4 weeks to go!

Well, how time flies!
Only 4 weeks now until I return to Thailand.
I'm flying via Bangkok for the first time and the recent flooding isn't really inspiring exploration of the city, but I am trusting all will be receeded by the time we arrive.

Plans in Chiang Mai are coming together and the opportunities to meet with organisations and individuals who have committed to a similar wok to what I want to be doing are numerous.

I'm really excited that when we visit Mae Sot this time, I get to go into the refugee camps and visit Partners' children's homes to help run Christmas Parties. What a joyous experience to share in for the children living in such desperate circumstances.
I'm praying that the light of Christ might shine as we attempt to bless and encourage these young displaced children.

It's going to be an exciting countdown as I complete studies for the year and teach my final days over the coming weeks.

Time for another visit...

Well, the excitement is building as I prepare for another trip to Thailand.
This time with a friend in tow - Theresa, a budding photographer and filmmaker from my church. It'll be great to find creative ways for her to serve while we're there.

This trip is shorter than last time, but is aimed at developing my network in the Chiang Mai region. I have been enjoying the process of pursuing contacts advised to me and discussing with them how we might be able to collaborate while I'm there. It's so phenomenal to have the opportunity to hear the stories of people who have spent years doing what I desire to do - what a privilege to learn from the pros!

I'm also looking forward to meeting up with friends I made on my last trip, particularly the Thai staff at both Mountainview and Partners. They have become like family to me and I can't wait to spend time with them again. I am particularly looking forward to seeing one friend, John, who was fairly young in his Christian faith when I last visited. I'm excited to see how he's grown these past 9 months and have the opportunity to encourage him.

Once again God's provision has been so evident as I was given the finances to cover my flights - thankyou Lord! It is only by the generosity of others that it is even possible for me to be doing the work I feel called to. I am so thankful that I am surrounded by people who believe in me and the cause of Christ.

Missions Weekend

This past weekend my church hosted a cross-cultural mission focus weekend. It was such a special time of connecting with other mission minded people and raising awareness of the numerous acts of service that are happening with Cornerstone people at the helm.

On Saturday night, all of the current and future missionaries gathered together to share in a meal. I love that when you ask such multi-cultural people to bring a dish it turns into a feast for the senses and the stomach! There was much wonderful fellowship over the meal and we spent time praying over each others ministries and callings. I was so excited to hear the encouraging stories of what God is allowing to happen in some challenging places.

On Sunday morning the focus of our church service was on missions again. My beautiful church community rallied bakers, coffee-makers and cake-sellers to pprovide for and man stalls after the service where each of the missionaries were able to share about their work and raise some much-needed funds int he process. The generosity of my congregation was simply overwhelming! It made me so proud to be part of a church that believes in the work we are doing.

I was very grateful to make numerous sales of jewellery that was made by Burmese former-prostitutes who were invited out of a dark industry and given an opportunity at a fair skill and wage.

I also received two very specific words of encouragement which really helped me to find peace in the challenge I have been facing of late. Isn't it great when you get to see God's ultimate control over difficult circumstances?

I look forward to doing it all again sometime soon.

Last Friday night I had the privilege of talking to the teens at FUSION youth group on the topic of Global Poverty. I felt felt so under-equipped for the task, but they were so keen to hear what I had to share that it didn't seem to matter.

What I said was nothing profound. In fact I lost track on my notes and ended up scrapping them altogether!
What was really encouraging and inspiring was to see a bunch of 12 to 17 year olds listen, connect in small groups, and join back together to share what they had learnt. Some of the responses were somewhat typical.. "when I'm rich I'll give money to charity" whilst others were simply humbling and sincere... "I want to change my attitude about my life and how privileged I am", or "the best thing I can do with what I've got is to intentionally and passionately pray".

These kids have got it. If every person shaped an attitude of compassion and world-awareness as a child, then our furture would be one of great hope.

These kids make me believe for a bright future for those less fortunate.

This week has been interesting as I've come across a number of seeming 'roadblocks' that have discouraged me but at the same time somehow inspired me to pursue what God has put on my heart with even greater vigour.

