"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 !!