was wonderful to have a Thai-American friend to chat with about our ministry and Thailand in general. Pray for her calling as well!

Then, our friend and former Bangkok co-worker of Andrew’s, Chris, came through and provided many opportunities for us to visit and see old Thai co-worker friends of Andrew’s. We don’t do this enough because we live in eastern Bangkok and most of them still work downtown or have families, so it is harder to meet up with them regularly. We missed Taeng, his wife on this trip, (who is Thai and whose family lives in Bkk) and we wished had come but she couldn’t make it this time.

And…we found a shuffleboard in Bangkok!! This was an exciting discovery for us!

THEN, we welcomed BETH – AN – Y! Andrew’s younger sister who of course we miss dearly and are so glad to have here. She is helping with our team some and hanging out with us, then she will go with us and our church’s mission trip due to arrive here July 14th. We will go to Vientiane, Laos; Nong Khai, Thailand; Chiang Mai, Thailand; and then back to Bangkok. What a whirlwind in 12 days. She got to meet up with Chris and Andrew’s former co-workers as well.

Some other pics from our adventures so far….

at a restaurant with Chris and Phii Lee, Andrew’s “Thai mother” when he lived here before, and a close friend…

Bethany babysitting the Cunninghams, while Emmy Mills visits…

Beth visiting with Emmy at the Mills house….

Bowling with students after class one night…

And brother and sister smiling at the SkyTrain stop when we go out for our day off! More to come!