Another Sweet Good-Bye

Yesterday, we said another difficult but sweet good-bye. We visited our dear friend, Janet Gilliam who just found out a few weeks ago that she has pancreatic cancer and has been given only a few months to live here on this earth. Janet is very special to our family and has had an influence in each of our girls lives by teaching each of them or them helping in her classroom. They have all fondly called her "Aunt Janet" over their growing up years here in Thailand. Since we will be travelling the next few months, it was important to go by and see her before we left town.

Janet is absolutely amazing to us the way she is handing her upcoming death. She talks about it so freely and is looking forward to being with Jesus sooner than any of the rest of us. She has such a sweet relationship with Him, that she feels each day as she walks closer with him that she is just closer to seeing him face to face. Her perspective is just how I would want mine to be. I told her yesterday that God used her to teach my girls how to live and now he is using her to teach me and many others how to die. After our visit with her, she had asked for a group of the students and families that she had taught to come by to sing for her and have a time of praise and worship. It was such a sweet time for us to join them. In between songs Janet would express her love for Jesus based on the words she heard in each song.

Another thing that I was blessed to watch was her closest friends and the ladies from her mission around her and how they are caring for her in her last days. Both of her parents have died and she has no siblings- so they are her family. Each of the ladies is so attentive to her needs and they all love on her like any dying person would want in their life. Janet has chosen to die and be buried here in this country that has been her home in her service for Jesus.

It's hard for me to really express what an amazing outlook "Aunt Janet" has on dying, death, and waiting for Jesus to just pick her up and carry her into heaven. I wish you all could have the privilege to visit her as we did yesterday. You can follow her final journey on a blog her friends have made for her. It is mysiamsong. The thing that I will be praying for her is pain management. Her attitude is so incredible, but the pain will be increasing- so she and her caregivers need wisdom to help her with the meds. We thank God for Janet, her life, and all she is teaching us during this time in her life.

Good-Bye Stinters

Tonight we said good-bye to the Stint Team. The 3 of them had been here for the past two years working on our campuses in northern Thailand. The team was originally bigger, but some of their teammates went back to the USA earlier so these were the last three to send off. It was an even sadder good-bye because it was the end of a partnership that we have had with the Red River Region for the past around 10 years. Campus Crusade Campus regions in the USA partner up with specific regions around the world and this partnership has produced allot of fruit over the years in our ministry. Stint teams and summer projects have brought countless students to us from the USA which have introduced many Thai students to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We thank God for Vinnie, David, Emily, Andrew, and Tricia and the way God has used them during these past two years. There were allot of tears and they were just as sad to leave Thailand as our Thai staff were to to tell them goodbye.

This picture was taken at our office while the Thai staff were praying for them at a send-off party.

They had t-shirts made for all of our Thai staff with their picture on the back and a verse. Pretty cool gift to leave behind.
Final send off tonight at the airport! We love you Vinnie, David and Emily and thank you for sharing the past two years of your lives with us in Thailand.

House of Blessing Orphange

We had so much fun at the House of Blessing a few days ago. Betty had brought one
Chic-fil-A cow for each child. We tried to think of a special snack to get them also, and found some ice cream bars with the same chocolate and milk design on them as the cows. These kids very very rarely get to eat ice cream - so it truly was a treat. Here the children are lining up for their cow and ice cream bar.


This was pretty funny to watch them sing for us while eating their ice cream and holding up their cows.

The little ones obviously had not eaten ice cream much before and there were just too many of them to teach how to lick around the bar as it melted. In the heat- it was melting fast enough to make some pretty big messes- but they were as happy as they could be with their special sweets.


This has got to be a favorite memory for Kyle and Betty with those happy and thankful kids smothered all around them.

Mike with our little Eve- whom her sweet face will always make me think of my Dad's love for her.

This is a photo of the guys dorm. They are so crowded and desperately need to start building on their new land - but are just waiting for the finances.

The girls have stopped their sewing project- because the Grandma that was teaching them to sew had a stroke and can no longer teach. The girls use the machines for mending - but not a sewing business- as they need someone to help them. Are there any skilled seamstresses that would like to come over during the girls school break and teach a course on sewing to them?

Burdensome Commitment?

This year, I have been reading through the Bible and in a few days I'll reach the half way mark. I like to do this about every 3rd or 4th year. I started out this year loving my time of reading each day. I even got some Bible maps of the areas I was reading about- to really get into it and so it would help me even more to identify with places and events. It is the first time I have done the Chronological Order and I've enjoyed it alot as it has given me some new insight and freshness. Somedays I've found myself even reading ahead.

But I have to admit this past month- it has not been as meaningful. I've been busy and had a hard time focusing on some days. I find myself wanting to read other places from what that days reading is. I'm considering stopping at the 6 month mark and then finishing it next year. I just don't want my time in the Word to be something that I'm doing just because I've made the commitment- because honestly it can just become words. I've never stopped like this-- so I'm not sure yet how I feel about this decision. I know our upcoming summer months will be really busy and we will be at some conferences where I may want to feed on other scripture. Anybody else ever experience this and have some advice?

