USA

Being back home is a blessing.  I really love Thailand and I feel like Thailand is a part of me, it is now forever linked to me.  Thailand is a wonderful Country and the City of Bangkok is very unique place to live.  But I have really enjoyed being home because it is much more relaxed and slow paced.

Anyways, Merry Christmas to those in Thailand and know that I miss you!  For now I am going to enjoy my time here in the USA with family, friends, and fresh air.  ;)

There will be pictures soon of this great trip.

God bless each person and your families.

Video from Muak Lek 12 5 08

Devotional

Still Looking

Printable Version

Read John 3:5-42, The story of the woman at the well.
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14).
A young woman, in her early twenties, strives to find fulfillment in her life. She is uncertain what she needs, but decides that perhaps her life would be better if she was married. So she searches for a husband. She gets married, and her marriage to a young man of her choice is something that seems good to her. Yet it is somehow not everything she had expected and she still longs for a true sense of fulfillment. So she goes on searching.She decides that her life would probably seem more fulfilled if she could have a child. And so the couple have a child, and then another. This seems so very good to her. And yet, after some time, she begins again to feel a sense of lacking in her life. So she continues the search for significance.She comes from a good family, she now has a good family of her own, she moves from job to job, and with her family from house to house and city to city. And in the end, she still feels empty. She goes on searching.The woman at the well (John 4) had been married five times, and the man she was with at the time Jesus spoke to her was not even her husband. Perhaps she could not find contentment. Perhaps she changed her life situations frequently--always in search of what would bring true fulfillment.Jesus said, “ "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Mt.6:22-23). He instructed us not to let the temporary things of this earth occupy our hearts desires, but to fill our hearts instead with everlasting things--things of the Kingdom of Heaven. It is a sad thing that there are so many Christians who move through life unfulfilled. They wander from one thing to the next and still do not find contentment--they seem to be thirsting as though they have not drank from the living waters of God. They have the water of life available to them and yet would seek to fill themselves with the things of this life which do not last. And so they go on searching.There is only so much time for us on this earth, and only so much room in our hearts. There is only so many things we can do and only so many lives we can come into contact with. What shall we spend the hours of our day searching for, and what shall we seek beyond the living waters of the Lord? To fill our hearts with the desires of Heaven, the things of God, the cares of Christ, the love of humanity, the burden for the lost, the ache for the hurting--these are things that move us through this life and bring to us fulfillment--they are the things we shall carry into the next life as well. But if our hearts be filled with the cares of this life, material cares, self concern (present and future), personal comfort, daily bread--if these things are what fill our hearts they are the things that are spent and will not last. We cannot take them with us into Heaven and they will leave us empty here on this earth. And so--do we go on searching?

Culture

When is culture to much?

Can culture be blamed for one person's stupidity?

Why can we dismiss our sins and bad behavior as culture, and be ok with it?

Culture? What is it really?

Please someone help me out here! I don't understand.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/culture

Check out the above link of the dictionary definitions...... my favorite is the beliefs and behaviors...... well, one culture can be characterized by it's horrible and nasty culture or by it's plesantness. I don't think it is bad for there to be differences in cultures, I like it, but that culture should not divert ones attention from good, lovely, honest, pure, and righteous things!

I feel that we excuse crazy behavior and beliefs by saying, "It's my culture man." "It's the way I was raised." Well great, now lets get past the fact that you were raised by a drug addicted, alcoholic who used to sing satanic music in a rock band, and look to better things! Maybe your culture tells you that you should be drinking 24 hrs, and partying the same time, and that alcohol is just water for you... well, sorry brother, how are you going to make money and live, if you are a fulltime drunk? How are you going to raise a family if you are out partying all the time? Yeah, you can inpregnat many women, and get a job maybe, but you will not be happy. Maybe this is extreme but there is a fine line between accepting ones preceived culture and perceived circumstance, opposed to what your culture truly is!

We must look past the what we see as being fun and exciting and ask the question, "Is this activity a benefit to me and those around me?" "Is this activity developing true, pure, and righteous behavior and beliefs?" If it isn't than you need to revise your personal culture... change your culture. Don't be happy with what others have done before you! They were not perfect people. Culture comes from beliefs and behavior of people before you, and then you have to accept them or reject them. Keep the good stuff and get rid of the junk!

