OceanicThai

Winter Originally uploaded by oceanicthai Here is another one of Kennedy's landscapes, from the U.S. of course, since we don't have winter here in Thailand. Today is Saturday, Kennedy is getting his sermon ready for tomorrow, the kids are playing, and after this little note I have a bunch of work to do, too. In a little over a month we will be starting our English classes for Bang Sak kids here, so I have a lot of work to do to get ready for it. Last night we had another great cell group meeting. It is growing, we had about 12 adults, 5 teens, & lots of kids. We ate fish curry, fried rice, stir-fry veggies, steamed veggies & rice, & some weird fermented fish concoction. It was a lot of fun.

This needs a picture, I know. It is a common snack around here. We eat dried fish string snacks, which is kind of similar, just cut into strings instead of stuck on a stick. (This would also be a good name for a band. That's one of our family entertainments, thinking of funny names for bands.) We just got our visa renewed in Bangkok, so we're good to go another year. I really admire Kennedy for driving us around in Bangkok...talk about traffic chaos. Poppy tells Jasper, her little brother, " Shhh ! We have to be quiet, we're in Bangkok & mommy & daddy have to concentrate so we don't get lost!" One wrong turn can mean a lost hour or two, and beware the signs, they aren't always accurate! We are home now, glad to be here. We had fun at Bum & Marcus's beautiful wedding in Bangkok, & we bought some great books, ate some yummy food & only got lost a couple of times. Jasper's favorite part was riding the subway & skytrain ...

Impression of Thailand 039 Originally uploaded by oceanicthai This is a detail from Kennedy's latest painting. I was pretty overwhelmed by the painting, it is huge and so full of detail it makes my eyes kind of overstimulated to look at for too long. Yet, as always, the more I look the more I appreciate his work, I only wish sometimes the tiny details would be separate paintings on their own. To do that, though, would be to lose the idea/thought behind the painting, however, the "impression" part. Our impressions are a complex juxtaposition of so many ideas and images. Kennedy captures his so well. He definitely has his own unique style, and I love it.

Monkey Eyes Originally uploaded by oceanicthai

Jaspers 8th birthday Originally uploaded by oceanicthai Our funny son, when we tell him to smile he makes his eyes big like this. He told us, "I'm getting ready to enter my big boy life now." He and his sister share their imaginary worlds. His is Inner Star, her's is Ardaynaya. They both love to draw & play in their imaginary worlds.

Poppy's 11th birthday Originally uploaded by oceanicthai Here's Poppy with her birthday outfit sent to her from Grandma Rosie, and her toys we bought her with money sent from Grandma Christy & Grandpa John. She's crazy about dragons & mythical creatures!

Jasper Jude at Sunset Originally uploaded by oceanicthai

Jasper Jude & Poppy on the Rock Originally uploaded by oceanicthai

Kids With Pets Originally uploaded by oceanicthai Poppy has Tigris our cat and Jasper has Froot Loop our dog. They are perched on rocks in our garden.

"Wink!" Originally uploaded by oceanicthai

Wendy Originally uploaded by oceanicthai

Baptism at water fall Aug2007 Originally uploaded by oceanicthai There were 6 baptisms yesterday, and everyone played afterwards.

Ning Originally uploaded by oceanicthai This was accidental, Ning will kill me when she sees this, but it is so funny, and so, well, Ning-ish. She is hilarious.

Ron Originally uploaded by oceanicthai Auntie Ron getting baptised with Kennedy & our Thai partner Tanom "officiating."

Baptism at water fall Aug2007 Originally uploaded by oceanicthai This is Ning getting baptised yesterday at a nearby waterfall.

Aa's Big Happy Originally uploaded by oceanicthai Aa's big happy waterfall picture moment! Aa is our Thai partner's son, he is so fun, what a great kid.

All of us workshop folks Originally uploaded by oceanicthai Here we are, Thai and Farang (Westerners) with Dr. Bob and his wife Noreen on the far right. I'm standing next to my dear friend, Khrua.

Dr. Bob's Workshop Bang Sak Aug 2007 Originally uploaded by oceanicthai This past week we had a great workshop on church multiplication with our Thai team & some of our church members. We held it on the bottom floor of our center.

The Bang Sak Center Originally uploaded by oceanicthai This is our center/church/English school/Music/Computer/Everything place where we "do all our stuff." Many thanks to Dean and Pum for their collaboration & hard work! This is just a quick walk down from our house.

Auntie Ron's grandchild, so cute! Originally uploaded by oceanicthai Here is one of our adorable Bang Sak Kids, one of the younger members.

Bang Sak Beach Resort Ruins Originally uploaded by oceanicthai Kitchen/Bathroom area. On the floor of the kitchen there is broken glassware, china, toothpicks, menus, hotmitts, all mixed together with a foot-high layer of sand.

Bang Sak Beach Resort Ruins Originally uploaded by oceanicthai

Bang Sak Beach Resort Ruins Originally uploaded by oceanicthai Here is Jasper walking on the outside of the ground level.

Bang Sak Beach Resort Ruins Originally uploaded by oceanicthai This is one of the rooms on the bottom story.

Bang Sak Beach Resort Ruins Originally uploaded by oceanicthai This was an office on the 2nd story.

