Firstly we had the pioneer meeting on Friday. I was slightly nervous about it as we were the new arrivals and we wouldn't understand what was being said at the meeting but there was nothing to worry about as everyone was really welcoming and made us feel at ease. There were pioneers from Japan, Korea, Australia, America, Norway, Canada and I am sure I have forgotten more. People all had different experiences about how they have found learning the language, the ministry, the food and the flies! It was really nice to get to speak to people that have been here a few months more than us or up to 7 years and have had the same ups and downs. Making friends in a similar situation to us was so nice. At the end of the day we sang see yourself when all is new .... it was so loud!
It also made us relax knowing that the next day during the assembly there would be others in the audience struggling to understand. We really had to concentrate to hear scriptures and listen out for odd words we recognised. Also other foreigners like us were missing cheese to and gave us tips on where they'd managed to get some and lots of other tricks to make us feel more settled.
A brother in our congregation booked our accommodation an arranged our lift for us which was really sweet but we had no idea where we were staying! But it was a simple clean room that more importantly had coffee in the morning and was a 2 minute drive from the university.
As the assembly was held at a university everyone is free to use the canteen which was so cheap .... 50p for breakfast and the same for lunch. There is no having to worry about a packed lunch and a cool bag etc. So practical and quite fun trying everyday student food. Also ice cream at an assembly? BRILLIANT!
On the Saturday was the baptism and they used an inflatable paddling pool which made us really appreciate our beautiful Bristol Assembly hall. We wondered how they would even baptize people but ingeniously they sit cross legged in the water and then lean back, simple! It was nice to see how happy everyone was to see our new brothers and sisters and lots gathered round the small pool.
We were tired by the end of each day but both nights went out for food and one of the brothers was originally from Chiang Rai so knew the markets to go to etc. We went to the biggest market we've ever been to which was really buzzing and so much yummy food around that it was really difficult to choose. I decided in the end fried tofu and noodles plus this peanut satay dip with dipping sheets of noodle and we also had sesame thin rolls and samosas yum and Simon found a chicken kebab much to his delight (it was no A38 man).
Last day of the assembly our friends bible study insisted we wear special Thai dress, which I later found out was from her tribe called Mong tribe. I had no idea these past few months that shes bilingual and when speaking to her family and children speaks Mong, because I don't understand much I assumed it was Thai but it made me laugh when I realised my ignorance. The clothes were so bright and beautifully made and the Thai brothers and sisters loved that my Korean friend and I we were wearing it. So many photos were taken. However most excitingly there is a small group of witnesses learning Mong to help teach people about the bible in their mother tongue, so Paa (bible study) was able to talk easily to them and make friends plus get literature for her and her children which she said was a lot easier for her to read and understand. So that made her happy.
In another room with live translation were about 50 people who spoke the Lahu language. They had a video camera set up and displayed in the room and a brother would translate for them. Simon was happy to be asked to do some of the filming as a break from the intense concentration on the assembly.
We were also impressed by the sign language group as they not only translated all of the talks and songs each day for the deaf but they also had slideshows of photos and pictures that related to the subject of each talk to help explain better so much work must have gone into that it was so nice to see about sixty signing the songs together. It also helped us because if we missed the scripture then it was on the deaf board so we could use our new thai reading skills to decipher which book of the bible etc.
The atmosphere and friendliness was something we will remember. Brothers and sisters would talk to everyone and anyone!! All the pioneers from other countries agreed that we could learn from the example set at that assembly. In fact at one point a 19 year old came up a pioneer couple from Australia and just introduced himself, before they knew it they were outside sat on the grass sampling the families traditional food. That's just the way people are here, they give and give and give even when they have nothing to give they find something.
Everyone asks for more pictures so here is a few from the last month.
A bible studies little boy that seem to be my little friend at the meetings now.
A actual working water pump used by the village. It was the week after this we saw a poisonous snake right next to here.
The snake!! There really fast!
Ministry
This man had a terminal illness so didn't think we would want to talk for long but we showed him Rev 21:4 and left him with a smile.
Monday is food shop day which we do in this market. Wish you could all smell it, not nice!!
Breaking for lunch with 2 Japanese sisters who were visiting.
The young ones at the boarding school studying the Listen to God brochure.
The delights of the local market
Mel having lunch at studies house.
The baptism pool.
New friends at assembly.
Traditional Hmong Tribe dress
Paa met the Hmong hill tribe group who gave her a bible book of stories for her little children.
Early arrival .... don't think we will struggle for a seat!
This picture has nothing to do with Thailand but a treat for everyone .... Joseph Sidney Hannam.
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