I had to vent a little...

Just a Little Optimism

Something Random

Loy Krathong Festival

It is November and every year the Thai's celibrate this feastival to thank the water. It is called Loy Krathong; which means "float krathong" so we could say it is the festival of floating the krathong. This is a great event where Thai's and many foreigners put these little rafts with a candle or two on it and put it in the water. Typically you have to be dating someone to do this, but over the years it has been exceptiable for people to put one in the water otherwise.

The old way of floating the krathong was for the each person dating to put their Krathongs in the water and as they drifted in the water it would spell out their future together. If the two krathongs floated closer to one another that would mean they would come closer together in life but if they drifted apart from each other that would be bad news for the relationship later. Now days people put one in together and enjoy the craft as it floats on the water. Just be careful not to have your krathong bob and rock in the water. If that happens its bad news as well. :)

I got to experience this festival yesterday with Nok. Everything seemed fine with our krathong, no bobing or rocking going on... don't know what that really means but I think we would rather leave that up to God anyways. It was neat to see all the candles and krathongs out on the lake. Very pretty, and the place was crowded. We have pictures I will post later.

  

Mission College (Weekend Trip)

Got to visit Mission College this weekend.  The campus is very beautiful and majestic.  The layout is spread out tool.  The best part about it is how quiet and pleasant it was there.  You can actually feel the lower pace of living and it calms the nerves and definitely was nice.

Didn't really do much there beside tour the campus, ride a motorcycle, sleep, nap, swim, walk around, and spent the evening at Nok's parents land and house.  Got to see Nok's favorite cat and some other cats of hers, eat some really good food, and also got to see Ma'am Sarahs house.

Once again, not fun coming back to reality and back to Bangkok.  Wasn't to bad this time.  :)

Pictures:

Samed Trip (Finale)

This morning I got up about 9 am and went out to the water with Nok and we took some pictures.  And spent the rest of the day walking around and enjoying Koh Samed island.  It rain most of the day, which really wasn't that bad for me.  But as a group it wasn't good because we had to deal with walking in the rain and walking through puddles.

We were not to excited about our place we were staying at, it was the Pineapple Resort, but it was old and not clean.  The water was not working very good and it was cold.  There was no beach for us to walk on either.  So we decided to get a speed boat ride to another place so we could stay there for the night.

I can't remember the name of the place right now but it was nice, it has a little beach area and a place to get in the water.  I swam and rested most of the day which was really what I needed.  It was great.

That evening Melissa, Joy, Nok and I went up to the little look out, literaly 5 minute walk from our rooms, to a rocky ledge to take pictures of the sunset.   It was awesome!  Sun shining on the water was incredible and beautiful.  To see how vast and majestic the ocean is compared to ones self is amazing as well.

Anyways, we spend the evening there until the sun was down.  And then had some supper on close to the beach.

The next morning was fantastic as well.  Got up around 10 am or so and went to this little restaurant on the beach.  Well, it was about 20 feet from the Ocean... it was nice to have the Ocean there with the clear blue sky.  It was a great day to end the trip on, it was very sunny and beautiful.

We order so much food and it was a little embarrising.  The table was covered with dishes and food.  We were hungry and after we couldn't have pineapple pizza we didn't know what to do, so we order almost everything we could think of.  ;)

The trip home was long and depressing, because we had to return to reality.  Back to Bangkok and back to work.  We needed at least two more days.

A Weekend in Samed (Part 1)

Do you ever feel like you need to get out and spend sometime in the beauty of God's creation?

Well, I had been feeling that way for a while now. Living in Bangkok is not like living in the quiet and peaceful area of Collegedale, yes the pace of life is about the same, going and coming.  But within minutes you can be somewhere where the birds are singing, the peacefulness of the trees swaying, the sounds of people relaxing and playing, or just the fact you don't hear whistles blowing...

