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.

To vote, or not to vote?

Following much uncertainty over the past few weeks, it looks like the Thai national elections scheduled for Sunday (February 2nd) will take place. People in our area of Chiang Mai will be casting their votes under a tent in a clearing just down the road from the Bible School. There's not much doubt over who our neighbours will vote for - we live in one of the most fervently 'Red Shirt' (pro-government) areas in the country.

Our local polling station - all quiet this morning

Nationally, the picture is much less clear. Protests against this election are ongoing in Bangkok, where violent clashes are feared on Sunday. The leaders of the vocal and well-funded street campaign are urging Thais not to participate in this election, which has also been boycotted by the main opposition party. Clashes between these protesters and pro-government supporters have turned bloody over recent weeks, and emotions are set to run even higher over the next 48 hours.

Even after the election process has finished, the official results may not be released for months. Procedural delays caused by the protesters in Bangkok and southern Thailand mean that there are no registered candidates in some districts. In these places, the election will need to be re-scheduled for a later date. In other places, there may not be enough votes cast to validate the poll. Some observers are predicting that it may be several months before a new government can be formed.

In Thailand, elections are generally held on a Sunday - and the polls will be open from 8am until 3pm. Most of our Christian friends go to vote on their way to or from church. Difficult decisions lie ahead for everyone.

Please pray for Thailand over this weekend and beyond.

62 Years

Every time I visit a Karen village, I am struck by some new observation, challenge or insight. Sometimes, it's the sheer beauty of the mountain roads and rice fields. Other times, it's a new understanding of a Bible passage that I've heard shared in church. But most often, it's the people I've met.

Last weekend, I met Reverend Lay Thoo. He is a Karen evangelist, and I heard him preach three sermons in 24 hours - sermons full of life, humour, grace and biblical insight. In fact, I can't remember hearing three more effective bible talks.

Reverend Lay Thoo preaching at the 7:00 Sunday morning service

What amazed me even more, though, is that Reverend Lay Thoo is 86 years old. He has been serving God as a full time evangelist for the past 62 years. That's not just since before I was born - Reverend Lay Thoo has been travelling and preaching since my dad was a baby.

Back in 1952, travel in these areas of northern Thailand was hard - Reverend Lay Thoo would often walk three days between different villages. His heart for evangelism is still as apparent today - he is constantly urging the current church leaders to focus outwards, and to be obedient to Jesus' Great Commission.

Six years ago, when he was 80 years old, Reverend Lay Thoo was called to be the pastor of a KBC church in Mae Sot. He joked that he told the church that 'Moses was 80 years old when he led the people out of Israel, so you should be prepared for some changes ahead!'

What an inspirational leader - 62 years an evangelist - and still going strong.

Siloam Bible School students and staff

As we approach the end of term here at the Siloam Bible School, we had the annual school photograph day. It's an international place - here are the six English programme students, with our four BMS Action Team volunteers, two Karen teachers and a teacher from Nagaland!

Pray for Thailand

Political tensions are high this weekend in Thailand. Following weeks of persistent anti-government protests in Bangkok, the Prime Minister has dissolved Parliament and called fresh elections, scheduled for Sunday February 2nd.

However, the anti-government protests have continued, and following a break for New Year, a major event in Bangkok is planned for tomorrow, Monday January 13th. Protest leaders have dubbed the event the 'Bangkok Shutdown', and they will be attempting to close down the centre of Bangkok, putting pressure on the caretaker government to postpone the elections.

While the protests have been largely peaceful so far, there have been sporadic outbreaks of violence, and at least 8 people have died since the end of November. Early on Saturday morning, unidentified gunmen shot and injured six protesters at one of the key rally sites in Bangkok.

Coup rumours have been circulating for some time, but while an army take-over might calm the situation temporarily, pro-government protesters may then take to the streets. The roots of the current tension run deep, with some people fearing an increasing division between the pro-government north and north-east, and the anti-government groups which are strongest in Bangkok and the South.

So far, the protests have been largely limited to Bangkok, but today other protests will be taking place across the country. There are two rallies, one anti-government and one pro-government, planned in Chiang Mai this afternoon (Sunday). We have been warned to avoid the rally sites.

Please pray for:

• A peaceful resolution to the current stalemate
• Cool heads to prevail in the tense atmosphere of street protests
• The Thai police and security forces as they attempt to exercise restraint in dealing with protesters tonight and tomorrow
• Thai Christians to play a key role in leading dialogue and reconciliation initiatives

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/