FIRST VISIT TO THE CONFERENCE SITE AND MORE...

(12:30 am, Sunday morning - Thai time)
And we're off and running!
In prep for the Conference (for you newbies, training Children's Sunday School teachers from over 200 churches of the Karen tribe in Northern Thailand,) we were able to accomplish two important things today (Saturday):
1. VISIT THE CONFERENCE CENTER where the Gathering and Training will take place, and
2. MEET WITH THE TRANSLATORS and the Conference Center Leaders with whom we will be working.
Below you will see some pictures of the Center which is really quite nice. Seeing it was a HUGE help in getting a "lay of the land" and in figuring out how we're going to organize both the large plenary sessions as well as the smaller "hands-on" breakout sessions. You'll also see some pics of the really cool "Taxi-bus" that has been getting us all over town. It's "air-conditioned" in that there are no side windows nor is there a door in the back. Lots of wind to keep us cool! The driver is a great guy who doesn't speak a word of English. Lots of sign language and pointing goind on! Fortunately, Boonchu, the Karen Christian leader who is at the origin of this whole conference, is around to help with the communcation.
TOMORROW we will be participating in the Church service that meets in the Chapel on the grounds of the Conf. Center. We'll be singing a couple songs and Tom will be giving the message.
So PRAY FOR THAT AND ALSO FOR the planning that we'll be doing in the afternoon. We need to make some changes and some deletions to the already-planned training sessions due to what we learned in the meetings today. We're remembering one of our key words, "FLEXIBILITY."
SO, ENOUGH WORDS; HERE ARE SOME PICS (a small sampling!) OF OUR DAY.

OOOOOPS! Our apologies. The connection here stopped letting us upload any more pictures after these 3 (showing you our means of transportation.) So, NO PICTURES OF THE CONFERENCE CENTER. Rats! We'll try again tomorrow. Thanks for sticking with us over here!

All aboard! Step right up. Boonshu will give you a hand.



And here's our great driver.



Getting back safe and sound tonight after a nice dinner out with some new Thai friends.



God bless! HAVE A GREAT SUNDAY.