Thankful for... this scenery

We've spent the past few days on holiday, taking a short break in between the leaving and the arriving phases of our latest journey. On Wednesday, I was reminded of another thing that I love about this country - the way that the scenery sometimes just takes your breath away.

Taking a break on the climb to the cave

We had climbed from the beach up a trail towards some caves. It was a long climb in the morning sunshine, and we were relieved to finally reach the cave entrance. I'm not sure what I was expecting to find - but I was amazed at what we saw when we scrambled down into the main cave.

The roof of the cave had collapsed long ago, allowing sunlight to stream into the enormous cavern - and, amazingly, a small clump of trees in the cave have grown up towards the surface. In the shadow of the trees stands a pavilion, built in commemoration of the Thai King Rama V's visit to this spot in 1889. The overall effect, with the light filtering through the foliage into the cool and quiet vastness of the cave, was magical.

The Royal Pavilion in the shelter of the trees

We have had similar 'wow' moments before. Once, we were driving to a Karen village near Mae Hong Son along a mountain road, in thick fog. Then we turned a corner and emerged into bright sunlight - we realised that we had been driving through the cloud.

Above the clouds

On another occasion, walking down to Sahamit School one morning, I was half way across the rice field before noticing the brilliance of the different shades of green following a whole night of torrential rain.

Rice fields after the rain

There is unmistakeable majesty in these scenes - although the camera does not capture that very well. I am so thankful for the beauty of God's creation all around us here in Thailand. I am reminded of God's creativity in the riotous colours, scents and sounds of the fields and forests. I am reminded of God's raw power in the soaring mountain tops and untamed rockfaces. And in the quietness and stillness of that remote cave, I am reminded of God's steady and unchanging purpose and character.

And so I am encouraged to turn to God - to hope in God - throughout this season of change and upheaval:

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise Him,

my Saviour and my God.

So I am thankful for this scenery.

Thankful for...Warm Welcomes

We said some difficult goodbyes last Saturday, as we moved out of the house we've called home for the past five years. We're now staying in temporary accommodation for our final few days in Chiang Mai. As we move through this time of transition, I'm reminded of another thing I appreciate about Thailand - the warm welcomes.

Welcome... to the 2014 Karen Baptist Assembly

We have been warmly welcomed into villages, churches, meetings and annual assemblies - and, especially, into homes. It has been a privilege - a humbling privilege - to experience Karen hospitality. To be made to feel at home in a stranger's house. To see people open their homes to us at a moment's notice, offering us food, accommodation and rest.

Welcome... to local people's homes

A custom in rural Karen villages is to apologise to guests for the 'deficiencies' in food and accommodation. So every year at the Karen Baptist Assembly, the host village choir will sing a welcome song which will include a verse something like this:

'We're deeply sorry that we can only offer this sub-standard and inadequate food and bedding for you. Please accept our apologies that we couldn't do better for you, our honoured guests. We are so sorry that the bathrooms are too few, that the roads are too dusty, that our meeting room is too small, that the weather may be too cold/hot/rainy....'

Singing the 'sorry song'

The truth, of course, is that none of those apologies need to be made. The villagers go to incredible lengths, despite their relative poverty, to provide the best possible welcome to their visitors. We have slept in wonderfully comfortable beds, eaten some of the most delicious food, and experienced some of the best hospitality you can imagine in these villages. I have been challenged to be more generous, more open, more welcoming. 

I've learned that freely-offered hospitality is a strikingly powerful thing, transcending language and cultural barriers. When we have had visitors from the UK, it's this aspect of life that has drawn the most frequent comments. 'That lady was so lovely - what a great meal!' 'I can't believe he just invited us into his home like that!' 'That man just lent me his motorbike - amazing!'

So, even as we say our goodbyes, I'm thankful for all those warm welcomes.

Thankful for... these young people too!

Our main role over these past 10 years in Thailand has been to support and encourage Karen young people to be faithful and committed followers of Jesus. However, we have also had the privilege to host three BMS Action Teams - in 2007/8, 2010/11, and 2013/14.

Our 2007-08 Action Team in Musikee: Mike, Sarah, Dave and Katie

I am so thankful for the opportunity that Lizz and I have had to work alongside these teams. Each 6 month placement was busy - from meeting each team at the airport, orientating them to Thailand, introducing them to their weekly schedules, liasing with local leaders, dealing with various issues as they arose, to finally debriefing each team and saying emotional goodbyes.

Our 2010-11 Action Team in the countryside: Peter, Sarah, Hannah and Ross

Every team is different, and every individual unique - but one of the highlights of our experience with all three teams was the time we spent together in Bible study and prayer. It was great to see each young person being challenged by God in an unfamiliar and sometimes hostile environment, and watching them emerge with a stronger, more mature faith. And the best thing is that this process isn't done yet. We hear regularly from our ex-Action Teams, and we do our best to meet up when we're in the UK - we even had a wedding invitation a few weeks ago!

Our 2013-14 Action Team at Siloam: Hannah, Sarah, Rosie and Hannah

There's so much more I could say about the Action Teams - the way that they interacted so well with our kids, for example, having lots of fun together and becoming big brothers and sisters for those 6 months. Or the way we saw each Team develop great relationships with local young people in their schools, hostels and churches. Or the way that, through their hard work and perseverance, they made a valuable contribution to the local churches - and set an example for others to follow. In fact, it was spending time with Action Teamers that inspired some of the Karen young people into mission themselves.