Anyways, we left after school on Friday, we had parent teacher conferences, and it was an easy day, so we thought it would be great to get away for the weekend.  We includes:  Nok Moolkeo, Melissa Erbineich, and Me.  Along the way we were picking up a new member, Joy.  Sorry, I don't know Joys last name, she is here visiting her sister who is working for the Peace Corp. up near Chang Mai.  Melissa is a friend of mine that works here at EIS with me.  She is the 12 grade values teacher (bible class).  We work together with TNL and SML Worship team.  She is also a basketball buddy, plus she is one person here that I can talk with and have deep conversations rather than the simple how's it going and jokes.  And Nok is my girlfriend, she works in the guidence counselors office and is the intermediate counselor.

Ok, now that we know each other... lets continue with the story.

Well, Nok and I left first and we went to the bus station and took a 3:30 hr ride through East Bangkok and along the coast till we came to Rayong, east of Bangkok and South Eastern side of Thailand beside Cambodia.  As were coming close to the Bus station the driver stops.  And Nok was like lets go, she had talked to a lady next to us and she found that we should get out there. The bus had stopped at the dock or pier where we could get a speed boat to Koh Samed.

It was a blessing because we got on the boat with this lady and her child

and her friend.  The price was on $250 for Nok and I each.  Very nice, and then to drop us off they just road right up to the beach, backed up and we jumped out... nice.

Our adventure was starting.  As we got off it was nice, we took a little walk on the beach, with the Resorts along  the beach and the starts glisening above, with the sand and water between our toes... but then we had to figure out where I hotel/resort/cabin... Pineapple Restort House.

Well, we went through some back alleys and through some mud puddles, and past a big Buddha, and past some places we thought look nice, and then there was the Pineapple Resort House. Looks like needs some tender love and care, it was not what we hope for but it was nice to finally be there.

It was a small room with two beds and two mats on the ground... the bathroom was pretty big, but there was no water pressure and the water was cold.  The nicest part was that there was air conditioning and that the water was close.  The bad part about that is there was only rocks, no sand or beach... :)

Well, Melissa and Joy, showed up about an hour or so later than we did.  They had an interesting adventure of their own.  Their adventure included:  a mini van ride to Rayong, a Mini Speed boat ride to Koh Samed for $600 each, a ripped pair of pants getting off the Mini Speed boat, a trek past the Big Buddha and mud puddle, and joining us in the small cabin-house-resort.

...... (To be Continued)

Life in Thailand

I haven't written anything here in my blog for awhile, because I have been really busy.  I am not a writer as my first choice, but started writting to bridge the gap between me and the rest of my friends and family back home.  But I love to update the blog with pictures and tell my experience, that is fun.

Last week I had to take a Thai Culture class which is required by the Thai government.  We have to take it within the first two years of teaching in an International school.  So I got that out of the way.  Well, I have to turn in a folder at the end of this week.

I learned something about the Thai people.  It interesting to note that even though, we western minded people think that bowing shows worship, it does not show that here so much.  Bowing shows respect and honor to the person of high status and age.  It is and will be hard for me to think of it in that way, note that if you do that to an idol it definitely does.  In fact, Thais will lose respect for you if you think they are worshipping you or that they are worshipping someone else.  Even the Buddhist don't think any person deserves to be worshiped like that.  (At the heart of the true Buddhist religion)

Sunday we went to a Thai Culture show here, almost Cirque Du Soleil esk... lights and a hugh auditorium of acouple thousand or more.  The stage was awesome, it boasts the Guinness World Record for the Highest Stage in the World.  I don't know if that is true anymore... after seeing Ka, in Vegas, there might be a new leader.  But the stage is very large and the show was great.

The show was very welll done, too.  The started with the history of the Thai nation, with the simple life and the Trading between China and the Thai nation.  The show then lead us through the rest of the history with the Kings, and growth of the country of war and battles.

There was a seen of Hell, which was very scary and twisted.  Pitch-forks and humans burning in a pot of stew... the works.  And many other things I don't understand from the mythical and abstract.  Most of it influenced by the religious past and present of Thailand, I assume.

Then, the tranquel and beauty of Heaven, with people flying all over the place.  The stage was turned into a big cloud of fog, which made for a wonderful shot.  That was really cool, and the colors were so nice and the contrast was beautiful.

