Hello Mae Sot

The Adventure Continues on Another Blog

2011-06-08T20:39:00.001-07:00

Hey there everyone.

Just wanted to let you all know that i am going to be continuing the Blog here for Thailand article but will also be writing about my other outreach efforts in the world and local community located over here. Its call Adventures in Outreach.

Thanks for your interest and for the prayers and support.

I know it means a lot to me as well as those that we encounter.

Doc

Adventures in Outreach Continues

2011-05-27T18:16:00.000-07:00

Hello all,
Many of you know that Cape Fear is making another mission trip this year. For those of you that do not know this, here is the scoop.

The team and i will be heading out to Crimea, Ukraine. We will be teaming up with a church, Living Vine Christian Church, that Chuck and Karen helped plant back 16 or so years ago. Vadim and his wife Lena Provozyuk are minister/leading the church now.

The work done there in Crimea will be helping supply folks with hospital supplies, since you pretty much have to supply your own when you visit the hospital there in Crimea. A second part of the mission is to bring some man power to building an addition and fixing up an existing home in which the Shalbetskay family lives. The Shalbetskay's adopt children with physical and/or mental disabilities. Currently there are 14 people living in and old, small and falling apart home. It is our goal to make some renovations happen.

I'd like to share a letter that we got and some photos of the Shalbetskay family and a translation for those of us that don't read or write Ukraine

Родители воспитывают детей с 1991 года.За это время в гостях семьи на каникулах и праздниках с интернатов побывало около 30 детей.Старшие дети уже выросли и имеют своих детей.Родители не взяли не одного здорового ребенка.Все дети имели либо физические либо умственые недостатки.Обучаются во 2 школе искусств.Либо танцуют либо играют на музыкальных инструментах.

My parents started taking in kids in 1991. At that time the kids would come to our house from the orphanage home on school holidays and vacation, around 30 kids. The older ones taken in are already grown with kids of their own. My parents never took one healthy child. All of the kids we take either have some physical disability or mental disability. We have the kids involved with two special schools and they can choose to learn either dance, or play musical instruments.

Спасибо большое за то, что ты не остался равнодушным к нашим проблемам.Спасибо за молитвы.Мы тоже молимся.
Thanks a lot that you have not abandoned us and forgotten our problems. Thanks for your prayers, we also pray for you.

С любовью семья Шалбецких.
With love, the Shalbetskay family.

Теперь на счет имен.
Here is the list of names.

самая маленькая Лиза ей 1г и 3 месяца.
The youngest is Liza, she is 1 yr. 3 months.

Девочка которая играет на пианино Аня ей 5 лет.
The girl playing the piano is Anya - 5 yrs.

Новые дети:Оля 8 лет и Коля 6лет.
New kids (just brought home) Olga, 8, and Kolya 6

на скрипке играет Настя 8лет.
Nastia is playing the violin.

Мальчики:Федя и Леша по 12 лет.
There are 2 boys, Fedya and Losha who are 12.

Лиза с кудрявыми волосами 15 лет.
Another Liza with curly hair who is 15.

Вика Балет 15 лет. И Ира:)
Vika doing ballet is 15.

And Ira J (Ira is a natural Shalbetskay, as is Lena who wrote the letter. Lena is married with a child named Artyom and she and the baby live at the house as well.)

I hope that seeing the face of those we are going to serve will allow you to keep them in your prayers. There will be plenty more posts coming and more photos im sure from the trip.

Thanks for partnering with The Crimea Team and praying for us and the family and lives that we will meet and love on.

Blessed to be a part of this and grateful for your support and prayers.

TTFN

Doc

Tunes For Thailand Take Two

2010-12-15T17:20:00.001-08:00

Howdy everybody,
Matty Matt is putting together the fundraiser that i was mentioning earlier in the blog. Well here are some of the details.

You're personally invite you all to the Tunes For Thailand Coffee Shop, Christmas Edition, this Friday Dec 17, from 6-9pm at the church building. Desserts will be provided, along with hot beverages (sponsored and provided by Port City Java). There will be live Christmas music from some of your favorite musicians... Erica & Sam Straka, Lucas Cannon, Tyler Broyles, Garrett Huffman, Steve Hunnicutt, Glen Titus, Doc Reed, Donnie Cannon... and guests, Scott Hennis and the Crosswinds Praise Band.

The purpose of this event is to raise funds for Ezekiel Fish and The Goodnews Mission in Maesot, Thailand. Over the last month, the city of Maesot (population 100,000) has been flooded with close to 30,000 Burmese refugees. (Could you imagine if our city of Wilmington took on 30,000 people, forced out of their homes?) God is going to do Amazing things through Ezekiel and the mission to help the refugees! Let's rally behind them with prayer and financial support. I understand the "timing" might not be the greatest for giving... We, as a church and individual Christians, are supporting local efforts for those who have needs, we have also just recently supported Team Haiti in a huge way, and Christmas brings extra spending... and now Mr Matt is asking for money for Thailand. Please search your hearts, and remember to "Give Until It Feels Good".

I've copied and pasted the most recent note I received from Ezekiel (just days ago). The money we raise will go to the list of items he mentions.