Elephants Everywhere

There is one thing on the top of our "list of MUSTS things for tourists to do" when they visit us- and that is "ELEPHANTS". The influence of elephants here is everywhere, and even the country is in the shape of an elephant if you look on a map. There are several elephant farms, camps, training centers, treks etc. around Chiang Mai - but the one we chose this time for Betty and Kyle was the Maesa Elephant Camp.

This pictures was taken with the first group of elephants we found who kept snorting in our ear, or putting hats on and off our heads and just touching us with their trunks- so it was a bit hard to pose for a picture as you can see Kyle and Betty being a bit distracted from my photo shoot.
Then it was our turn... it was so hard to smile with that trunk blowing air on me and tickling me.
This is my favorite for sure- because it's the only one we have with all four of us together. Now on to a different area where we could step back a bit and they didn't have to keep snorting in my ear!
Getting ready for bath time in the river before the show starts.

Watching them get their baths and staying attentive for the ones who like to snort water at us through their trunks. Show time is about an hour long. They play harmonicas, dance, stack up logs, play darts, play a pick-up sticks game and.....

play soccer against each other and.......

paint pictures that are sold after the show and.....

pose for pictures. I love the model in this one-- he's my favorite!!!

After the show, Betty and Kyle rode on one for a trek through the jungle.

Off they go-- up into the hills.Here they are coming back about 45 minutes later. After they met their conference team last night, they found out they all wanted to ride elephants- so they went to yet another elephant camp today. You can check in on their blog if you want to see more photos of elephants. Although, I'm not sure Betty will have a chance to sort pictures and blog about her trip until she gets back home next week. I think they have allot of activities to process and digest from their time in Thailand.

Tourists in Chiang Mai

Our last 12 days with Kyle and Betty here have been a whirlwind. I think my memories of their trip are going to be a mixture of constant outings and fun memories mixed in with exhaustion. It usually happens like this when we know that we have just a week or two to show close friends our life. We want them to see and experience as much as possible - so we keep a crazy pace just to fit in as much in as possible. Their first week was more travelling in and out of Bangkok and to our ministry in the south. This week, we were out and about around Chiang Mai. Today we took them to their hotel where they will spend their last 4 days working at a conference for missionaries. I'm sure that I don't need to tell you that we have more photos then you would ever want to see. Before going to bed, I'll share just a few from this week in our home.

We split up a few times for girls and guys times. This is Betty and I shopping in the Thai market one day at a "make your own jewelry" type store.

No visit to Thailand is complete without a manicure/pedicure treat! Can't beat the price- and Betty was really impressed with 5 girls gathered around her all working on her at the same time.

Going fishing with Boonjome is always a treat for the guys, too- especially when it takes them 30 minutes to pull in a 100 pound catfish!

Mike enjoys renting motorcycles and going up over the mountain on some back roads, where only the hill tribe villagers are found. He doesn't get out and do this very often, so it was fun for him and Kyle and they had quite the adventure back in those mountains. Next time you see Mike, ask him about what happened on this trip- that is a story better told in person than on a blog. Let's just say that I wish that I had the pictures of the bikes after they got back instead of these that were taken before they left.

Last night they joined us for my English Alumni Bible Study. The group really enjoys making crafts. Last time that we had met, they had so much fun decorating these hats, so I decided to ask Betty to bring over a craft from the USA This is our group and us last night with the little boxes of God' promises that they made. It was a very encouraging time as each person shared some of their favorite verses from the Bible with us and then we put them in our newly decorated boxes to look back on. Lots more pictures to come- in the next few days-- just don't let the suspense get the best of you!

Happy Father's Day!!!

Today is a quiet Fathers Day here in Thailand. It is actually celebrated on Dec. 5- which is the King's birthday. This is my first Father's day - without my own Dad! I will always feel so grateful for my Dad and the great legacy that he left for me.

I'm so glad that Dad got to come and visit us after mom died a few years ago because we have so many fun memories of his visit. As we continue to live and work here in Thailand, his visit left us with more reminders even here of how he enjoyed the Thai people and country. I am also grateful for Mike, the amazing father of our four daughters. The way they love, honor and respect him speaks enough in itself. Even though they cannot be with their dad today, he no doubt knows they would love to spend the day with him. Thank-you Michael for being the best Daddy to our girls that they could ever ask for.

I took this picture of Mike last week in the highest building in Thailand as he was overlooking Bangkok. It is one of my new favorites.

