First Annual Team Retreat
Last night we brought the train home from our team retreat held in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. We really enjoyed the few days spending time with our team and breathing the fresh mountain air!
Ready to head out in the overnight train. This nifty little room converts into bunks and the girls got a great night's sleep on the way.
After the first day of bible study and resting at the Juniper Tree (a camp-like retreat), on the second day, we visited Doi Suthep, a temple on a mountain overlooking Chiang Mai. According to legend, an elephant carrying relics of the Buddha stopped and died at this spot after trumpeting three times (14th C). It is now a holy site in Chiang Mai which draws many tourists and worshippers.
(Candice and Eliza hung out at the Juniper Tree due to a morning of vomiting by Eliza- fortunately she recovered by afternoon).
Claire loved ringing the many bells in the temple compound
Claire fell in the love with this friendly looking golden turtle.
In front of our traditional Thai style house/cabin modeling t-shirts from Bangladesh from our friend Pijush. Thanks Pijush!
And here we all are!
Raul, our newest team member from Costa Rica. He is busy language learning and making lots of new friends.
Dan, just home from Bangladesh and heading to the states this week for meetings at RMM. Thanks for all the input and encouragment, Dan!
Us
Sharon, just home from a trip to the US and getting back to work in various volunteer organizations and catching up with all her Thai friends.
We had really good team times together studying the Bible (looking at Jesus' example of relating to people), making practical plans for the future of our team, and sharing, encouraging and praying for each other.
Raul explaining his passion for sharing Jesus with his new Thai friends. He is doing a great job of adjusting and adapting to two new languages! Dan helped out with some translation.
Both girls loved the daily pool time as well as the grass, trees, cats, and playground!
We are really grateful to God for this time away- it was really refreshing and encouraging for us in moving forward in our work here....
Candice
Sign at the temple in Chiang Mai. Please join us in praying for peace in Myanmar.
Comments
Eliza you're such a cheese sometimes! (t-shirt pic and team pic). Claire, I think I might have fell in love with that turtle too if I didn't already have a "special honey". Love you guys!
Posted by: Anita | October 1, 2007 02:52 PM
Dan....in sandals? Maybe next time we'll get to see him in capri man-pants.
Posted by: phil | October 1, 2007 07:42 PM
I'm glad your time away was refreshing for you. I like the capris, Tom :) Candice you are looking great. I like the picture of you and the girls on the train. I miss you all a lot! Love, C
Posted by: C | October 2, 2007 05:41 AM
Glad to hear that you had such a nice week-end away!
Posted by: Doris | October 2, 2007 08:03 AM
I agree with Claire. I like the turtle too. It's got some serious bling to it!
When I was in Thailand, I remember liking the train as well. We took the train from Sri Racha to Chiang Mai (or something, my memory is kinda fuzzy on this point), and met a conductor who spoke 5 languages - 3 with at least some degree of fluency.
Posted by: David | October 3, 2007 09:44 AM
Candice, Kalvary absolutely loves ballet. I don't know that she's learning much but I think it's a good experience in listening to instructions and interacting with other kids. I'm really hoping it helps her with flexibility and agility too. (She is gifted with neither.) The only tip I have is that you have to get good ballet slippers...cheat ones just don't cut it. Anyway, those are my thoughts. :)
Posted by: Kris | October 5, 2007 09:45 AM
What fun! Those retreat weekends are so important. I hope you are all energized to tackle the challenges in Bangkok.
Posted by: Rob S. | October 5, 2007 11:27 PM
TOM!!!! I love the capris!!!! Candice, how did you ever get him to wear them? They're awesome - Bring that style back here!!! I hope you guys have an amazing time - it's so much fun talking to Aunt Lorsie. They are ecstatic!!
Posted by: michelle | October 9, 2007 07:24 AM