TEAM AUSSIE>>>>>>>pics

Here are some pics (only a few!!) of the times I was able to join in with the team...my mates from Australia. They did heaps more than what's in these pics (alot of these pics show no hard work, haha), but they sure have been working their butts off.

Taking the guys on a songtaew - Me and Rach ^

The team working with the kids at Samut Chedi Cell church ^

Jules, Lani and me hanging out at the church ^ And below, Mary and I at the church

Rach sharing her amazing testimony (and Mum translating) of being healed by God from a life-threatening nut allergy in order to be able to come on this Thailand trip

The team with members and children of Samut Chedi cell church.

Eating dinner one night before going to play soccer in Bang Na with Num and some guys from YWAM Bangkok ^


With Barb, picking her husband up from the airport! Haha - we made a sign for him. ^
Num came and led worship one night, and shared his testimony with the team and another girl from my parent's local slum (this girl then decided to open her heart more to Jesus after hearing about Him for the first time through Num's testimony!) ^^^

The next pics are on a day trip (YESTERDAY) to Kanchanaburi...at the war cemetry, on a boat to the River Kwai bridge, walking on the bridge, and elephant riding....................


A typical Aussie photo ^^ Checking the time







The team has done so much for us in the last couple of weeks. They have taken over the kids programs and through that, given my parents an opportunity to get to know the ADULTS who come along and watch (because usually they are so busy taking care of the kids), they have helped my parents to build relationships with the neighbours (who have come over curiously to see what all the farangs are doing), and they have filled our house with FUN and JOY! They have done heaps more for us, but it's too much to write.

THANKYOU AUSSIE TEAM!!!!!!!! For letting God use you, for having the energy to do everything you did, and for being willing to be out all day doing stuff in the heat, just to serve God here. When I move to Isaan, PLEASE COME AND VISIT and do the same for me!!

Engagement :-D

Here are some pics of the other day!










THE STORY...

Noom and I met at Imperial mall, went to get icecream at Swensens (where, on the way, a girl at a "ring" shop asked Noom "have you given it to her yet" hahaha). Noom asked me if I wanted to go ice skating, and I thought that was a little weird because he had never been ice skating and said he never wanted to go. But he knew I REALLY wanted to go. So we went ice skating, and he was acting weird but I thought it was just because he was scared about going skating. After the first hour Noom went to sit out and spent awhile with his backpack so I started suspecting things, and THEN he came back onto the rink and gradually stopped holding onto the rails (coz it was his first time skating!). So we went into the middle of the rink and he wanted to sit down, but then it was sooo cold so he stood up again and I realised he had something in his pocket (I thought it was his phone and that it may have gotten wet from sitting on the ice). So I said "what's in your pocket?" And he said "oh - nothing" then he said "Actually, a ring" and I was like "WHAT?!" and he said "I have something for you." Then he reached into his pocket and took out a box, and he said "I love you soooo much and this ring is from my heart. Will you marry me?" He opened up the box and this ring (pictured above) was sitting on rose petals. And, of course, I said: YES! So, in the middle of the ice skating rink on 7th October 2008 at about 2pm, our engagement became official!

Aussie team!!

We have the team here now...the folks from Aussie...which is very exciting!!!

I've been helping out a bit here and there. On Sunday we went across the river to Samut Chedi to go to church, and I have some photos BUT I haven't got organised enough yet - camera battery is flat!!

A funny story: Last night we took two taxis (10 people) to play soccer in Bang Na with Num and some YWAM guys - Rach, Jules, Ben and Peter played with them. And yeah, when Jules was on the field a thai guy came up behind her and she said to him "woah, where did you come from" (because she didn't realise he was there) and he said "I COME FROM THAILAND!" So that was pretty funny.

Pics coming soon :-)

Oh, and now I am officially engaged - Num gave me a ring today! The next blog will be about that :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

Recordings...

Last weekend Num and I, along with his friend Nut, recorded some songs Num and Nut had written. The below "videos" are two recordings we did - songs named Ruu Suek (the first recording) and Lerm Dton Mai (the second recording). Num is the singer in both of them, Nut is the guitarist (lead, solo and bass) and the keyboard part in Ruu Suek is done by me.

Enjoy!!!

Ruu Suek...


Lerm Dton Mai...


Recording Num's voice for Lerm Dton Mai:

Recording Nut's guitar playing:
Num and I after recording:
Num and Nut after recording:

Newsletter (FINALLY!) and a VIDEO!

OK finally here is my newsletter :-) I will be sending these out quarterly. If you didn't receive my last one through email, but you want to, just send your email address to me. I sent this one out maybe 3 weeks ago but couldn't get it working until now :-)........

So you can download from my family's blog here

AND...if anyone wants to check out mine and Num's vision for Isaan, along with some songs that Num has written and a few of our clips from Isaan, check out this video!



Thanks!!

Continued "Crazy Taxi Rides"...and the last 24 hrs

Well...after my blog last night Num and I went in another taxi today...and we crashed!! It was nothing big, luckily! But there ya go...

I'm putting on some pics from the last 24 hrs here in Bangkok. Yesterday we went to Soy Bearing for an hour and today we got some free haircuts from Num's aunt! So...the pics...


Rin and I at Soy Bearing...I missed her, haven't seen her in ages!

And what d'ya know...I CAN cook!! (see below) Cooking breakfast...

MMM yummmm FISH ^^^
And Num blow drying my hair...haha...it's a good look, Num!


Num's aunt cutting my hair ^^...and his hair...

AND...the FINISHED products!!!!!!!!!........

Crazy Taxi Rides

You are lucky I am writing this blog and not in hospital from a taxi accident! Hahaha...just kidding. But I am NOT exaggerating. Seriously.

Last night Num, Matt, and I (along with Matt's friends Joanne and Tim) went to church, and we were going to be late, but the taxi driver must've sensed it and drove 130km/h down the freeway swerving in and out of the other cars (who were going about 100km/h)...and he drove 80-100km/h through the streets! Seriously, I was so scared I was praying. And I wasn't the only one praying! I counted about 5 times where we were extremely lucky NOT to crash - including times where we went out off the road (out of the lanes) and sped past 80km/h drivers ON THEIR LEFT at exits which they could've easily turned into!! YES...anyway. Might I mention that there are no seatbelts in these taxis...and I was one of the two people squashed into the front passenger seat!

BUT...We DID make it to church safely. And on time, when we were gonna be 20mins late!

But on the way home (must be my luck!) Num and I managed to get another crazy taxi which pulled out in front of a TRUCK...and I really held my breath this time as I heard the truck blow it's horn and stop not even 30cms away from where I was sitting in the taxi!! Oh my goodness...you don't wanna know how many times we almost crashed last night!

Anyway, there's my story of (not one but TWO) crazy taxi rides - who needs the playstation game "Crazy Taxi" when you live in Thailand?!...hahaha!

Swimming!!! And...a day in the life of me.

At the moment I am in Bangkok spending some time with my family and studying Thai (at home, using my parent's module books). The other day my mum had a day off language school - and so us who were home (me, my parents, and Num) decided to go to the pool and hang out together.




In Thailand the pools are so nice and cheap at the same time. So it was nice to go and hang out with the folks while my parents and Num got to know eachother more!

Here is a pic Num and I took yesterday (in a break from me studying Thai and him studying English).......

So an average day in the life of ME at the moment...is 1. learning thai. 2. keeping up with you guys :) and 3. helping where I can, when I can. I am hoping to go with my parents this afternoon to a slum they teach at every Wednesday...they teach kids English at this slum.

Ok that's all for now...more coming later!

Peace out :-)