What's Brady Bunch???

David and I started volunteering a couple months ago to teach the 5th-6th grade Sunday school class at church. It's just once a month while the adult service is going on. It's been a long time since either of us have formally taught this age group. We're reminded that it's that age where the boys are more challenging to engage. It's been nice to get to know the children at this church a bit.

The morning begins with us getting together with our group, which can be anywhere from 12-18 kids. Being that it's a church of missionaries, there's a high turnover, so half the children are different every time we meet. Next, we join with the rest of the elementary students (1st-6th) for the main praise and teaching time. Unfortunately, we don't have enough praise leaders to lead praise time every week, so we watch children's praise videos on tv and try to sing along.

Here are some of the kids during the joint teaching time:

Then we break up into our grade-level groups again. It's been interesting getting to know the children's backgrounds. Most of them have lived in various countries throughout their lives. One girl told me she lived in Africa for 10 years and has been in Thailand for less than a year. Several were born in Thailand. Others come from all over the world. And when you ask them how they liked living in those other countries, many say they loved it. What an amazing opportunity for Ian to meet and interact with children who've grown up with a broad worldview.

Many of the kids are homeschooled or attend private Christian schools. David's still getting a feel for what cultural references they're familiar with. I'm sure you're not surprised that he still references kung fu, Bruce Lee, and Michael Jackson. He recently mentioned "Brady Bunch," and the kids had no idea what he was talking about.

Here he is teaching through a lesson:

With the baby coming in April and then our visit back to the States during the summer, we'll only be teaching two more times. Hope that our times will be profitable.

Children's Hunger Fund at ZOE

Children's Hunger Fund sent a team here last week to deliver food to ZOE Children's Homes and to the hill tribes, where many of the orphans are from. They also did a pastoral training for the hill tribe pastors. Our senior pastor Nam from IBC, our sending church, was originally supposed to be on this team to do the trainings, but he couldn't make it out this time due to coming down with pneumonia right before their departure. =( We're sad that we couldn't see him on this visit, but thankful that he is recovering at home, as this would've been a rough trip for him with the long plane ride and poor air quality at this time of year here in Chiang Mai. (We're currently in transition from cold to hot season, which is also the season when farmers being to slash and burn their agriculture. Click on the link to read more about what that is.)

It's through CHF that our family first heard about ZOE and were able to make our first visit to ZOE with them in November 2010. CHF has a wonderful relationship with ZOE, providing the food and supplies that ZOE distributes to the local hill tribe communities through the hill tribe pastors. Once David starts working full time in a few months, one of his responsibilities will be to work with some of these local pastors.

Here's CHF's photo album from their time here. So thankful for wonderful organizations like CHF that meet the physical and spiritual needs of children and their families.

A Tribute...

Our last week before we moved to Thailand was a whirlwind. When moving, you always end up with more stuff than you thought you had. We were no exception. Thankfully, we knew the person who was going to take over our apartment lease, a church member Danny and his roommates. It was a huge relief, but also a big mess that we left for them. How crazy is it that I had a load of laundry in the dryer that wasn't done before we drove to the airport! We are so thankful for Danny, as well as Swan, Charles, and Paul who've had to deal with the disaster we left behind.

Our old bible study group met at our old place and emailed us some pictures...

Aww, we miss you guys!

And here's the gift we left for Danny & his roommates before we moved out:

On a side note, during our early months here, Ian's Sunday school teacher had him make a prayer box he could hang on the door:

 He had to color drawings of family members he would pray for...I think that's brother, grandma, sister, parents (clockwise):

 When we got home, I asked if he wanted to make some new drawings of others he wanted to keep in prayer, so he drew (from left to right)...one of Swan's girls (can't remember which), cousins Justin & Jakey (the combover look are hats worn sideways), (can't remember who the next drawing is) & pet fish Coral that we left with friends:

 Then there was this...he said he's praying for our home & guess who that is:

Uncle Danny! Looks just like him, no?

ZOE Rescue Walk

Consider participating in the ZOE Rescue Walk to raise funds and awareness about ZOE Children's Homes, caring for orphans, and rescuing children from human trafficking. You can register to walk, be a team captain, donate to a participant, donate to walk, donate an auction item, or bid on an auction item.

Here are the details:

DATE: November 12, 2012
TIME: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Newhall Park (24923 Newhall Ave. Newhall, CA 91321)

And here's a great video about the walk:

2 Texas Missionaries Found Slain in North Mexico

Praying for those who put their lives at risk every day for the gospel.

2 Texas Missionaries Found Slain in North Mexico