The rebel and Burmese government troops along Thai-Burma border are still fighting every other days. Civilians from Burma side rush into Thai land every day. Just yesterday morning, there are six hundred refugee acrossed from Burma to Thailand. Most refugee are women, older age people and children. The refugees needs shelters, foods, kitchen materials, blankets, waters, baby milk powders and medicines. Please keep them in your prayers. There are Christians among the refugees.
Thank you for your finance support, you prayers and your Christian Love. We do need your prayers and finance support to build up the kingdom of God. Through your assistance, finance support and prayers, we won many souls for our Jesus our Lord.
Your Brother in Christ,
Ezekiel and Ah-Cha Fish.

Political Unrest

2010-11-21T13:39:00.000-08:00

I have been meaning to post this for a few weeks now. Ezekiel sent us an email back on the 8th of November. Seems like there is quite a bit of trouble over there in Mae Sot and Myanmar. Wanted to share this last email from Ezekiel. Keep the Mission in your prayers as they are receiving larger numbers of refugees fleeing the fighting and bombing.

We are looking to try and put a fundraiser together to help with some more funds to help

Dear friends in Christ,

Yesterday was a day of election had done in Burma. From early morning today had started a worse war with the minority groups who are fighting for democracy for many years. From early morning to right now at 7:00 p.m. the Burmese government troops and minority groups are fighting along Thai-Burma borders and in side of the Myawadee city which is situated just opposite Masesot. Some shell landed in side Thailand and some Thai civilian lost life and many injury and hurts. Over 20,000 refugee are arriving in Maesot from Burma. We do not know how many will be coming tonight. Most of them are women, older age people and children. The battle is going worse moment by moment. It seems no way to end. The refugee need food, shelters, waters, clothes and medicines urgently. Please pray for this people and take a time of consideration for this people. to help.

Yours in Christ,

Ezekiel

Swadee Krop

2010-05-19T16:58:00.000-07:00

Hello all,
Got an update from Ezekiel about some on goings there in Thailand. Wanted to pass them along to you. Most of this is straight from Ezekiel, so forgive the broken or wordy english.

On May 9, we had eight new believers were baptized at #48 Church of Christ. (i believe this is the same village that we visited and called Kilometer 48 village while we were in Thailand) Please keep this new Christians in your prayers so that they will continue to grow their faith in Christ.

During April 8 to 13, we had one week Bible study Seminar among Burmese Christian youth in Myawadee Gospel Center and Maesot Bible School. Both places many new Burmese Christians arrived to attended in the seminar. In this two seminar, Moses, Philip and Yohan and their youth leaders had taught to over a hundred Christian youth. Many non-Christians also attended with Christians. Both places won souls for Christ. At Myawadee, four non-Christians accepted Jesus as their own Savior and Lord and baptized by Yohan and an elder in their Church. Please keep Myawadee Gospel Center and the new baptized in that congregation.

Moses also had baptized nine new believers since April 14 to last week May 9. They are all converted from idol worship to Christ. Please keep this new Christians in your prayers. The Burmese refugee meet very difficult life in Thailand. They are so poor . No good shelter, no food, no good health, no good security for themselve. They always work for a rice bowl on Thai farmers land and live on farm with a whole family. Until they die by different kinds of sickness, they can not go to see doctors because they have no ligal paper. (I am assuming the living conditions are much like those of The Orange Village that we visited atop the hills of Mae Sot)

Moses and my daughter Leah taking care them through preach the gospel, take to doctors who are sick and, supply a lunch every Lord's day when the new Christian come to worship to God at MBTC. To feed a lunch also a necessary for these poor refugee. Therefore, their ministry among Burmese need finance support for medical fund and food supplies for refugee. Please keep this needs and new Christians in your prayers.

Four evangelists are already left from Putao, on their way to northeast Burma, along on Burma-China border. They will be back to their home Putao, northern Burma some time at the end of October. They will be traveling on foot for nearly six months through very high snow mountains and deep valleys. Please keep this four evangelists in your prayers.

Please continue keep the students and teachers in your prayers. The classes started two weeks ago. Teachers and students are in good health. Every one is working hard on their teaching and studies. However, on the physical way all the people in Thailand has a big depression and stress because the political problem at this time. This year is the most difficult year in Thailand as I saw in thirty six years. The political situation is so bad at this time. There are no peace in the hearts of civilian. Every body has a big worry and fear for future life in Thailand. Under martial law is not happy for any body. Not easy to travel one place to another. There are so many check points along the high ways. Some private TV channel signals block/shut down by authorities and some local radio stations those run by private company also the same. In Bangkok, the troops and demonstrators fighting day and night. A lot of innocent people lost their life every minute. Please pray special for Thailand at this time so that God will save Thailand from political crisis and restore peace again.

We are praying to God to get a ten acre of land or more in Burma side to start a Biblical Training Center. This is tremendously need to extend wider our ministry in that area to give biblical training for the new preachers and leaders. Then, they will go out to their own people in their are to share Jesus with their relatives. No Bible School is in this lower part of Burma. If we have a place of Biblical Training Center in that area, I hope we can establish many new Churches among the Burmese and many other tribes such as Karen, Pa-U. Please pray for this new vision. One acre will costs $1,000 at this time.

We thank you so very much for your finance support, your prayers and your never ending Christian love then and now.

Yours in Christ,

Ezekiel Fish

One thing i do remember from my visit to Thailand is no brand is safe from being reproduced and sold in the markets. Also most brands done hold any value other than "Hey, its American, or looks American." As you can see by the Playboy bunny on this chaps shirt. He probably has no idea what Playboy even is.

This, I am assuming is the land that Ezekiel is look to purchase to continue to build on. Yeah, it don't look like much but i have seen the wonders that Ezekiel can do with "not much". Pretty impressive.

