November 24, 2013
Dear family,
Here is another chapter from our travels. What a delight to be here in Thailand and experiencing all that we have seen. Yesterday, after a long wait at the Domestic airport in Bangkok, we finally boarded Nok Air for an hours flight to Chiang Rai where our dear friends Chuck and Ruth (Gilson) Fox live and work. They have been International Ministries missionaries here for many years and, as some of you know, Ruth grew up with us in Myanmar. Rosemary, who traveled with us to Thailand, is Ruth's mother.
Ruth picked us up at the airport, and we immediately drove to a nearby Akha village where there was a morning worship service in progress that we joined. The small church is nestled in a hilly area filled with homes, both bamboo-and-thatch and cement homes. It really had a village feel and the Akha folk were very hospitable and friendly. The service was translated from Lahu to Akha and later, for our benefit, summarized in English. We were able to join in the singing as it was written phonetically. Some of those with physical illnesses came forward at the end of the service for prayer. They invited some of us to lay our hands on them as a prayer for healing was said. It was very moving. I must that, admit although I thoroughly enjoyed the service, I was fighting to stay awake!
The men sit on own side of the church and the women on the other side. This has been a traditional, indigenous practice as well in Myanmar for many, many years. After the service, we were greeted with many handshakes and smiles. We went next door to the pastor's home for a traditional Akha meal. It was Ruth's birthday meal and we greatly benefited! It was delicious! We ate rice, pork and cilantro, greens in a broth, small fried fish, a peanut chili chutney and for dessert a sticky fried rice dipped in sugar. It was an amazingly delicious meal, and our first time eating traditional Akha food.
After that, we drove back to the town where Chuck and Ruth live and settled into their home where we will stay for several days. They live in a wood-and-cement two-story home with big, screened-in windows and a porch with lovely trees all around. We are staying downstairs with another young Akha student, and the rest of the family is staying upstairs where we join them for meals and gatherings. After a long sleep yesterday afternoon (and wow, did we sleep!), we struggled to wake for a party for Ruth in the evening.
Thanks to a cup of strong, locally grown coffee we enjoyed meeting some of their friends for a cheesecake that Chuck had made in honor of Ruth's and Joel's special day. Many people showed up for the party, including Joel and Trish Hoefel,(IM development workers) and their two teenage daughters, Cela and Katiyana; Scott and Tan Coats (IM Peace Intiative work with Burma) and their teenage son, Sammy, and Dan and Cindy M (teachers here at the Chiang Rai International School). It was a fun time getting to know them and hearing a little about their work.
Today we slept in (for the first time in over a week!) till 7am and have had a relaxing morning with Chuck, drinking Thai coffee and writing to you! This afternoon at 2pm we will drive to Chiang Mai and visit The Thai Life Center where they work with young women who have been caught in the sex trade and are trying to find a different, healthier life.
We are imagining all of you in your daily routines and praying for your health and safety.
Mama (Nancy) and Papa (Steve)
P.S. The weather is much milder and pleasant here, compared to Bangkok.
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