But better than this, I have received blessings in the form of funds for my flights (Thank you Lord for grandfathers!) and the possibility of a young, eager travel companion named Theresa who is super keen to explore the work happening in this region of the world.

I have tried not to let the difficult issues get me down, but would apprecite prayer that God would open my ears to hear what I need to and would provide a way where there seems to be blockages.

As I go about everyday life, getting caught up in college assignment word counts and primary school playground duties, I often find it challenging to know what to blog.

Some things seems so insignificant, but for me they are definitely part of the amazing journey I am on.



So my aim over the next 18 months as I study, save, and prepare my heart for fulltime service is to more successfully share the non-so-significant parts of my journey.



Feel free to journey with me and hopefully we can learn together!

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
defend the rights of those who have nothing.
Speak up and judge fairly,
and defend the rights of the poor and needy."


Proverbs 31:8-9

What will they eat?

Burma is facing numerous crises at present - the Shan State earthquake, oppression and attack by the Burma Army, and now the failed food crops of Karen State leaving many starving. here is an update by the Partners Karen team.....

“All our ideas of how to fix this situation right now have run out. Please pray for us. Please pray that God will provide for us and our families. If you have friends with means to help us, please tell them.” – A Karen leader

Between 1986 and 1990 the Burma army came up along the Salween River and people from the Mutraw District village tract had to flee whenever the Burma army came. The (Burma Army) did not set up a military position, so after left the area, the village people were able to come back to their villages. Then in 1995 this area became very poor when the Burma Army and their proxies took over the main farming land. The villagers were forced to give up their rice patty fields and many of them moved further into the jungle.

Even the few villagers who stayed no longer owned their fields and were forced to work the land for the profit of the Burma Army & proxies. Those who fled to the jungle have been using a rotating hill crop system. However because there is not enough land, they are replanting land that has not fully recovered, and the crop yields are poor. Then they have also tried going further to plant their crops in land that has not been farmed recently. As the farmers are not able to stay in these fields full time, as they are far from home, the rats and insects destroy the crops while they are away.

These villagers are close to the Burma Army road and outpost and they must travel carefully. “What we need is our staple food: rice. I have seven children. At night when they are sleeping I lie awake thinking, if I can feed them tomorrow, how will I feed them the next day?” - Village headman

Most of the area is covered with hills and valleys, so people are growing rice upland for their living. Previously people mainly depended on rice, the soil in these areas were quite fertile. They also grew crops such as banana, betel leaf, betel nut, tobacco, chili, and vegetable. They raised cattle, pig, goat, and chicken etc.

•Because of SPDC troops occupied some area villagers had to abandon their villages and stay with other villagers doing up land paddy together. The numbers of people increased in the area and upland paddy fields are expected to produce more.

•Soil in the area where people had to abandoned was good for cultivation but the area where people are staying has poor soil for cultivation. Due to land shortages, the land is not given enough time to recover before being used again.

•Last year because of extreme heat and less rain the paddy didn’t grow well, again in harvest time there was a lot of rain and paddy crops were ruined again.

•Paddy crops planted far from homes were eaten and destroyed by insect and rats before harvest time.

•Since 1996 more or less people have been facing a food problem, but this year has had a major impact because of combined problem (less rain, abnormal rain in harvest time, insect and rats destroy

The villagers have been selling their properties to buy rice. Those who have nothing left to sell have been borrowing with a promise to repay in the future. They have also asked for donations from other villages. They rely on the leaders for help, but at this time they are somewhat at a loss.

The long term solutions they are thinking of is growing some other cash crops in the off season of rice that they can sell to buy rice (corn, hot chili peppers, and possibly soy bean).

Our team has already given 100,000 Baht for emergency rice. We will continue to provide relief until our long term plans to assist with targeted agriculture projects and training for rice and cash crops, as well as animal husbandry can be implemented.

Karen Projects Team

stop, drop and pray...