Thailand Thanksgiving

2009-12-29T20:24:00.000-08:00

I just got an update from Ezekiel with some photos of the rice harvest that we were unable to partake in while we were there in Thailand. Looks like it was a time, good or not i'll let you decide if you think it would have been fun. I wish that i would have been able to be there with the students.

Here are some shots for the rice fields.

Students and staff harvesting the rice.

That is a nine foot green snake, pretty much the same color as the rice right. i am sure that Julie is glad to have not seen this in person or have me be around when this was in the rice.

The Thanksgiving/Harvest Meal for the Students and Staff of MBTC. A refresher... thanksgiving comes when ever the rice or harvest is ready to be taken. Then the celebration for God providing begins in the form of thanksgiving meal. I miss the food cooked in banana leaves. Truly a wonderful thing. Might have to try that sometime state side and see what happens.

Whats everyone thankful for...Graduation time.
Here are a handful of the students that we worked along side during our time there in Mae Sot that are now graduated and going out into the world to share the Good News!

Here is the Tithe for the rice that the students brought in from the fields. Is that a lot of rice or what!

The new hymnals arrived as well. I am sure that all of these have all of the latest from Hall, Tomlin, Crowder, Redman and Hillsong. If only, that would make for a killer Hymnal.Though some would argue it not a hymnal anymore, but i digress.

Again looking over some images from the trip with the family this Christmas season mad me thankful for everything i have been blessed with...friends, family, co-workers near and far. You are awesome Yeshua thank you for everything even the thorns!

God bless you all in 2010
TTFN
Doc

A Different Way Of Life

2009-11-23T21:00:00.000-08:00

Watch these guys load the cattle for about 20 minutes or so. That cow did not want to get in that truck. It was quite the undertaking. By the time it was over there were about 15 folks standing around watching or helping push the cow in. By the time the cow was in there was a huge pile of crap steaming in the road, a large and i mean large piece of bamboo that lay broken on the side of the road

Found Homesick

2009-11-23T19:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday i had a bit of a time sharing the two weeks spent in Thailand. It's almost impossible to try to condense a trip like this into a few photos and 5 minutes without selling sort the meaning or magnitude!

I picked up some more rolls of film today from the trip. It's been hard tonight as i sit here and scan in photos from the adventure. These particular images come from a very humble village there in the mountains of Mae Sot. The village is Kilometer 48, named for the highway marker at the entrance to the village. There is a single concrete road up for miles that have countless secondary roads that run off into beautiful red clay paths.

This particular day was our Thanksgiving/Harvest meal there. The rice harvest had come in and we were there at the right time. I couldn't help but feel like a child that gets tossed around from divorced parents where one parent raises them and discipline them while the other parent takes them to ball games and buy all kinds of things. I say this because i know that's not a normal day there in the village. It like the kids never getting to see the bad days of the parent that only has good times and wonderful events planned. I hope this makes sense.

Anyhow, i took a stroll out side of the site where we were hangin out to see what life looked like for the rest of the people there. I was excited to see children out playing and being children.
Running with kites up and down the streets. Stopping only to pull the kite out of the tree it ran into. At first the children were a bit shy and hid off the road from me. Eventually the braver ones ventured closer. i wonder if it was the curiosity that got to them. I had a fisheye lens that i was showing a few of them and them seemed to enjoy looking through it.

Here are some of the photos i have scanned in so far.

Just checking each other out. The little hen starts moving in on Kenny.

Lazy Dog takes notice of the white guy walking through his yard.

Some of the braver ones out from hiding.

Back to playing with the simplest of toys. String, some plastic and a little bit of wood.

i hope that these pictures will help you take note of the simple things in life. Truly take time to stop and watch the children play. Listen to them laugh. Look at them smile. See how totally happy they can be with so little. String, plastic, warm sunshine and the hint of a breeze, that's all it took. See if you can let go of rat race and play. i dare you.

TTFN
Doc

Production Note: Those of you wondering about the format of these photos. Holga that was modified for 35mm film.

Visiting The Little Green Man

2009-11-16T07:50:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone
This will be a short post as i dont have a lot of the pictures scanned from the trip around Bangkok. The digital camera's battery died and i broke out the good ole Holga to capture some memories. They didn't allow you to take pictures inside the temple that housed the emerald Budda. While we were here i got interviewed by some high school/college kids from Bangkok.

This is Matt and myself kicking it at the Grand Palace.

Glad to be back in the states. I still got some stuff to take care of today but back to the "normal" work day tomorrow.

Doc

My First Taxi Ride Was A Tuk Tuk

2009-11-11T06:26:00.000-08:00

Good evening all. Well it is 12 in the morning here in Bangkok.
We got some sight seeing in here in the city of Bangkok. It was the first time i had ever been to anything like this. This is the view from our hotel room after we arrived and checked in.

This is a view of the traffic that we fought for an hour until we gave up and told the driver to let us out we'd walk and get there faster. Which we probably did. What you cant see in this picture is all the little mopeds that are filling in the nooks and crannies that the cars and trucks haven't filled yet. The the red light just turned green for the traffic on the left.
We had our far share of Engrish (engrish.com, it's pretty funny) sitings but i failed to get photos of them. i wrote them down but done have that ready right now.