The last scenes were about the different feastivals of Thailand.  And the stage, at the front was filled with water and a minnie river formed.  Different audience and actors were then putting their little candle baskets representing the Loy Krathong Fesitval into the water and letting them drift down the water way.   It was a very beautiful and nice scene, with the lights low and the candles flickering as they drifted down in the water.

Some More Pictures

I took these pictures from a trip I took with the school.  One of the Business schools here offered us a free tour.  Where they took us to their school, which looked like a Mall with all these stores and restaurants, etc...  then we went to a little aquarium, a bird sanctuary, and then to a cultural center, where you could see all the different regions and history of the Thai's.  It was like an exhibit cultural center.

It was ok, but here are some of the pictures that I took along the way:

Long time No Write

Well, I haven't writteng anything in awhile, I have been busy and just haven't been able to sit down and write random thoughts.  I just finished up my first course at the language school.  I am taking or trying to learn this great language, it is very hard.  I can understand very little.  I have a friend that has been helping me with understanding and with converstations.

The problems is you can say "mai" five different ways.  Either rising, falling, straight, up-down, and down up.  But to a westerners ear it sounds like the same word said five times in a row.  It is one of the funniest and most annoying things in the world.  Oh and then theres are the long vowels and the short vowels.

Here is a sentence... spelled phonetically for us Americans:

     /      \     /\    /\       /

Maai mai mai mai, mai?

"New wood doesn't burn, does it?"

The / means high.

The \ means low.

The /\ means falling or up-down

Crazy isn't it?

Anyways, I start my Thai Culture class on the 23rd of October and I get to learn how to Wai more problely and learn about Thailand.  It will be great.

Pictures from Teacher Retreat - Pataya

Some More Interesting Things

Here is a list some some interesting things here in Thailand, and some updates on my life:

1. Family Motorcycle - where a family of four or even five can ride together on a moto, and not only on the road like you would expect, but on the sidewalk!  Mom and Dad, baby and older sister, like a family circus!  Wish I had a camera to show you what I mean, it was great.
2. Peeing Next to a Woman! - May sound crazy but yeah it's true.  If you get stage fright you may never want to pee in a public restroom, you never know who will walk in.  I walked into the Resort bathroom and there was two cleaning ladies, I being the dumb American expected them to leave once they saw me, but that never happened.   So I went to the urinal and started my business.  One lady left, but the other ladystayed and started cleaning the urinals next to me... there was about five in a row, she was at the other end, but still, talk about awkwardness!  :)
3. Motor cycles=parasites and never open the door on the right side of a car - Ok, so we all know that there are dotted lines on the road right!  Well, here those lines mean; motorcycle lanes!  You never want to open the door on the right side of the vehicle because you may knock a person off their bike, as they travel through these lanes, and you would be blamed!  Funny yes but true.  Ok and the bikes here are like little parasites; have you ever seen those little fish that follow around the sharks or bigger fish for safety?  Well, that is a good picture of the moto/car relationship here.  They swarm around the other vehicles like that.
4. Wai we Respect you - No matter what happens, if you Wai someone its ok.  I was throwing the football around with the pastor this weekend, and the ball got away from me and hit (well actually rolled up her body and off her head) a lady sun bathing on the beach.  She was a white woman, probably western European or something.  She wasn't to happy but for some reason, and it shows how things have become part of my life, I Waied this lady.  I was like [wai] sorry (just like my students when they do something stupid or bad--haha), and grabbed the ball and ran off... like I am some Thai-Asian man... it was cool though, it made me feel a part of Thailand instead of some tourist... I have a better understanding of Asian culture and who they are, and it's part of me now.
5. Traffic lights and Traffic - It took us 45 minutes to get somewhere the other day, and then coming back 5 minutes, same distance.  It's crazy!  Traffic lights are rare and when they are used it takes 12 minutes to have them change.  Plus, I do think it would be hard to get 1 million people through one intersection in 2 minutes.  :)
6. Work Permit - So I have been working here for two months and now I am finally legal.  I got my work permit today.  Amazing... I will open an account and get a debit card!
7. Old Friend Moves to Bangkok - So I have a friend move to Bangkok today, she is like family since she was on the Gym-Masters with me.  It was like fresh air to see someone I knew from home... Her name:  Kelly McClurg.  She is helping at the Mission Office and will be working with the church plant in the Old City.
8. Pataya! - Teacher Retreat!  Great times.  A city with a bad name.  It's like the Sin City of Thailand, but that's where we decided to take our Spiritual Retreat, haha.  Nice little beach area, and a great time to meet some of my fellow teachers... there was atleast 200 plus teachers, staff and family members on the retreat, four busses and a number of personal vehicles.  I have pictures coming, my camera broke and I am collecting pictures from other people.

