Back in the homeland

Little House

Thailand side note...we saw these little things everywhere we went. At first I thought they were shrines.  Our guide at the Jim Thompson house told use they are little houses for the spirits who used to live in the land now occupied by your house.   So when a house or building or roadside attraction or waterfall (with human adaptations made to it) is built or modified in anyway, a new home is created for the displaced spirit.
This spirit requires food, flowers and drinks as well.

Leaving Bangkok

Flying out of Bangkok.  First flight of three.  Air Cathay is alright, clean good space and food even on the short flight.

We had a few Thai Baht to spend at the airport, not worth changing back to Canadian.  The shopping in the international area was mostly limited to high end stuff and food.  No cheesy Thai souvenirs, no book and magazine shops.
Dried fruit it is then.

Long layover in Hong Kong.  Too bad we can't leave the airport.  I'd love to go downtown and see if I could get near the protests.  No chance of that of course, but it is a very interesting time in history.
The local press has been very interested in how Beijing will deal with the calls for more democracy.  That has been a refreshing aspect to our trip, hearing Asian perspectives on news. I get tired of the limited and rehashed news I seem to get at home.  Everyone seems to be telling the same story, with the same experts, same questions and same conclusions.   Stories are so complex.   Certainly the people we met at the GA gave us a very real and close up view of stories we've seen from a distance.   When someone says "The government won't report it, but we know 4000 men left to defend the town and none have come back...where are they? Did they all just disappear? "  or someone from another continent tells us how the government says their is no strife but  " we've seen the hundreds of bodies floating down the river.  There is no peace in that land"......
I hope to maintain some of these contacts, they certainly inform my prayers and my view of the world.

Tourist

Yup...forgot my headgear in the hotel,  had to break down and buy one at a street vendor.   Crazy hot day,  didn't really want to sunburn by head just before getting on a plane.

Walked 7 miles so far today.  Not our longest day, but it not over yet.  Grand Palace and Wat Po were the big destinations.   A Wat is a temple, the wat po is a big temple with this huge Golden reclining Buddha.  I gotta be honest, most of the temple stuff looks like a souvenir shop. It might be my European blood, but I'll take the stained glass in a cathedral any day over gold painted statues.

In the Grand Palace I was required to wear long pants.  Since I hadn't brought any, we bought a pair to throw over my shorts.  The Palace was interesting. ..I couldn't understand the mural depicting their history/legends, but it looked cool. Sat through a short film on silk making.  That was cool.

We took a couple of water taxis to and from our destinations.  I'll throw some photos up on Flickr once we get home.

Tomorrow morning we start the long journey home.  Not looking forward to that.  Although, judging by the way God keeps people in to Rox ' s path I wouldn't be surprised if she's has another long faith discussion with some random stranger.  She says she's not an evangelist,  but whatever she is, she can certainly get people talking about significant things.

Anniversary

Hanging out with Dave, Louise and 150 of their friends celebrating 5 years of ministry among the local Burmese people.  Great stories of how God is moving among these primarily migrant workers. Tonite the Thai congregation has come out to celebrate as well.  Some of the songs are listed with Thai/Burmese/English lyrics. Makes for a very full screen.

It's very loud, the people are energetic and really into the music.  I have no idea what they're saying, but it sounds good.  Lots of closed eyes, raised hands and clapping.

If only there wasn't a very persistent mosquito feasting on my feet.  Much easier to sit back and enjoy the evening.

More trains

Everywhere we go, someone is talking about faith and comparing it to a train....happened again this morning at the Thai church we visited.  Thanks to Dave Sinclair-Peters, who translated for us,  we were able to understand why the train metaphor was important.

Interesting congregation.   The building is located in a slum, among people who have set up their homes on former swamp land.  Lively worship and good lunch following.  I thought about eating the chicken foot in our curry, but in the end I passed.

Always connecting

Worship this morning at a local MB church.   Great youth worship team.  everywhere we go Rox finds a way to connect with people.

A few street photos

Thai massage

Rox and I took and hour out of our busy vacation schedule to enjoy a massage.  Rox got a full Thai massage and I went for the foot massage.  I think I actually fell asleep during it.

It cost is $10 each.  A part of me is really happy for the great deal.  Another part of me wonders how anyone makes money at that rate.  I wanted to tip the lady, but I wasn't sure how to do that without it just going to the business.

