Bangmuang market had the worst flood in more than at least 60 years.
Water was running like a river through one of the Chriatians houses after it rained non-stop for one week. Reptiles and other dangerous insects were washed out of their holes and was desperate to find refuge. As I was walking kneedeep through the rushing water I noticed a sick lady sitting on a chair in the middle of this rushing water. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a centipede sitting very comfortably on her knee because the lady was not aware of it!!
At that moment someone hit the thing off her leg into the water in which we were standing !!! This made me realize that we were not the only ones in the water!!
That night people had to sleep in their houses being aware of the fact that snakes etc. might be sharing their houses with them. It was a sleepless night for many
A few days after this we went around the market to find out how people were after the flood and had very good conversations especially about the end of the world as all were shaken out of the " feeling safe in their own houses" .
One dressmaker was shocked with the dishonesty of her clients whose cloth was damaged in the floods in her house. They claimed more than the worth of the cloth back from her. Having been disappointed already with an unfaithful husband, this made her even more unhappy with her circumstances and more willing to listen to us.
She is becoming a good friend of mine and I trust that she will come to the point where she will find the water of life in Christ our Saviour.
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- Category: Life in Thailand
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Thai people have always been clever in taking a good technology or practice from other countries and adapting it for their own purposes. Back at the the beginning of the 20th century, King Rama V toured various western countries wearing top hats and driving cars to display his civilised manners to the European powers of the time. He took home with him many good ideas too - trousers for the men of Thailand, railways and freedom for the slaves. His efforts paid off. Thailand was never colonised by a European country, and thus Thailand retained its colourful character and culture.
Since moving here ten years ago, I have noticed how Christian churches have led the way in a number of areas, including training their members on how to improve their family relationships, as well as in the area of creatively teaching children and youth. Often this "ground-breaking" goes without recognition, but sometimes the churches are given the ultimate of compliments - to be copied by other parts of society such as schools, government offices and temples. One example is the way Sunday School songs are sung in many schools around the country, but with the last few lines about God being the creator removed!
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- Written by Jeff Callow
- Category: Life in Thailand
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The annual ACTS church camp in Yala had come to end. I had slept in the dormatory for teenagers which meant lots of talking and little sleep. I had been awoken at 5:30am by the usual person blowing a whistle to get people up for the prayer meeting.
Later in the morning I had gone to our car and checked the radiator, oil etc. However, as I found out later, I forgot to put the radiator cap back on. Instead I had left it on the radiator and closed the bonnet.
After some morning meetings I had been out to get some important medical results with no problems and still me forgetting that I had not put the radiator cap back on.
Camp came to a close. We packed up our car along with 4 Thai believers and headed out back home to Pak Phanang, a four hour drive away.
After about 15 minutes driving I heard a noise come from the engine. It stopped after a short time so I thought nothing of it. A little time later I noticed that the temperature gauge rising rapidly. We were on a new road in a place where you did not pull over because you could be attacked or worse.
I opened the bonnet and found steam etc coming out of the radiator. It was then that I realised that I had forgotten to put the radiator cap back on. This is when God stepped in...
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- Written by Super User
- Category: Life in Thailand
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Three months ago Book and her husband were driving at night delivering a load of shrimp to market. Her husband momentarily fell asleep at the wheel causing the car to careen off the road and plough into a tree. Book’s husband escaped uninjured. However, Book had cracked ribs, broken front teeth and a fracture of the spine. She was rushed to hospital where she was put in a full body cast. Months later she was still recovering from the injuries sustained from the accident.
As Book and her family are Buddhists, they believe that if something bad happens to a person it is because “bad luck” or that they have offended a “spirit”. So they consulted the head monk of the temple. The monk told Book that the “spirit who ruled the province” had punished her for leaving the province without permission. In order for Book to recover and not have anymore “bad luck” she would have to become a Buddhist nun for 1 month. Book’s family is very poor. To become a Buddhist nun it would cost the family more than 3 months wages. Even though the family could not afford it, they borrowed money so that Book could become a nun, and earn back her “good luck”.
Many Thai people live in fear of “offending the spirits” which may lead to “bad luck”, ill health, loss of job or problems within the family. Pray that they will know “the Truth that sets them free”.
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- Written by Cathy Pirie
- Category: Life in Thailand
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