ห้าปี...Five Years

คริสตจักรสามัคคีธรรมเมืองใหม่, New City Fellowship Church, had the privilege of celebrating five years as a church community last Sunday. Love that this body of believers is 6 months younger than Asa, love that we were able to be there from the first day, when we were naught but staff and missionaries, love the enduring faces in these photos and those that God has added over these years.

Thanks be to God.

Camping

We didn't go camping in the 'north Georgia, cool breezes and changing leaves' sense, but in the '3 hour road trip to church camp, more than 100 degrees with only the great outdoors and a wall fan for cooling' sense. And we had a great, albeit environmentally intense, time; what a wonderful group of people we get to share life with. The most interesting point of the weekend was that our daddy and hubby was far away in NYC, doing important arts and missions- related things, and all of this adventure was a wee bit intimidating without him. However, I needn't have worried, as there were people at every turn eager to love on and take care of our little ones.  For example, one morning when it was time for breakfast, I couldn't find a certain someone, so I went searching about, and came upon this scene...

...happily ensconced among friends, commenced being fed my breakfast without the aid of mommy, thank you very much!

More scenes from the weekend...

 little boy, big plate

super friends (these two are best buddies)

tug of war- Em's side was victorious, much to her delight

By far the greatest joy of the weekend was that we welcomed four new brothers and sisters into the church by baptism with great rejoicing! This was a truly beautiful time of worship and thanksgiving.

And all this time, Tim was literally and culturally half a world away, attending and presenting at a conference encompassing leaders in the arts in our organization and from all around the world. A couple of my favorite shots from his time...

It's hard to say who was having more fun, although he certainly looks more cultured and cozy, and I'm certain I would get the sweaty and frizzy award!

To Market, To Market

There's nothing prettier than food just the way God made it, is there? This was the result of yesterday's foray to the market. Our market is a large open air (roofed) affair, selling everything from meat (admittedly, I still close my olfactory system when I near the warm piles of meat), to produce, to prepared food (fresh plate of cashew nut chicken?), to fruit shakes, to flowers, to clothes, to mosquito rackets. We have more western style grocery stores, which are often convenient because you need to go there to buy your pasta, etc. However, the market always lures me back with its heat and colors and smells. I love it because:

1- it's less expensive, 2- you really can't beat the bananas, 3- it's full of neat people who are making their living selling their wares and are often ready to smile and make conversation, 4- you can pick up an iced coffee, and 5- it's just more interesting than a grocery store. 

So I make my way there with my Trader Joe's bag and fill it with beauty, careful on the wet tile and cement, stepping over the occasional cat, enjoying interacting with the people along the way. When the woman helped me load my watermelon, bananas and pomelo into my bag, she said, "Thailand is hot but that's why we have such delicious fruit!" True, true!

I've not yet acclimated to the point that I buy our meat and fish here, and I don't know if I'll ever buy the eels or frogs...:)

Theatrics and Other Play

We had the fun this week of seeing the 3rd grade's performance of 'The Crowded House', a story from their reading book. I'm pictured above with "Granny"; I was fortunate enough to get a private interview after the show.

the i-phone brigade...

And a few photos from our Saturday outing to the King's Park, a.k.a. jungle playground...love this place!




Love these kiddos!

Love Notes

A bit of what Valentine's Day has looked like at our house...making valentines for special people, a pancake supper, and a scavenger hunt with yummy treasure at the end...






Happy Valentine's Day to all of our loved ones, near and far! Some of the above love notes are winging their way to the other side of the world, even now...(and will arrive in time to wish you a happy St. Patrick's Day!)

This reflects how I've been feeling lately- a desire to stop and go more slowly, more intentionally through these days. It feels good to be through our transition back to Thailand, and now we seek to be faithful with our everyday activities and pray and trust toward the transition to come, asking God to lead us as we discern where we're to live in what we've affectionately referred to as 'Bangkok 2.0', turning our focus further downtown, studying language further, and seeking to see another loving body of Christ in Bangkok.

And speaking of the body of Christ, it has been such a joy to be back at คริสตจักรสามัคคีธรรมเมืองใหม่ ~ New City Fellowship Church. We feel so encouraged by the way God is leading and caring for His church here, in the midst of both strength and challenges. Here's a snippet from a recent worship service:

Tim has been home-hunting recently; some scenes from Bangkok streets...

on the back of a motorcycle taxi

Last Sunday night we spent an evening at Lumpini Park, Bangkok's largest public green space, enjoying 'Concert in the Park', where the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra is holding weekly concerts during cool season (it's 90 degrees as I type). The evening was extremely pleasant, though, both entertainment- and temperature-wise...

our very own acrobatic show just a few feet away

this is one of my new favorite pictures, dancin' on the green to a Thai love song.

We would appreciate continued prayers for the adjustment and well-being of this sweet one...
(the cute small one, not the big sweaty one), as we continue to wade through skin issues, and determine if respiratory issues are related. We have environmental allergy testing scheduled for next week, and hope that perhaps that will bring us one step closer to discerning how to best help him.

And a couple of brotherly love pictures from today, to end...