"Company" Christmas Party

Last week we enjoyed our "Company" Christmas Party.

It is a once a year gathering for all PI Teams to meet together.

We had a great time of worship with Christmas songs.

Aubrey was one of the worship leaders.

Great Job Aubrey! (and the others ).

Poor Wilber.

He seemed

"beside" himself.

His (Wilber) loss... was

... our gain.

Here- Syd, Carol and I were cutting up a bit.

Nothing like an outdoor drive-in movie = Thai Style.

Movie:

"Christmas with the Kranks"

Good food ...

Good friends.

A true Tropical Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all !!

Thanksgiving '08

We celebrated Thanksgiving with our neighbors
who are from Virginia!!
Our table decorations were sent to us by our generous Sea Team (sending team).
We had a great day--good food, good fun, good fellowship!!










Meet "Gilbert", the $ 65.00 Turkey.









Cutting close to the bone-

you don't want to waste any of that precious meat.

Loy Kratong Festival '08

Loy Kratong is an annual Festival here where people set into flight paper bags with a fire ring inside.

It signifies the releasing of ones sins of the past.

They also make and float flower rings down the river - which has the same meaning.










Here we are in the front of our house-lighting our khrom loy. We have been told that lighting these is becoming more of a cultural celebration than religious ritual.

A local loy kratong floating candle stand.

"You need to buy this"

In front of a Chinese Temple along the parade route.

The beginning of the Parade--it lasted about an hour.

Lots of singing and dancing and trucks carrying generator asto power the lights on the floats!!

11,250 Monks !

11,250 Monks - Literally !
Last Saturday, Syd and I got up at 5 am to witness "Several "(11,250) Buddhist Monks from (only) the Chiang Mai area gather at one of the streets not far from our house. Indescribable !

From (young) boys to (old) men.

Monks from all ages.

Each carrying their offering bowls.

Just as many devotees came, if not more.

They came to worship ...

... They came to give their offerings.

The "Merit" (Karma) received from this offering is like one years worth - normally offerings are on a much smaller scale - to Monks daily.

It was a Family event.

Teaching the next generation the religion of Buddhism.

All generations were there.

Its been said, Christianity is the only Religion where the Creator seeks / pursues the created.

They deserve to KNOW !

... and so do they !

...the harvest is plentiful ..

... the harvesters - few ...

PRAY !!

WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT SKYPE????

These are pictures of the boys taken while we were on skype!! Skype has definitely been a lifesaver to keeping in contact with our family!! It is a free download--you just need to buy a camera with a microphone and it's easy to set up. So if you want to see us and talk to us--get a camera and download skype!! And then SKYPE US!!!

RUSS TEACHING ENGLISH TO STUDENTS

Russ is teaching English to the students at the learning center where he took a two-week intensive language course.

They enjoy hearing an "authentic American speaker".

NEW CREATURES AT OUR HOUSE!!

These are the new creatures at our house this month. We have the "Halloween Bug" and the "Snake-a-lizard".

I THINK I HEARD SOMEONE SAY "MORE GRANDKID PICTURES"

What can I Say??

I Love these pictures and

knew you

would too!!

"KELLI'S CLASS GOES TO NIGHT SAFARI

Kelli's First Grade Class went on a field trip to the Night Safari. They had parent helpers so each adult had 3-4 kids. It was in the afternoon, so most of the animals were sleeping. But they had a great time!!

"CRACKIN' UP"

You are now entering the Macadamia Processing Plant

in front of the Bridges House. When Russ went up to the village he bought some macadamias from a farmer there.

When he started cracking the hard shells the nuts would fly everywhere so he (aka McGiver) made a wooden holder to put the nuts in and then hit them. It made the proces much easier. You see his lovely assistants helpiing him shell and sort the nuts. We then roasted them in the oven. And even Honey roasted some--they were amazing.

Recent Trip to the Villages

Russ recently returned from a trip into some Northern "Border" villages with his two partners. We went there to meet with some local coffee farmers who are potential Ministry partners.

As you can tell, the farmers live in an area that is very beautiful. It was nice to get away from the noise and smog of the big city.

The steep hills gave my 4 x 4 truck a good work out. At one time, my truck that was loaded with local passengers, required the lowest gear to get up a couple muddy hills.

A local farmer in front of a new coffee nursery.

A friend in front of the Hostel he operates near the village for girls who are escaping the sex trade.

Coffee, with another amazing STORY.

HAVE YOU MET OUR LANDSCAPER???

As many of you know, Russ loves working in the yard and growing plants. Above are a few of the varieties of flowers that are in our yard. Kelli especially loves the hibiscus!!