Matt's buddy Zach had this program called Flat Stanley where you take "Stanley" out to different things around the world. To help them understand geography better and make looking things up on a map way more interesting. So far in the last month Stanley has been to Philly for a Redskins game and Pearl Jam Concert, Atlanta, Tokyo, Bangkok and Mae Sot. Not bad huh. We guess that this Stanley is the coolest one participating! It was awful nice of him to come along and hang with us some on this trip.

There has been lots to do and see here in Bangkok so there will be lots of images to come once i am able to sort through them all. I do have some quick shots of things to give you a taste.

Here is the palace of the king here in Thailand, it's called The Grand Palace. We had to rent some pants to were into the palace cause they didnt allow shorts or some other outfits. It seemed like the Americans may have been weeded out. Any how the architecture in these buildings was really quite stunning. I enjoyed taking some shots with the Holga and look forward to getting them developed. While we were here we were asked by some students to help with a survey. Basically asking what our name was, where we were from, occupation, what we saw as similar in our home countries and Thailand. It was pretty fun actually. After it was all done they took my picture. i asked if i could take his picture and when i held up the Holga , he said "OH, LOMO!" I was excited to have found another lomographer in a foreign land. I actually met another fellow from Ft Bragg NC that commented on the camera as well. It's funny what will bring people together. Plastic cameras and film will do it some times.

The power-lines here are scary. I felt like i was walking along side a BIG hazard that would start the end of the world at any moment. It is almost as hairy as the moped traffic that we had to deal with.

Here we are on a boat ride after a long day of walking around and being mobbed by street vendors out side the palace. The fresh air and being away from the crowd was a good and much needed change of pace. I think the walking and the heat of the day was getting to everyone. We had people basically putting stuff in our bags and demanding that we pay for what we "purchased". Being that we are about a foot taller than the rest of the population and white as all get out, made me (us) pretty good target to boot. It was almost as much fun to watch Ezekiel take in the sights as it was for us to enjoy them ourselves. Here he takes some pictures form the boat ride.

The Suan-Lum Night Bazaar was a hot spot...literally. It has been 90+ degrees easy here in Bangkok, with the humidity and smog of a big city. The bazaar is just like our US Flea Markets excepted they're jacked up on crack or steroids. It's insane what you can find here. We saw everything from live moneys running around and jumping on unsuspecting people tonight to the normal things like 8" tall Zippo lighters of a bottle of Jack Daniels that have lasers in them too, you know that sorta stuff.

After we were done tonight we grabbed a cab home. This was my first experience with cabs. What a city to have this 'first" happen in. We almost had to scream "Oh crap, they killed Kenny!" After a typical Bangkok car pulled out into the typical oncoming traffic. As you can see the terror has not quite left Kenny's face yet. Being that we are driving on the left side of the road the car about crashed into Kenny's side. It's good to get the ticker up and running makes you feel alive or just slightly soggy in your pants.

Look forward to coming home and seein you all again!

TFFN
Doc

Technical Dificulties

2009-11-10T10:49:00.000-08:00

I am having a bit of an issue tonight as the editing portion of the blogger software is not showing up as normal. I am unable to add photos for what ever reason but i will share a few stories and try to get images uploaded tomorrow if i can hack this issue.

(Its tomorrow now and i tried again without any issues so here are the pictures.)
I am still going through many of the photos and trying to catalog the images and stories to share with you all. I have picked a couple more for the trip up to the Orange Tree Village atop the fields of rice and corn. The medical team had been out there all day at the top of this village. They had seen about 70 people when i arrived about 2 or so. Thats a lot of people to see in a few hours. I know Julie comes home whipped after seeing 35 new patients a day. Granted there is phones ringing and paperwork, but thats still moving a lot of people. Dr. Joe we missed you and your help, but i think that you would have been very proud of Bill, Gale, Jane and Wynn as they stepped there game up and handled all that was thrown at them. Which was more than we were expecting. A lot of people were treated!

Chuck had asked me if i would like to go along to take some more supplies up to the village. I was a little hesitant due to the schedule on the house, but decided that i could use a break and experience what the others were dealing with. I am so very glad that i did! It was a complete shock! I had hears Matt, and bill talking a few times as well as Jane and Gail about the sights they were seeing but it didnt have a face to me. Once i arrive at the village it had a face to me! It also had a smell and sounds that i bee working through personally for some time.

I saw these peoples kitchen, standing water where the chickens and dogs were walking around in eating out of the pots and probably tracking in all kinds of wonderful germs and bacteria.
I heard Jane say that she saw the lady they treated for skin rashes on her arms and hands stirring the lunch and serving it out on to the "plates". Sorta makes you nauseous huh?!

Up at the village there is not a lot of word of mouth that take place. However the day before there was quite the opposite happening.The way it was working was people were getting help and medical attention and going back across the River to Burma and telling others. They would then jump in the boat and come over. This is where the team saw a gambit of conditions. There was one boy that came out that had the heel of his foot literally ripped of. This was due to a motorcycle/moped accident. The heel got caught in the spokes and yeah, make me skin crawl with out a picture. but we have one coming.

It was pretty amazing to look out over this river and know that the other side was Burma . People were pretty set on getting to the meds.

The skid row shirt was a high point in the day as it added some much needed comic relief.

Well i am really tired an it is 2 am here wed morning so i should try and sleep some before another big day.

I look forward to seeing you all soon and sharing some more in person.

Doc

glad i got it workin gotta run.

The Morning Events

2009-11-08T06:55:00.000-08:00

The wet behind the ear Christians.

Survivors Found From Oceanic Flight 815

2009-11-07T08:39:00.000-08:00

Don't get alarmed it just a little fiction reference.