God bless, and comment, comment, comment!

Ryan

My Name in Thai!

ไรอัน

I-R-A-N

I know it seems weird that the "I" comes before the "R", but... like may other languages East of the Atlantic and West of the Pacific, they put their vowels all around the consonants and try to confuse us Westerners who have no concept of this way of writing.

It is really cool though, and today I was talking with two of my friends, Howard and Nipa.  Howard is the chaplain here and is also a farang (word used for white people).  He has been here 5 years now, and has recently married a wonderful Thai-girl.  He speaks fluent Thai and can read and write Thai as well.

He and Nipa, she is one of the Office Workers, was helping me with spelling my name in Thai during one of my free periods.  And I found out there is 8 or more different ways depending on how you would like it to sound.  The beautiful thing about the Thai language, is that it is tonal, which means that you have to be specific in how you say words.  They have added the tones into writing the language, with accent marks, vowels, and tonal marks all over the place.  This kind of stuff confuses most English speaking people because for us we can say a word like five ways, whether our voice is rising or falling or mono-toned.  Just had a thought, I don't think there can be a monotone Thai...  ;)  But this language is totally foreign to me and many other farangs.

You have to say words exact here or it is very hard for people to understand what you are saying.  And that complicates things because there are usually 5 or more words spelled the same way, but with a different tone or inflection on the word.  I will try and find a way of explaining that some other time.  Maybe with some video... I will test out my Thai and let you hear the difference.  Or if you can hear the difference, I have a hard time...

Well, I am going to bed, just thought I would share a little bit with everyone.  Please note that I miss my family and friends!  And know that each one of you comes across my mind at some point during the day or week!  Love ya!

Worship Thought

On Friday, the 19th of September, I did the teachers morning worship. Here is the transcript or note from that talk. I pray that it will bless you:

How many of you have cell phones? Well, before we pray I would like to give you something to think about. When you use your cell phone, and you call a friend, do you expect them to answer or do you call just to find out? I venture to guess that you call expecting them to pick up and be there next to the phone. So it is when we pray. We are calling God on His cell phone, he will pick up. Are you calling expecting Him to answer or are you calling wondering if it's really His number?

Prayer

Matt. 25:14-19; Jesus tells this parable after the disciples ask questions about when these last time things will happen. This is near the end of Jesus' long talk. He explains how a Master goes on a journey and leaves His servants with different numbers of talents. One has 5 talents, one has 2 talents and the last has 1 talent.

The servants are all comended for what they did with their talents besides the last one who hid his talent and did not do anything with it.

What do these talents represent? Faith, People, Skills, etc?? I think they could represent any one of these things, but I would like to suggest people. Even Jesus suggests that He is talking about people.

Matt 25:45-46; ...Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me...

So, my question is how many talents (people) has God intrusted you with?

I suggest that we have been intrusted with 1200 talents (students) here at Ekamai, and maybe you don't get to reach each one of these students but He has given them to use as a whole.

I would like to say there is huge correlation between what we believe and what we teach. If you do not believe what you are teaching, or what you believe in general then you will not be as effective.

Example: Let's say you are riding on the bus or walking the street one day and someone mentions your favorite tv show or sports team. Once that happens, you get really excited and are instently connected and it's almost like you and this complete stranger are instant long time friends.

Why? Why? Because you both believe, love, deeply resinate with each other, you are emotionally involved with this thing (show or team). So it should be with our time and energy with God, (what do you find worth in)?