So, for these reasons and more, I am thankful for the Action Teams.

Thankful for... these young people

As I write, 14 young Karen missionaries are travelling south from Chiang Mai, on their way to a 3 week mission trip in Cambodia. They are some of the most impressive young people I have ever met.

With the Mission to Cambodia Team just before departure

This is the first 'international' mission trip that the Thai Karen Baptist Youth have ever done - so these young people are stepping into the unknown! For most of them, when they cross the border early tomorrow morning into Cambodia, it will be the first time in their lives that they have left Thailand.

Reading Acts 13:1-3 with the team. A wonderful privilege to be involved in this 'sending' (Photo: Lu Hawley)

I am so thankful for the privilege of working alongside these young people over the past few years. Their faith has inspired me; their courage has challenged me; their passion for God and his gospel has continually impressed me. I stand humbled before their willingness to follow God's call to cross-cultural mission, to share the good news of fullness of life in Christ with all the world's peoples.

Please pray for the Team as they travel overnight, and as they spend the next few weeks working alongside Cambodian church planters in rural areas of northern Cambodia.

Saying goodbyes

This June we will be leaving Thailand to return to the UK. I (Pete) will be starting a 3 year ministerial training course at Spurgeon's College, London, in September. During this time, we will be based as a family in Birmingham, where Abigail, Jacob and Chloe will be going to school. After nearly 10 years in Thailand, this is a big change - and right now our life is a whirl of preparing to leave, packing boxes and farewell meals.

Goodbyes are never easy...

This isn't a fun time - in fact, these goodbyes are probably the hardest thing we have done here. But I was encouraged today by speaking to a friend, who reminded me to keep an attitude of thankfulness in the midst of the sadness and sense of loss.

Not an easy road - but there is a way through.

Without denying the difficult reality of these days, I can still thank God for all the amazing experiences we have had over the past 10 years - including driving on 'roads' like the one in the picture above!

I can thank God for the incredible opportunities we have had to live, work and minister in such diverse places as Bangkok, Musikee and Chiang Mai.

And, especially, I can thank God for all the wonderful and inspirational people we have had the privilege to meet and count as friends. They have truly transformed my outlook on so many things - and they have taught me so much about what it means to faithfully follow Jesus in all areas of life.

One of our favourite places in Thailand - with some of our closest friends.

As part of the leaving process, I'm going to use this blog to explain some of the aspects of our life here in Thailand that I am most thankful for. So look out for those over the coming few weeks!

On building a wooden house

One of our close neighbours here at the Bible School has decided to do some home improvements. Blewah is a teacher at the school, and he lives here with his wife, Ratree, and their two children, aged 7 years and six months old. They live on the edge of one of the Bible School's fish ponds, and also raise chickens, frogs and a cow. Here was their house three weeks ago:

The original house - complete with kitchen extension (to the right)

Following a few days of noisy and quick demolition work, and then the first week of (re) construction, here's the house today:

One of the great advantages of building (mostly) with wood is that it's cheap, and readily available. The main posts for the new house were cut from a tree felled on site last Tuesday. And the floors and walls of the new house will use recovered wood from an old building which is being replaced during the Bible School summer holidays.

The carpenter, Kamphee, surveying his work so far

Kamphee is a third year student at Siloam Bible School - before coming to the school, he worked for some years as a carpenter. He is supervising the construction, and seems to be doing a very professional job. Health and safety standards may not be quite up to a British standard, though - there are no hard hats on this building site!

But Bob the Builder wears a hard hat...

Among the downsides, however, is that wooden houses don't last long in this humid climate. Without careful and repeated treatment, termites quickly eat away at the wood, and rot can easily set in during the long monsoon season. So they do need replacing much more regularly than stone or brick houses.

While the construction is going on, Blewah's family are staying in a small wooden hut next to their house - they are hoping to be back in the house before the start of term in May. Hopefully we'll be able to see the finished results, and celebrate the new house dedication, before we leave for our Home Assignment in June!

Temporary family accommodation (at the back left of the picture)

Graduation Day

Graduation Day is always a special occasion - and this year was no exception. Nine full-time students and seven pastors celebrated the completion of their courses last Sunday here at the Siloam Bible School.

The graduating students line up outside the hall before the ceremony

Thankfully the weather was not nearly as hot as last year, which made the three-hour long ceremony much more enjoyable for everybody involved! The friends and families of the graduating students crowded into the Bible School's meeting hall to watch as diplomas and degrees were awarded in a solemn formal worship service.

Diplomas being awarded - the view from the stage!

After the service, the smiles broke out! Groups of families and friends gathered to take photos with the graduates - who were showered with flowers and other gifts.

Graduates laden down with flowers and gifts

 We have known some of the graduates for five years. Those studying the English Language programme arrived at the Bible School in May 2009, just days before we moved in here. Pete has taught this class almost every term since then - and so it was particularly moving for us to watch them graduate.

With Moody, a graduate of the English Programme

Please continue to pray for these graduates as they move into work and ministry - and also for the ongoing work of the Siloam Bible School in preparing the future leaders of the Karen Baptist churches.