These were taken at Namtok (Water Fall) Pacharoen national Park.

Huge Banyan tree. Kenny and Jaheh put things into perspective.

Matt stop smiling there is a huge polar bear staring at you from behind the bamboo.

Here is a shot of the falls at the bottom. We, Cliff, Kenny, Matt and myself, took a hike up a little further to check it out.

This is what we found. More water, and it's still falling.

Dirt, leaves and some ants that given the chance could probably take large chunks of your flesh home to the colony.

Earlier in the day we took a walk around the village called Kilometer 48, guess where this village is located. I knew i was a pasty white kid, but man this photo makes it look like i'm wearing old lady, light pink pantyhose. And yes, between the red beard and the "pantyhose" i got pointed at a lot. It only took about 10 minutes the first day we were in Thailand for one of the staff to see and put his arm next to my leg for a comparison. It was a pretty good start though, lots of fun conversations have taken place since.

Matty Matt checking some chili peppers that the locals hag out drying in the sun. These peppers were everywhere, on the roofs, in the yard, on the hoods of cars and in truck beds.

This is what lunch looked like today as we sat down for the Thailand Thanksgiving meal. I was really excited about this. It was quite sometime ago that i first saw on TV someone cooking food in banana leaves. It's been a long wait since then to have it be a real part of my life.

I believe tomorrow we are heading into the border market to pick up some more supplies. I am going to try and find a rice hat for the work on Monday. The sunscreen, which i am using Julie, is doing ok but...i want a rice hat.

TTFN

Doc

A Note From Chuck (With A P.S. From Doc)

2009-11-06T04:05:00.000-08:00

Hi Folks!

Chuck here. I just wanted to share an amazing experience I had today.

The Med Team was working with some Burmese refugees in the mountains today, and Doc and I went out to see how it was going later in the afternoon.

What an incredible beautiful place! Doc said he was shocked by the contrast of beautiful scenery and poor houses and people. It was truly a contrast.

While there we had an opportunity to meet a newer Christian lady, and her story brought tears to our eyes. Let me try and summarize it for you.
This lady was a Buddhist Animist just a year ago.

Her son (not the little tike in the photo above) was literally demon possessed with some kind of goat sounding demon. He would "bray?" like a goat and couldn't talk when he was under this spell.

These people live by a huge old banyan tree that the Buddhists believe to be the home of many spirits (read demons). The people would regularly come to the tree and make sacrifices, not long ago a pig head was hung on it, which is quite gross, don't you think?

Any time anyone tried to live near the tree, and just have a life, something bad would befall them. When the Burmese came and asked if they could live up by the tree, the Thai's said sure! Not long afterwards the mission here planted a church among these refugees, RIGHT UNDER THE BANYAN TREE!

This lady and her son who lived down the road kept waiting for something bad to happen to the church, and to the workers. But every time she walked by - the church was having a meal - inviting her and her son to join them. They would have worship and sing loud and strong, which she could hear from her house - all the while with NOTHING bad happening to the church and it's people (yeah I know the church IS the people but you know what I mean).

So the woman was intrigued. Her son continued to have these "goat attacks"

The preacher there told her that she didn't need to be afraid, that Jesus was stronger than any spirits living in trees. That Jesus was stronger than any goat demon. And so she continued to come.

About 3 months ago, she and her son were baptized! The boy has been healthy ever since. She gave her testimony a few days ago. She said, "i have learned that there is only ONE GOD, and he has lived with us as Jesus! He is stronger than any thing else that exists. he is my Lord, and he has saved my son! I will never turn away from Jesus!"

What a great witness. I have been blessed to meet this woman and her son.

If we could all express our faith so simply, and strongly.

Thanks for praying for me and the team. Your prayers are truly being felt!
We are praying for you all as well - praying that as you read the stories of our journey, your lives and your hearts will be changed, as ours surely have.

Blessings to you all,
Chuck

P.S.
OK, it's Doc speaking now.
It has been a wonderful day. just finish pluggin in the photos from the Chuck's account of the day and wanted to add a note.

I am trying to think of an emotion that was not invoked today in some form. This probably has been the best day of the trip thus far. I have lots of photos to share and will elaborate more soon. But they may have to come a little later, cause it's Friday night sometime around midnight.

Tomorrow should prove to be another day full of surprises and treasures all its own. I challenge you to really look at your life and see what we do have. May you find more treasure than you thought you had. All to often its get up, go to work, eat the same ole lunch, come home to the same ole spouse or home and then your off to bed before you know where the daylight went. I figure this is getting posted on most of your lunch breaks, so if you do read this...try looking at your afternoon with fresh eyes.

I'm feeling a little like a pirate talking bout all this treasure. Guess that means all of my ECU peeps are getting a shout out. ARRGGH! Thanks for the prayers.

TTFN

Doc

Nothing Short Of Thankful Reprise

2009-11-05T21:09:00.000-08:00

Matt hit the nail on the head!

Here are some pictures from the pizza party from last night. I honestly dont think that i have ever been that excited about pizza or any food for that matter. Look at the expression on this kids face!

Take a look at these and let me know if you agree. Also for all the mom's out there, that whole story about starving kids in third world countries not having food to eat...yeah it's a bit more real than i thought. For that matter the variety that we have available to us is pretty much ridiculous.

We have had rice with every meal. With the except of breakfast, when we have fruit, eggs with pancakes & honey or toast. The rice has been dressed up with fried fish (with heads), chicken, pork, pumpkin and pork that you mix in and eat. Julie, if i ever complain about eating something you cook, i am giving you permission to slap me.