I worked at a Summer camp each summer for the past 11 years, because I have decided to move here I quit this job. I will not be able to work there because of the distance, etc. So, the workers made me this video, and they used this song by Ray Boltz, "Thank you for Giving to the Lord." It touches my heart, because I have seen kids grow up and become healthy and contributing members of our community. But please listen and put yourself in this story:

Lyrics from, christianlyricsonline.com;

I dreamed I went to heaven

And you were there with me;

We walked upon the streets of gold

Beside the crystal sea.

We heard the angels singing

Then someone called your name.

We turned and saw a young man running

And he was smiling as he came.

And he said, "Friend you may not know me now."
And then he said, "But wait,
You used to teach my Sunday School
When I was only eight.
And every week you would say a prayer
Before the class would start.
And one day when you said that prayer,
I asked Jesus in my heart."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

Then another man stood before you
And said, "Remember the time
A missionary came to your church
And his pictures made you cry.
You didn't have much money,
But you gave it anyway.
Jesus took the gift you gave
And that's why I'm here today."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

One by one they came
Far as the eye could see.
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity.
Little things that you had done,
Sacrifices made,
They were unnoticed on the earth
In heaven, now proclaimed.

And I know up in heaven
You're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes.
As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord.
He said, "My child, look around you.
Great is your reward."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave.

Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord.
I am so glad you gave. -- Ray Boltz

When Jesus comes to you, what is going to be your balance? Is your account going to have an increase or will you HIDE your talents in the ground?

Something Interesting

Ok, so I went to this place called Tops Market, on Sunday around 1 p.m.. I had one of the most interesting things happen while visiting this establishment, and since being here in Thailand. So I walked into Tops Market not really thinking to much about anything and I go through straight to one of the aisles where the deodorant is and as I am get to start of the aisle, I realize I am singing the song that's on the radio. The song was Sophie B. Hawkins, "As I lay Me Down."

Check out this video: As I Lay Me Down - Sophie B. Hawkins

An old song from High School, one that I really enjoyed. Then I started walking down the aisle and there was an American couple talking and shopping for things. There was no one else around, and I had this euphoric moment where I thought I was back home, shopping in some shopping center. Funny and interesting, I think. But then I looked down and saw the size of the deodorant sticks (which probably explains the BO problem we have with our students--they are one third or half the size of ones I get in the states--in Thai I would say the motto it totally opposite that of Texas, "everything is bigger in Texas") and then I looked back at the cash registers and all I saw the wonderful Thai ladies taking money and wai'ing each customer as they leave. The moment was quickly gone, yet subtle, and good.

Miss you all. God bless!

Another Video

This is a video of my daily routine; my walk from my apartment to the school. My camera's battery died as I was walking up the steps to chapel or I would have let you see the auditorium. Which you don't miss much, it is a big room with chairs! ;) Anyways, sorry for it being so shaky too!

If you look there was a man cleaning water off the sidewalk, that is because that whole drive and parking lot was under water the night before. We had two days of crazy rain and it flooded the road. I heard a story, that in the 80's the King actually had to pass a law for the government to fix the flooding of Ekamai Road. It was fixed in Two days! People were working day in, day out. If you haven't done your research, the King and Queen here are borderline worshiped.. and that is be nice.

Anyways, here's the video:

Back to School

Well, Ekamai was back to school on Thursday; Wednesday evening for most of you Americans out there! It was nice to have a day off, almost like those ice days back home in Tennessee. But instead of ice it was the government up he val!

It was nice to be back at school, otherwise there isn't much that I do here. I am not one who goes and tries everything the city offers. Or travels around. I need to be more like that but it's not really my personality to do that. I love traveling with people and don't like doing things alone.

Anyways, for the past two weeks, a bunch of us play some sport on Thursday nights. Last week it was basketball and last night it was futsol. Very fun. But, not that I am complaining, typically I am playing with all girls. Like any educational system, there are more girls than guy teachers.. it's fun though, to get out and play games.

Also, on Sundays, I have been playing in a Basketball league. The churches and the organizations here that are Adventist have put this league together. There are 8 teams, our team was 1 and 5 before I started playing and now is 4 and 6. We have to win our next two games to make it to the playoffs or something like that.