Squid on a stick

Spent the morning in chattuchak market.  In 4 hours we didn't see more than 1/2 of it.  Crazy place. I tried the squid on a stick...kinda like eating the Assinboine River.  Off to the Grand Palace.

Land of Smiles

Not sure what to say about these.  We're in Bangkok.

Dogs life

There packs of dogs roaming around the resort, and almost everywhere we've driven. They don't seem to be owned by anyone, and except for one incident,  they're very polite.   Even when one of them is walking around the dining hall, he didn't beg or bother anyone.   We've wondered if they are almost like the other livestock that wander freely around the country side.  Although Thailand isn't Vietnam, -a friend of ours was just in Vietnam and brought photos of bbq'd dog- the food here has been good and usually recognizable.

Rox and I sat in on a presentation on the challenges YFC in Lebanon faces with the mass of Syrian refugees in their country. 4.5 million people usually live in Lebanon.   They have added 1.6 million Syrian refugees.  It was good to hear from people who live their.  The news we hear in the West is not always very accurate, sometimes it's much worse, but often the western news misses the positives.  In the conversations I've had with people from Pakistan, Egypt and now Lebanon a common thread is a hope that all young people will come to follow Jesus.  There are challenges working in countries where your faith is a persecuted minority, or when there are certain rules that keep the peace. But it not impossible.

In Lebanon they have been praying for years about how to let Muslim youth outside of Lebanon know about Jesus.  The war has brought foreign youth into their cities and communities. They have an opportunity to offer food,  water and education in the name of Jesus. What has been meant for evil (and the war is full of evil) they have found some goodness.

Last night was our last time together.   Up at 5:30 this morning, praying and getting ready for the day.  Our bus to Bangkok leaves at 8 sharp.  We tried to get a bus straight to our hotel (rather than to the airport and we'd need to catch a sky train to the hotel).  We we're told the bus was full.  Rox pressed a little and she was told "there are a few spaces we're holding for important people".  The honesty was refreshing.

Hoping our wifi is better at the hotel in Bangkok.

Concentration of wisdom

It has been a blessing to hear these two men teach.  Ajith Fernando and Ravi Zacharias.  Ajith wasn't teaching here this week, but I have read and listened to him for many years.  Seeing in person us always fun.

For the sake of the world

That a line from a song we've sung here pretty much everyday.   The words stick in my head.  I wake up singing them, they invade my thoughts during the day. -Our current music leader is from Asia, his accent makes the song even more memorable-

It will take some time to process this past week.  Any free time we have here is usually filled with people or sleep.

Rox and I sat in on a session lead by a couple of Dutch staff yesterday, about the need for a Whole Gospel.  He even used the train track illustration.  The really funny and telling thing for me, was that this seminar came directly after a guy giving us a blueprint for how to train people to share their faith.  His philosophy was to just tell people all the time, everywhere because even a bad fisherman will catch fish if he throws enough lines.  There is significant diversity in YFC.

Great lunch with the crew from Costa Rica.  Really looking forward to working with them more.  Diego, the new director, described his desire for our partnership to be a friendship.  I think that is very possible.

Storm

-photo from birthday party-

Yesterday at our Sage lunch (I don't feel old enough to be a Sage. ...and our ministry context is so different than the younger staff I've met.  Best part of our time together is praying with each other)  I was meeting a couple of guys from Pakistan. They are volunteers with YFC, mostly serving among ethnic Christians and Hindus.   We talked about the challenges of their ministries, in particular how to navigate around the touchiness of many Muslims.  With a little laugh and a smile on his face, one of the guys says "The Muslims are crazy, it can cost you your life.  But there is no place safer than being in God" 

This morning i remember our conversation as I prepare to teach on Matthew 8.  We had a sobering announcement yesterday morning,  as we were reminded not to post photos on the Web without permission.  Some of the people here serve in sensitive countries, and posting their photo in connection with a YFC event will cost them their position and cam cost them jail time or worse.

Vacation

A group of Thai youth were hanging out at one of the waterfalls we visited yesterday.

70th birthday party tonight.  Lots of dancing, Laura rapping and some awesome perspective on where YFC has come through....including references to dark years, repentance and both good and bad leadership.

