Christmas Tour

Yesterday morning, as the sun rose on a crisp December day here in Chiang Mai, the Bible School was a hive of activity. Excited last-minute preparations were hurriedly completed as three teams assembled, ready for the beginning of this year's Christmas Tour.

Staff and students gathering for the start of the tour

Each group of 18 students and staff will be travelling to different Karen villages between now and their return on Boxing Day. This year, for the first time, they will be joined by a BMS Action Team!  Rosie and Sarah are heading to Mae Hong Son, and Hannah and Hannah are joining the team going to Mae La Noi.

Hannah and Hannah with some of their team members

With bags packed and woolly hats ready for the cold weather, each team gathered to pray for safety in travel, and for good opportunities to share the meaning of Christmas with all those they meet. While there is a strong evangelistic element to the tour, the teams will also aim to encourage and inspire each of the rural churches they visit too.

Let's pray...

In amongst the bags were props for various dramas, a few guitars to accompany carol singing visits, and a pre-made picnic lunch of fried chicken and rice.  There was not much room for extra baggage - one truck had 18 people in it!

One of the trucks getting loaded up

Some of the villages which the teams are heading for are among the most remote places in Thailand. The views on yesterday's journey for Hannah and Hannah's team were incredible - unmade roads stretching up into beautifully untouched mountain forests and precariously perched villages.

I came back into Chiang Mai late last night, and the Bible School seems strangely quiet this morning. Please pray for the staff, students and especially for the Action Team as they adjust to life 'on tour'. You will be able to catch up with the Action Team's adventures on their blog once they are back within reach of the internet at http://www.actionteamblogs.org/category/thailand/

Looking back...

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the Karen Baptist Convention (KBC) Youth Department.  The young people have decided to make this a special celebration year - thanking God for all that He has done in and through the Youth Department over those years.

So, two weeks ago, the first event took place - the dedication of a commemorative statue in Lampang province, a few hours south of Chiang Mai.  About 150 people traveled from far and wide for the ceremony, held in a location with significant historical importance for the Karen church.

Although there is now no trace of any settlement here, this field was once the site of a Karen village, Ban Nork. In 1881, Karen missionaries from Burma arrived here and began preaching the gospel.  Within a few months, the entire village had become Christian, and the first Karen Baptist church in Thailand was established.

Today, Ban Nork village has moved about 3km away, to a site with a better water supply.  So we had to walk a fair distance to get to the ceremony - and early in the morning, too, as the worship service began at 7:00am. The walk was interesting - the path was muddy and slippery, and infested with leeches!

However, the backdrop of green rice fields and untouched forested hills unveiled a beautiful landscape as the sun rose. It was an amazing sight.

The combination of being in an area awash with great history, celebrating 55 years of God's faithfulness, and the beauty of creation around us was incredibly moving. During the worship service, standing in that field, my thoughts began to turn to the future - particularly for the Karen church.

Looking at the Karen young people around me with all their energy, gifts and skills, I wondered: What might God use these young people to do over the next 55 years? This generation faces new battles - new hardships to struggle with, new barriers to break, new forms of discrimination to tackle.  But could it be that God might use this generation to continue the amazing vision of those early Karen missionaries - not only to reach their own people group for Christ, but to cross borders and cultures, to go to the ends of the earth?

A Thai road trip

Travelling by road in Thailand can be quite an adventure - especially once you get out into the countryside.  There's a very relaxed attitude, for example, towards putting up signs to warn of roadworks - one of the reasons why driving at night is not usually recommended.

A two lane highway reduced to one (and a bit)

Most of the problems with the roads are caused by the huge amounts of rain we get in the monsoon season.  Bridges seem to be a particular weak point - and from time to time you're not entirely sure the temporary replacement bridge will hold the weight of your vehicle.

Having done a thorough assessment of the bridge strength (by jumping up and down on it), we cross...

Other roads, further into the hills, are just dirt roads anyway - and can become treacherous if there has been a lot of rain - our recent South Wales Baptist College team experienced one of these.

You do occasionally see the evidence of the dangers of these roads - such as this wreck which the Thai police leave out on show by a notorious mountain pass as a warning to others.

Despite the dangers, however, the best part about driving on Thai roads is some of the other interesting sights that you see regularly.  With the unusual wildlife, the fantastically old vehicles, and the constantly amazing ability of local folk to cram more people and goods into a single car, a Thai road trip is never dull!

Yes, it's an elephant - with the mahoot riding on the cab of the lorry.

Let's put the whole Sunday School in the back of the pick-up!

Vintage, maybe -  but it still makes it up and down the mountains

Nine years

Nine years ago today we arrived in Thailand.  It feels like a very long time ago!  

