Welcome to PlaaPlaaPlaa!

So you may be wondering why PlaaPlaaPlaa? What are those strange fish symbols above? What is ปลา and what does it mean? In short, this is a blog site, so surely there's going to be plenty of rambling. Unfortunately BlahBlahBlah was already taken, so I had to settle for the 'Plaa'. But there's actually more to it then just ramblings. The first fish symbol is actually a Christian symbol meaning ICTHUS - a greek acronymn which means "Jesus Christ is God's Son, the Saviour". The other strange letters you see in the last fish is actually the thai word for fish which funnily enough is pronounced "Plaa". So when you put it all together, this site is going to be my ramblings in telling people about how Jesus Christ is God's Son, the Saviour in Thailand (with plenty of good stories about food in between). Happy reading.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

CCC Short Term Team

Since the 2 Dec, we've had a short term team from CCC come. It's been really weird being on 'this' side of the fence this time round after being on the short term team twice before (when i came over with DPC). One of the strangest realisations for me is just realising how just 2 years ago, i was just like one of those on the team, who had next to no thai, knew no one here and had no idea of what was really going on around me. I guess it's the first time that i've really been able to stop and think about how much i've really learnt, grown and changed in the 2 years since coming over. So the time has been filled with orientation, spending time with the team, helping them to try and build relationships with some of our thai friends, going to schools, orphanages and hostels, running programs, helping out in various christmas parties around the place and generally trying to help the team get a better idea of what missions is all about and the needs over here in Thailand. One thing i know i wasn't quite expecting was how tired mentally i'd be in helping translate for the team. I reckon i've got to a point where just conversing and listening in Thai doesn't tire me out mentally like it used to, so i figured translating would just be a little bit more brain power. not LOTS! especially when talks end up being in northern thai! but it's been great practice and i definitely have a new found appreciation for interpreters. I think it's definitely one profession i'm not exactly cut out for :)

But one massive praise point, we went down to Mae Waang to help out at a christmas party for the hostel kids and their parents who came to visit from lots of surrounding hill tribe areas. That night, the minister that gave the talk about Christmas that night, gave one of the clearest gospel talks that i've heard since being here. And what was even more exciting was that every point he made, was right in line with the skit that we presented (which was a tweaked version of the gospel skit we did with the kids from church - there's a video of it on this blog). So everyone that went, got a good double dose of the great news of salvation that we have through Jesus. The minister down there was pretty excited too that our skit worked so well to reinforce stuff he had shared about as well. He was super impressed that everyone was so interested in the skit and were captivated in wanting to watch it from beginning to end. Apparently usually, many of them lose interest after a couple minutes then start talking and eating. But this time around, everyone was watching and even yelling to find out what was in the 'present' boxes. So a massive praise point for that night. Please pray for the many people who may have heard the gospel for the first time that night there. For God to soften their hearts, so they turn back to Him.

anyway, hopefully have a few photos to put up soon - after i get some of the photos off the team :) For those praying, please also pray for energy levels, especially for my sister denise who has been a real trooper with the team. The first team will be here til the 16th, then on the 22nd we have a 2nd team coming, with lots more prep that still needs to be done for that too.