Bang Sak Beach Resort Ruins Originally uploaded by oceanicthai This was the reception area, and there are still Christmas decorations hanging up here and there. On the floor are books, menus, torn awnings and sand.

Bang Sak Beach Resort Ruins Originally uploaded by oceanicthai This is the upper story of the structure, where the jacuzzi and massage room were. Notice all the overgrown plants and vines.

Bang Sak Beach Resort Ruins Originally uploaded by oceanicthai Just a short bike ride from our house are the remains of the Bang Sak Beach Resort from December 2004's Southeast Asian tsunami. We take visitors here because it is the only remaining resort that we know of that has been left in the condition it was after the destroying waves came. Many people died here, and the structure is considered given to the spirits by the locals. It has been abandoned for 3 1/2 years now. The blue strip are the pool remains, and beyond that is the ocean after a stretch of lawn.

Oldest Standing House in Takua Paa Originally uploaded by oceanicthai I'm not sure how old this place is, but it would be a wonderful painting.

Colapsing House Originally uploaded by oceanicthai Another picture of the house being overtaken by vines.

Colapsing House Originally uploaded by oceanicthai Takua Paa house being taken over by vines & plants.

Old Town Takua Paa Originally uploaded by oceanicthai About 15 minutes from our house, Takua Paa has been an inhabited area for 2,000 years. This building is relatively new, built in the 1800's. All that's left of the ancient city is a long wall.

The Island Originally uploaded by oceanicthai

Island Beach Originally uploaded by oceanicthai Island beach on the Andaman Sea, the Similian Island tour.

On her knees, higher-than-head "wai" position with her hands, and bowing her head to the ground. I didn't expect that, but knowing Thai culture, it didn't surprise me too much. She was shocked that I knew she had been stealing all along. She said, "I am so ashamed of myself and embarrassed. Please give me another chance." I had just told her I knew about all the things she had stolen from us. She was sobbing and I tried to console her. I made my words loving and gentle, told her I forgave her already, she can have another chance, & that I'm not mad at her. I told her to tell me truth, if she really believes in Jesus Christ or not, because if she didn't, I wasn't going to think any worse of her. I just need to know the truth. She assured me she really does believe, she gave away her amulets already and reads her Bible every day. She wants to get baptised on Sunday with the other baptisms. So, it was bittersweet. I am thankful our relationship ...

Poppy & Jasper In The Beach Hut Originally uploaded by oceanicthai In the Sea Gypsy beach hut, complete with shell decorations.

Poppy In The Beach Hut Originally uploaded by oceanicthai We found this wonderful beach hut, probably left by nearby Sea Gypsies after they were done with their "fishing camp." We had a great time playing in it.

Jasper At The Ocean Originally uploaded by oceanicthai This beach is so much fun, it is full of hermit crabs!

Doing Crafts With Bang Sak Kids Originally uploaded by oceanicthai Here's another Sunday and another craft with the Bang Sak kids. These are only a few of them, about 20-25 show up to church on Sunday. These are some of the activities we will do with them after lunch. We bring them home around 3p.m. or so. Ning, pictured here, would like to keep them even longer, but the rest of us are pretty much exhausted. Ning is great with the kids. There's our dog, Froot Loop, in the middle!

Making Cookies With Bang Sak Kids Originally uploaded by oceanicthai More cookie making! Kennedy helped us make the cookie dough and frosting the day before.

Poppy Making Cookies With Thai Friends Originally uploaded by oceanicthai For a while, after teaching Sunday School at a nearby town, Nam Chem, I would run home and do afternoon activities with the Bang Sak kids, too. It was fun!

Today I talked to a local about renting a house for Gee & her little family to live in. The local lady, Nit, knew about Gee's predicament living with her aunt-in-law who takes 500B a month rent and gives them the ugliest room. Gee has been wanting to move for months, now. Nit, the lady with the house, agreed to rent the whole house for 1,500 Baht a month, a real bargain. I have been ill for over a week, so I couldn't talk to her earlier. I'm still ill with bronchitus, but now I'm on medication, so I feel better. I went to Gee's house to tell her the good news about the house, and to help her move. (You don't call first here, that is a weird idea to Thais.) No one was home, but I saw my pants hanging out to dry in front, along with some of our hangers! I knew Gee had been stealing from me before, things would come up missing, and knowing the proper cultural way to deal with it, would not confront her, but ask, "Have you seen my......" Many times tha...

35 years old, mother of a 7-year old and a toddler, just died on Sunday. She was the niece of one of the workers at the center here. She died of kidney failure. We went to the funeral last night. Next to the refrigerated coffin where her body lie, was a picture of her on her wedding day. All the Bang Sak folks were there, cooking, serving, and working hard. The coffin was set up in an open area on the open first story of the house, surrounded by flowers, incense, candles & food offerings. Outside were plastic blue & white striped canopies, under which rough tables & chairs were set up on the dirt, and dinner was served. We ate whole fried fish, fish curry, sweet pepper pork, rice, a hot pepper dip, one spicy soup & one bland soup, and Longon fruit. Uncle Why, as we call him, was holding his nephew, who hadn't been weaned yet and wasn't drinking from a bottle or sleeping at night. Uncle Why is a beloved, respected member of the Bang Sak community. He is...