August 2004, Bangkok: The Maycock Family

We've had fun today looking back over our first prayer emails and letters from 2004. God has led us faithfully, and we have had the great privilege and joy of seeing so many answered prayers. We have been blessed in so many different ways - including welcoming these three amazing young people to our family!

We have seen many things develop and change over the past 9 years.  God has led us into new and challenging places, to learn new languages, cultures and skills, and to live and work with many, many wonderful people. But some things stay the same. It was raining when we landed in Bangkok on August 9th 2004.  It's raining now as we write this blog in Chiang Mai.  And these words, which we wrote in our last prayer email before departing for Thailand, are as true now as then:

"If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast" (Psalm 139:9-10 )

Putting plans into action

A few weeks ago a small group of youth leaders met together with a blank piece of paper on the wall.  We had gathered to discuss how we could work together to more effectively reach and disciple Karen young people living in the city of Chiang Mai. It was soon clear that this was no simple task - once we had added the three main organisations involved and some of the pressure factors affecting young people, the picture was looking quite complex!  In fact, we had filled five of these large sheets with ideas and plans by the time we had finished.

Praying and talking about closer cooperation

Not headline grabbing stuff, you might be thinking - no conversions, no baptisms, no great spiritual awakening happened here.  But actually, in the long term, I suspect that conversations like this between key leaders can lead to more changed lives and have more impact on local churches than many public events.  Especially if these talks lead to better cooperation between local churches and parachurch organisations, and strategic plans being put in place for more effective youth ministry.


Indeed, these are exciting times for the youth ministry of the Thailand Karen Baptist Convention.  There's a developing sense of a shared identity among young people in the city - yesterday afternoon I attended a joint youth service for four of the city-based churches here in Chiang Mai.  It was great to see about 90 young people worshipping God together and enjoying some really creative and innovative activities planned by their leaders. They also were doing some more traditional things - such as reciting the Ten Commandments, the names of the 12 disciples, and the books of the Bible!

A tri-lingual recitation of the books of the Bible

Please pray that the Karen youth leaders will be able to put their plans into place and effectively disciple these young people - who are often the only Christians in their schools, colleges, universities and work places.  Pray for closer cooperation between the various groups working in Chiang Mai.  The Karen churches, and especially their young people, have tremendous potential for reaching out to the staunchly Buddhist majority Thai peoples. That potential is personified in a young man called Chi, who was appointed yesterday as the Youth Pastor of one of the Karen church plants in Chiang Mai. Please pray for him as he starts work this week.

Chi - a new Youth Pastor in Chiang Mai

A weekend of thinking mission...

What is mission?  What does the Bible say about mission?  Is mission the same as evangelism?  Is mission still necessary? Why does God call us to mission? What part can we play in God's mission?

Question time!

We've spent an amazing weekend wrestling with those questions (and more!) with 50 young people from the Karen Baptist Convention. Held at the Siloam Bible School, the Mission Seminar is the latest development in a growing movement among Karen young people with a passion for mission.  We are delighted to be able to encourage and support these young leaders, with the help of a mission innovation grant from BMS.

Passionate worship...

Following on from a successful mission trip in May 2012 (you can read more about that here), the Karen Youth department are now planning to send a mission team to Cambodia in 2014. We are looking for 12 young people to go for 2-3 weeks to work alongside local churches and ministries.

Wrestling with some practical issues...

Apart from the 'big questions' of mission, last week's seminar also looked at some practical issues - does mission only involve those who 'go'?  Do we have do go abroad to be involved in mission? How can we communicate cross-culturally? What can we learn from church growth in places like China, India and South Korea? And we also heard some of the young people's honest concerns: 'What if our message is rejected?'  'Can we really do this?'  'I'm scared - what do I do?' And, for me, a special moment: 'Why hasn't our church been involved in mission before now?'

In the morning bible study, Joe, one of Karen leaders driving this new initiative, encouraged us all to be 'Glocal Christians' - people who are engaged in our local context, but also aware of what's happening around the world.

Learning how to be a 'Glocal Christian'

We finished the seminar with a survey of the 'unfinished task' facing us - 7,000 unreached people groups, with perhaps 29% of the world's population, who have almost no chance of hearing the gospel in a way they can understand and respond to. Some of those people groups are right here in Thailand.  And, interestingly, the 5 countries with the highest numbers of unreached peoples are all within a short plane journey from Thailand!

After an exciting weekend learning more about God's mission, the next step for the Karen Youth is Cambodia 2014.  And then?

Future missionaries?

A journey of faith

One of the joys of being involved in long term mission is the privilege of walking alongside some amazing Christians over a number of years - and seeing what God does in and through them.  Back in 2006, I was working closely with a youth leader called Somchai.  He was then the Youth Secretary for the Karen Baptist Convention (KBC). 
 