We are off to dinner here soon and the dedication for the house will be later tonight. Unfortunatley it will not be completely done by this evening but very close. We still need windows for the house and a bedroom door as well as a coat of paint for the front.

I found out that we'll be going to harvest rice in the fields on Monday! Definitely looking forward to that!

TTFN
Doc

Nothing Short of Thankful

2009-11-05T18:27:00.000-08:00

What's up my peeps? It's your boy Mattie-Matt shouting at you from Thailand!

I just want to say thank you for your prayers and support during this entire Adventure! We (Americans - "Farangs") are so blessed with "stuff". Please take a moment and look around at what you have... check that... look around at what God has blessed you with and be thankful. Use what you have to bless others because it's all just gonna fade away one day. (I hesitate to say these things with Thanksgiving approaching because it is expected... to be thankful during this time of year. If we only give thanks one week or one season during the year, we have to step our game up! You can dig it.)

God is opening our eyes to great needs here in Thailand... yesterday (thursday), I saw The Lord work through Nurse Jane, Dr Wynn, Dr Bill and our translator, Moses, as they treated several Burmese refugees... from small babies to the elderly who have absolutely zero access to Doctors and medicines. Be thankful.

Last night we got some pizzas for all of the students to eat... for most of them, it was the first time they had ever eaten pizza! I'm talking 18 and 19 years old, zero pizza until last night. We eat pizza all the time... often, multiple times in one week. Be thankful.

The team is doing well and appreciates your prayers. Chuck is destroying his class on Islam (he's doing a really good job)... Kenny and Gail are crushing English Class... Doc and Cliff are "spot on" with working on the Orphanage... Jane, Wynn and Bill (because of his military medic experience) are preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ without using any words, just love and medicines... and I am speechless at the sight of this "well oiled machine". Be thankful.

thank you for reading... my friend Doc will hit you soon.
Grace & Peace
mattie-matt

A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words

2009-11-05T06:34:00.000-08:00

If thats the case i've already said to much, cause here comes some a lot of photos.

I got an email today and thought it summed up the trip pretty well. Here is a snip-it,

""The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those
who are crushed in spirit." I pray that God would be
close to you as your heart breaks for the people you are
serving and reaching. It's a good place to be. I also
pray for the broken people of Thailand."

Thanks Jamie!

This is a little late in getting posted but these are from our first sights of Thailand.
Here is a shrine in a little market from the city of Tak. We arrived at 6:15 am Tues morning after driving through the night from Bangkok.

Some wild dogs chillin, wait for the others to get out.

Mr. Bill checking out the area.

Some of the local beauty.

Some of the local not so beauty.

That right it's a toilet. At least it's not a hole in the ground. The "tub" of water to the left is flushing water. There is a little bucket in there that you fill up and pour over your "business" to flush it.

Ok here is some soup that was served at lunch on Tuesday after we got to Thailand. I, of course being the naive ginger that i am, thought the cute little innocent orange shape floating in the soup was a sweet carrot. After i started to chew my food up real good like Julie has tried to teach me i found out that it was in fact pepper...that contained HELL FIRE FROM THE DEVIL HIMSELF and yes everybody laughed at me as i tried to put out the fire in my mouth.

This was round 2. I won. Sweet and Sour Chicken.

A few shots of Mae Sot as we get closer to the banks of down town to do some money changing.

Here is what a power line looks like in down town Mae Sot .

One of the many village dogs. I am surprised at the number of dogs that are roaming around the city and villages.

Ice cream is a universal joy.

This bugger is our alarm clock. I'm still working on getting the snooze installed.

There are a few of these momma hens running with her chick around the campus.

OK now here are some shots of the house we're working on.

Dropping the septic tank down into the ground.

Bamboo instead of rebarb.

This is Ahphu, he's 19 and a good hard worker.

This is a Takraw serve. Basically its soccer and volleyball mashed together with a short net.

This is Ati and me. Believe it or not i had forgotten i had a beard until i saw this photo. I am still brushin my teeth and showering, just don't have mirrors where im doing that. He's been teachin me some Lisu (Lee Sue) Language.

Probably one of my favorite shots from the trip so far. Kids will be kids in any country and at any level of "cast system". Again, it makes you wonder how much better your life would be if we could "unplug" ourselves from the TV, computers, phones, facebooks and of course these horrible blogs. :) We would have time for more of the simple pleasures in life that will mean more to you than that hour spent/lost to technology.

Sorry that im playing catch up on the photos. I am taking a lot more that i thought i would be. The whole upload process is taking longer that i thought and don't want to start updates till the day ends out of fear of missing something with the villages. After all that is why i'm here.

Got some fun shots from today that i'll try and get up soon.

Till tomorrow
TTFN

Doc

Flexibility, Flexibility, Flexibility

2009-11-05T03:29:00.000-08:00

To give you an idea about how out of it i was on that last post, i don't even remember writing the the caption comment about the pictures till i read it tonight. Right now it is 6:30 pm on Thursday night and we are heading off to chapel. We are surprising the kids and students tonight with Pizza and Coke tonight.

More to come later
Doc

FIGURED IT OUT BUT AM REALLY TIRED

2009-11-04T08:53:00.000-08:00

I guess you could call me it on me being lazy but, im only gonna up load these photos from Sunday's adventure. I seriously am about to fall asleeps as i writ this.

