home...

Just a brief one to say that after 18hours of transit we made it home. The trip home was interesting but we made it! More to come when I've woken up!

Home Tomorrow

Latest update from Thailand:
"Most of us have colds now or at least sore throat. Pray for good wise informal debrief/chats on the plane and logistics for travel home goes well."

They will be arriving in Melbourne soon after 7am tomorrow (Wed) morning.

Thanks for praying and don't stop yet!

Mike

Nearly Finished

Hi All,

Got an email from Dad yesterday saying that a few days ago their cook had a cold and now most of the team have colds. Please remember to continue praying for them and particular for their health. Even though their ministry part of the trip may have finished, there is still a lot of travelling to go and decisions to be made. So please don't fall in the trap of stopping to pray for the team as can be easy to do near the end of these trips!

Thanks again all for your support of the team.

Regards,

Mike

Bangkok

Update from Chirs on Sunday night:
"Made it OK to slum. Catching up with Chris and Jodie tomorrow (Monday). Just did a prayer walk from tourist central to shopping centre with Porche in shop front on level 4. I am leading a study tonight on Isaiah 6 and call to mission. Thanks for the prayers. It's been a long day and last official ministry tomorrow."

Lifehouse Play Tonight

Hi All,

As Chris doesn't currently have internet / email contact, I've been in touch with him to get an update for you all so you can continue to pray specifically for them.

Tonight they are doing the Lifehouse play (the same one they did last year) but with one of the translators travelling with them as the girl in the play (sorry to those that don't know the play) to try and make it even more relevent for the people of Thailand. At Urban Summer at Mitcham Baptist last year this had a huge impact on the youth resulting in a number of them decided to get baptised. Pray that this play can have the same impact on the locals there watching it and that it makes sense to really allow some open discussion with the team members.

On Sunday, Chris will be leading the team down to Bangkok while Dad stays in Chiang Mai. Chris and the team will then be returning back to Chiang Mai on Monday arvo. Pray for Chris as he leads the team down into this currently politically sensitive area of the land and for safety as they travel as a team.

Team wise, continue to pray for each of the guys on team.

• Leonie as she continues to experience God challenging her in many ways... pray for discernment for her.
• Sonya as she experiences the Thai culture and the
• Dan as he gets acustomed to the flexible times required of being on a mission trip
• Dave - is going well and finding a good balance between spending time with the team and outreach activities.
• Chris - daily leadership decisions and leading the group down to Bangkok and back
• Dad - daily leadership decisions and guidance and direction while meeting with locals and the missionaries they are going over there to support and encourage.

There are effectively 5 days left for the team over in Thailand. Continue to pray for the team as a whole and for tiredness as they are continually on the move.

Thanks all for your valued support. They really appreciate it and can tell there are people praying for them. Keep it up!

Mike

Chiang Mai-Judy & day off

Judy in front of her church with our team

Hi Guys, well we've had a great last few days. 2 days ago we were able to catch up with Judy for most of the day which was great! We went out to lunch with her then went back to her place and she showed off her apartment and office where we took lots of snaps for the people back home. We then went and worshipped with her at her church and then had dinner with her too. To finish it off Sonya had some quality 1:1 time with her which was invaluable. Thanks for the prayers for this. As we were leaving Judy was so appreciative of all that we (or more the fact God through us) had done for her, and she commented on how uplifted and genuinely encouraged she had been.

Success!!!!

Yesterday was team day off so most of us spent the day just lazing round the motel, one or two went off on a day trip, but it was a relaxing day for all and also refreshing.

Today we catch up with Sarah this morning for a couple of hours then have a windy 3 hour bus trip to Chiang Rai then catch up with Susie this arvo/evening, so a pretty full day.

Following this we'll be heading up to do some different sort of night ministry with Asholi& Puii, we're not sure what that will entail so I'm thinking we'll be kept on our toes.

The next week is going to be more intense with living conditions and also what we'll be doing. There may not be too much internet access so i may have to sms for some others to update the blog too.

Well I'm late for brekky, blessings to all, and thanks for the prayers- cause they're working!!!!

Dave in front of where he lives

During our study time. We're doing a study series on young people of the Bible. Dad has previously done David and this morning Sonya covered Joseph. Tomorrow I'll be doing Jonathan. Others which we'll cover include Ruth, Timothy, Isaiah, Josiah, Hannag and a couple of others.

Chiang Mai- Dave P

After catching up with the staff from Elpis school the other night (which went really well and we were able to both encourage and be encouraged) we caught the bus to Chiang Mai the following day. It was an early morning so after the 6 hour bus trip we were pretty zonked again so we pretty much had dinner, had a quick look around Chiang Mai and went to bed.

Today we caught up with Dave Prior and had a good time seeing where he lived and taking plenty of pictures of the place so that we can show his family when we arrive back in Melbourne. I was able to have a good chat to him also to be able to find out how things are going in a bit more detail and how we can best be praying for him.

Tomorrow we'll be catching up with Judy at 12 and going to her church in the arvo. So we're all looking forward to that as well. Trust everything is going well back home with beachmissions and coffeeshops and whatever else! Blessings from Thailand :)

happy new year!

It was to the sounds of fireworks at 10pm that most of us went to bed last night!

Although it was midnight in australia so we figured that was good enough. We had a really good chance to chat with Neill & Dianna last night and a great time of encouragement and support was had going both ways. Dans now over his tummy bug and almost up to full strength again. Give thanks that it only knocked him out for 1 day, as normally it could be a bit longer.

We're about to have a cultural lesson from our cultural advisor Mimee (translator) and then catch up with the staff from Elpis School. They school mainly illegals from Burma and have roughly 200 in the school and what we'd normally fit 25 students into they manage 80 so the classes can be quite large.

Tomorrow we're heading back to Chiang Mai on the 6hr bus trip so prayer we can be open to divine appointments all along the way would be fantastic. thanks for the encouragment and sms's!