Somchai with his youngest daughter in July 2006

After his term with the KBC expired in 2007, Somchai faced a difficult choice.  He could have stayed in Chiang Mai and worked for an NGO.  This would have offered him a good wage, opportunities to travel internationally, and the ability to send his two children to an excellent Christian school.

But Somchai felt that God was calling him in a different direction - back home.  Somchai comes from Tha Song Khwae, a remote village in Mae La Noi, 4 hours drive from Chiang Mai.  There was a small church plant in his village, but the neighbourhood was mostly Buddhist and animist, and things were not easy for the Christians there.  There was no pastor – and no money to pay a salary either. 

Tha Song Khwae Christians in 2009

Somchai decided to take a step of faith and return to Tha Song Khwae, taking up the challenge of pastoring the church plant, encouraging the believers and reaching out to the local community.  With his wife, Da, he has been farming rice and raising animals to support his family.


There have been disappointments and setbacks over the years, but people have been coming to faith in Jesus as the little community of Christians has grown in maturity and confidence.  And last Sunday, that church plant was officially dedicated as a full church in the Karen Baptist Convention.  It was an emotional moment, and a powerful testimony to God’s faithfulness – and to the commitment and dedication of Pastor Somchai and his family.

Tha Song Khwae Church - the newest church in the KBC

Tha Song Khwae church leaders being commissioned

During the dedication ceremony, the leaders and members of the new church were challenged that, as God’s chosen people, they have a high calling – to model God’s kingdom on earth, and to share Christ’s gospel with their neighbours.  Please pray for them as they set out on a new stage of their journey together.
  

Da, Manna, Gift and Somchai at the service on Sunday

And please continue to pray for Somchai, for his wife Da, and for their two children, Manna and Gift.

Karen Baptist Assembly on Thai TV

This year's KBC (Karen Baptist Convention) Assembly was held in the Musikee district.  Almost 5,000 people attended the four day meeting - and among those 5,000 were some Channel 7 reporters.  In the days following the Assembly, Channel 7 showed two 5 minute reports from the Assembly on prime-time national TV.

While the focus of the Channel 7 reporting was on the presence of the President of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, it was fun to see Karen singing and traditional dances on TV! Here is a link to one of the reports - although the report is all in Thai, the background pictures are interesting.

Lost in translation?

I noticed this sign on a gate outside a local government building.  But what does it mean?  The English is awkward: "I learned all kinds of drivers?"

Actally, the Thai notice translates as: "No learner drivers of any kind are allowed in here!"  Something of a translation fail, then.  This is quite a common occurence  - and some translation mistakes are more amusing than others.  One of  my favourites is a sign at Suwarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, announcing that the priority immigration lane is reserved for, among others, 'pregnant men.' 

It's easy to laugh at such signs.  But reflecting further, it's also clear that spectacular communications failures aren't limited to public notices. In the barbers last month, we were discussing the various New Year festivals celebrated in Thailand - Chinese, Karen, Thai, Western.  Then the Thai barber said to me, 'I really like your (Western) New Year celebration - but it's got a different name, hasn't it?  Oh yes - Christmas!'

How did our communication fail so badly?  Nearly 185 years after the first Protestant missionaries arrived in Thailand, the gospel has been preached far and wide throughout this country.  We have proclaimed the message of Christmas - "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:11)"  But how did the barber hear, "Christmas is the West's cultural expression of the universally celebrated New Year festival?"   Indeed, why is Christmas marked in Bangkok with snowmen on hotel roofs?  How's that for an example of being 'Lost in Translation?'

Snowmen in 30 degree Bangkok - Christmas?

"I learned all kinds of drivers?"  It seems relatively clear in comparison...!

A time of mourning

I wrote last week about Siloam Bible School's graduation service, which took place on Sunday (3rd March).  It was a great day - as expected, a day full of celebration and where the whole community came together to praise God for the achievements of the 14 young graduates.

Within hours of the graduation service ending, however, we received some tragic news.  David, a member of the local church here, had been involved in a serious motorbike accident.  He died later that evening.  David was 49 years old, a familiar figure around the area, and leaves behind a wife and two young children.  Over the past three days, we have again seen the Karen community coming together - not for celebration this time, but to mourn the loss of a friend, and to support his wife and children.

David's funeral was hosted by our local church. Christian Karen funerals typically take place over three or four days, which allows time for relatives and friends who live some distance away to arrive. I attended worship services on Monday and Tuesday evening, where we prayed for David's family, and gave thanks for his life.