Last night the North-Eastern corner of Burma (where Thailand and Laos meet) was shaken by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake.
After witnessing so many natural disasters occurring in the past 3 months, I know I have become emotionally exhausted. I grieved through the floods, chewed my nails down through cyclone Yasi, prayed my heart out for survivors of Christchurch's earthquake, and had to turn the TV off during Japan's quake/ tsunami - it was all too much.
But now the country that I care so deeply for is in trouble. You might think "Oh, the death toll is only 60, it's not that bad", but please remember some critical points:
- 60 people in remote villages could mean whole families deceased or mothers and children left without anyone to provide for them.
- 30% of all structure are reported to be damaged - and I can't see the Myanmar officials handing out centrelink payments or facilitating the rebuild, can you?
- These people are poor and needy already. How much worse off they will be if their water supplies are damaged, houses are unliveable, and livelihoods affected?

Please join with me and PRAY FOR BURMA.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/25/3174101.htm

Pray for Burma

I've been back from my trip for exactly one month but have struggled to express my experience in words.

Sadly that means poor blog here has been deprived.

Tomorrow (Sunday 13th) is the Global Day of Prayer for Burma.

We can unite in prayer and passion for the people of Burma. So much of their hope comes from knowing people care about them enough to pray.

Get behind the cause by visiting http://www.prayforburma.org/ and reading about the plight and programs going on. Then get PRAYING!

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. . . . If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”
Matthew 7:7-8,11

food, glorious food...

There is so much good food in Thailand - a mix of local cusine, fresh fruits, Thai interpretations of Western dishes, and some amazing delicacies that are really worth writing home about....

mango sticky rice

fresh strawberries in sugar
fish being cooked outside Sizzler

deep fried who-knows-what

pork balls

cupcakes

market food fish waffles

Shan food

Shan snacks

Radiant colour...

I have really enjoyed embracing the Thais' love of colour.
In the western world we tend to opt for muted tones and neutral palettes, but in a seemingly 'dull and dirty' evironment the Thais seem to enjoy bringing a bit of colour into their lives.....

The hills are alive...

I spent 3 days in the mountains of Burma.

Totally confronting. Completely foreign. And at the end of the day, surreal.

There's such immense opposition ready to invade the village at any time.

We had to travel through checkpoints and be sent onward by camouflage-clad soldiers with loaded rifles slung across their shoulders. Initially I found them something to be feared, but their human-ness soon became apparent. They were young men just trying to do their job and act in obedience to their superiors. Isn't that what we're all trying to do?

I was trying so hard to stifle my laughter when on the way back we arrived at a checkpoint and I witnessed a sleeping soldier awake and fall out of his collapsing hammock! Not really the time for fits of giggles...

What I found so challenging was that in an area that should be riddled with fear and anxiety, I felt great peace. It felt like any other small village with children playing in the street, neighbours chatting at the bamboo fence, and teenagers buying coke from the local store.

As I walked through the village I met the local people and heard their stories. Stories of fear, stories of fleeing the enemy, stories of desparation. But I also saw the hope in their eyes. They continued to wear smiles on their faces despite their circumstances. I was moved as I observed the way they responded to a long-serving Partners staff member who visits almost every month - like children running to embrace their mother. An innocence became evident that I would have never thought such scarred people would display.

The hospitality of the local people was touching. Not once did they ask anything of us even though I felt they were entitled to at least request some kind of help or support. Instead they invited us into their homes, provided tea, delicious food, and a very warm welcome. Even a mother who had given birth 3 days earlier was more than willing to have us visit and see her newborn baby.

They are a people group who do not want to feel sorry for themsleves. They simply want to build a future worth looking forward to.

I am still processing my experience on the mountain. In fact I am processing whether I am being called to commit myself to serving there. What I do know is that the work of Partners is so critical in this village. They have provided the traiing and resources to enable this community to function independently even if they have to run.

I see hope and a future for this community.

My Asian angel...

Throughout our lives, my sister and I have had a number of experiences with "Asian angels" - people that walk into our life in the simplest of circumstances but invest something that moves and changes us forever more. I knew I would probably meet a few on this trip (in fact mum prayed that they would be there for me) and I already have.