Make you your own captions and well see about making some winners later.
Later
Doc

Finally Figured It Out

2009-11-04T08:40:00.000-08:00

Keep Praying

2009-11-04T05:17:00.000-08:00

Hey there everybody.

As i am writing this it is 8:40 pm here and the landing is still full of refugees from Burma waiting to be seen by the medical crew. They have been at it more most all of the morning and took a small break in the afternoon before they hit it again for this evening. I can hear the cries of the children as they are seen by Wynn, Jane, and Gail. There are dealing with everything from colds, coughs and runny noses to Malaria the like. They saw one man that probably wont make it through the next few days. He came in with what we believe to be a ruptured spleen. Chuck and Ezekiel went to the hospital with this man and his family to try and get him fixed up.

As i talk with most everybody here they seem to be very much afraid to the germs and water here. I am trying to be careful but i cant help but fell like i am turning my nose up at these people when i do. I know its for my safety and Julie if you read this i am trying my best to keep the cuts and scrapes tended to as best i can!

I know that your prayers are and will be needed for the families that came tonight with conditions larger than what we can address as well as Jane, Wynn and Gail as they i am sure are at he point of exhaustion tonight. I am sure that they will sleep well tonight. Wynn also took a spill last night and "cracked" his head good. Keep him in your prayers as he trys working and recuperating

On some lighter notes i have some thoughts from the day that i am pleased to share with you all, but do to the internet's speed here i am going to try and find another way to up load some pictures. I don't have a photo editing program loaded on the computer here. I was going to use Matt's but he is also having some issues with his power cord so i might only be able to get a few uploaded saved down to smaller sizes before his battery dies. I will see what i can do though.

The children's laughter here is quite honestly the purest sound i have heard in quite some time. I dont know what makes the difference. I wish i could pin point it but it escapes me now. Everyone seems so happy here. I wonder if i had as little as these people if i would be as happy. Or are the simple pleasures in life wasted on me. I pray that they are not! I am sure to treasure them even more once i return.

Today i thought about our dental health as i looked around and saw black smiles and splitting teeth. I thought about our cement mixers as i mixed sand and rock and concrete together with Ahphu. I have never worked with tools made of bamboo either. Thought about our clean water as every time i talked with someone from the States they reminded me to not brush my teeth with their water.

My day was made as i was working along side Ahphu mixing concrete. We were making the back porch and inside bathroom floor. Ahphu looked at me, patted his chest and said "i am glad you here"with a grin from ear to ear. It's really affecting me more now as i reflect on it. It was the most genuine look i think i have ever seen on the face of another human.

Most of the day we spent asking each other questions like how do you say sun, butterfly, fire or smoke in the others language. I must say that i got to thinkin about language and how wonderful it is that sounds can mean absolutely nothing or they can stir the inmost part of your heart. They are just sounds strung together, if you have the key to the puzzle they are magical.

Today was a good full day here in Mae Sot. We were up and running this morning at 7:30. I'm
gonna call it a night for this post and try and let the upload run of some pictures over night see if that makes a difference.

Thanks again for the comments i will share them with the others.

See you all sooner than i realize.

Doc

Plane ole Adventure

2009-11-03T05:50:00.000-08:00

Right now as i write this to you i believe it is 8:30 am your time, and 8:30 pm here in Thailand Nov 3rd. I think everybody is ready to finally lay down horizontally and sleep. most of us caught a few hours of sleep on the drive from Bangkok to Mae Sot this morning.

I did manage to get a blister and have it break on the bottom of my foot today. Which, of course, means that i am the first one to officially get hurt from the group. Wanted to tell you since most of you probably had bets going anyway. You may now collect.

The weather here is much nicer that i thought it was going to be after hearing the highs in the 80's there is a wonderful breeze that keeps things cool. The students were actually asking if i was cold tonight in my shorts and tshirt. I was very comfortable and they were cold.

As far as our flight goes it was pretty cool. Nome Alaska was really something. To look out over the landscape and see it covered in snow and the mountain peaks jutting up from the clouds. Breath taking. I have a feeling these photos won't do it justice but i am posting them any way.
If they let me post these large files. If not they come a little later.

There was a bit of a delay, 1 and a half , from Atlanta due to bags being weighed and all. Then we lost our spot over Russia, dont really know how but that's what the Capt'n said. Over all a smooth flight. No rough turbulence from during the 14 hour flight from Atlanta to Tokyo. At least right up until the the last descent on Tokyo. Boy what a doosie. I am not sure what made them think it was a good idea to feed everybody 45 minutes before we start a decent on a city that is having some rough skies. needless to say the Egg and Cheese omelet i had really didnt get to do my body all that much good.

The delay pushed us really tight on getting trough the check point in Tokyo's airport. We barley made it to the gate before they gave our seats away to Stand by folks. Tokyo to Bangkok was fine. Flew right on out no turbulence i believe that was at 5 or 6 pm Tokyo time which i think is 2/3 am for NC.
We landed and made it through customs and were on the road by 1 am Bangkok time and arrived in Tak this morning at 6:45 or so. Which is really good time for those who like to know. i believe our average speed was 120kph. you know its fast when your sleeping and you feel like your going to fast in your dreams.

Lots more to share but im having trouble keeping the eye lids open.
We jump into the house tomorrow morning at 8:00. Breakfast is at 7:00. I am looking forward to the boiled rice! We are spoiled rotten, remember that when you are going through your day.