As is traditional, the coffin was placed at the front of the church, with flowers and bright flashing fairy lights arranged around it.  The opening hymn on Tuesday evening was the Karen translation of 'In the sweet by and by'.  Continuing the strong Karen musical tradition, the preacher sang parts of three different songs during his sermon - including 'Home where I belong' in English. It was a simple, but powerful service.

After the service, the whole congregation shared a meal together.  On Wednesday morning,  there was another worship service and opportunity for anyone to speak if they wished.  Then, following another meal, a procession accompanied David's coffin from the church up the hill to the Christian graveyard, where the funeral concluded with a short ceremony.

Please pray for David's wife and children - aged 10 and 12 years old - as they adjust today to the reality of the loss they have suffered.

Graduation Day is coming...

We are just 4 days away from the most important day of the Siloam Bible School year: Graduation Day.  This Sunday, 3rd March, 14 students will complete their formal training at the Karen Baptist Convention's school, and move into full-time ministry.

The 2012 Graduating Class

This whole weekend will be a busy one - over 300 guests are expected, many of whom will be sleeping in the Bible School buildings.  Classrooms and the library are being transformed into makeshift bedrooms.  The kitchen is gearing up to produce food for almost 10 times more people than usual. 

For the graduating students, this weekend is the culmination of four years of hard work.  They have spent the past year in a placement in a local church, returning back to Siloam just 2 weeks ago.  It also marks the beginning of a new phase of their ministry: most will now go into pastorates, full-time youth work, women's ministry, or into roles with NGOs and parachurch organisations.

2012 Graduates receiving flowers and gifts

But this Sunday will also be a time to celebrate - to have fun and enjoy the feeling of having succesfully completed the course.  And in Thailand, and especially for the Karen, that means more than just a group of individuals celebrating - it involves the extended family and friends of every graduate.  This experience will be truly shared - indeed, it really represents the wider community gathering to celebrate and affirm the achievement of all expressed through the graduation of these 14 young people.

Congratulations to the graduate - but also to the whole family too!

This is a community facing huge changes and challenges in the years ahead. Please pray that those commissioned into ministry of various forms this weekend would be used by God to meet those challenges. Please pray that the impact of what happens on Sunday here at Siloam Bible School would be felt for years to come across the Karen Baptist Convention - and beyond.

What's your history worth?

The first Karen Christians in Thailand heard about Jesus in the winter of 1881.  A group of travelling Burmese Karen evangelists came to a village in Lampang Province, just south of Chiang Mai, and spent four months sharing the gospel and encouraging new Christians.  During that time, three entire villages came to faith in Christ. The picture above shows the memorial stone set up on the site where those first conversations (and conversions) took place.

As is sadly true of many memorials, this one is not in good shape.  The surrounding area is overgrown, the fences are broken down, the signs are falling to pieces, and the memorial stone itself could use a good clean.

This weekend, however, fifty young Karen Christians, inspired by the vision of an emerging local leader, are about to change all that.

Poster inviting young people to join in the restoration weekend

Coming from all corners of the Thailand Karen Baptist Convention, which now has over 25,000 members in 160 churches, the young people are converging on the memorial stone for a weekend of restoration and rebuilding.  Over these two days, the focus will be on cleaning, clearing, cutting and repairing.

But there is a bigger vision behind it all.  The vision of returning to the dynamic, bold, unashamedly missionary faith of those first Karen evangelists from Burma through whom God planted the Karen churches in Thailand.  The vision of restoring not just memories of a golden past, but faith in God to provide possibilities for a golden future.  Please pray for the young people involved this weekend - that as they honour their forefathers in the faith, they might be inspired by their example.

BMS Day of Prayer - 4th February

Next Monday, 4th February, is this year's BMS Day of Prayer.  There's a whole spread of resources on the BMS website - among which is our prayer letter written specifically for the day.  You can open it by clicking on the picture below, or by clicking here.

New Year - but not yet!

Did you think that the New Year had already begun?  Not for the Karen - the Karen year 2752 officially begins on Saturday 12th January.  So Friday 11th January will see a variety of Karen New Year's Eve celebrations, including the one advertised below at the City Karen Baptist Church in Chiang Mai. 

You might have noticed the times on the poster - yes, they will be meeting at 6am on New Year's Day for a celebratory worship service!  Maybe your church could try that next year?

This weekend will not be the end of the New Year celebrations in Thailand, though.  The Chinese New Year on the 10th February will be observed by many Thais.  When we lived in Bangkok, we were surprised that more of our local shops closed up for Chinese New Year than for the Western New Year. 

And then for the big one - the Thai New Year, celebrating the beginning of the year 2556 (Buddhist Era), on April 13th.  After that, it's not so long until December 31st...