Young Leaders have been the engine behind the renewed energy and expanded mission.  We're in 133 countries,  and young people in many of the new YFC countries have met Jesus because of young leaders.  There are young staff here praying and looking for where in the world the most needs are.  Where are the young people who need to know Jesus...

One of the YFC staff here in Thailand used to be a volunteer with us in Brandon, serving with Rox and I in the Back Alley.  She came here because 1 billion young people live in Asia and her heart was drawn to do something.....

Ended the evening with prayers, older leaders for young leaders. ...then young leaders for the older.....feels funny standing up as senior leader....I still feel like a kid at conferences like this.

Daily theme pt2

Daily theme pt3

Daily Themes

Waterslide

Ravi quote. ..

Boulders over which leaders fall:

Untamed passions of gifted men
Wanton power of weak men
Unteachable spirit of privileged men

Best spot

Wifi had been really very bad all week. Unless you're here in the middle of the night, it's hard to squeak through more than a blog post or email.  We found the space behind the chickens to be the most stable when we do get a connection.

Roadside

There are stands like this everywhere.  And I mean everywhere.  With so many stands, I wonder actually stops and buys stuff?  Truly,  this is a 1000 times more intense than the tourist traps in Florida.

Somewhere

Dam

Crazy humid this morning.  Rain last night and clear and clear sky this morning.

Spent yesterday with a group from Hungary and some friends from Vancouver.  Our friends connect with the Hungarians a few years back when a personal tragedy (and the challenges of being 11 time zones away) caused them to seek help from YFC.  Their friendship worked out for us, as the Hungarians have a van.  They toured us around, checked out a few local waterfalls and this massive dam.  They're thinking of going back for a boat ride up the lake today.  Only $6 each for a couple of hour ride up to the falls that feed the lake.  We'll see if we get invited again.

The young leaders have really put their stamp on this conference.  The prayer focus is everywhere, the music is loud and energetic and the conversations are refreshing.  Not that old people can't pray, be loud or have interesting conversations.  I think it's just a little harder when you're wearing a dress/polo shirt.

Asia was the focus yesterday, the night before was the Americas.  Most Canadians came with hockey themed wear...which got us talking about culture.  For Asia, there were dozens of traditionally clad people from so many different cultures.  Culture runs deep and in great variety.  For us, Canadians had hockey, the Americans had YFC USA wear and the South and Central Americans wore soccer jerseys.  Sport seems to be the culture we most easily identify with.

Another morning with Ravi today.  He's really good when he's doing Bible exposition.

Ravi

Ravi quote from this morning.

Faith becomes private when we fail to find meaning in its public expression.

Teaching on Nehemiah... .A foreigner, from a conquered people who was the most trusted person in the kings court. 

God chooses our burdens for us.  This burden will crush us but not destroy us.  You must feel the pathos of the people you are called to.

When you pray:
You recognize the sovereignty of God.

You can see the duplicity of your own heart. You can preach with duplicity,  but you can never stand before God and pretend to be someone else. (Referenced Jacob who, when he asked to be blessed after wrestling with God, God asked him his name...Jacob had lied when his father asked him his name while he stole his brothers birthright.  Now, before God, his duplicity is revealed)

God will make His dream out of you. If there is only one voice in our prayers it is His voice not ours.  When we pray He will create us into who we can be, not who we think we are or who we want to be.

Breakfast

Interesting breakfast this morning. Cuisine was the same as it's been all week, although they had dragon fruit today which was a gift, bacon/eggs/toast/salad/rice/sausage/ and some kind of soup is the regular fare.

I sat down early, drinking coffee and spending some alone time.  Which didn't last.  3 minutes in a guy from Pakistan sits down and wants to talk.   Not easy to communicate, I'm very monolingual.  before he left, a guy from Lebanon sits down.   Fascinating insights into what mission looks like in his country. Before he leaves, a guy from Rwanda sits down and we talk about life in his country.   He is very passionate and entertaining. Then Rox comes for breakfast and injects a whole new round of energy and conversation.

I guess there will always be time to enjoy some solitude, just not today.

Raining again

Rained hard last night, a little bit now.  The rain really hasn't affected any of the daytime activities.  Days are hot and the meeting rooms are cold.  Some of the Canadians are starting to get sick.  Praying especially for those who need lead while fighting through congestion and sore throats.