I have been taking a Thai class too. Monday and Wednesday nights for two hours. Trying to learn how to speak Thai. I know Nit Noi, which means "very little". I am working on it though, if I stay here long enough I plan to be able to carry on full conversations with people. First, I am going to try and learn how to order food and tell the taxi where I would like to go. :) First things first, you know? Haha.

Hopefully I will have some more pictures and video soon. I hope all is well where you are and that God is blessing you tremendously.

Bangkok Violence

Bangkok sees violence.  Well, the people here in Thailand are some of the nicest people you will ever meet.  But like everyone there is an evil side that you don't expect.  This past week and especially this weekend.  Starting on September 2, early in the morning, Yellow group representing the PAD.  Got attacked by the anti-government group in Red.

  I don't know exactly their views other than the ones in Yellow,  who  are funded and well organized, do not like the Prime Minister  and  want him out and will not back down until he is gone.  And  the Red  group are for the Prime Minister and has caused all this  violence.

  The picture to the left shows the  violent clash between pro and anti-government supporters in Thailand's capital, Bangkok, left many injured, and at least one dead.

After the violence the Prime Minister came out and called the city

 to be in a state of emergency and gave control to the Military.  So the Military, now can arrest whom every they feel and can break up people are collecting in groups of 5 or more.

The picture to the right shows the military surrounding the and making a barrier on the streets.  All this is happing a good ways away from my School, but the Mission Hospital is across the street.  I have heard that its about 10 kilometers away, so about 20 minutes.  Takes like 1 hr though because of traffic.  I was supprised to see the guy with the big knife.. that's crazy, I don't plan on going anywhere near that scene.  :)

Here are some more pictures: 

Website: Go to the BBC NEWS website for more information.

A long Letter, on Sabbath Afternoon

So it is Sabbath evening, and I have just finished my first two weeks of school. I really have started to enjoy the students more as I have gotten to know them and meet them. Still it is hard pronouncing names like: Apisith Sukhochaiyakij, Yuthaphan Wiraponsawan, Teetawat Inengrungrod, or Peeranon Vorakulsathien, and many other ones that sound wrong to say but are common in Thailand, one is Pisidporn or something like that.

The kids here have had no discipline when it comes to Physical Education classes. For some reason I keep coming into environments like this for PE. I had the same thing when I went to Oregon but at least they spoke English and did not stare at me like I just spoke Greek to them, when speaking English. =) I was going to say, as if I spoke a foreign language. Hahaha

Ok, classes are going good, in-spite all the formalities. I have four other people working under me, and the way things are, sometimes is hard to deal with. Let me explain. In previous years the school had an Athletic Director and he was over the Physical Education, Athletics and anything dealing with sports. But he started stealing things and not reporting money properly, signed that he was coaching when he was not so he could get extra hours of pay, etc... Then, two years ago, they had an Athletic Coordinator, responsible for coordinating sports games and scheduling court for practice times and times for teachers in the evenings. Anyways, the Athletic Coordinator and the Athletic Director/Physical Education Head, did not get along or work well with each other. So the school split the two programs.

Now I am having to repeat the benefits of a messed up system. They actually have made me Athletic Director, so I am in-charge of all Physical Education, Sports, Athletics, and the such, so our Athletic Coordinator, and three other PE Teachers have to report to me or go through me for decision making. That is all fine and I can handle it but we have our equipment for Physical Education and they have their equipment for Athletics. And there is this sharp line in-between. Which is good, to some degree, but frustrating when your not use to it. I am working on making that line a little less sharp. =)

Anyways, I like the people I work with, I am the only trained Physical Education teacher, with a degree. Out of the three teachers I have teaching classes there is really only one that teaches like I would like them too. One teacher does an ok job, and the other teacher struggles a lot with classroom management and teaching, but he will not be coming back next year, he is supposed to be retiring.

I am coaching the Middle School Basketball team in the evenings, and have had three practices so far. We have 15 boys on that team. Any they don't understand me. =) There is a real since of confusion and chaos but they have started doing better. We have our first game on Monday or Tuesday, Sept. 1 or 2. So when your getting up on that Monday morning, I will have already started my game or finished. Hehe..