This is Hser Gay Paw- she has been working for Partners for 13 years, making her the longest serving staff member. Her job is to oversee the sewing and weaving projects that are sold to help fund some of the work Partners do. I had the privilege of spending the past two days with her helping to complete an order of potholders due to be sent to Alaska on Monday. Hser Gay Paw collects the woven fabric from the Karen refugee camps and then does ALL of the designing, cutting and sewing single-handed! She is a real inspiration.

She was so thankful for my help and I really enjoyed working alongside her. Although she is Karen and her first langauge is Karen, she speaks surprisingly good English, Thai (from her time spent growing up in Mae Sot), and a little bit of Burmese. She shared many stories about her family, upbringing, and experiences in Burma and Thailand. I liked the way I didn't need to ask, we just worked away and every now and then she would tell me a new story or show me a photograph. She spoke very fondly of Marv - a longterm staffmember who died of cancer in October. Mav and his wife Dorothy don't have any children of their own and consider the Partners staff as their children. For Hser Gay Paw this is even more special as her mother died when she was 4 and her father when she was 8. I can tell she is still grieving Marv's death and she has asked me to come to her church next week to attend a memorial service she prepared.

I feel so honoured.

I feel like Hser Gay Paw is a mother away from home. She even told me I shouldn't stay at Mountainview but should come to stay at her house. What an offer from someone who has known me only 4 days! I told her next time I come I will stay with her and teach her daughters English.

Everyone at the office has told me what an honour it would be to travel with Hser Gay Paw to one of the Karen weaving villages, which she has already invited me to do, so I am hoping I will get the opportunity very soon (and that it doesn't clash with any of the other trips I'm about to embark on).

If anyone would like to purchase any of the beautiful handmade goods (Bags, potholders, purses, scarves, etc) please let me know and I will bring some home. There are limited items listed on the Partners Australia website http://www.partnersworld.org.au/ if you want to have a look or I will add more photos here one I have them. Know that you are investing into the surivival and hope of the displaced Karen people.

a smile speaks a thousand words...

I have been so overwhelmed by the generosity and positive spirit of the Thai people. Even those who are extremely poor seem so upbeat and love to stop for a chat. Such a contrast to the sombre, self-consumed attitudes of many westerners. In Thai culture, smiles mean many things. They can indicate amusement, excuse or grant pardon for minor offenses, thank someone for a small service, allow someone to avoid comment on an issue, or to show embarrassment.

I met this little boy when I caught a Sorng Taow this morning. His dad told him to speak in English to me, saying "Teacher, teacher". How did he know?!? When I asked if I could take his photo, he agreed and then proceeded to pull a very typical 6-yr-old silly face!

I cannot remember the little boy's name, but he told me he is 6 years old and was quite content to draw elephant pictures as we bumped along. I couldn't believe how neatly he could draw on the rough journey.

Tonight I visited the Night Bazaar - a huge mass of street stalls set up primarily for westerners (I think) as many of the large hotels are in the same street. I had a great time bartering and chatting to the vendors, many of whom asked where I was from. I bought some T-shirts off this guy and when he asked where I was from he pointed to his own shirt and I couldn't resist capturing his love of the Wallabies for all my footy fan friends back home. He was more than willing to oblige and we shared a good laugh.

road rules...

Thailand has a pretty good system of pubic transport and I have been catching Sorng Taow's for most of my trips. Sorng Taow literally meaning '2 lines' as it has two bench seats in the back of a ute. A ride across town is usually about 20 baht for a tourist like myself which works out to about 65 cents - cheap compared to Aussie taxi's and the great thing is that because the price is negotiated on boarding, even if the traffic is bad, the price is still the same.

I am constantly amazed at how accommodating of each other Thai drivers are. They don't stay in any one lane, pull out with no notice, never indicate, talk on mobile phone while driving (even on motorbikes!) and frequently change their mind, but yet rarely use horns and let each other in. Somehow it works.

Often whole families can be seen crammed onto one motorbike or in a tuk tuk. This little girl has us in fits of giggles and stayed very serious when I took her photo even though the rest of her family was laughing.