Truth

Rock'n for Jesus

Had supper today with a guy from India who is serving with YFC in Thailand.  He said his path to following Jesus started when he heard a song by Skillet.  He liked the music, searched out the lyrics and prayed.  -I should note here that I benefit HUGELY from sitting with Rox.  She has a way of creating a space where people feel safe to talk.  She'll come back from here with her ipad full of names and stories-

Not the strangest path I've heard, and in this crowd his response was pretty  normal.  A couple of weeks after he chose to follow Jesus, he enrolled in seminary in order to prepare for a life of mission.

I had lunch today with a couple of younger leaders from the middle east and then sat in a session led by a group from Eastern Europe. It really is amazing how similar the issues are that young people face.  The Eastern team works primarily with kids who come from broken and blended families, the middle eastern staff work among ethnic Christians and the way they describe the challenges their youth face is very much the same.  Even the methods many YFC's use are not that different.  In the end it's all about trusting and authentic relationships.  An emphasis on discipleship not conversion and a core belief that we can trust Jesus to do the work of changing lives.

Not to say there aren't differences.  In the poorer counties (not just financially poor, but culturally less generous) they have fewer staff and thousands of volunteers.  Rox was talking to a group from Hungary yesterday. (They let her cut into the Pad Thai line at lunch)  They were amazed at our buildings and sports facilities.  She was amazed at how so few staff could mobilize so many volunteers.

God uses what we have to bring about His purposes. 

Flower

Rox took a great photo of this series of water basins with flowers floating in them.  I couldn't replicate the angle she had, so I settled for a top view.

Rain stopped.  Still over cast.

Not a lot of mosquitoes here, but they are smart. Always go for my feet, and I never catch them on my foot.  I get the pain and see them fly off.  Maybe break out the bug spray today.

Dragon Fruit

The resort has a small Dragon Fruit plantation.   Nor fruit this time of year, looks cool in the morning though.

Supper?

They keep some livestock here, chickens and these things.   Maybe water buffalo? 

Rox was a little worried about getting too close as there is no fence.  Notice a thin rope on one of them, tethered to something.

It's 5:45 am here and the geckos are barking.  First rain of our trip started about 30 minutes ago.  An hour till breakfast.   Time for a shower...see if Rox is up yet

Ajith

Always good to hear Ajith Fernando, even if it's only as part of a trivia game show.  Looking forward to his Bible teaching.

As much as the world has gotten smaller, youth everywhere heavily connected to the Internet,  the issues in each country are still different.  One of the guys from Rwanda was talking about the challenge they have with the invasion of American Prosperity Gospel.   Poor people being taught that Jesus will get them new cars and beautiful homes.  Maybe Jesus will, but the focus is on what Jesus will do for them.  Really they are being taught to worship Santa Claus.  

Pass code?

Not sure BAPD would allow us to build scaffolding with rope and bamboo.  There are some advantages here.

Walked around the grounds this morning, overcast and hot.  Staff were out sweeping the streets with bamboo brooms.  From the limited exposure we've had, it seems people are very entrepreneurial, not so much begging. Lots of shops and people selling stuff out of their homes.

Commissioning Geordon

Great opening session last night.   Took time to commission Geordon Rendle as the new YFC International President.  He gave a very powerful charge to us.  Focus on the Oneness  of our mission and relationships.

Had time to pray in small groups.  We prayed with a couple of women from Nambia.  They planned to have 8 of them here,  but health and money kept the others back.  Good reminder for me of the sacrifice many people have made to be here. For some, this was a years salary.

Top floor

I told Rox I was hoping we would have an excuse to walk during this week....prayer answered.  Our room is one room short of being the furthest point from all the sessions/food etc...

Checking in

500+ YFC missionaries from around the world.  Gonna be a good week

Auto Shrine

Come by your neighbourhood Ford dealer and visit our shrine.

Hong Kong airport

I never realized how hilly this area was.  Crazy amount of sky scrapers.  Flight was good, rox made some new friends, practices her eal skills...no real sleep though.  Going to try and stretch out here in the airport.  3.5 hours to next flight. 

Hong kong

Flying over Japan

Sunrise

Winnipeg 6:50am

And the Travels of Little Jesus blog has again taken on a new purpose.  For the next couple of weeks, I will be posting updates from our travels to the Youth for Christ International General Assembly in Thailand.  Hope you enjoy them.