Ok i really am going now there are geckos on the screens eating moths and bugs. IT IS AWESOME!

TTFN
Doc

P.S.
i think that everyone thinks my name is Duck . . . and i'm ok with that.

Safe and Sound

2009-11-02T18:45:00.000-08:00

Well we finally arrived here at the College about 8:45 am November 3rd. That is more traveling in one sitting than i have ever done before. Nov 1st 7 am- Nov 3rd 8:45am.

I am gonna have a hard time keeping the time straight. The time changes and international date changes are still being sorted in my head. I'll keep thinking its Monday for a while. But im sure that it will kick in soon that its Tuesday. Im gonna try and go back and up date the adventure from Start to Finish Nov 1-Nov 3 after i get cleaned up and settled in here. Until then, thanks for the prayers and keep em coming.

Its beautiful here! There is a wonderful breeze that is refreshing and the birds singing are inspirational. Already i have seen things to make me feel ashamed with how good we have it in the States.

Love you all

Doc

A Face Lift

2009-10-30T20:25:00.000-07:00

Well i feel like i should some how customize the blog header since i am claiming to be a graphic designer these days. The art here is all based on the T shirts that we made to sell($10) to help reach the $5,000 goal for the orphanage. Here is what the design looks like. If your interested in the concept behind the design i'll share it with you. If not...scroll down past the image.
The "dove" is representative of the hope and encouragement that we are trying to bring to the villages there in Mae Sot. The dove is made up of hammers, saws, musical notes and instruments and eyeglasses. We are planned and produced 2 music concerts (hence the music notes and instruments) to help make our goal of $5,000. We are collecting the glasses to handout to villagers with bad eyesight. I am really looking forward to seeing the looks on there faces as they find glasses that help them see the world clearly. The shape behind the dove is of course Thailand. "Together For Thailand" you could call the mission statement. It's our hearts to help bring encouragement and love to those in Mae Sot.

You are as much a part of this Mission Trip as we are! I know there is no way that we could be making this trip with out your prayers and support and we hope that you know that. I am in the last stages of packing and preparing for the trip. The checklist i made today keeps growing as the hours keep shrinking! I am off to bed now up and at it again tomorrow. Tomorrow, im sure, will hold the last bit of cramming for everyone. Please do keep the spouses that are staying behind in your prayers. I know life will be different for them all as they go about there life while they wonder how their spouses are doing. I'm sure the novelty of baching it will wear off after the first week, or at least im going to keep telling myself that! Thanks for keeping them in your prayers as well. We all want to be reunited after this adventure is over!

TTFN
Doc

5 Days & Counting

2009-10-26T19:25:00.000-07:00

So the ground breaking has occurred and work begun on the little orphanage in Mae Sot. As exciting as it is to see some thing you are involved in take shape, its a little sad to know that you're not there growing blisters and callouses on your own hands. "Soon enough" i have to keep telling myself. I can say that this trip has already caused me to fell a gamut of emotions. The two strongest of these have been awe and humility. The best part of this...i haven't even left the country yet! I can't imagine what lay in store for us once we land. I say this on behalf of the entire Thailand Team, thank you, thank you, thank you!

I heard this weekend that we will be around for the handing over of the keys to the famly that will be running the orphanage. It's to take place on Saturday the 6th of November.
Some more pictures of the progress!

TTFN
Doc

A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words

2009-10-21T20:44:00.000-07:00

Hey there everybody,
Got some photos of a few of the orphans that are calling Mae Sot home. These faces are why we are going over to Thailand! I am looking forward to putting names to these faces once we get there!

Ezekiel indicated the weather Thailand was getting a few weeks ago has not affected them. "No flood no tsunami no earthquick at all in my area," he says. I am really looking forward to hearing the language there, and hear Ezekiel and the students speak broken English. I'm sure there will be plenty of laughs traded between our team and the people of Mae Sot as we try and communicate. I hope they will forgive me if i slip up and address a man as a woman or something. Also hope that they trick me in to saying something real weird like,"I am a bearded lady and on good days i look like an elephant".

We had our final meeting before leaving tonight. We packed up the suitcases with the supplies that to be checked and went over this Sunday. The Thailand Team is leading the service this Sunday to inform in more detail the who, what, when, where and whys of the trip to the church here at Cape Fear.

Here is another photo Ezekiel sent to encourage us about the events that are happening and the lives that are changing there in Mae Sot.

The butterflies are rumbling a little more than last week this evening! I started packing the art supplies, ie camera, sketchbook, watercolors, pens and pencils tonight. I probably am kidding myself to think that i'll be able to get to all of that while there, but i'd rather have it and use it once than leave it here and wish i had it everyday!

till next time

Cheers
Doc

< 2 weeks

2009-10-19T18:07:00.000-07:00

We leave in 13 days for our journey to Mae Sot, Thailand.

Been trying to learn some Thai before we arrive there in the land of smiles. It's a little slow going but well see what i can pull off. Here are some links that i have been checking out and listening to.
http://www.thai-language.com/id/816938
http://learn-thai-podcast.com/thai-language-lessons/

I am going to be taking along some cameras (film & digital) on the trip as well as some sketchbook materials. I'll try to upload shots and stories of the adventures as often as i can. I'm told there is internet access so i should be able to upload shots and stories and info for you guys to check out. The most resent update is that the ground has been broken for the orphanage and work started to maximize the efforts of the team while in Mae Sot.

Thanks again for all that prayers and support! This trip would not have been possible without you all behind the team.

TTFN