Planes, trains, boats, trucks, taxi's and vans

I'm not quite sure how to sum up these past 4 days with Kyle and Betty, except to say ....alot of travelling and busyness. We've literally rode on each form of transportation in my title. It is always interesting to see Thailand a fresh through someones eyes who has never been here before. We are having a lot of fun with them. Most of the last few days were spent in southern Thailand showing them our work with the Moken's and letting them present the gifts of school uniforms to all the village kids. We actually boated both out and back in horrible downpours of monsoon rains and winds. It was adventuresome at the beginning, but when we could hardly see out in front of us because the rain was so hard, it got pretty scary and I was praying non-stop along with everyone else. Mike found out today that two huge fishing boats that we passed actually flipped over and a few people died. The Bergens have been looking forward to visiting the islands for so long, that we were a bit risky in our travels, so they could finally meet the people in the villages. We thank God for answering our prayers of protection. This is Betty and Kyle with the 10 new children staying with Somsak and Uan in Ranong. They were all given new school shoes, socks, uniforms, PE outfits and backpacks. Betty works with the Chic-Fil-A foundation, so the children all received these cows which they loved.

We left at 5am Tuesday morning to take the boat to Phayam island. This was a very special day as we were able to give official permission for 5 families to move into their new homes that have been built this past month by teams that Mike has directed. We prayed for each family individually. Adjan Somsak is praying for this family of 6 who will live in their new one room cement home. .

We took a photo of each family in front of their new home. They are so excited to finally move out of the wobbly huts into these cement rooms. Along with the new school uniforms these children on Phyam island also received a Chic-Fil-A cow

This is to show the progress on the next set of 5 rooms. The project that built this foundation just 3 weeks ago, will be happy to see that it is nearing completion, too.

Then we took the boat to Chang Island. This is the mothers and babies lining up to receive some clothes that we brought for them. I am very sorry to say that this first mother in line had a very sick baby that we prayed for and tried to give medical advice to and we just found out that her baby that she is holding here died tonight.

Everywhere that we walked the children followed along with us. Kyle and Betty are up at the church with their new little buddies here looking at the view of the beautiful ocean and village.

This little guy was sick all day and just sat and looked at us with the saddest and most endearing face. Hope he's feeling better by now.

Once the children got home from school, they joined us in the center to receive their new school uniforms. It may be hard to understand, but the gift of new uniforms is one of the most important and meaningful clothing items to them. Our southern Thai staff thanked the Bergen's and their home church over and over for helping the children to get these uniforms, so they would not be ridiculed at school for not having them to wear. We want to thank their Sunday School class also- (for any of you reading this) for your giving hearts to the Moken children.
We ended our time in the south, with an anniversary getaway for all of us. Since it is monsoon season, the rates at the nicest hotels are actually very unusually affordable. The contrasts between the village life one day and the tourist resort the next day- is pretty astounding- but something I can easily handle and enjoy! :)

We spent 14 hours last night on the train - so they could see the countryside from Bangkok all the way to Chiang Mai. The Thai's keep telling us that we look alike-- do you think so too? It has taken us most of today to catch up and recuperate from their first week of travel. Tomorrow, we're ready to show them more of our life and ministry here in Chiang Mai!

Thailand Road Trip- Day #2

Today was another full day with too many photos to pick and choose - but I'll do my best. We drove the 8 hour trip from Bangkok to Ranong and had chosen to drive so that we could stop and look at things unique to Thailand. Well let's just say there was a lot of stopping and looking.This was a real exciting discovery for me. It's a new freshly made snack that I've never had before. I call it a "Sugar Cane/Cotton Candy/Coconut Tortilla Wrap" That pretty much describes it - but the fun of wrapping up the colorful shredded sugar cane into the little wrap was so fun and very delicious.

Next stop was some pineapple fields.

Then to a coconut deposit and husking farm.

There were mound of coconuts everywhere.

A real highlight was following this truck of 3 elephants down the highway. The one that you can see was pretty upset about the trip and was dancing around back and forth to the point that we were a little concerned he may end up on the road in front of us.

First stop after arriving in Ranong was to meet the 10 children at the new orphanage with Somsak and Uan. Betty and Kyle had brought over some money from their Sunday School class to buy the kids their school uniforms, so we spent most of the evening figuring out the sizes and numbers and buying them at the uniform shop. Tomorrow they will be presented to the children. Here are our two cute models, showing what the uniforms look like.
Last stop was dinner at a Seafood restaurant with the team of 10 of our TCCC staff and students who worked on the building project last week. This is the group who was in the van accident that rolled over on Saturday. They've been in town trying to finalize the agreement on the accident and are driving back to Bangkok tonight.

Tomorrow we meet the boat at 5am for our trip out to the islands. It is monsoon season, and the ocean waters are a bit unpredictable this time of year, so we appreciate more prayers for safety and wisdom tomorrow as we travel and spend the night on the islands. It will be another big day of passing out clothing, school uniforms, and spending time with the Mokens.

By the way, Betty is also keeping a blog of their time here- so you can go to her blog to get her perspective on life in Thailand, too.