Thailand: Dec. 25 – Jan. 8

Salvador Chavarria, Erik Svenkerude, Pim and Khem Saythongkham

Karl and Sharon Gronberg

Thailand: Dec. 25 – Jan. 8Visited churches, villages, ministries and culture near Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket

Meeting for breakfast at the hotel in Suphan Buri near Gethsemane Thailand about 1.5 hours north of Bangkok.

Traveling companions for the first few days. Erik Svenkerude, a friend of Pastor Song, Pastor Song, the Ericksons from Global Recording Network, Sharon Gronberg, Khem and Pim, Salvador Chavarria, and Karl Gronberg.

Mission Village outside Suphan Buri. We had a Christmas celebration with stories, songs and gifts.

Pastor Song speaking to the group of villagers.

Salvador trying out the motorcycle.

Women weave and embroider runners and shirts to sell.

Signs on the road which leads to Gethsemane Thailand.

The open doorway is to the Children’s Center that was build as an addition to the sanctuary. People leave their shoes outside the door when they enter a building.

Gethsemane Thailand

Celebrating Christmas, New Years and the completion of the new Children’s Center.

Pim’s Father sings the Christmas Story

Pim’s niece sings a Christmas song in English

Pim is ready for the celebration

Khem has transparencies like the Gethsemane Austin windows to cover the windows on both sides of the altar.

Plaque at the entrance to the sanctuary in thanks for Gethsemane Austin support.

Sunday, December 29, 2014

Presenting Pastor Song with gifts from Gethsemane, Austin: an alb, stoles, and communion supplies at the dedication of Gethsemane Thailand

Pim and Khem renewed their vows celebrating their 5th anniversary

A tree was planted on the property. The man in the red shirt is Pim’s Father.

A house blessing for the new home that Pim’s sister and family have just built.

Christmas Celebration at a Village of People from Laos

Church in the village where Pastor Song has worship twice a month.Crosses from Gethsemane were given

at each Christmas Celebration.

Bridge Over the River Kwai

The bridge about which the 1957 British-American World War II film was based.

Dinner in Kanchana Buri on the River Kwai

Traveling from Bangkok area to Chiang Mai - about 7-8 hours.

Rest stop on a beautiful wooden swing made from on log.

Roadside market selling banana chips in many different flavors.

Lunch stop at a Japanese Restaurant. Khem found sweet treats that look and taste like

Swedish Krumkaka. Yum!!!!

Children’s Evangelism Fellowship

A ministry to children with activities and summer camp experiences.

Presenting a gift to the director for the program.

Global Recording NetworkGRN brings the stories of the Bible to remote villages in their own language. Celebrating their 75th Anniversary in 2014

New recording studio

Presenting a gift to the director.

Playing a record without electricity used in the villages with limited electricity.

Silk factory - Chiang Mai

Umbrella Factory - Chiang Mai

Salvador had his phone case painted.Sharon had her purse painted.

Elephant Camp – Chiang Mai, Thailand

Painting done by an elephant

Petting the tiger

Floating on a raft on the Tang River

Waterfall Park

Orchids were beautiful

Erik has the tiger by the tail.

Chiang Mai to Phuket, Thailand – 950 miles

Eden Bungalows – our home in Phuket

Phuket is a resort town on the Andaman Sea - part of the Indian Ocean

Traffic in Phuket – Many Motorcycles

Boat trip to James Bond Island Phang Nga Bay, Thailand

“Man with the Golden Gun” was filmed here in 1974

Koh Phi Phi Lei was the backdrop for the 2000 movie “The Beach”.

Exploring Caves on Phi Phi Island

Guys from Sweden

Enjoying Beach Life

Fanta Sea: Phuket’s version of Fiesta Texas

Theater performs the story of Thailand

White Tiger

Fishing village south of Phuket

Restaurant owner - cooked fresh seafood Pim bought at the market.

Pastor’s truck for transportation

Met a Swedish woman while shopping

Church in the Fishing Village

Presenting Pastor with a stole Presented Crosses

Christmas Gifts

Pim leads singing

Phuket to Bangkok – 515 miles

Arriving at the airport in Phuket for flight to

Bangkok.

Christ Church – Bangkok (Anglican)

Pastor of Christ Church

Christ Church is a very international church

Bangkok at night.

Central World Shopping Mall a mega - shopping complex

A motorized rickshaw called a Tuk-Tuk. Erik had a run in with one of them.

Street Vendors

Grand Palace - Bangkok

Pastor Song and her friend were our guides for the trip.

An old palace no longer used by the royal family.

Our Hotel - The Bangkok Christian Guest House

We enjoyed dinner with Christine Primmer, a member of Gethsemane, in Bangkok.

In the Bangkok airport ready to fly home to Austin.