I am learning a lot about Thai culture, and people, too. In Thai culture, it is really bad if you do not have control of your emotions. So for people who express emotions it is a hard place to work, sometimes. It is common for someone to be upset with another person, and act very nice to their face, Wai them with a respectful, "Sa wat dee, Krap." Which means, "Hello." or can mean, "Good Day." And then speak dirty about them later or be storming mad in their head. Not really happen to me yet, but it is ok I am an American, and if they get upset, I can come home, right? =)

But amongst all this their is a fine line and teaching that must go on. Pray that the Lord be with each Teacher and student. We have 90% or more Buddhist, Sikhs, Muslims, compared to maybe 3% Adventist/Christians. I think there is one Catholic amongst all 1200 or so students. I know that the school has 2 or 3 Buddhist working on staff. One is working as my Athletic Coordinator.

Oh, a praise and something for you to glory in. The Pastor and one of the Chaplains, Renee Goff from Walla Walla, they went to this ladies hospital room on Friday. Well, here is a little background. They found out that this lady was sick and was in the hospital, and then later that day found that she had a virus and she was not going to last much longer. The Pastor, the Chaplain, and Assistant Chaplain, were earlier Friday talking about how wonderful it would be if we (people in general, the world, humanity) would live their faith, no matter what faith, just actually live what they believe. Then this situation came up with this lady. Without hesitation Renee, the Assistant Chaplain, said "Ok, lets start living what we believe."

So the Pastor set up an anointing at the hospital. They, the Pastor and Renee, headed down to the hospital to anoint this lady who has a virus and can not breath and basically after the anointing they were going to pull her plug. Now for the best part, after church today at potluck, come to find out this lady was still alive, has no signs of an infection, can breath fine and is getting better!

So miracles do work all around the world! God total rewarded Renee's and the Pastors faith. I pray that we all can have that faith and we can start living our faith right now! Whether you are Christian, Muslim, etc... and we can encourage others to be truthful and honest in following their believes. Our world is so full of people who claim to be these things but are not even close. How can you call yourself a Muslim if you are eating pork and drinking wine. And how can you call yourself a Buddhist, if you are treating other hatefully, and not showing others respect. And for us Christians how can we call our self's Christian and not even know Jesus as a friend and then not even act like Him, when we carry His name as CHRISTian.

Something to think about, something to pray about, and something to share. Love and God bless you ALL!

TALKING ABOUT THE RAINBOW

SOME PICTURE FROM TODAY

Tour of My Apartment

Check out this video of my apartment:

Bangkok

Well, I have been here in Bangkok almost a week now, actually Today is one week. Great fun. We have done sooo much in this limited amount of time. I feel like I have been here for a long period of time.

The school will be starting on Monday for our 7-12 grades, and then on Wednesday for the 1-6 grades, after a short one day Holiday. Anyways, I am trying to get things together for the PE department. It is not as easy as it may sound. I have three other teacher and I to get on the same page. I am not real good at communicating my thoughts out on paper, but I think we are taking steps forward.

I am going to be teaching 14 classes from grades 4th - 8th. And will probably be coaching jv girls volleyball, and hs mens basketball teams. I have left myself free for a lot of class, so I can monitor the other teachers and the program better. I hope things work out.

We have the schedule all down, now we have to put it into practice.

Ryan

Funny Bagpipes

Check out this video: Police Bagpipes



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Great Controversy

Well, this past Sabbath.. Ricky presented the Salvation Study and I presented the Great Controversy study.  It was great. We had a good twenty people and about fifteen people respectively to each study.  Praise God.

We had about 5 or 6 ARISE graduates come to the presentations, that was awesome.  It was like being back at ARISE see them.  Mindi, Elise, Patrick, Ricky, Zeke, and I were there.  And afterwards Katie came by and we talked withe her.

This was my first time giving this study and it went really well.  It was great because in this study there is a point where one states the question, "If God knew that Lucifer would sin why did he create Lucifer?"  And the answer that God created Lucifer, not Satan.  This really touched one of the people in the study, she had been wondering this question for sometime and actually started crying she said.  I had seen her eyes light up and she was into the study.

Praise the Lord and I was thrilled that the Lord used my presentation and spoke to her.

God bless you guys and may God be with your ministries.

Ryan